你好! or hi! My name is Yutong, but feel free to call me Taylor. I'm a '27 from Beijing, China. This will be my first time living ten thousand miles away from home and my first time embracing the New England winter, which makes everything more exciting! I'm also a big fan of Dartmouth Outing Club, and you can find me canoeing in the Connecticut River or taking a walk at Pine Park. I can't wait to show you my college life with my blogs!
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!
Coming from one of the most intense high schools in Beijing known for its academic rigor, I am surprised that I find Dartmouth as rigorous as — if not more rigorous than — my high school.
One key difference is the quarter system, which feels like a constant sprint. Unlike the semester system which has 15-17 weeks each term, there are only 10 weeks in the quarter system! The ten weeks fly by with days filled with classes, assignments, deadlines, and exams. Sometimes it means there's also more stress during each quarter. By the third week of my term, I'm already having a midterm for my Linear Algebra class! The pace can also be challenging and rigorous for classes without midterms — my French 3 class has a test every two weeks! In this challenging environment, it's crucial to read the syllabi carefully and plan ahead. You don't want to be surprised by a test with just one or two days' notice.
My new routine: leaving the library late at night
The shorter quarter system at Dartmouth has prompted the adoption of a flipped classroom approach for many courses. This method is grounded in the idea that class time should not primarily consist of lectures or direct instruction. Instead, students are introduced to the course material before class, allowing in-class time to focus on activities that encourage higher-order thinking skills. Given the condensed timeframe of the quarter system, effective utilization of class time is paramount. Consequently, the concept of flipped classrooms is highly valued in many Dartmouth courses.
The practical implication is straightforward: students must invest a substantial amount of time in independent study to come to class well-prepared. For instance, in my French 3 class this term, I'm expected to review several PowerPoints and complete exercises before attending class (as outlined in our weekly plan). This approach makes spending time in the library an integral part of the Dartmouth experience.
Example of flipped classroom: what students are expected to do to prepare for their French 3 class on Monday in Week 4
Fortunately, there's no need to be overly concerned about the quarter system. Despite its considerable workload and more frequent exams, managing it is entirely possible. The classes are faster-paced but not necessarily harder than those in the semester system. Additionally, Dartmouth provides a wealth of (free) academic resources to support students keeping up with their classes. Moreover, the quarter system comes with its own set of advantages. For instance, having three terms in a year offers greater flexibility in your academic exploration, and it it allows you more opportunities to start fresh. It also means you can conclude your fall term before Thanksgiving and enjoy an extended six-week winter break.
What kind of classes do you take in a subject-based Foreign Study Program? Here's a rundown of my classes in the Music FSP in London to give you an idea of what academic life is like in the program!
It's easy to forget how easy it is to access walking trails during the hustle of a Dartmouth term. As graduation nears, I am reminded of how special it is to step off campus and enjoy quiet moments in nature.
After returning from an enriching study abroad program, I'm diving into a bustling spring semester here at Dartmouth. Here are my four courses I'm taking this term!
