ALRIGHT It's been far too long...

Apologies for the delay in new posts here on Life at Dartmouth. With all the visitors for Dimensions, and the beautiful weather here in Hanover this spring, it's been hard to force myself to blog.

On Saturday night, I attended the Barbary Coast Jazz Ensemble Senior Show at the Hop [Hopkins Center for the Arts]. Four words: Rocked. My. Face. Off.

The Coast is amazing. I am lucky enough to call the lead tenor sax player a friend and his senior feature "Julian" was seriously awesome. Even now in my senior year, I am still constantly amazed by the talent of Dartmouth students.

For those of you interested in joining the Coast if (and when) you come to Dartmouth, they typically hold auditions in the Fall, as well as other terms as needed. Be ready, though, because the Director of Barbary Coast sets high standards.

For more information on the Barbary Coast Jazz Ensemble, click here.

Cultural Expressions & Friends

I loved my Dimensions experience 4yrs ago and I have enjoyed being on campus every spring since then and watching the new class of students partake in their own Dimensions experience. One of my favorite events during Dimensions was Cultural Expressions. At this event a small selection of performance groups from across campus perform and give prospective students an idea of the types of performance groups they could be involved in if they came to Dartmouth. As someone who likes to dance, seeing some of Dartmouth’s dance groups in actions really made me more excited about attending the school. By the end of the event I realized that I wanted to try out for a bunch of groups even though I still had not picked a school for next year. I also enjoyed hanging out with my host, who is still a close friend of mine to this day, and meeting other prospective students. A lot of the people that I met did decide to come to Dartmouth and, some of these students are also now some of my closest friends on campus.

Welcome Show

My favorite Dimensions memory would have to be the Welcome Show. Just as the title suggests, the show is a way to welcome admitted students as well as introduce them to all the things that Dartmouth has to offer. The cool thing is that all the information is given in songs that the current students perform. I still can remember how enthusiastic and energized everyone was. When I watched this year's Welcome Show for the Class of 2014, so many memories were brought back. I am happy and excited that next year's class was able to experience the same eventful and energetic show that I did.

The Welcome show really made me feel like I was apart of the Dartmouth community and ultimately sealed the deal for me.

Dartmouth Enthusiasm!

Since I applied Early Decision, I did not attend Dimensions as a prospective student. However, as a current student, it is incredible to watch prospective students fall in love with Dartmouth over Dimensions. Once you experience Dartmouth for yourself, and feel the passion and excitement that exists among the students here, you'll know what I mean.

I think what stands out most during Dimensions is how much current Dartmouth students LOVE to be here. And on top of the incredible opportunities and top-notch academics, I think the presence of happy students, who really love to be here, is really something to take note of as you make your decision about Dartmouth. The fact that the same Dartmouth enthusiasm still exists among the alumni also speaks volumes about the College and what makes it so unique.

As President Kim emphasized in his talk on Saturday morning of Dimensions, once you join the Dartmouth family, you are part of it for life. And I think for many students, that begins with Dimensions, when they experience Dartmouth in this way for the first time.

Meeting New People

My favorite Dimensions moment was sitting in Food Court with four of my new friends. We were just laughing and joking around and having a good time. It was as if we had known each other for forever and we just felt like we belonged at Dartmouth. It was in that moment when I could see myself attending Dartmouth. I believed if people like this were being accepted to Dartmouth, I can see myself in Food Court for hours on in talking, laughing and learning from them. Actually, some of my friends don't like going to Food Court with me unless they have 2 hours of free time because I love just sitting and hearing others stories. Three out of the four friends I was with decided to come to Dartmouth and two of them are the closest friends I have here.

The picture is of Guy DiFrancesco who has been cooking in Thayer dinning hall for 33 years.
(Provided by Dartmouth's Flickr page)

NEW QUESTION OF THE WEEK!

What is your favorite Dimensions memory?

The posts below answer last week's question of the week.

Why Dartmouth?

