你好! Or Hi! My name is Taylor, and I'm a '27 from Beijing, China. I'm hoping to major in Mathematics and minor in Religion. Outside of the classroom, you can find me going on hikes with the Dartmouth Outing Club, drawing or crafting at the jewelry studio, or having fun, philosophical conversations with friends!
Coming to Dartmouth with a solid background in French (Delf B2), I find French 3 a perfect fit for me -- it helps me to consolidate a lot of key grammar and vocabs, and fun weekly cultural activities like coffee hours and french lunch table offers me chances to relax in busy times. While the class is very rigorous and requires a lot of hard work, my professor is so nice and makes the class very fun! I also look forward to going to Dartmouth's Toulouse LSA program after completion of this class!
This course explores how Buddhist concepts of embodiment affect daily life and society in Southeast Asian contexts, and how the intersection of religion, sexuality, and gender impact broader understandings of authority, wisdom, beauty, death, and loyalty. The class takes on many forms beyond mere lectures -- a visit to the Hood Museum of Art, mindfulness practices, and small Buddha-crafting projects. Our professor (the sweetest Prof. MK Long) also invites many of her colleagues at other institutes as guest lecturers to our class so that we can learn from real experts specializing in different countries in Southeast Asia. I have learned a lot from the class and decided to become a religion major after this course!
Having never enjoyed math classes before college, I'm surprised (again) by how I'm becoming a math major and falling in love with math here! My professor (Prof. Shu Longmei, who graduated from the best university in my hometown) is incredibly good at teaching the concepts -- not just explaining things clearly but also showing us the beauty and elegance of calculus. I really look forward to taking more math classes in the future!
SummerVietnam & Beijing, China
I first visited pagodas in Vietnam for a couple of weeks and had days of conversations with monastics! Then, I returned home to savor time spent with my family and old friends, focus on my mental and physical health, and study and work a bit.
This is a really fun and engaging class taught by an award-winning professor. The mini-ethnography assignments provide a lot of hands-on experience in conducting fieldwork, making the methods we study feel real and applicable. From participant observation to interviews and field note coding, this course offers an immersive introduction to ethnographic research on religion. Plus, the discussions on research ethics and methodology are both thought-provoking and relevant, making this an incredibly useful class for anyone interested in studying contemporary religious communities through direct engagement.
This class is incredibly interesting because it feels like traveling through time—from the philosophical foundations of Laozi and Zhuangzi to medieval Daoist traditions and contemporary practices in northern and southern China and Taiwan. Even as a Chinese student, I’m realizing how much there is to learn, not just about Daoism but also about the broader religious landscape and practices in China.
Beyond the Brochure: What Dartmouth Academics Are Really Like
During my freshman year, I wrote a blog reflecting on my decision to attend Dartmouth College. Now, with over a year of experience behind me, I feel compelled to revisit that decision – not from the starry-eyed perspective of an incoming student, but from the more grounded lens of someone who has lived it.
Having spent the first eighteen years of my life as a well-sheltered only child, I've often been called a "hopelessly romantic idealist" by friends and family. I fantasized about college friendships reminiscent of Dead Poets Society, envisioned myself having deep intellectual conversations with professors, and imagined spontaneous outdoor trips to find inner peace. While these moments have, in some ways, come true and become treasured memories, they form only one part of my Dartmouth story.
Living alone in a foreign country for more than a year has reshaped my expectations and prompted a more nuanced understanding of my college experience. Romanticism aside, the Dartmouth experience is also shaped by the tangible, the routine, and the utilitarian. No matter how idealistic you are (and I certainly am), college is also about navigating the practical. With that in mind, I want to offer a more realistic, insider's perspective – starting with academics.
Academics: Three Defining Features
Dartmouth's academic environment is defined by a unique blend of three characteristics: its liberal arts curriculum, its identity as a small college, and its status as a research institution. Together, these elements shape a distinctive and deeply enriching learning experience.
1. Liberal Arts Curriculum
At its core, Dartmouth is a liberal arts institution – one that values exploration and intellectual breadth. Through distributive requirements and off-campus programs, the curriculum encourages students to step outside their comfort zones. As someone who came in without a clear idea of what to major in, I've found this structure liberating. It allowed me to follow my curiosity across disciplines: I've taken classes in everything from computer science (I came in without any knowledge and learned three programming languages in the past five terms) to religion – a subject I initially explored just to fulfill a requirement, but which ultimately became my academic passion. Dartmouth's liberal arts foundation cultivates a mindset of critical thinking and lifelong learning, no matter the field.
Distributive requirements at Dartmouth College
2. A Small College Experience
Dartmouth's size fosters close relationships between students and faculty. Most professors live near campus and are deeply committed to teaching. Unlike at many larger universities, undergraduates here are taught primarily by professors, not TAs. Faculty members know their students by name, and they're accessible – whether through office hours, a quick email, or even lunch at Pine (on the college's tab!). I was matched with an academic advisor in my intended major the moment I arrived, and I've since developed close relationships with several professors, including some I've never taken a class with. They've taken the time to get to know me, often inviting me out for breakfast or afternoon tea in town, which has made my academic experience feel deeply personal and connected.
Afternoon Tea at Umpleby's
3. Research at an Undergraduate Level
What truly sets Dartmouth apart is its dual identity as both a small college and a research university. Faculty are deeply engaged in their fields, and undergraduates are not only welcomed but encouraged to join in. From day one, students can dive into research through programs like WISP (Women in Science Project), FYREE (First-Year Research in Engineering), and later opportunities like URAD, Presidential Scholars, and the Senior Fellowship. Even as someone who spent much of her first year figuring things out – and sophomore year navigating internship recruiting – I've been able to pursue independent research in the summer after freshman year through research grants and I'm planning to begin more advanced research in a different department through the Presidential Scholars program in junior year. Faculty mentors are always willing to support and guide students.
Dartmouth requires all students to take three PE/Wellness classes in order to graduate. Upon hearing glowing recommendations, I chose to take the wellness sampler offered by the Student Wellness Center as a way to fulfill this requirement.
In my freshman year, I wrote a blog revisiting my decision of attending Dartmouth College. Now that more than a year has passed, I would love to revisit my decision again, with a more realistic lens.
