When you were applying to college, what was the one thing you were nervous about? i.e. essays, interviews, making new friends, etc..

The posts below answer last week's blog question.

The essay really isn't that bad...really

I was deathly afraid of the college essay. I thought the essay had to be a topic that was really really profound and so obscure that no one ever would think about writing about it. It took me forever to come up with something because I was limiting myself so much. I wrote my essay for Dartmouth about my favorite quote. And truthfully I just happened on the topic. One day I picked up a notebook from junior year and it fell open to a page with this Winston Churchill quote that my prof had used to start the class: "History will be kind to me for I intend to write it..."

ADVICE: Pick something that you can write passionately about...it will be your best writing. Also some "overly" popular topics tend to be: The Great Gatsby, grandparent(s) (Write about whatever you want even your grandparents or Gatsby if that's what your passionate about....but make sure it's unique and says something about you that the rest of your app doesn't.)

SAT/ACT Scores!!

When I was applying to colleges, I was so nervous that my SAT scores were not high enough to be admitted to top notch schools. My grades were good, I was involved in a ton of different things, but my SATs did not show my hard work and dedication to academics. Fortunately, Dartmouth takes a holistic approach to the application process and SAT scores are not the end of the admissions decision. When an Admissions Officer reads an application they look at the whole package: your extracurricular activities, the class you take, how you contributed to your community, and if you've challenged yourself throughout high school.

So, if you don't have perfect SAT/ACT scores (or anywhere near what you think is a "good" score) don't worry. Make sure to present yourself the best you can throughout the rest of your application; in your essay, your recommendations, your resume, etc. Do the best you can, and everything will work out in the end!

Making New Friends

The one thing I was most nervous about was making new friends. I was so used to the friends I had made for four years in high school that I was really nervous about finding my group of close knit friends again. Also, it doesn't help that I am a fairly shy person.

However, as soon as I arrived on campus, I was able to make friends easily because the people here were so friendly and nice. It was really silly of me to even think that making friends was going to be an obstacle for me with how many great people attend Dartmouth. The people here are so nice, genuine and down-to-earth which is the reason why I was able to make friends so quickly. Since a lot of people are very active on campus, by just joining one organization, I was able to meet a lot of great people that I wouldn't have met in my classes.

I have found that the people at Dartmouth are consistently nice and friendly people and they are the reason why I am still enjoying my time here at Dartmouth.

Too many opportunities?

I think my biggest fear coming to Dartmouth was knowing how to navigate and choose between all of the different opportunities, both curricular and extracurricular, that exist on campus. I was anxious about continuing some of the activities I participated in while in high school but also branching out and trying new things. Luckily, I think Dartmouth does a good job in marketing all the different opportunities to students, especially when you are a first-year. Your UGA, or Undergraduate Adviser, who lives on your floor, is a great resource for this kind of information. Unlike RA's at other schools, the UGA has no disciplinary responsibilities. They are really there to give you advice and keep you up to date on different opportunities on campus and deadlines etc. Every UGA also has a small budget from the College to spend on programming for the floor like pizza parties and small get-togethers to discuss picking a major or really anything you want to talk about. Through my UGA and first year adviser, I learned how to apply to study abroad, what extracurriculars I might want to join and a lot about living on campus and taking advantage of all the great things going on at Dartmouth.

Long story short: don't worry about navigating Dartmouth! There are a ton of resources available to help you.

Essays!!

When I was applying to college, I was really nervous about the personal essay. My counselors always told me that the essays were a big part of any college application because I had complete control over it. I could decide how and what I wanted to write. As a result, I wrote tons of drafts trying to figure out what was the best way that I could portray myself.

I remember writing drafts ranging from a day at my high school to my family interactions. Because I wrote so many different essays, I ultimately don't remember what I actually submitted to schools.

But the best advice that I can give is just to be yourself and let who you are as a person come across to anybody who would read your essay.

Click here to read tips that a columnist has about writing college essays.

Dartmouth is known for its super involved and enthusiastic alumni. What's one memorable experience you have had with a Dartmouth alum?

The posts below answer last week's blog question.