I applied to over fourteen schools and got accepted to quite a few, but Dartmouth stood out to me because of the location, the student-faculty connection, my financial aid package and the people. It may sound strange, but I was attracted to the quiet town of Hanover because it is absolutely gorgeous here! In the fall, the leaves are golden brown, in the winter, the snow is crystal white, and in the spring the green is like paradise on earth. Besides, I'm originally from a big city so the calm and comfort of a small college town was something I was really looking forward to.

According to US News & World Report, Dartmouth is the #1 institution for undergraduate instruction in the country. Indeed, Dartmouth professors are leaders in their respective fields and they come to Dartmouth because they really want to teach, advise and mentor students. So many other schools flaunt renowned faculty members but students barely have access to them. At Dartmouth, students can really connect with their professors...I've taken hip hop dance classes, cooked dinner, and gone star gazing with some of mine!

Another reason why I choose Dartmouth is because they really made an effort to accommodate my ability to pay for college. Quite frankly they gave me the best financial aid package by A LOT so when it came down to it, the choice was fairly obvious. Finally, the people at Dartmouth are simply amazing. When I visited junior year, I met so many incredible people, including Admissions and Financial Aid officers who showed a genuine interest in me. Just walking around campus made me feel like I belonged here.


Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/millzes/2962659528/in/photostream/

After receiving my college acceptances I chose Dartmouth over other schools for the following reasons:
1.DIMENSIONS: This is Dartmouth’s accepted student weekend. Over the course of 3 days, accepted students have the opportunity to really get a sense of what it’s like to be a student at Dartmouth by attending classes, going to workshops on different aspects of Dartmouth life, staying overnight, talking with current students, etc. I really enjoyed my Dimensions visit 4yrs ago and I am still very close to my host and other members of the 2010 class that I met during my stay.
2.D-Plan/Study Abroad: After learning more about the D-Plan, I became really excited about the idea of creating my own Dartmouth plan. I loved how flexible it was and I was really impressed by all of the amazing things that Dartmouth students did during their time at the school. As a senior in high school, I knew that I wanted to attend a school where I would be able to study abroad regardless of my major. Dartmouth’s D-plan allowed students to travel the world while still graduating on time.
3.People: One of the things that drew me to Dartmouth was the people. People at Dartmouth are really friendly and down to earth. At Dartmouth I found individuals who I felt comfortable around because you can really be yourself here. There isn’t pressure to conform to any set ideal as to what a Dartmouth student should be. I constantly learn just as much outside the classroom from talking to my peers as I do in the classroom. Dartmouth students are really interesting and just cool all around
4.School Away from Home: Although Dartmouth is not located in a city, I found that to be a welcome change from the hustle and bustle of New York City, my hometown. I knew that I could always do internships at home and move back to New York after college so I wanted to go to a school that would offer me a completely different experience from what I was used to. Dartmouth has allowed me to experience so many things that I never thought I would do and the opportunities that I’ve gotten as a result of the unique location (for example Dartmouth Outing Club trips and learning how to ski in the winter) have truly added to my college experience.

Dimensions and the D-plan

I chose Dartmouth over other schools for several reasons. First, I knew that I wanted to major in engineering and study abroad. At a lot of the other schools this wasn't possible or very difficult to do. When I visited Dartmouth and heard about its D-plan, I knew that I would be able to do everything that I wanted. Although Dartmouth would allow me to participate in some amazing opportunities, coming to Dimensions really sealed the deal for me. The people were really nice and genuine. I remember a couple of underclassmen girls showing me around because my host was studying for an exam. Coming to Dimensions was one of the best decisions I made because it gave me the chance to see for myself what college life was like instead of people telling me.



(Picture is from my travels in Italy during a Language Study Abroad Program. I spent 10 weeks there and stayed with a host family.)

Last Week's Question of the Week!

If you could go back in time to the day you received your acceptance to Dartmouth and give yourself one piece of advice, what would it be and why?

The posts below answer last week's question of the week.

Plan ahead!

