Hello there! My name is Shuyi and I'm a '23, which means it's my first year here at Dartmouth! I'm having a lot of fun exploring campus, meeting all the wonderful people here, and trying new things! At Dartmouth, I enjoy playing squash, eating at late night, and of course, blogging! You can ask me about studying social sciences, coming to Dartmouth as an international student, and anything else really. I hope you enjoy the blog!
It's October, which means I have officially wrapped up my first month in college! It feels like I've been here for way more than that, but at the same time, the past month has really flown by. Looking back, here are some reasons why I have enjoyed my time here so far, and why I decided to come here in the first place.
1. The People
The heartwarming surprise I received this morning
One of the main reasons I applied to Dartmouth was everything I heard about the intimate and warm community here. One month later, I can attest to how kind and approachable everyone here really is. Everyone I've met so far has been genuinely supportive and welcoming, and one example of that is the post-it notes I woke up to this morning, which were stuck on my door. The notes contained heartwarming personal messages from my floormates, and it really made my day! One month in, and the people have definitely made my time here more enjoyable.
2. Support Systems
Ever since I was accepted by Dartmouth, I've been connected to mentors and advisors who want to see me succeed. During orientation, I got to meet my faculty advisor, my international mentor, and our undergraduate deans, all of whom gave me great advice on how to succeed here. I also appreciate my Undergraduate Advisor, who I went to get gelato with this week. We talked about our lives, our experiences at Dartmouth, and I am grateful for him as both an advisor and a friend.
3. Liberal Arts
I had no idea what I wanted to study when I was applying, and a month into college, I still don't really know. What's great about Dartmouth is that I can explore as many fields as I want. Right now, I'm taking a class in economics, a class in French, and a class in writing. Although I never took economics in high school, I am able to do so here, and that's one of the reasons I love Dartmouth. As I fulfill various requirements, I become exposed to a variety of academic disciplines. Each discipline is accessible, which gives me so many options.
After one month at Dartmouth, I can't wait for the next. I still have so much to explore, so much to do, and so much to learn! All of the reasons I listed above have allowed me to feel supported and welcomed here. I haven't been here for a long time, but I have already started to develop a sense of belonging here, which I am so excited about. I can't wait to share everything that is to come with you guys!
Because the town and school are small, they are extraordinarily interconnected and, in my experience, people in the community have been super welcoming. One long time Hanover resident even helped me pick out a good winter coat!
When I think of "old" at Dartmouth, I think of the many parts of campus that are rich in history. So this week, I went around to a couple of locations on campus to capture some of the historical parts of campus and their history.
The world in which you are awaiting college decisions is not the same in which I did, nor that in which students a year behind you will. That said, with college decision letters on the horizon, I'd like to give you some of my own advice.
I don't think any place exemplifies the stereotypical college town like Hanover and our dear old Dartmouth. Of the places at Dartmouth that have the best vibes, my vote — without question — goes to The Hop.
When I came to Hanover almost four years ago to start my freshman year, finding every place that serves coffee was of the utmost importance. Here's the rundown on the best places in town for coffee.
It's almost the end of my first winter here in Hanover, but that doesn't mean my friends and I didn't hop on the opportunity to go check out some ice castles an hour and a half north of us.
One of the main reasons I applied to Dartmouth was everything I heard about the intimate and warm community here. One month later, I can attest to how kind and approachable everyone here really is. Everyone I've met so far has been genuinely supportive and welcoming, and one example of that is the post-it notes I woke up to this morning, which were stuck on my door. The notes contained heartwarming personal messages from my floormates, and it really made my day! One month in, and the people have definitely made my time here more enjoyable.
