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!
As an undergraduate holding many admissions jobs (People Places Pines Blogger, Panelist, International Student Ambassador), I often get questions from my friends and prospective applicants searching for an "inside scoop." What's it like working for admissions? Are you being truthful with your answers? Are you being scripted? Let's dive right into all these questions.
I LOVE working for admissions because I get to mobilize (and monetize, hehe) my communication skills and serve as a source of information for prospective applicants. I hope to make the admission sphere appear less enigmatic and more accessible. Along with writing weekly blog posts for People Places Pines, I am heavily involved with the International Student Ambassadors program, a small cohort of international students at Dartmouth, collaborating with admissions on panels geared toward international students and other programming for international applicants. As an International Student Ambassador, I partake in several admissions panels to provide student insight on all things Dartmouth, including, but certainly not limited to, being an international student.
Regarding authenticity, I strive to provide answers to questions in a way that resonates with me and is true for me. I recognize that there is no single Dartmouth experience; being here looks and feels different for everyone. Before an admissions information session, I reflect on all the opportunities I've taken advantage of here, such as studying abroad and conducting research, as well as how my intersection of identities (international, low-income, queer, etc.) shapes my experience. Ultimately, panelists aim to contextualize what a Dartmouth experience CAN look like rather than painting a perfect and ultimately unrealistic picture of life.
Am I always 100% and super excited about every second of every day? No. I, too, snooze my 10+ alarms in the morning. There are moments when I'm not as excited to go to class, either because I'm stressed about other commitments or simply because I am human. Getting into college, Dartmouth or otherwise, doesn't mean everything will feel heavenly all the time. However, I can confidently say that being at Dartmouth for the past two years has broadened my horizons. The array of opportunities available to me, along with the incredible people I share this space with, naturally helps me discover more things to be excited about and find amazing people to share that excitement with.
TLDR: Admissions Luv <3. I reflect on whatever it is I want to reflect on through admissions programming. I try to be as authentic as possible.
I applied through Questbridge's National College Match, but did not match. To others who also did not match, this is not the end of your application process! Here's what I did following match decision day.
Learn about the different programs Dartmouth offers prospective students to explore campus life, learn about Dartmouth, and enjoy an all-expenses paid trip to Hanover!
It's been (almost) a full year since I was in your (figurative) shoes! Let's take a trip down memory lane and dissect my Dartmouth application process. Part one of a long journey!