If I could go back in time to the day I received my acceptance to Dartmouth, I would tell myself to appreciate every day here, because we are incredibly lucky. As a senior, nostalgia is beginning to hit, and the thought of leaving Dartmouth in a few months is bittersweet to say the least. Now that my time at Dartmouth is running short, I have started hiking nearby mountains, trying to learn tennis, and spending more time with friends I have lost touch with during hectic academic terms. In the coming weeks I plan to check out the jewelry studio and maybe even the woodshop on campus, I want to visit the Rauner Special Collections Library to see all the cool items they have, and I hope to rent a DOC cabin for the night with a group of friends. There is so much here to take advantage of, and the sooner you start on it the more you can do!

I would emphasize to all underclassmen just how many incredible opportunities and resources are at our disposal as Dartmouth undergrads. From seemingly endless funding available to engage in research with faculty, grants to pursue domestic and international community service projects, to accessible professors, there is so much available for us to take advantage of. Realizing this early, and being proactive to benefit from it as much as possible, is one of the best things you can do here.

I would also tell myself to start planning out my D-Plan early. Although it will inevitably change (it does for nearly everyone, as new opportunites arise and as you change your major) it is a good idea to get a head start. Especially if you want to take advantage of one or more study abroad programs (which you should do!), maybe be pre-med or include a minor, it helps to start figuring things out ahead of time.

Ultimately, as cliche as it may sound, I think it is important to savor every day here, because four years flies by. It is easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of classes with ten week terms, but it's also important not to lose sight of how lucky we are to be here, and to take advantage of all the non-academic opportunities Dartmouth has to offer.

PLAN AHEAD! (but only a little)

I came into Dartmouth thinking I wanted to be a Government Major and an Environmental Studies Minor. I will be graduating this June with a Government Major and an Environmental Studies Minor. That said, the road to where I am now was far from predetermined. There was a lot of second-guessing of my passions along the way (something I think any good college education should make you do). If I could go back to my acceptance day, I would tell my younger self to go with their gut, pursue their passions, and plan ahead, but only a little. Have an idea about where you are going and why. Make sure you plan ahead to be able to study abroad as many times as you want. (One of my major regrets is only studying abroad once.) Know where you are, where you want to go, and take the steps, however small, to get there. That being said, never close yourself off from new experiences. Continually assess yourself and your motivations because they will evolve. Keeping your plans in line with that personal evolution is the key to happiness I think.

As always, feel free to post and questions or comments below.

Picture source here.

DON'T FORGET to check out the Admissions Flickr photo stream.

Ask Questions!

If I could go back in time and give myself advice as to how to navigate the Dartmouth experience I would tell myself to not be afraid to question everyone and everything? Being a fairly shy student when I first started college, it took me some time to realize that it’s okay to speak up; that’s the only way you ever find out everything you want to know! In order to make the most out of the Dartmouth experience, sometimes you have to be proactive. There are so many opportunities available to students on this campus but you will not find out about even half of them if you don’t take some initiative to seek things out on your own.

With that in mind, I encourage all incoming students to get to know upperclassmen as well as freshman. Upperclassmen love talking to younger students about what they’ve done with their D-plans and can be a great source of advice when trying to find out about campus opportunities. Take the first term to just get acquainted with school, don’t really commit to anything, and go to as many open houses as possible. If you gather as much information as possible your freshmen fall, you can begin making smart decisions about what to do with the rest of your time at Dartmouth beginning your freshmen winter. Lastly don’t be afraid to ask students and administrators about what classes to take and where the best jobs are at? You want to start your college career off with a nice balanced list of classes so that you don’t burn out too fast. Find out how to get jobs that are not too stressful and may even allow you to do homework as you work.

Again, the key to success at Dartmouth or any school is to ask questions! The worst thing anyone can ever say to you is no.

Exhaust all the Opportunities

If I could go back in time to the day I received my acceptance to Dartmouth, I would tell myself to take advantage of more things. Even when I came up for Dimensions, I was a little reluctant to go to some activities because everything was so new to me. Being a high school student surrounded by all these college students really intimidated me at first, so I spent most of my time hanging out with the other prospies (perspective students) instead of really asking Dartmouth students what college life was like. Being here for Dimensions is the perfect time to really experience college life and I would encourage all the prospies that come to explore the campus and ask lots of questions.

