Welcome to the woods! Dartmouth is hands-down my favorite place, and I look forward to coming back every term. I'm not even kidding. After a day and a half of traveling, I step off the Dartmouth Coach and breathe in the crisp Hanover air. Dragging my two humongous suitcases, I trudge across campus, climb three flights of stairs, fumble for the key in my pocket, and finally open the door to my new corner dorm. I let out a sigh of relief at the sight of my bare twin XL mattress.
A 10-week term is no joke. When I say time flies, I mean it FLIES. I was scrolling through my camera earlier today and I kept thinking that there was no way these events happened 2 months ago. Especially with classes, I felt like I made impressive progress in the span of 9 weeks, and I have a few things to say about them before the term officially ends.
If you've read my previous blogs, you might remember that I'm taking Introduction to Programming and Computation this term! What are the requirements for this course? Attendance is not taken, but you should go to lectures, and read the online textbook (preferably before class and not an hour before the assignment is due). We are assigned Short Assignments and Labs throughout the quarter. These do take some time, but with the help of TAs and class notes, you will surely be able to do them. Other than that, CS recitation hours are a must. It's a weekly meeting with an assigned TA, and you get the opportunity to improve your understanding of that week's focus. What I love about this class is that the professor explains coding concepts with tangible ideas and pictures. The TAs' office hours are also almost every hour of every day, and they are here to make sure you all succeed. A big bonus is that there is no final exam! I just took my last midterm about a week ago, and I've never felt more relieved.
I also spontaneously decided to take PSYC1 at the beginning of the term, and I don't regret that one bit. Introductory Psychology is also a lecture-based course, but knowing the materials in the textbook is equally as important. I didn't realize that for my first midterm, so I didn't look over any textbook notes I made. Luckily, my friends crammed all the essential facts into my head the night before the test (I love them). If you've taken AP Psychology before, you might be familiar with many topics that were covered in the lectures, but being at Dartmouth makes this class 100 times more interesting. You would be learning about universal expressions of emotions then realizing that your professor literally published the paper that was mentioned in the textbook. Fun psychology fact: Phineas Gage worked in Hanover Inn (it's on our campus) before his major brain injury!
Psych summary before a test :')
Advanced First-Year Chinese is my third course for the term. We learn fast-paced traditional Mandarin. Our class meets 4 times a week and we have 2 mandatory 30-minute drills. I also studied for a test every week (cry). However, this class is super helpful! My Chinese improved dramatically and by finishing this course, I can apply for the Beijing Language Study Abroad program.
Trying to study for my Chinese quiz.
Though I was buried under piles of work for basically half the quarter, I managed to survive till the end (so proud). I am super grateful for the resources and support I've received from my professors, TAs, tutors, and peers. I genuinely can't wait for the winter term. But before that, it's time for winter break!
If you are interested in pursuing medicine after graduating from high school, as I was, you'll be looking at how different universities design their "pre-health" experience. What does that experience look like at Dartmouth College?
Welcome back to Open Doors—your inside look at life in the Woods! This week, Isabelle Sullivan '26, an environmental studies and geography major, showed me around her room, where we discussed Dartmouth residence halls, classes, and campus life.
There was never a single "aha!" moment of clarity when I knew that Dartmouth was right for me, yet now, it is impossible for me to imagine having chosen anywhere else.
From a tight-knit study abroad cohort to intimate classroom moments and inspiring literary talks, French has grown far beyond a minor — becoming a thread that runs through the most meaningful parts of her Dartmouth life.
Amid the whirlwind of a ten-week term, the quietest moments — studying in the sun, cooking with a friend, running through Pine Park — turn out to be the ones worth savoring most.