Aumni Connections!

Dartmouth has very strong connections with its alumni, and does a wonderful job connecting current students with alumni and making sure those relationships exist even after 4 years in Hanover. I have so many wonderful memories with alums, and some have become good friends.

I was a member of the Hill Winds Society, a student organization dedicated to establishing connections between students and alumni and organizing programs on campus to build these relationships. We met with alumni during major weekends like Homecoming and Winter Carnival and class reunions. One of my fondest memories was this past year right before the Homecoming Bonfire we organized an event with some hot cocoa and facepainting and brought together Dartmouth students and local alumni for a good time before seeing the freshmen run around the fire. It was awesome to see so many people connect and relive their Dartmouth experiences and cheer on the freshmen as they were frying next tot he Bonfire!

I've very fortunate to have met so many wonderful alums who offered job advice, life advice, and just good laughs. I can't believe finally joined their ranks! I know for fact that as an alum I will continue to be supportive of Dartmouth, and give back in the small ways that I can.

Alumni Moments

I have had some awesome and not so great moments with alumni. My first bad encounter was actually for my interview for Dartmouth. All of the Dartmouth applicants met at a center in downtown Baltimore and waited in a room until an alum came and got us. The selection process was random; whichever alum was done with their interviewee came in the room and took whichever student was next in line. Of course I was very nervous because I had no idea who I was going to get.

When I sat down with my interviewer he told me he graduated in the early 70s (which was before Dartmouth was coeducational). The whole interview was kind of awkward because I felt like he wasn't trying to get to know me as a person as opposed to just asking me questions so he could hurry up the process. I remember leaving the interview telling my mom that I didn't think I got into Dartmouth because I thought the interview was bad.

But look where I'm at! It just goes to show that interviews aren't everything and you shouldn't give up on a school because of one bad encounter.

I have also had many great moments with alumni. When I went to Thailand, a former Dartmouth Graduate who now works for IBM Thailand invited me and the other Dartmouth student on my program, Casey, out to lunch. We all just chatted about our experiences and she offered to find Casey and I internships in Thailand for the summer. Also, the Dartmouth Club of Thailand organized a dinner for Casey and I so that we could meet more Dartmouth Alums. Some of them were very prominent figures which made me a little nervous at first. They were all down to earth and it was a great experience interacting with them. I had a lot of fun.

We Bleed Green!

My most memorable experience with Dartmouth alums was cheering for our Girls' Varsity Basketball Team this year when they went to the NCAA Playoffs. Our girls made it to the first round of the NCAA tournament which means they played the number 1 seed University of MD, College Park's, Lady Terps. I grew up watching MD girls but I knew I had to cheer on my Dartmouth girls. I came to the game in Big Green apparel and was scared for my life in a sea of Terps fans. I expected to be the ONLY Dartmouth fan at the game...but as I walked into the arena, I heard a group of people yelling "YEAAAAAAA DARTMOUTH!!!." There was an entire cheering section of Dartmouth alums and their families. We all sat together and had an amazing time cheering on our girls and talking trash! Granted we suffered a huge loss, but it was so great to be surrounded by so many people of all ages who didn't care that we were the underdog. Afterwards, there was a reception for mixing and mingling. That night I realized more than ever that nothing can overcome the pride that Dartmouth alums have in our school. We really do BLEED GREEN.

Gift of a Lifetime

My most memorable experience with a Dartmouth alumnus occurred this past fall. I was invited by the Dartmouth College Fund to attend a scholarship luncheon because this year a Dartmouth alumnus decided to fund my tuition. I was extremely nervous to be meeting a guy who didn't even know me but just from reading my file decided to help pay for my education. However, he did not make me feel awkward at all. If anything, I think I made him feel awkward for even saying thank you!

If you are like me, I wondered why anyone would give a ridiculous amount of money to their alma mater. However, the moment I met him, I knew the reason why he choose to donate his money to the school, he absolutely LOVES Dartmouth. Mr. Rees-Jones discusses his time at Dartmouth as a very enjoyable experience and he has always wanted to give back to Dartmouth.

