Hello, 你好! My name is Tao; I'm from New York City, and I'm a proud first-generation student. I'm currently interested in studying Math, Economics, and Philosophy. I love being immersed at campus–especially aesthetic Woccoms and soaking in the nature in the Upper Valley. Come one, come all: let me take you along!
Some of my rising senior friends from New York have been in contact with me since graduation, and I've compiled a list of FAQs that might help you better understand life at Dartmouth!
Q: Hanover is so different from New York, how do you get used to being in such a small space?
A: Actually, Hanover doesn't feel small at all; it feels more tight knit. On one hand, I am removed from the bustling city and placed into a rural New England, but there's still so much to do. There are so many activities for you to do like going outdoors or extracurriculars or even visiting towns nearby in Hanover like White River Junction. Though, at the same time, you get to spend college with a close community that gives you the familiarity of home.
Q: What's your major?
A: Actually…I don't know! I think the fun thing about Dartmouth is the liberal arts curriculum; and as a First Year Student, we are encouraged to explore different disciplines, because we don't declare a major our 5th term (which is near the end of our sophomore winter). I'm currently taking an intro computer science course—and I've never touched CS before—a Chinese class, and a writing class about food!
Q: Do you miss home?
A: Yes, I think the feeling of homesickness resurfaces from time to time as I'm going through the term. There are days, too, that I really miss food from Chinatown, New York, however, I think Dartmouth has become a second home for me as I've made so many friends throughout this term—many who are first-gen scholars I've met through Dartmouth's FYSEP Program! Ultimately, college experience is different for everyone, and I think it's an amazing experience getting to live in a dorm and independently!
Q: How is the dining hall food?
A: I need to start by saying that I LOVE Courtyard Cafe's Burger Special. Courtyard Cafe is one of the dining locations that offers menu items off of the grill, and they have different burgers on a weekly rotation. But generally speaking, our main dining hall—colloquially known as "Foco"—is great! I love the amount of selections they have, and I am an absolute fan of the pizza station!
Q: What is the work-life balance like?
A: Honestly, it was pretty hard to adjust to Dartmouth's 10-week fast-paced curriculum at first—but as I got acquainted with my schedule, I find that I spend most of my mornings and afternoon in classes (three classes) and the evening either studying or going to clubs like DOC club meetings (Dartmouth Outdoor Club)
Q: Favorite thing about the campus so far?
A: Fall is just…gorgeous. The foliage, the morning hikes to see the foliage, and maple syrup from the farmers market, which runs throughout the first seven weeks, and located just 10 minutes of bus ride outside of Hanover!
Q: I'm a first-generation student too; how is the first-gen community at Dartmouth?
A: We have so many resources for first-generation students at Dartmouth—in fact, we even have an office for it! The people at FGO (First-Gen Office) are super helpful; they lead the FYSEP program, where I met hundreds of first-gen students across class years, offered career fairs led by first-gen upperclassmen/alumnis, (bi)weekly first-gen community dinners, and all sorts of community events that bring us together! I have so much love for the first-gen community at Dartmouth, and there's so much love to receive too! We also have the Dartmouth QuestBridge Chapter, which is also a space designed for first-gen Dartmouth students!
This winter, I'm studying abroad in Toulouse, immersing myself in French language, literature, art, and culture through place-based classes, city explorations, and firsthand experiences across southern France.
From surfing in Puerto Rico to backpacking in Joshua Tree to Norway: Break trips are a unique Dartmouth experience, giving students the opportunity to immerse themselves in the outdoors
Welcome back to Open Doors—your inside look at life in the Woods! This week, Gabe Brigham '26, a psychology and sociology double major, showed me around his dorm room, where we discussed Dartmouth residence halls, classes, and campus life.
