Hey all! So excited to see you here. My name is Sydney and I'm a '24 passionate about energy, education, the environment, and economic policy. I grew up in Southern California, but have also lived abroad in Gibraltar, Spain, and the Philippines. When not blogging or working at McNutt as a Senior Admissions Fellow, you can catch me involved in the Dartmouth Energy Alliance, Energy Justice Clinic, and Greek Life. I hope my blog can give you a window into Dartmouth from a student's perspective.
Academic Program
Majors in Economics and Environmental Studies, Minor in International Studies
Taught by Professor Tine, this class focused on many interdisciplinary topics within the field of education. I loved learning about the significance of early pre-K interventions on long-term behaviors, the layered complexities of the American public school system, the neuroscience behind how the brain processes new information, and much more!
As someone interested in international studies, this course opened my eyes to the complex world of global health – both the biological and social sides of achieving equity. I found this class especially applicable given the COVID-19 pandemic and often transfer knowledge from Global Health & Society into my everyday life.
Searching for Justice is a perfect blend of studying literature and law. Highlights from this course include an op-ed I produced on anti-Asian hate crimes and a fictional short story adaptation based on Japanese internment camps from Korematsu v. United States. This first-year seminar exposed me to many different court cases, and I’m now strongly considering a future career in law!
SummerClaremont, California
I spent my summer back home in Southern California, working at my high school alma mater as a Summer Fellow for their Junior Scholars program. I had a wonderful time designing curriculum for the Journalism program, planning activities for middle schoolers, and providing support in the dorms. I also spent quality time with my cousins and bonded with family by the beach.
I am an aquaphile, a lover of all things related to the water. This environmental studies course on Marine Policy was perfect for me because it dove into how humans have impacted the oceans. From coastal development to deep sea mining, we explored how to think like a policymaker and consider the many different stakeholders involved in global marine issues.
Wow, the Practice of Science Policy and Diplomacy was a blast! I was eager to get to class early every day for this Public Policy seminar. Professor Burkins introduced me to writing effective policy memos, participating in a Model Arctic Council simulation, and presenting our SDG 7: Affordable & Clean Energy recommendations with a state coalition.
Energy Justice examined issues of culture, power, and inequity in the necessary shift away from fossil fuels. Taught as a Social Impact Practicum, this class deepened my interest in pursuing a career in energy and environmental law. During junior year, I’m excited to continue working with Professor Kelly as a Presidential Scholar researching justice and accountability in corporate energy systems.
During my Sophomore Summer, I really enjoyed studying food systems and accessing Dartmouth’s Organic Farm as our lab for Professor Ong’s Agroecology course. It was an incredible New England summer experience learning to visualize data in R, conducting fieldwork outdoors, and working as a team on scientific research projects. A term highlight was tasting freshly tapped maple syrup from Dartmouth’s very own Sugar Crew!
I was one of six Dartmouth Economics exchange students at University College London this term. All four of my modules—UCL’s equivalent of classes—gave me a new perspective on Economics and Geography through a British lens. Economic History was my favorite as we studied industrialization, the demographic transition, and the East Asian economic miracle after World War II. I grew a deep appreciation for how the events of our past can offer important lessons for us today and into the future.
WinterNew York, New York
Since Dartmouth students typically spend their Sophomore Summer on campus, the D-Plan allows us to take a different term off to develop personally and professionally. I spent my off-term working as a corporate legal assistant intern at a law firm in New York City. It was such a thrill to live and work in the Big Apple! With many fellow Dartmouth '24s also in the NYC area, my days out of the office were full of yummy food, catching up with old friends, and exploring iconic city sights.
Drawing upon disciplines like law, psychology, and popular culture, Writing and Speaking Public Policy was all about becoming more persuasive communicators. Professor Kalish provided us with such thoughtful, detailed feedback on our assignments and arranged for class field trips to the Jones Media Center and Hood Museum of Art. I especially enjoyed the flexibility offered for our small group media campaign project, where I created a children’s book on the benefits of bringing universal pre-K to New Hampshire.
SummerMystic, Connecticut
During my junior summer, I interned as a Yale Conservation Scholar at Mystic Aquarium. Working in the Education & Conservation department, I mentored high school interns about marine science communication and public engagement. Besides attending weekly professional development workshops with the Yale School of the Environment, I also helped out with summer camps, traveling classroom programs, and citizen science projects.