The reasons why the moment was memorable are: First, he had the thickest Texan accent I have EVER heard, and I am from Texas. But that made him even more genuine.

Second, from the moment we met to the end of the lunch, he was constantly asking me what I did on campus, if I was enjoying my time here, where my family was from, what am I studying and so on and so forth. He wanted to actually get to know me.

Third, he was very humble. He never once flaunted his wealth in any way even though he is also funding five other Dartmouth students' tuitions.

Mr. Trevor Rees-Jones '73 has definitely made an impact on my life and I am grateful for everything he has done for the College and for me.

To find out more about his HUGE donation to the school click here: Mr. Trevor Rees-Jones ' 73

P.S. I didn't know this about him till I left the luncheon and went to my room and googled him. However, in 2007 Forbes named Mr. Rees-Jones in the top 400! Read more about the article here: Forbes Article

Looking for advice? Talk to an alum!

My most memorable experience with an alum of Dartmouth came my sophomore year, while looking for an internship for one of my Leave terms. I remember hearing about Career Services and their network of alumni but I wasn't too sure if they could help me. When I walked in, though, they sat me down at a computer and showed me how to use the database of alumni advisors. Between Career Service and Alumni Relations, there are literally thousands of alumni who have given their personal phone numbers and email addresses so that Dartmouth undergraduates can contact them for advice, guidance, or anything at all. At the time, I thought I wanted to go into the entertainment industry, so I looked up producers, actors, and business people associated with TV, movies, and music. Eventually I found a handful of alums who lived where I was looking and simply sent them an email. The following week I was on the phone with a producer from MSNBC, the head of ESPN International, and an alum who had worked for Comedy Central when he was an undergrad. I think that's when I realized the Dartmouth alum are crazy, passionate, enthusiastic and completely in love with Dartmouth.

Dartmouth FLICKR photo stream!

UNRELATED TO QUESTION OF THE WEEK:

More great photos of Dartmouth and student life here: the Dartmouth Flickr stream

Dartmouth Lingo!...What are some of your favorite words, terms, phrases, etc that are unique to Dartmouth?

The posts below answer last week's blog question.

Dartmouth Lingo

It seems Dartmouth students like to shorten a lot of words:

The Hop: This stands for The Hopkins Center. Most students will say, "Let's eat at The Hop" which really refers to Courtyard Cafe inside the Hop.

LSA: Language Study Abroad

FSP: Foreign Study Program

HPO: Hanover Police

S&S: Safety and Security - Dartmouth security officers

More Dartmouth Lingo!

facetime: When one desires attention by being somewhere where they know others will see them. Usage: "You don't really study on the first floor of the library, you just get facetime." This can also be used as an adjective to describe someone who pursues 'facetime'.


wicked: This word has a special place in my heart because of its prominent usage in New Hampshire. Being from Hanover, I have always used "wicked" to mean "very" or "extra." Most Dartmouth students pick up the term and bring it home at some point. Usage: "Man, it rained wicked hard yesterday" or "I thought that test was wicked easy."

EVENT: Fieldstock

Right now all of the talk on campus is focused on Summer Term's big weekend: Fieldstock. Fieldstock is a newer tradition that was started four year ago. (Before we had Tubestock, which involved events on the river, but safety regulations and NH state law killed it...RIP.) As a sophomore I've been anticipating this event for all of Sophomore Summer.

So what happens during Fieldstock? Teams sign up to compete in a sort of mini-Olympics that consists of all sorts of crazy events. There is a "flair"** showcase (note the Dartmouth Vocab lesson below), an eating competition, an obstacle course, and many other team events. The highlight of all of the events is the Human Chariot Race. After all of the competitions the team with the most points is awarded. Throughout the weekend there will be many live student performances, parties, BBQs, and I've even heard rumor of a mechanical bull!

Next week, we will be sure to follow up with a re-cap of the weekend! TO BE CONTINUED....

SIX FLAGS!!!

Unrelated to the question of the week

In student forums and on tours I get the question, "What do you do on weekends?" a lot! So, I just wanted to share what I did this weekend.

A group of my friends and I went to SIX FLAGS for $10. Yup, you got that right, $10 for the bus trip and the ticket into Six Flags.

