Hey! I'm Owen from Hollywood, Florida and I'm a '24. My favorite activities are listening to music, running, and reading the same books over and over again. I'm an Earth Science modified with Physics major and Biology minor who loves "The New Yorker," the outdoors, and reading. On campus, I'm involved with hydrological research, the Dartmouth Undergraduate Journal of Science, Hillel, Greek Life, and—obviously—this blog!
Academic Program
Major in Earth Science modified with Physics & a Minor in Biology
With Early Decision deadlines right around the corner, I thought I'd share a moment that made me super excited to submit my Early Decision application about a year ago. Since I have a sister who's a '22—currently a junior—I had the amazing opportunity to visit campus not only as a prospective student, but also a family member during her first-year family weekend.
My sister and I pose for a selfie after grabbing lunch at Collis Cafe on campus.
We left Florida super early and schlepped our way to Hanover, arriving to unexpectedly amazing Thai food at Tuk Tuk, frigid May weather (I couldn't believe it was that cold during the end of spring), and some of my sister's friends, who convinced us to go to an a capella showcase. After shoveling our faces with Pad See Ew, we walked to the Hopkins Center for the Arts not really knowing what to expect; I mean—our only experience with a capella thus far in life was watching "Pitch Perfect."
Searching for seats in the already crowded theater, the show began and out came the first a capella group; I honestly can't remember which group it was, but I distinctly remember noticing how much fun they seemed to be having and how each group showed a distinct personality. A common theme: they were all completely comfortable dressed in silly costumes and dancing their hearts out to their songs.
Watching the a capella groups trying to get a laugh out of the audience through their costuming and choreography showed me that Dartmouth's culture was open and fun, and I totally wanted to be a part of a community like that. Moral of the story: pay attention to the arts while considering a school—they can tell you so much about the student culture.
And while I had the opportunity to watch the performances in person, watching them virtually can still give you so much information about how comfortable students feel being silly on campus. Check out a school's dance, improv, and a capella groups through social media to try and get a glimpse into how student artists express themselves. YouTube, TikTok, Instragram, and Spotify can definitely help with your college search process (despite what your parents/guardians may say), so take advantage of your virtual resources and follow some student-run art and comedy accounts from Dartmouth and other peer institutions on your list. You never know, you might see something that makes you fall in love with a school—like I did. To all the potential '25s: I'm beyond excited to see you on campus soon (just a year left)!
One of my greatest privileges at Dartmouth has been learning from Professor Ed. Miller of the History and Asian Studies departments. Read on to learn more about why he is my favorite professor!
The Sri Lankan New Year falls on the 13th and 14th of April, a time for plenty of celebrations and family time. At Dartmouth, I keep these traditions with my friends and celebrate a part of home every year!
As Decision Day approaches, you may find yourself at a crossroads between multiple schools, each with its own four-year journey. Having already spent two years here, I will reflect on a small fraction of the things that made me choose Dartmouth.
