Hey all! I'm Batu. I'm a '26 from Istanbul, Turkey, and I am passionate about the cognitive science of design, developmental psychology, aesthetics research, postcolonial literature, and social media marketing! Be sure to reach out with questions about exploring the liberal arts, learning a new language at Dartmouth, cafes in town (one of my favorite blog series dare I say), study abroad programs, and research on campus!
Writing 5 is one of the courses that count towards the first-year writing requirement. The course covered content relating to the self, transformation, and social dynamics relating to majority and minority. Dr. Godley is simply phenomenal. Her instruction was extremely accessible even though she covered intense topics. I could not have enjoyed my Writing 5 more!
Design Thinking was above and beyond my expectations. The course is structured around weekly projects, where we apply different cognitive strategies to cover topics like design principles, human need-finding, brainstorming, scenario building, and visual thinking.
Introduction to Cognitive Science covers a variety of fields including psychology, computer science, linguistics, and philosophy to provide insight into cognitive processes. This course helped me develop an understanding of all facets of cognitive science and which ones I would be interested in further pursuing as part of my major.
SummerIstanbul, Turkey
I was home during my first summer! A non-exhaustive list of things I've done includes sunbathing, coding my personal blog, and going on runs. #rest #relaxation
Psychology 10 is a deep dive into almost everything you might need to become well-versed in conducting research, analyzing data, and interpreting findings in a statistically sound manner. Professor Pfister is the most approachable professor I have ever had the pleasure of learning from. Statistics isn't exactly my forté, but I now feel confident in my stats foundation!
I loved taking this class with Madame Alverde, a professor from Université Toulouse ; Jean Jaures was an incredible experience. She made sure to correct our mistakes on the spot and improve them eloquently.
This course allowed me to explore the intersection of aesthetics and digital media, focusing on how digital environments reshape traditional concepts like materiality and form. I particularly enjoyed comparing human and AI-generated analyses of art and examining the frameworks that shape contemporary digital studies, from visual culture to design philosophy.
SummerHanover, NH
I was on campus pursuing full-time research in the Cognitive Science department. My research focuses on children's capacity to imagine and reason about possibilities!
Halfway through spring term, it's time to reflect on the classes that have contributed to my academic journey. This term, I am taking a first-year seminar, French 2, and Introduction to Cognitive Science.
First Year Seminar: Masculinities Go In Between
The first-year seminar, Masculinities Go In Between, was the second class towards fulfilling my first-year writing requirement. This course focuses on American masculinities and how they have developed over time. The syllabus covered a range of materials from movies to essays, which provided me with a well-rounded perspective on the construction of masculinity. Discussions in class challenged me to think critically about gender roles and societal expectations.
One of the things that stood out to me about this class was how the professor facilitated discussions. They would pose thought-provoking questions and allow us to explore our own ideas before guiding the conversation toward the intended topic. This approach created an open and comfortable environment that allow for diverse perspectives to be heard.
French 2
As someone who had never taken French before coming to Dartmouth, taking French 2 was a continuation of my journey to become fluent in the language. In this course, we delve deeper into French grammar and vocabulary. While it was challenging, I appreciate the opportunity to improve my language skills and gain a deeper understanding of French culture.
For our final project, we are tasked with exploring a non-European francophone country of our choice. I chose to focus on the sound culture in Algeria, which allow me to delve deeper into a topic that I was passionate about. This project challenges me to think creatively and pushed me out of my comfort zone.
Introduction to Cognitive Science
Introduction to Cognitive Science is by far the coolest class I have taken at Dartmouth. In this course, we explore various aspects of cognitive science, including linguistics, philosophy, and psychology. While we only dipped our toes into each of these fields, it is fascinating to see how they all intersected. One of the things that make this course stand out is the professors. The course is co-taught by two professors who are extremely engaging and who create a great learning environment. They are approachable and willing to answer any questions we have. Additionally, the course utilizes a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, discussions, and interactive demonstrations.
Overall, my spring term at Dartmouth College is full of new experiences and valuable insights. The classes I took challenge me to think critically and push me out of my comfort zone!
Applying early to a university can be overwhelming and confusing. As someone who did not apply to Dartmouth through early decision, here are a couple tips that I could have used when thinking about applying early to a school!
