Hello there! My name is Shuyi and I'm a '23, which means it's my junior year here at Dartmouth! I'm back on campus for the first time in a year so follow me as I get back to some of my favorite experiences! 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!
As Dartmouth prepares to welcome the incoming Class of 2026 this fall, I was inspired to interview Professor Doyle and understand what makes Dartmouth such a unique and exciting community from a professor's perspective.
Wow, I can't believe that it's been over 30 months since I was writing my application to Dartmouth as a high school senior. Today, I'll go line by line to see how my "Why Dartmouth?" essay has evolved over these past two years.
A snapshot of the Green during Homecoming
