Hi all! Welcome to my blog! My name is Robin. I am a freshman studying Economics and Computer Science. Outside of class I'm a guitarist, amateur rock climber, and seasoned billiard player–if you're on campus, there's a good chance you can find me in the basement of Collis playing pool with friends. I'm still new around here and have lots to learn and will share my journey in this blog. So if you're a prospie, parent, or Dartmouth enthusiast, you've come to the right place!
In what ways has the Dartmouth community helped you balance academic and personal pursuits?
A:
At Dartmouth, academics require a large time commitment. Because of the quarter system, classes move fast, covering what is a semester's worth of content at most schools in only ten weeks. I admit that it can be difficult to manage your schedule sometimes; however, we are encouraged by Dartmouth to prioritize our mental health and engage in activities outside the classroom. So, there are plenty of opportunities to pursue your personal interests amidst intense classwork.
Once you get the hang of the quarter system and its fast pace, you realize there is actually a lot of free time to fill, and it's fairly easy to work on your personal pursuits. An example of this is exercising. When I came to college, I knew I wanted to workout and be physically active. So, I started going to the gym every night. Then, after a few weeks, I decided that I wanted to dedicate more time to sports, and joined the climbing team at the end of my first term.
Many of my friends are in sports teams, performance groups, and other fun clubs around campus. These activities are great ways to find a community and meet people, and serve as good study breaks. On weekends, there is always time to hangout with friends — you can go on trips with the DOC, watch a sports game, or just sit back and watch a movie in your dorm. There are plenty of things to do at Dartmouth; personally, I have never felt bored here and if I feel stressed, I can always take a break, head to my room, and play guitar for a bit. It's all about balance.
In short, academics come first but, despite heavy workloads, Dartmouth makes it fairly easy for students to dedicate time to their personal interests.
Spring has sprung in Hanover and the term feels like it's really getting off the ground with classes starting up in full swing, warmer weather, and the occasional muddy day.
There is never a dull moment at Dartmouth! One of the main reasons why the College is so special is our unique D-Plan, which operates on the quarter system.
Thinking back, this winter has been a whirlwind. I wanted to use this final blog post as an opportunity to organize my thoughts and share some reflections as I move into my final term!
For the students who want to start looking into colleges --- here are some resources that helped me learn more about the colleges I was interested in and wanted to continue looking into!
Dartmouth is home to a ton of different departments, but one of my favorites is the Native American Studies (NAS) department. Let me tell you why you should take a NAS class at Dartmouth!
