Welcome! I'm Olivia Koo '26, hailing from Los Alamos, New Mexico. I am studying biological chemistry on the pre-med track, and I'm excited to be supplementing it with music, as a classical pianist and singer-songwriter! Some of my favorite things to do are watching YouTube videos about video games, singing and playing my guitar, and reading New York Times op-eds. Look through my page for information about Dartmouth's pre-med track, STEM research, acapella/music, and study abroad opportunities!
Unsure whether I would enjoy the biology-heavy pre-health track, I took an intro biology class. I surprisingly found myself so invested each class—I didn’t think I’d ever be excited trying to determine if the Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA) had DNA or RNA, but here we are! I found it a great introduction to thinking processes at Dartmouth.
I loved coming to this class with its supportive environment! The professor's feedback really helped me improve in my writing. This course guided us through personal narratives and organizational writing while discussing what it really means to be authentic. It also introduced me to the library’s resources for writing and research!
This class was definitely not easy! The accelerated version of general chemistry, it was my first class at Dartmouth that used a textbook, and I had to adapt and learn how to use a textbook for a class properly. But that didn't mean I didn't have a good time! The classes were full of physical demonstrations, and I felt very supported in the lab and beyond.
This was the first group music class I took, and I loved it! Each class we'd move a little forward in time; one day we'd talk about medieval chants, and by the next couple weeks, we talked about Baroque music. We even got to observe original medieval music scores from the Rauner Library, and attend a performance of Baroque music by the Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra!
Songwriting 1 was the first time I was able to work on something creative/in the arts at Dartmouth, and I really loved it! I got to learn how to improve my songwriting and get to know a community of fellow songwriters on campus. The class was both supportive and constructive, and I pushed myself to my creative limit with the assignment of writing one new song a week. This class inspired me to continue writing and being expressive, whether in an academic setting or not.
For one of my classes on the London Music FSP, I got to attend a myriad of musical performances in London and discuss them with my class! It was a once-in-a-life-time experience–getting to watch multiple operas, ballets, jazz sets, and a musical, as well as seeing beautiful performances from the London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic, and more, helped me grow my ear so much and my inspirations as a musician.
I took this class to learn a little more about the social landscape around medicine, and this class delivered that by a mile. From environmental exposure to racial inequities in medicine/health to the discussion of medicine itself as a manipulative tool in colonialist social structures, this class helped me rethink medicine and my role within it.
Happy week 3! As the first assignments and tests start lining up, I wanted to share what classes I'm currently taking for my first-year winter!
1. Biology 13: Genetics
After enjoying Biology 11 last term, I wanted to continue my trajectory of taking classes for the pre-health track. Compared to my last biology class, BIOL 13 contains a lab component, meaning that every week, students perform a lab experiment outside of regular class hours.
For the first week, we began the process of isolating genomic DNA from fruit flies (sorry fruit flies). It had been a long time since I had worked in a lab setting, and it was fun to experience the funky, cool machines. I'm interested to see where this class takes me in the future!
The labs are on the second floor!
2. Writing 5: Authenticity and Culture
This term, I get to take my first required writing class. The class is discussion-based, with a smaller number of about sixteen students so that the professor can place full their full attention into helping each of us improve our writing. With a variety of topics to explore through different classes, I was lucky enough to land a spot in my first choice! My writing class examines the social phenomenon of authenticity: What even is authenticity? How and why is it valued in society? I am a prospective sociology major, but with my current plans, I won't be taking a sociology class until my sophomore year. I hope that this class, set in the social sciences department, can give me an introduction to the discipline!
3. Spanish 2
Before I started the term, I thought I was going to push this class to a future time. After all, I knew that I was going to take the class eventually during my time at Dartmouth to fulfill the language requirement.
However, on the first day of class, I was a little blown away. After not speaking Spanish for seven weeks during the interim, I was thrown back into the language with a new fervor, as students and the professor spoke more fully and freely in Spanish than I had ever seen; the fast pace of Dartmouth language classes struck me. And I decided to stay—why not take advantage of the opportunity to lay a stronger foundation for Spanish?
I also get to take the class in the newly renovated Dartmouth Hall, which is always a plus.
In general, this term feels busier than the last, filled with Spanish assignments, writing exercises, and biology lectures only two weeks into class. However, I'm excited to see where the next term goes, and whether I can take the challenge.
Academics can be challenging at Dartmouth. But there are lots of groups across campus here to support you through your academic journey. Read on for my experience asking for help and a few organizations that might be helpful to you!
Every Dartmouth student is required to demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English. Here's my experience navigating the language requirement!
