Hi everyone! I'm Rika, a semi-international '28 from Japan, India, and Malaysia. I'm interested in studying women, gender, and sexuality studies, as well as public policy, global health, and biology while also being on the pre-health track! In my free time, I love to read books, cook and bake, play violin, spend time with animals, be sarcastic, and drink hot drinks (especially teas)! I'm so excited to share my exploration of Dartmouth with everyone :)
Sex, Gender, and Society is a class in the Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) department. It focuses on how gender and sexuality are represented in the media and explores different ways society shapes our perspectives. This discussion-based class features multiple group projects, which allowed me to meet and interact with many of my classmates, which was super helpful in my first term! Fun fact: this class taught me how to plan, film, and edit a podcast on campus!
In this class, we explored the different contemporary meanings of the 4 concepts; love, romance, intimacy and dating. What did they look like at Dartmouth? How were they represented or defined in scholarly research? Why are they important to the world and human interaction? Our classes consisted of thoughtful discussions, insightful lectures, and even primary research. The final project was a research paper that featured the data we collected as a class. It was a wonderful course that introduced me to the world of sociology and qualitative research!
This class was my first English/literature class and it was an absolute BLAST. Professor Jodi Kim provided us with so many interesting texts that explore the nuanced intersections of identity and sexuality, in various Asian American settings. Texts include M. Butterfly, On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous, and The Necessary Hunger. Our classroom discussions were lively, filled with new and contrasting interpretations of quotes. I highly recommend this class!
SummerBoston, Massachusetts
This summer term, I decided to stay with my parents, who moved to Boston at the end of May! I kicked things off by spending a few weeks training to become a certified nurse assistant (CNA), and after earning my license, I took some time to recharge. I reconnected with family, explored Boston’s best food spots, and went on a few spontaneous trips around the U.S. with friends! Definitely a refreshing and memorable summer!
When applying to college, it's easy to get caught up in the usual suspects: your GPA, test scores, personal essay, and teacher recommendations. But Dartmouth does something a little different—something that truly speaks to its values as a college. It strongly encourages applicants to submit a peer recommendation letter. Not just allows, but recommends. And that emphasis speaks volumes.
At Dartmouth, community isn't just a buzzword—it's a way of life. Students often describe the school as a place where the people are just as important as the academics, where lifelong friendships are formed around late-night study sessions, snowball fights on the Green, and conversations that spill out long after class ends. It makes sense, then, that the admissions team doesn't just want to know what you've accomplished—they want to know who you are.
That's where the peer recommendation comes in. This letter gives the admissions office a glimpse into your character outside the classroom. What kind of friend are you? How do you show up for your community? What's your impact on the people around you, not just as a student, but as a human being?
For me, the answer was easy. I asked my older sister to write mine (here's a short compilation of a few '28s reading our letters!) She's three years older than I am and has known me for my entire life. More than anyone else, she's seen me grow, struggle, celebrate, and change. She's seen how I treat my friends, how I support the people around me, and how I try to be thoughtful and intentional in the ways I move through the world. She knows my values because she's seen me live them. When I thought about who could best represent me to Dartmouth—not just as a student, but as a person—she was the clear choice.
My sister and I circa 2009!
And that's the beauty of the peer rec: it gives the reader insight into who you are through the eyes of someone who walks beside you. It's less formal than a teacher or counselor letter, but often more revealing. It's about authenticity, kindness, loyalty, and character. You can't fake those things. Your peer recommender knows whether you're the kind of person who brings people together, who listens well, who celebrates others' successes, and who offers support when someone is struggling. That's the version of you Dartmouth wants to see.
When you're deciding who to ask for your peer recommendation, don't overthink it. The person doesn't have to have a fancy title or know you for years and years. What matters most is that they know you well in the context of the community. Maybe it's a friend from your robotics team. Maybe it's your neighbor whose kids you've babysat. Maybe it's your debate partner who has seen you at your most passionate. Or maybe, like me, it's your sibling. Whoever you choose, make sure it's someone who can speak truthfully and lovingly about what kind of person you are when no one's watching.
At the end of the day, the peer recommendation helps answer a question Dartmouth deeply cares about: What kind of classmate, roommate, and friend will you be? Because at Dartmouth, college isn't just about academics—it's about building a community where people support and inspire one another for four years and beyond. The peer recommendation helps admissions officers imagine what kind of presence you'll bring to that community.
So when it comes time to choose your recommender, choose someone who can tell that story best. It's not just another part of your application—it's a chance to show Dartmouth who you are from the perspective of someone who truly knows who you are.
In my freshman year, I wrote a blog revisiting my decision of attending Dartmouth College. Now that more than a year has passed, I would love to revisit my decision again, with a more realistic lens.
In my freshman year, I wrote a blog revisiting my decision of attending Dartmouth College. Now that more than a year has passed, I would love to revisit my decision again, with a more realistic lens.