Looking back at my last four years, I really wish that I jumped right into college life and participated in more extracurricular activities that sounded interesting. Unfortunately for me there are some things I wish I could have taken advantage of, so my advice to the Class of 2014 is utilize the resources that are available to you and do what interests you!

Don't give in to the gimmicks

When I came to Dartmouth on their accepted students weekend, I didn't go to a lot of their scheduled programs. Why? Because I wanted to get a feel for Dartmouth outside of that. I wanted to actually get to know more about the people I was going to go to school with. Therefore, I missed out on the open houses and the lecture series but I still had a lot of fun and I still wanted to go to Dartmouth.

I visited other schools during their accepted students weekend, and even though I had fun, it still wasn't as much fun as I had when I went to Dartmouth. However, I almost made the mistake of passing up on Dartmouth because another place seemed to have more options and seemed like it would be a better fit for me. Now having spent three years at Dartmouth, I can say without any reservations that I couldn't see myself anywhere else. Dartmouth isn't perfect but it is great in many different aspects.

Don't go to accepted students weekends thinking that the college is exactly how it is portrayed (unless its Dartmouth =D). Go in knowing that half of the weekend will be gimmicky and if you can, try to talk to people and truly find out what college life is like.

Fight for what you want!

My first piece of advice is that you should try to do as many overnights as possible to the schools that you are considering. This is a chance to see if a school really lives up to what you've heard because at this point no one is "selling" the school to you anymore. HONESTLY, I almost wrote off Dartmouth because it was in the middle of nowhere, but the visit is what made me reconsider.

With that said, I know it is expensive to travel to some of these schools and it can also be a logistical nightmare. That brings me to my main point: FIGHT FOR WHAT YOU WANT! If you can't afford to travel to a school, or can't make it to their admitted students weekend call up their Admissions Office and let them know the situation. You have some leverage now, so use it! If a school is really invested in you then they will try to make something work under your circumstances. For instance, I had already signed up for another admitted students weekend during the weekend of Dartmouth's Dimensions. When I told the Admissions Office how much I wanted to visit, they found me a host, got me all the Dimensions materials, and let me come up a few days early to experience the school.

The same goes for financial aid. FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT. The reason I'm at Dartmouth is because they were one of the schools who renegotiated my aid package. I had to prove my financial need by going through my parents' financial documents, and finding aid letters that demonstrated need from other schools in order to compare packages. You'll find that a lot of these schools have resources to tap into, but you have to be the one to ask first.

Good luck to all the 14s!

Find/try to find your passion(s) and go after it (them)!

While this is a very cliche statement, I think that it is especially true at a place like Dartmouth which has so many opportunities. I think I spent too much of my time at Dartmouth doing things I thought I "should" be doing instead of things I really wanted to be doing. By "should" I mean things that I did in high school or that I already felt comfortable doing. My junior year, I was in my first theater production--something I have always wanted to do. The theater department at Dartmouth is full of an incredible staff of directors and production workers. The students that were in the production with me (and the production I did the following term) were some of the nicest and most talented individuals that I have ever met. Theater was not a "passion" of mine per se, but it showed me how many more things there were to do at Dartmouth that I had never considered before. I suggest that incoming students (CONGRATS 2014s!) do their best to explore new opportunities at Dartmouth. There are so many activities, off campus opportunities, internships, service trips, sports, music ensembles, performances, trails, etc. to explore! Go for it!

Image Courtesy of http://www.artevo.com/mmPPA/Images/012963_actual.jpg from "Oh, The Places You Can Go" by Dr. Seuss '25

*TAKE ** THE ** TIME*

As a graduating senior, there are quite a few things I would tell myself... but since I can only choose one, I would have to say learn how to manage your time EARLY ON. It definitely took me over a year to figure out how to effectively manage my time to fit classes, homework, extracurricular activities, work-study, concerts, breakfast/lunch/dinner, dance parties, traveling off-campus, etc. into my schedule. I took most of these activities for granted all through high school because those decisions were already made for me. Everything was planned out so all I ever had to do was show up.

