你好！Or Hi! My name is Taylor, and I'm a '27! I'm from Beijing, China. I'm hoping to major in Mathematics Modified with Computer Science and minor in Religion. Outside of the classroom, you can find me going on hikes with the Dartmouth Outing club, drawing or crafting at the jewelry studio, or having fun, philosophical conversations with friends!
Academic Program
(Intended) Mathematics Modified with Computer Science, Religion
Coming to Dartmouth with a solid background in French (Delf B2), I find French 3 a perfect fit for me -- it helps me to consolidate a lot of key grammar and vocabs, and fun weekly cultural activities like coffee hours and french lunch table offers me chances to relax in busy times. While the class is very rigorous and requires a lot of hard work, my professor is so nice and makes the class very fun! I also look forward to going to Dartmouth's Toulouse LSA program after completion of this class!
This course explores how Buddhist concepts of embodiment affect daily life and society in Southeast Asian contexts, and how the intersection of religion, sexuality, and gender impact broader understandings of authority, wisdom, beauty, death, and loyalty. The class takes on many forms beyond mere lectures -- a visit to the Hood Museum of Art, mindfulness practices, and small Buddha-crafting projects. Our professor (the sweetest Prof. MK Long) also invites many of her colleagues at other institutes as guest lecturers to our class so that we can learn from real experts specializing in different countries in Southeast Asia. I have learned a lot from the class and decided to become a religion major after this course!
Having never enjoyed math classes before college, I'm surprised (again) by how I'm becoming a math major and falling in love with math here! My professor (Prof. Shu Longmei, who graduated from the best university in my hometown) is incredibly good at teaching the concepts -- not just explaining things clearly but also showing us the beauty and elegance of calculus. I really look forward to taking more math classes in the future!
SummerVietnam & Beijing, China
I first visited pagodas in Vietnam for a couple of weeks and had days of conversations with monastics! Then, I returned home to savor time spent with my family and old friends, focus on my mental and physical health, and study and work a bit.
Advice for Applicants: Mastering Online School Research
In my previous blog, I discussed what to look for during a campus visit. However, campus visits are a privilege, especially for international and economically disadvantaged students. As an international student applying during the COVID-19 pandemic, I didn't have the opportunity to visit campuses to inform my college application decisions. In such cases, it becomes crucial to gather as much information about schools as possible. In this blog, I'd like to share my personal experiences of conducting online school research, and some of the things that helped.
One of the most important things for me to keep in mind was that I would be spending one of the most formative and important stages of my life in university. As such, instead of solely looking at rankings, I needed to evaluate what institutions suited me best and offered the most enriching college experience. For example, during my college application process, I prioritized considering the size of the university and the level of personalized support and care the school provided to its students. This helped me ensure that I would thrive both academically and personally.
Before conducting school research, I asked myself: What was I looking for in my undergraduate education? Would I be able to reach my full potential and take advantage of what the institution offers? My freshman year experiences have shown me that there are many aspects of the college experience that ranking metrics fail to represent, and if I were to repeat my school research process, I would emphasize factors like mental health and geography a lot more. Additionally, it would be really important to research the mental health situations of students and geographical safety of the area, the former of which can be indirectly reflected by academic rigor, school size, and the latter by relevant news reports. As an international student, I found it important to prioritize schools one can reach to without transferring flights, and those situated in weathers one could withstand.
In this context, general guides to colleges and school websites can be helpful. However, it's crucial to be flexible in gathering information. Look for YouTube videos of campus tours and research neighborhood safety and activities. Consult upperclassmen and friends about their experiences. Explore aspects like weather, dorm conditions, food quality, the party scene, and academic rigor. Additionally, consider the school's commitment to student well-being and diversity (especially important for international students/students of color). Even consider finding information as subjective as one's personal impressions of the school, of the student body (what do they like and dislike about it). These elements are crucial for you to make a more informed decision and choose a college where you can thrive.
