Hey y'all! I'm Caroline York, and I'm a '25 from Georgia! My hope is to share my Dartmouth experience with potential '29s, '30s, '31s and beyond! On campus, I write sports for The Dartmouth, am a Center for Social Impact SIBS mentor, am in Christian life, a Tour Guide, a Dartmouth Emergency Medical Services (EMS) member, and do medical research! Otherwise, you'll find me at the Norwich Farmers' Market, studying in the Tower Room, and running along the Appalachian Trail. Welcome to my world!
I initially took this class because I wanted to know more about Dartmouth’s history with Native Americans. It ended up being my favorite class because Professor Duthu was so enthusiastic about Native American affairs. He related the lectures to his own experiences growing up on a reservation, which made the class come to life.
As a potential Classics major on the pre-health track, this class was perfect for me! We learned about different medical practices from Rome and Greece and how medicine had changed in the past 2,000 years. We had a class in the Geisel School of Medicine and got to hold human organs!
I took this class because I wanted to learn more about the economy. Econ 2 focuses on the current economic climate in the US, so we would follow the DOW Jones on a daily basis to establish trends. In an economy impacted by a pandemic, inflation, and a war, this class was so helpful in my understanding of the financial climate of the country.
Physics with Professor Blencowe was delightful. His enthusiasm for the subject matter created excitement for students. The labs were hands-on and interactive to learn about the mechanics of the world.
This class fulfilled the Interdisciplinary Approach to my Global Health minor, and I enjoyed every minute of it. With Professor McCabe, we discussed gender and how its structure impacts our daily lives. My final research project studied gender within "Grey's Anatomy," which was created by Shonda Rhimes '91.
I used my "off-term" to travel to Hanoi, Vietnam for a Dartmouth Dickey Center Global Health Internship. I worked for the Institute of Population, Health, and Development, and studied health disparities in Vietnam.
This class was taught by a visiting professor, and she did an excellent job of engaging the class and making the material exciting. We learned about the historical Jesus figure in a Jewish context, and we connected the class content to modern day movies about Jesus.
I did a transfer term at Trinity College, Dublin, which means I took three courses at Trinity. My favorite was "Roman Archaeology" because I had never taken an archaeology course yet for my Classical Studies major.
Math 3 with Professor Erp was such a delight! He made math so understandable and accessible. I can honestly say I enjoy doing integrals after this class!
This class was fantastic! Professor Kramer is very knowledgeable about this field. Although I don't have an engineering background, this class was a great introduction. I learned how everything from medical tools to the Colosseum were made and built.
SummerAtlanta, GA
This was my first off-term (meaning I wasn't taking any Dartmouth classes) since my sophomore spring! I did a wonderful internship that was completely funded by Dartmouth; I'll write blog posts to share more!
FallAtlanta, GA
This was another great off-term internship that was funded by Dartmouth!
WinterAtlanta, GA
For winter term, I decided to do an internship with an Atlanta-based ophthalmologist that was completely funded by the Center for Professional Development (CPD). I worked for Dr. Jordan Stanley, who specializes in glaucoma and cataract surgeries, and I had the opportunity to shadow him and gain hands-on clinical experience that is invaluable to a future career in medicine. Thank you, CPD and Dr. Stanley for this incredible term!
The summer before my senior year of high school, I felt almost overwhelmed by all the colleges in the US. With nearly 4,000 colleges in the US, it can feel daunting to pick a place that will be a good fit for you. I made a list of what to consider when you are narrowing down your list!
1. School Size
Schools in the US range in size, and the size has a significant impact on your experience! Dartmouth has an undergraduate population of 4,400 students and 2,200 graduate students. It is one of the largest liberal arts colleges in the country but small compared to most state schools. I really enjoy the small size as I know most people in my year and always see a familiar face on my way to class.
2. Location
The location of a school—whether it is in a metropolitan or rural area—and the distance from your hometown are also important factors! Some people want to go to school close to their hometown, and others prefer to venture out. Dartmouth has a good mix of students from all over the US as well as all over the world. With its relatively rural location, Dartmouth boasts a tight-knit community and an emphasis on the outdoors.
3. Options When You're Not on Campus
Though your time on campus is critical to your college experience, you should always consider what your options are when you are studying abroad, doing internships, and how the school will set you up and stay with you after you graduate. Study abroad experiences look different across the board. Some schools only allow you to study abroad in one place, either for a semester or a year, and other schools, such as Dartmouth, encourage students to go abroad up to three different times.
A photo of me on my Greece FSP (Foreign Study Program)!
While most schools send their students to do exchange terms at partner universities across the world, Dartmouth professors go with a small cohort of students and teach them either in coordination with a local university or on the road, traveling from place to place in a region. In terms of securing internships, you should also look at a school's financial and personal resources. Dartmouth has multiple funding sources, from the Dartmouth Center for Career Design (DCCD) for general internships to the Dartmouth Center for Social Impact (DCSI) for nonprofit internships, and many more. Dartmouth alums are incredibly helpful to students and are often happy to give job advice and introduce students to different job opportunities. The Dartmouth Alumni Associationalso does multiple events a year in major cities across the world, and I've really enjoyed interacting with my local Georgia chapter.
While first-year students don't have to worry about customizing their D-Plan right away, upperclassmen may encounter some constraints when trying to modify theirs. Here's how I petitioned my D-Plan to accommodate my double-major!
One of my greatest privileges at Dartmouth has been learning from Professor Ed. Miller of the History and Asian Studies departments. Read on to learn more about why he is my favorite professor!
