Hi all! Welcome to my very public blogging page! I am Toni Fabian '25, the middle child of my family, from a small town in sunny Southern California. I plan to study economics and human-centered design. I am passionate about culture, educational equity, and social justice. I will be writing about all things Dartmouth, from the infamous FOCO cookies to the resources and opportunities offered here on campus. I am truly so excited to bring you along with me while I navigate my college journey!
Academic Program
Intended majors: Economics and Sociology; Intended minor: Human-Centered Design
Each week I was responsible for completing problem sets, quizzes, classwork, and discussion boards. Every week we related what we learned in class to the real world. For example, we read about food banks and their past struggles with efficiency. As a class, we discussed solutions and delved deeper by asking questions and collaborating with each other. I loved this class a lot because Dr. Petre made learning really fun and is so kind! I learned a lot of information ranging from different elasticities of demand and supply to the indicators of poverty. This class was awesome!
For my FYS (First-Year Seminar), I took a history course called Gender and Urban Transformation (9L slot). Our class discussions drew from primary sources and historical analyses that dabbled on gender and its intersection with race, sexuality, and class in the development of U.S. suburbs and cities. Essentially, we explored urbanization and suburbanization as a multi-gendered process. I developed my research skills as I drafted an annotated bibliography, book review essay, and prospectus on the Chicano Movement's impact in the realm of higher education from the 1960s to the present in California, Texas, and Chicago. I learned a ton, I am so happy that I took Professor Rabig's course!
Sociology 1 is the introductory course for the Sociology major, and I loved this class so much! We had a ton of class discussions and the material was very insightful. We were assigned a term-long discussion group, and my group leader was so kind and knowledgeable. We analyzed and discussed the reasons behind class stratification, power dynamics, and social and economic inequalities in society. This class has truly helped me further develop my sociological imagination and changed my perspective in life. :)
For the entire summer, I interned for Breakthrough San Juan Capistrano (SJC). Breakthrough SJC is a non-profit organization situated in Southern California that aims to close the achievement gap for underrepresented and underserved students. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to have served as a teaching fellow this summer and for Dartmouth's support in preparing me for this amazing and unforgettable experience!
Dartmouth runs on a quarter system, meaning that there are four terms in one academic school year. When you enter the College, your first term will occur during the fall season, which will last 10 weeks. As a first-year student, you are required to take classes on campus for the fall, winter, and spring terms. You can be "off" for the summer term, after your first year. However, you are required to be "on" for the summer term, after your second year. In a term, you typically take three courses. Each course will either occur on Monday/Wednesday/Friday or Tuesday/Thursday. You will have plenty of time to meet up with your deans, potential professors, older peers, etc. to craft your schedule.
Please note that as you enter your first term at Dartmouth, you will transition into an entirely new landscape. However, there will be support and resources available to ensure that you are successful. Take advantage of the many opportunities here on campus, and take classes because you want to genuinely learn. Don't take classes because they only meet distributive or world culture requirements. Also, academics at Dartmouth are very rigorous and fast-paced; make sure to note that you will learn a lot. Try to make an effort to meet and talk with your professors, as they are here to help you and ensure that you are successful in their classes. Some advice I have for incoming first-years is to note that time is money. Make sure to not stretch yourself too thin, and to pursue activities that you are genuinely passionate about. During my fall term, I took a lot of risks and solidified my daily schedule to ensure that I had enough time for myself.
You still have a lot of time to figure out what you want to pursue at the College, so take your time and live in the moment. Congratulations on your admission to the College! Welcome home, '26s!
Planning on visiting Dartmouth as a prospective student or an interested person wanting to see our beautiful campus? In this post, I share insider tips to ensure your visit is fulfilled!
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.
This is my final term before senior year, which is both exciting and terrifying at the same time. One thing I am excited about is the classes I am taking this term, so let me tell you more!
This is part two of me "nerding out" about my honors thesis! If you want to learn more about independent projects, theses, or the humanities at Dartmouth, check it out!