In college, it's a completely different story because YOU make the decisions about where you want to be and what you want to do. Of course, having this kind of freedom is one of the greatest benefits of being a college student because you finally get to make your own rules and explore the things that you're really interested in. It's a double-edged sword however.

I can't tell you how many fantastic lectures and performances I've missed simply because I didn't put them on my calendar. If I could go back in time, I would tell my freshmen self to stay away from the high school mentality of getting involved in everything that sounds remotely interesting; instead focus on your passions. There are over 300 clubs and activities at Dartmouth and they don't need to see my face at every single meeting. Plan more dinners with close friends, sleepovers, and just plain chill time. College is supposed to be one of the most fun experiences of your life ---> make sure to put FUN on your calendar!

Photo courtesy of http://users.wfu.edu/faulcd7/g711.gif

NEW QUESTION OF THE WEEK!

This is the first new question of the week for the Spring term. Check back over the next few days to read all our contributor's responses.

Question: If you could go back in time to the day you received your acceptance to Dartmouth and give yourself one piece of advice, what would it be and why?

Picture credit: http://www.uvu.edu/ist/ExcitedStudent.jpg

SPRING TERM IS HERE!

Spring term classes have finally started here on the hill. We will resume our regular postings this week! Please keep checking back for new posts and as always, feel free to read older posts and leave comments!

If you haven't seen it yet, the Dartmouth Admissions Office just launched it's new website, which you can find here.

Senior Spring Break Road Trip!

Three friends of mine and I decided to go on a road trip down the east coast. We left Hanover on the 17th and went to New York City and Washington DC for a few days. We are currently in Savannah, GA (if you come here, you MUST go to Mrs. Wilkes' Boarding House for lunch; it is the best "southern" meal that I have had outside of the ones my family cooks) and are leaving for New Orleans tomorrow where we will end our trip and head back to Hanover for spring classes. It has been very nice to have easy access to the east coast from Hanover. I think that it is in large part what made this trip possible (well, that and the generosity of my friends' parents/Dartmouth alums for letting us stay with them)!

What we're doing for spring break...

So a few of us interns are doing Alternative Spring Break service trips. That's why we haven't been posting. I'm in Kentucky on a rural healthcare trip, Uthman is in San Franciso on a "Faith in Action Trip," and Nichole is in the Dominican Republic working with Haitian refugees. Check out what we're up to on our ASBs!! Will be back soon!

http://ourdartmouth.com

Spring has sprung!

Students are away on spring break right now. We'll be posting periodically about spring break adventures, and then we'll be back in full swing once classes resume in April.

NEW QUESTION OF THE WEEK: What is your most memorable moment at Dartmouth

The posts below respond to last week's question: What has been the highlight of your winter 2010 term?

Dartmouth Hockey -- Tennis Balls on the Rink

Here is video from a Dartmouth-Princeton game!

Dartmouth + Princeton + Hockey = Tennis Balls???

Like Harmony, the highlight of my winter term was going to my first Dartmouth hockey game. However, this wasn't just any hockey game...this was THE Princeton game. Here at Dartmouth we have a lot of traditions, and the Dartmouth-Princeton hockey game is one of them. When Dartmouth scores its first goal against Princeton we pelt the Princeton goalie with tennis balls! It may be sort of mean spirited, but its tradition--so it's okay!. Every year we get a delay of game charge because a crew has to clear off the ice. This year was even funnier than most because the first goal we scored didn't wind up counting so people threw all the tennis balls and then realized that the ref had taken away our point. When we did score again, another wave of tennis balls flooded the ice! We got two delay of game charges that game! It was amazing to see so many lime green tennis balls on the ice and to see the crews scrambling to get them up.