How?!

Student organizations are a beautiful thing :-). One student organization, Programming Board, is in charge of basically keeping the student body happy. Not really, but they do a good job at that also. Programming Board has this huge budget dedicated towards funding concerts like Three 6 Mafia who came last spring, or funding events like taking 96 students to Six Flags, for very low costs to the students (tickets are generally between $5 - $10). And note I said student organization. That means, as a student, even as a freshman, you can be in charge of organizing these events.

So, basically, I am in love with Programming Board, if you couldn't tell, because they make the term just that much fun with all the special events they have each term.

P.S. In case you want to know more of the nitty-gritty details about Programming Board, they have their own website: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~sao/prgboard/

Example of Flair!

This is what flair looks like. Believe me it gets worse than this!

Dartmouth Slang

We also have:

* sketchy: to describe someone who is acting weird in any sense of the word

*flair: clothing that is eccentric (colorful, different, wacky)

More Dartmouth Words!

Dartmouth students definitely have their own vocabulary and I think there should be a special dictionary just to decode it! We have our own words with special meanings that will leave your friends back home wondering what are you talking about.

Here are some more words for your collection:

>FoCo: Short for Food Court, one of the main dining areas in Thayer Dining Hall. Famous for Spicy Russian, grilled cheese sandwiches, Fried Chicken Mondays (FCM), and other delicacies that only the Dartmouth Dining Services (DDS) know how to prepare best.
Ex. "Send me a blitz if you want to grab some food at FoCo."

> Self-call: Used to take note when an individual arrogantly boasts or brags about their achievements or grades.
Ex. Person 1: "I just got a perfect score on my Chemistry test!"
Person 2: "That's such a self-call!"

>DOC Trips: Dartmouth Outing Club Trips. First-year outdoor trips that occur before Orientation. Students can pick to do a variety of activities such as kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing, mountain biking, fishing, and much more!

> D-Plan: Dartmouth's unique academic calender based on a quarter system that is split into 4 terms (Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer) each lasting between 8-10 weeks.

>Prospie: A prospective student who is interested in Dartmouth. Not a disease!

>UGA: Undergraduate Advisor. A UGA is similar to a Resident Advisor at other schools, but much cooler! UGA's are responsible for a building a sense of community on your floor and are in charge of planning fun activities, events, and are helpful resources when picking classes and applying for study abroad programs. They are not "rule enforcers."

> BFAB: Breakfast For A Buck. BFAB occurs every Saturday in the freshmen dorms. Your UGA organizes this delightful breakfast event with eggs, ham, pancakes, and other goodies and all you have to bring is a $1 and your own silverware.

> DBA: Declining Balance Account. This is your meal plan. We do not have a "points" system or a set number of meals that you can eat. At the beginning of the term you sign up for a dining plan and you will have this money available to spend on food whenever you want, and at any dining facility.

> Topside: Dartmouth's own grocery store located on the 2nd floor of Thayer Dining Hall.

> Fro-Yo: Frozen yogurt. A must-have in FoCo.

> Pavilian Cookies: Synonymous with "the most amazing cookies you will ever have in your life!" Types include: Oatmeal Raisin, Peanut Butter, White Chocolate and Macadamia Nuts, and of course Chocolate Chip.

Hope this gets you started on your Dartmouth lingo!

Dartmouth Talk!

At Dartmouth we use a lot of our own words. You'll hear a lot of abbreviations, word combinations, and just plain made-up words. Some of my favs are:


* blitz- Dartmouth's word for e-mail and the main form of communication on campus. It probably comes from the World War II term Blitzkrieg (lightning warfare), since blitzes are sent so quickly and so often. It's funny to go home and tell someone you'll blitz them because they look at you like you're crazy!

* schmob: large groupings of freshmen who travel everywhere together.
Ex: During orientation and the first couple weeks of school you will see schmobs everywhere as freshman learn to navigate Dartmouth.


* awk-rando: a term to describe someone who is "awkward" and "random."

Where are you from and have you ever been homesick?

The posts below answer last week's blog question.