Hello there! My name is Shuyi and I'm a '23, which means it's my senior year here at Dartmouth! Follow me for my last year at Dartmouth as I reflect upon my college experience. 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!
After seeing some great blog posts on the website, I've decided to revisit my "Why Dartmouth" essay from when I applied to college, not only because I think it's a fun idea, but also because I'm running out of things to write about during this remote term. I hope that by looking back at why I wanted to come to Dartmouth, you can learn a bit more about my favorite aspects of the school!
Dartmouth's focus on undergraduate studies will hopefully allow me to develop strong relationships with professors, affording me unique research experiences.
For those of you that don't know, the "Why Dartmouth" essay is only 100 words, which I appreciated. However, it also meant I had to highlight the things that I loved most about Dartmouth. I began my essay by speaking about the undergraduate focus at Dartmouth. Coming from a boarding school where I joked around with and spoke personally with teachers, I wanted to find similar relationships in college. I haven't been let down, as my professors at Dartmouth have been empathetic and invested in my life. So far, Dartmouth's undergraduate focus has shown itself in the professors, opportunities, and resources, and I'm excited to pursue more of them in the coming years.
Furthermore, as someone who values close and compassionate friendships, I am excited to foster lasting relationships in Dartmouth's small and intimate community. When I toured Dartmouth, I heard that alumni would often come back for the Homecoming Bonfire to cheer on the Freshman as they ran around it, evidence to me of a devoted and loyal alumni network.
A snapshot of the Green during Homecoming
Next, I moved on to talk about the community. As I've mentioned in my previous blogs, the people here are the best thing about the place. Everyone is warm and supportive, and the community has honestly been better than I thought it would be! I loved the idea of the Homecoming Bonfire, as my high school also had a bonfire every fall and it was one of my favorite traditions, as I got to see graduated friends and come together with the whole school. Homecoming gave me a similar vibe, as I loved meeting new alumni and feeling a sense of togetherness with the entire student body.
At Dartmouth, I hope to develop strong connections that can support me in my personal and professional pursuits.
Finally, I decided to end my essay by talking about the growth I hoped to experience at Dartmouth. Although most of us develop new life views and learn more about ourselves during our young adult years, I believe these changes are best made when you have supportive people around you. Dartmouth's atmosphere allows you to focus on your own pursuits and not compare yourself to others. Instead, you'll feel like you'll have a safety net to fall back on as you extend yourself to new challenges.
I hope that my reflections on my "Why Dartmouth" essay has allowed you to learn a bit more about Dartmouth and me!
I applied through Questbridge's National College Match, but did not match. To others who also did not match, this is not the end of your application process! Here's what I did following match decision day.
Learn about the different programs Dartmouth offers prospective students to explore campus life, learn about Dartmouth, and enjoy an all-expenses paid trip to Hanover!
"What's it like working for admissions?" "Are you being truthful with your answers?" "Are you being scripted?" Let's dive right into all these questions.
It's been (almost) a full year since I was in your (figurative) shoes! Let's take a trip down memory lane and dissect my Dartmouth application process. Part one of a long journey!
Now that I am more than a half into my Dartmouth experience, I have grown and learned about the world in ways that I would never have anticipated. How do I feel about it? Where do I hope to go next?