Now I can check this off of my list of traditions I've taken part in at Dartmouth. Check out picture and video from Princeton games!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bN-zE3uGxUU

H*O*C*K*E*Y G*A*M*E

I'm ashamed to say that this term is the first time I've gone to a hockey game. What a big mistake! The game was absolutely SENSATIONAL. It was the Men's last home game and the seniors' last chance to skate for Dartmouth so they definitely came through and represented the Big Green. We came from behind to beat Cornell 5-4 in one of the most epic battles ever. Every time a hockey player got too close to the boards, I saw another player appear out of nowhere and basically make him eat glass...it was great! During the first two quarters, the Cornell goalie seemed invincible, almost like a brick wall that no one could break. However, the Dartmouth team pulled through with incredible skating, passing and scoring. My favorite part was feeling the energy and excitement in the stadium when we scored our last goal with a minute to go on the clock. For a breathtaking 60 seconds, we played some of the best defense I've ever seen. I also enjoyed eating hot dogs and cotton candy from the concession stand all evening - so wonderful.

Picture credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21827442@N07/4102365770/

Tumbling!

The highlight of my winter term was my tumbling gym class. I have always wanted to learn how to do flips and this gym class, offered only in the winter, was the perfect opportunity to learn to do so. The class is taught by the coach of the Dartmouth Gymnastics team, which no longer exists. While I was one of the only people that took the class that had no previous experience, by the end of the term I was able to do a front handspring, walk on my hands, one-handed cartwheels, and do forward and back extension rolls. It was so much fun getting credit for rolling around in the middle of the day!

Dartmouth undergrads have a gym requirement. Students must take 3 gym classes to graduate. These classes are mostly seasonal, but include average sports like tennis to things like ice fishing, meditations, and skeet shooting. There is something for everyone!

Getting the Internship of my Dreams

So I know its a little early to start thinking about summer, but I already am because I was able to accept an offer of a lifetime. Through Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO), I am able to work with Teach for America (TFA) this summer which was the highlight of my winter term. Even though I will not be in the classroom, I will have the opportunity to see how TFA operates behind the scenes. I honestly believe that the combination of being able to take Education classes and participating in volunteer opportunities that work with middle school students allowed me to receive the internship. I was able to show SEO that I truly wanted to make a difference in and outside of the classroom.

Dartmouth offers a lot of opportunities to those who care about education. From its teacher certification program, to its work with bringing middle school students from inner city schools to Dartmouth for the summer, to its program for high school students in the local area to help prepare them to take their SATs, to its classes that focus on education policy. If you have the slightest inkling that you would like to do something in education, Dartmouth definitely has the opportunities for you to get hands on training.

To find out more about SEO, please visit this website: http://www.seo-usa.org/Home
To find out more about TFA, please visit this website: http://www.teachforamerica.org/
To find out more about a few of the volunteer opportunities geared towards education that Dartmouth has to offer, please visit this website: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~tucker/dcs/school/

SKIING THE NORTHEAST

So I know I am from the Northeast, but the highlight of my winter term has been skiing as much as possible, both at the Dartmouth Skiway and traveling up north with friends to Stowe, VT. It's great to have the Skiway so close for those quick doses of skiing, but also nice to go on a bit of a road trip with friends up to one of the best ski mountains in New England. Whether or not you know how to ski before coming to Dartmouth, you will almost certainly get out on the slopes at least a few times, and chances are, end up loving it. Oh and it helps that all of the local ski areas have student discounts...use them while you can!

Picture credit: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2678/4272949472_1de1b6d1e4_o.jpg

Just a normal plane ride right?

So here is one tip I always jokingly tell prospective students whenever I discuss the alumni network at Dartmouth: never wear Dartmouth gear at the airport if you don't feel like talking to anyone about Dartmouth or if you know you will be running late for your plane flight.

Any time I wear Dartmouth gear at the airport, I am very likely to bump into someone who has attended Dartmouth before and wants to know all about how my experience is at their alma mater. I was actually almost late for my flight because an alumnus wanted to stop and talk to me about how Dartmouth was going.

The most recent experience I have had with alumni in airports was actually on my trip back to Dartmouth after my winter break. I meet a young alumnus, an '02, who is working in Washington, DC. We were actually sitting across from each other and she noticed my Dartmouth gear. We ended up chatting for a long while about how things were different, what were the same, how she loved her experience, what I should do with the rest of my time at Dartmouth and much more.

