Hello, 你好, and Bonjour! My name is Tao; I'm from New York City, and I'm a proud first-generation student. I'm currently interested in studying applied math and learning a new language (French, with the intent of studying abroad using my D-Plan!) at Dartmouth. I love being immersed at campus–especially aesthetic Woccoms, fookie grubs at FOCO, and Baker-Berry Tower Room study sessions. Come one, come all: let me take you along!
Academic Program
Mathematics and Quantitative Social Science with a minor in French
It's Fall; leaves are falling, and so are the piles of assignments and mid-terms descending upon you! In Hanover, however, I've been taking advantage of the nature that has given me moments of peace—study breaks, if you will!
The Green (see cover photo)
Okay, this one will be brief, because it is too iconic, so much so that it is our sport mascot (Go Big Green!) to need much of an explanation. There are days where I just grab a laptop, food, and some friends to do work by The Green. This is an opportunity to soak in some sunlight as well!
Me and my friend enjoying Collis Stir Fry on a Sunday afternoon!
The Beloved Woccom
Woccom is a term coined at Dartmouth, another one of the numerous Dartmouth lingo! It is a lap around the Occom pond, which is located at the Northwest corner of the campus, next to the Geisel School of Medicine and the Life Sciences Center. Occom pond path is shaped like a long rectangle (where the length is the longer side), and you start at the Southwest corner—this means that you can take a left or right! As you venture, you'll notice that it's quiet. In summer nights, you can hear crickets chirping, and during the fall, surges of crispy air. Smell the earthiness; this is a wonderful place to take a good breather from study. As you venture forward, you'll see reflections of the sky on the surface of Occom pond.
And it gets even better.
At the midway point is the golf course, where this becomes my second favorite spot!
Direct view of the Occom Pond at first sight!
Woccom Part 2: The Golf Course
At exactly the midway point (picture the spot in between the northwest and northeast of the rectangle) you'll see fences before a gigantic (unused) golf course! Though, it is not really abandoned, because Dartmouth students make active use of the plains as picnic spots for stargazing at night
Captured by my photographer friend Nick Matanmi '28. Golf course at night with shimmering stars.
Lazy Weekends at the River
Dartmouth sits along the Connecticut River. And as students, we get free access to renting tandems, kayaks, paddleboards, and most importantly, life jackets! All year round (except the blizzarding Winter), you'll catch Dartmouth students either sunbathing by the docks or rowing along the Connecticut river.
In the middle of the Connecticut River, a mile away from the dock at Hanover, on a canoe!
As a student of The Woods, Dartmouth is home to so much nature. You'll have to just come to experience this—I hope these are on your bucket list as you imagine life in Hanover
Dartmouth is not just a college. With world-renowned graduate schools, why would we choose to call ourselves a college instead of a university? The story behind that decision dates back to a significant Supreme Court ruling.
On a quiet spring Saturday in Hanover, I traded the usual campus buzz for Monet in the morning and archery in the afternoon—a reminder that Dartmouth weekends can be just as meaningful when they're slow, reflective, and a little unexpected.
During my sophomore spring quarter, I took on the challenge of four STEM courses, and while it has been intense, the unexpected connections across subjects and the joy of learning have made it one of my most rewarding academic experiences yet.
Read about the Sophomore Summer Soiree and how I got to witness the beginning of something that hopefully grows into a long-standing Dartmouth tradition!
Here is my list of the restaurants in Hanover within walking distance of Dartmouth. Whether you're touring campus for the first time or are a Dartmouth student in need of a new place to eat, feel free to reference this list!
As I approach the end of my first year at Dartmouth, I would like to reflect on some of the experiences and lessons I've learned throughout this school year.
