Hello, Eda here: full-time learner, part-time writer, and pretty much a happy amateur at everything else. My hobbies include reading, discovering new movies, and looking at the pictures of my cat. On campus, you can find me peer supporting for the Mental Health Union and SAPA, writing for Spare Rib, doing research in psychology, or listening to Turkish & English alt-rock. Feel free to ask me about taking a gap year, transitioning to a new cultural space, or college in general!
This class discusses the concepts of sex and gender in the broader context of issues related to race, class, national identity, and more. I loved this class because it helped me better understand how systemic inequality affects individual lives and made me think about ways to change it. Professor A'Ness is such an inspiring prof!
In this first-year writing seminar, we discussed how avant-garde movements from futurism to punk rock have constituted a rebellion against the status quo. I loved all the readings for this class and Professor McCann inspired me to take more courses in the English department!
In this course, we learned all the basics of fiction: character, plot, setting, etc. My favorite parts of the course were receiving feedback from other students, reading my peers' work, and having fiction readings as assigned course work! I also appreciated all the guest speakers we had, who were experienced writers in their respective genres.
As an aspiring clinical psychologist, this course has been one of the best classes I have taken at Dartmouth so far. The class focused on the etiology, diagnosis, characteristics and treatment of various mental disorders. Professor Hudenko has been one of the greatest lectures I had the pleasure of meeting. As a clinical psychologist himself, he had extensive knowledge in not only the theory, but also the practice of clinical psychology. He also succeeded in making a lecture-based class feel interactive and dynamic.
We covered the complex neural and biological mechanisms of multiple mental health disorders ranging from common conditions like anxiety to more complicated illnesses such as schizophrenia. In addition to reading about the cutting-edge research in this area, we also read memoirs and watched documentaries about the mental illnesses to focus on how these conditions are affecting people in real life. Professor Funnell is one of the best profs I had!
As an aspiring clinical psychologist, this has been one of my favorite classes at Dartmouth. We learned about different therapy methods, how and when to use them, their advantages, and shortcomings. The class was incredibly engaging with Professor Hudenko's frequent demonstrations of methods, therapy videos, and guest speakers. I would recommend this class to every psychology major.
I worked at Dimock Health Center as part of my community health internship. I was part of a team of summer interns who were college students like myself. We worked as patient advocates that helped people reach out to resources regarding housing, food, utilities, etc. Most of our work involved calling patients, helping them fill out forms, and researching resources. I learned so much about community health resources and how to communicate with a diverse set of patients. It was an invaluable experience!
I took classes in the School of English and Drama at Queen Mary University of London. My favorite class of the term was called London Performance Now, which involved going to different performance events in London and discussing them in class. It was the perfect opportunity to explore the cultural landscape of London.
As the title of the course suggests, this class was about food: its history, economics, and cultural practices. I learned a lot through this course thanks to guest speakers, thought-provoking readings, and engaging assignments. My favorite assignment in this course was writing about a family recipe; I learned so much about my family's history as well as the cultural conflicts in my home country. Overall, it was among the best classes I have taken at Dartmouth. Plus, we even got to eat delicious food cooked by our classmates!
Dartmouth is on a quarter system, and with the flexibility of the D-Plan most students can choose which of the four quarters they can spend on campus taking classes, also called "on-terms," and which terms they prefer doing other things, like research, internships, or traveling, which are called "off-terms." There are caveats to this, of course. Due to visa restrictions, international students are not allowed to be as flexible in their D-Plan choices as domestic students are. That's why only American students are required to be "on" for their sophomore summer, while most internationals take their sophomore summer as an off-term not to deal with the bureaucratic intricacies of their visa situation.
As an international student, I decided to take my sophomore summer off. While I spent my freshman summer back home with family and friends, recovering after an exciting yet tiring freshman year, this year, I decided to spend at least part of my summer in the US. I decided to apply for Dartmouth Center for Social Impact (DCSI) summer cohort internships, offered in three cities focusing on different social impact areas. For instance, my friend Sabrina is doing a DCSI summer cohort internship in San Francisco focusing on social innovation this summer, whereas my other friend Maanasi spent her junior summer in Philadelphia working on poverty alleviation. I applied for the Boston cohort of DCSI internships because it focuses on community health, an area I am particularly interested in as a Psychology major and a prospective clinical psychologist. After students apply for the cohort(s), DCSI matches the appropriate candidates with local non-profits. I was fortunate to be accepted into the DCSI Boston cohort and matched with Dimock Health Center in Boston. Founded as one of the first hospitals run by and for women, Dimock Center now serves a wider population and is known for delivering comprehensive health services to underprivileged communities. At Dimock, I am part of a team of summer interns who are college students like myself. We work as patient advocates that help people reach out to resources regarding housing, food, utilities, etc. Most of our work involves calling patients, helping them fill out forms, and researching resources. Though I thought I would hate a 9-5 desk job, I find this internship exhilarating because I find real meaning in our work. I hope we are making a real impact on people's lives.
I am writing this blog post fresh out of the second week of my internship. There is still a lot to learn and write about. Stay tuned!
SIP, or Social Impact Practicum, is a type of course that is offered at Dartmouth that centers around engaging with local community partners. I have taken two of these courses now and have found them to be enriching and interesting.
As an international student, I was hesitant to join Greek Life, but I found a welcoming community. Now, as a junior, I hope to help others find their place too.
When asked about my favorite term at Dartmouth, I'll enthusiastically answer, "Sophomore Summer!" Whether it's the enhanced beauty or community on campus, one aspect stands out as the highlight of my term: the start of summer dance ensembles!
For those who want to attend medical school after their undergraduate education, the infrastructure of a "pre-med" track is an important factor when choosing a school to apply to. Here's how the premed experience has been for me at Dartmouth!