Even though this is just one experience with one alumnus, I really believe that all Dartmouth alumni act a like, the moment they see you, they want to talk, share expierences, exchange their card with you and keep in contact.The alumnus I met on the plan is now my Facebook friend for instance. I believe that Dartmouth alumni definitely want to make sure that they keep up a connection between them and current Dartmouth students. Which is what makes Dartmouth alumni amazing people who you want to get to meet!

Our Alums

I decided on Dartmouth because people had spoken so highly of our alumni, and after being here just one year I couldn't agree more. Our alums are some of the most loyal alumni in the world and are proud and supportive of Dartmouth long after their graduations.

One of the most useful and rewarding resources here is the Vox Alumni Network, a database of alumni who have indicated that they are willing to offer career advice and other valuable help. Any Dartmouth student or graduate can access the database, and it has records of alumni in virtually every state and country in the world.

Last summer I participated on the Beijing FSP. While there, I decided to call some of the alumni listed under "Beijing;" I ended up meeting four alums and got some great advice on how to pursue my academic and career goals. Next term, I am interning at a trading firm in China. How did I get connected to the job opportunity? Through a Dartmouth alum I met in Beijing.

I've found our alumni to be fiercely loyal, extremely outgoing, and highly accomplished--plus, they are always happy to chat about Dartmouth and are remarkably abreast of campus issues. The alumni: easily one of the best aspects of Dartmouth College.

I'm a senior...

...and as a senior, I now count myself a member of a larger group of my peers: the job-seekers.

Seriously, though, I think that the alumni network is probably one of Dartmouth's greatest assets. Having been able to interact with alumni during my time here, I now know why that is: Dartmouth alumni are insanely passionate about Dartmouth. For whatever reason, Dartmouth seems to graduate people who are so in love with their alma mater, so passionate about their experiences there, that they will literally bend over backwards to help out a fellow member of the Dartmouth community. In my case, I was fortunate enough to connect with an alum who lives in New England, and has practiced environmental law, the area of law that most interests me. All it took was a simple phone call, and this alum provided me with a huge list of Dartmouth and non-Dartmouth contacts through which I am hoping to both gather advice and hopefully a job offer or two. And we have never actually met!

We will see where life takes me after I graduate this June, but I feel confident that no matter where I go, I will be bringing that Dartmouth network with me.

Photo courtesy of the Dartmouth flickr photostream.

My second family....

Being a part of the Dartmouth Alumni Network is definitely like having a second family. It's really starting to sink in for me how big and useful the network is. As a junior I'm starting to travel to on-site interviews for internships and jobs and it's so nice to be able to get on Facebook, see which 08 and 09 alums are in Boston or New York and have them offer to let you crash at their place for the night or get a bite to eat when you are in town. All of a sudden the people who were seniors when you were an upperclassman have great jobs or are in grad school and they are a GREAT resource. I know that I even have a network of friends who haven't yet graduated but are taking their off-terms (through the D-Plan) in DC, New York, LA, ATL, and I can hit them up if I'm there. It's like you know someone any and everywhere!

This past fall I had a special experience with a Dartmouth alumna named Ricki Fairley-Brown, '78. I worked for her at a multicultural marketing agency called IMAGES USA where she is partner and CMO. I had always wanted to learn about marketing even though it has nothing to do with anything I'm doing at Dartmouth. Ricki is always looking for a Dartmouth intern and gives us preference over other students. She let me get in on substantive and cool projects, like meeting with NBA star Dikembe Mutombo to ask about the best way to pitch the agency to the Orlando Magic. She also fed me A LOT!!! I had an amazing time and I now have an IMAGES Family in Atlanta. Check out Ricki, Simon (a Dartmouth '08, former IMAGES intern turned full-timer), and me goofing around on my last day!

Alums!