I traveled to Southern Africa for the first time with Dartmouth’s Environmental Studies FSP. From conducting research on invertebrate diversity in the Namib Desert to speaking with community members at Uibasen-Twyfelfontein Conservancy, we studied Namibia's socio-ecological systems. Highlights from this incredible trip include experiencing game drives at Etosha National Park, discussing ecotourism at the Cheetah Conservation Fund, and learning about Namibia’s integrated coastal zone management approach with government officials from the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources.
Econometrics was a pleasant surprise! While I came into this statistics-heavy course without a Stata coding background, Professor Fetter’s amazing explanations helped me feel confident about the new material. I learned so much about the assumptions required for causality and now feel equipped with the analytical tools to evaluate Economic research papers in an entirely different light.
Spotlight on the Social Sciences: My Junior Spring Classes
This spring term, I am working towards my Economics major and my Public Policy minor. My term is more reading and writing heavy than usual, which means lots of late nights in Baker-Berry Library jotting down notes and revising paper drafts. However, my fascination with the material—from health and education policy in developing countries to body language's impact on political persuasion—motivates me to try my best. If you are curious about Dartmouth's social sciences or what a typical academic schedule looks like, this post is for you!
ECON 24: Development Economics
Ever wonder what policies are successful for improving the livelihoods of the two billion people on less than $3/day and why good policies often fail to be implemented? Through group policy memos, two midterms, group presentations and problem sets, we interrogate these questions and gain quantitative knowledge to interpret regression tables and model phenomena like the poverty trap. During my freshman fall, I took a course called "INTS 16/GEOG 8.01: Introduction to International Development" that exposed me to the more qualitative, critical human geography side of development meanings and practices. ECON 24 has been a wonderful complement to the International Studies and Geography cross-listed material by adding an Economics lens. Professor Novosad and our TA are readily available in Office Hours and on Slack (our class's online communication platform), so I feel comfortable asking for help when needed. I recently decided that I want to pursue the Development track (also known as the "4s") of the Economics major, so next spring I will enroll in ECON 64: Topics in Developing Economics, a seminar where I will write a major research paper as part of my culminating experience for the major.
ECON 37: Gender and Family Issues in in Modern Economies
In this very popular labor economics course, we are learning about the many trade-offs that households face and the transforming gender dynamics of men and women in modern economies. Professor Olivetti is extremely kind, patient, and understanding; she hosts weekly Office Hours (more when there is an upcoming midterm), averages across up to three tries for our quizzes, only takes the best of our two midterm exams, and grades our discussion posts for completion. We also have two TAs whom we can turn to for questions with the material. In just three weeks, we've covered topics ranging from macroeconomic trends in divorce rates to Becker's model of specialization and exchange. Later in the course, we will review government and company policies such as parental leave and affirmative action. I am excited that this course is so relevant to today and feels more applicable to real life than an introductory level class.
PBPL 41: Writing and Speaking Public Policy
Taught by the amazing Professor Kalish, this Public Policy methods course is all about helping us become more effective and persuasive communicators. I enrolled in this course to build my oral advocacy skills and explore the many different ways policy measures can succeed and fail. The class consists entirely of juniors and seniors, many of whom are finishing up their Public Policy minors. While the readings may be lengthy, they intersect a dynamic mix of popular culture, law, politics, psychology, and other social science disciplines. The core product of the term is a small-group policy campaign on a topic of our choosing; my group is focusing on universal pre-K in New Hampshire. Besides preparing for that, we are examining case studies such as the United States' successful anti-smoking campaign and drafting letters to the editor for peer revision. I appreciate that this class gives lots of feedback and opportunities for revision as we grow over the course of the term.
Studying at FFB ("First Floor Berry") at night!
PS: Although I love all three of my classes this term, at Dartmouth there is the flexibility of the add/drop period where you can "shop" for classes for around two weeks. This can be helpful when you are hoping to make modifications to your schedule around your other commitments, or just want to try a new class your friends have been raving about. Thanks for reading and hope you are having a great spring wherever you are in the world!
At Dartmouth, there is an undergraduate requirement for language; after all, it is the liberal arts! Fulfilling this requirement looks different for various people and I will focus on my experience.
On Monday, April 8, 2024, a phenomenal total solar eclipse occurred — and we happened to be within the path of totality. As a result, Dartmouth hosted a variety of eclipse-related events on- and off-campus. Find out how I spent the eclipse!
Traditionally, Dartmouth students take three courses during a term, but I decided to take four courses this term! Learn about course load and the academic system at Dartmouth.
As I approach the halfway mark of my Dartmouth journey this spring, I find myself reflecting on the significance of distributive and world culture requirements in shaping my academic experience.
