Hello there! My name is Shuyi and I'm a '23, which means it's my sophomore year here at Dartmouth! I'm currently taking classes at Dartmouth remotely from China, so it's definitely been an interesting 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!
Looking back on my college search process, I remember really wanting to meet students to try and get a sense of the school's culture. To help you guys out, I decided to interview a couple '24s to help you guys get a sense of Dartmouth!
We so very wish you could step onto Dartmouth's campus yourself to witness the beauty of our winters live, but COVID-19 has made visiting campuses extremely difficult. I would love to share some of my favorite photos from this past snowy week!
International students like me are no strangers to choosing their College without being able to physically visit. Now, I believe everyone is in that situation, and I decided to gather some thoughts on my choice!
If you haven't heard, this year's application deadline has been extended from February 1, 2021, to March 1, 2021. Read on to hear about my application process!
After a six week break, I'm back. My winterim was a fun mix of staying at home, binge-watching Survivor, celebrating the holidays, and enjoying the Southern Californian landscape, so I'm feeling refreshed to dive back into blogging!
The college search is a daunting process. Where does one even begin? How does one navigate this sea of webinars, virtual tours, and student panels? Read on for some tips!
A school had to meet three criteria for me to consider it a "good fit": academics, location, and community. After researching about Dartmouth and visiting the campus, I realized that this school was not a good fit for me-- it was a perfect fit.
I sat down with Ali Duke, Assistant Director of Admissions, to ask her some questions about the alumni interview process at Dartmouth. Read on to learn more!
In the spirit of being another term closer to finally going back to Dartmouth, I thought I would talk about a few things this term that have still felt distinctively Dartmouth, even though I'm thousands of miles away.
A snapshot of the Green during Homecoming
