Ola! Welcome to my Dartmouth journey. I'm Adrian, a '25 from Harare, Zimbabwe. With an insatiable thirst for investing, finance, and nature, I'm excited to dive into a major that combines all four passions—perhaps a modified economics major? The possibilities are endless! When I'm not tackling problem sets or immersed in "Things Fall Apart," I'm out and about on campus, discovering hidden gems and capturing countless memories on my phone. Join me as I embark on this incredible adventure!
Academic Program
Economics and African and African American Studies
For international students: What resources have proved most helpful for you as a Dartmouth student? How have OVIS or other campus departments supported you in your transition to Dartmouth?
A:
There are so many ways in which Dartmouth College can assist you financially. In this post, I took time to gather and outline the different financial resources that are available to students through Dartmouth's Financial Aid Office and other departments like the Office of Pluralism and Leadership.
1) BARRIER REMOVAL FUND
The Office of Financial Aid oversees funds for extraordinary circumstances that students may encounter during their time at Dartmouth. These circumstances are inclusive of but are not limited to money for emergency travel, financial assistance with personal expenses, and financial assistance with educational costs which might not necessarily be part of a student's financial aid package. However, priority for these funds is given to students on financial aid, but all requests are considered.
2) COLD WEATHER OUTERWEAR SUPPORT
Based on eligibility, some students qualify to receive a subsidy for cold weather outerwear, that is if they do not have a warm winter coat or boots. Cold weather outerwear support is available to students who have high financial needs. The subsidies are available to help students from warmer climates and those who may not have appropriate winter clothing stay warm and healthy.
3) FREE WINTER CLOTHING DRIVE
Dartmouth's Sustainability Office in collaboration with the First-Generation Office hosts a free winter clothing drive for students in need of assistance in getting affordable warm clothing. You get fine, gently used winter clothing and boots for no cost! They usually have a lot of high-quality puffy jackets, hats, wool jackets, and boots that are donated for use by Dartmouth students.
4) SHOPPING/ORDERING SUPPLIES
During International Student Orientation Program (ISPOP), Dartmouth College offers free shuttles to the West Lebanon Walmart plaza for all students who are, of course, willing to go. This is a good way to 1) interact and meet with a group of diverse students from all walks of life, 2) see different parts and places in and outside Hanover, and 3) buy snacks, room supplies, stationery, etc.
5) DARTMOUTH COACH VOUCHERS
Through the Student Assembly, Dartmouth offers Dartmouth Coach vouchers to make travel more accessible to all students on campus. These vouchers are intended for students with financial needs. They can be used to depart from campus on any date. They are usually offered in limited numbers. They come in the form of fully paid one-way tickets from Hanover to Boston.
This winter, I'm studying abroad in Toulouse, immersing myself in French language, literature, art, and culture through place-based classes, city explorations, and firsthand experiences across southern France.
This past summer, I was a Dartmouth Bound Leader with Admissions and a leader for Strengthening Educational Access with Dartmouth (SEAD) with the Center for Social Impact. With my rural, low-income background, I found it fulfilling to be a mentor.
Welcome back to Open Doors—your inside look at life in the Woods! This week, Gabe Brigham '26, a psychology and sociology double major, showed me around his dorm room, where we discussed Dartmouth residence halls, classes, and campus life.