I have used the Dartmouth Alumni Network primarily in the past for learning about what the alums do now. I'm interested in learning about their career path and how they ended up in a certain field of study compared to what their major was at Dartmouth. This has been really useful in helping me decide my own path. The alums offer a great deal of amazing advice that a lot more underclassmen should really take advantage of.

I have also had the opportunity to job shadow a Dartmouth Alum for a few days to get an idea of what his job was like. He mainly dealt with the policy issues behind Biomedical Research and it was interesting to see the government aspect in an area I want to study more about.

Besides giving great career advice, Dartmouth Alums are the most friendly and enthusiastic people I have ever met. They are always eager to hear about your experiences and what it is like at Dartmouth now. When I went to Thailand, I received multiple invitations to have dinner or lunch with the several alums. It is great being able to share stories and reflect on what Dartmouth means to us. It is a bit scary knowing people will consider me an alum in less than four months!

NEW QUESTION: What has been your most memorable experience with a Dartmouth alum?

One of the best things about Dartmouth is out relationship with our alumni. Dartmouth alums are always willing to give back to current students and they really BLEED GREEN! This week we interns will tell you about we've used the Dartmouth Alumni Network and talk about our most memorable experiences with alums.



Below find last weeks responses about jobs and research we do outside of the Admissions Office.

Looking for pictures of life at Dartmouth?

I know when I was applying to schools, I could never look at enough photos. Especially for those of you unable to come visit campus, pictures can really help you get a feel for the campus and student life here. Well you're in luck! Dartmouth has a couple great Flickr photo streams you should check out!

Click here for the general Dartmouth flickr photostream.

Click here for the Admissions specific photostream.

Books and Brains...

One of the best jobs to have on campus is a library job! You basically get paid to do your homework. I worked at Kresge Physical Sciences Library my sophomore year and I got some of my best grades that term!

Right now, I get paid to do research in an education and neuroscience lab called The Reading Brains Lab. We use ERP/EEG technology to look at people's brain waves as they do reading related tasks. The goal of our research is to understand the brain processes behind reading in hopes to help those with reading disabilities and address the nation's problems with low reading proficiency levels in children. I started out in this lab last year after applying for a grant for sophomores through the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and now I am a Presidential Research Scholar. There are freshman, sophomores, juniors, seniors, and grad students in my lab. It's interesting research, looks great on a resume, and I also make money!!

Check out what your brain waves look like!

Making Money

Every fall and winter since my freshmen year, I have worked with the Women's Varsity Basketball Team as their team manager. Therefore, I attend all their practices and games. It has been a lot of fun getting to travel to different colleges across the nation. For Christmas break, we were able to travel to Los Angeles and for Thanksgiving break, we traveled to play Cincinnati.

Like Charnice and Nichole, I also participated in the Women In Science Program my freshmen winter and spring terms. I worked with the computer science department in their privacy lab. In addition with another intern, I helped publish a poster abstract on Facebook's privacy policies. Essentially, I was paid to sit on Facebook and research ways to make Facebook more private in order to protect people's identities.

My freshmen and sophomore years, I worked in the Fitness Center. There I would sit at the desk and monitor who came into the fitness center, clean up any of the machines that needed to be dusted off and made sure that the patrons were safe and sound. It was a nice job to have because after my shifts I would usually work out. And now since I don't ever need to go to the gym, I've fallen off of actually following my regiment.

Tutor, Researcher, and Much More!

Throughout my years at Dartmouth, I have had a variety of jobs. Math has always been one of my favorite subjects, so I decided to work as a math tutor and study group leader through our Academic Skills Center.

Like Nichole, I was also a WISP intern in the Biomedical Engineering Lab. I worked on two different projects which involved measuring the wear on retrieved knee implants and testing the mechanical properties of various materials. Ever since I did this internship, I have been interested in this field of study. Now as a senior, I am continuing my research and trying to determine if different sterilization methods affect the amount of wear of knee implants.

Along with being an Admissions Intern, I also work as a Dean's Office Student Consultant (DOSC for short). My job is to provide academic advising, so I help students with questions about classes, majors, internships, study strategies, and anything else in general.

DRILL BABY DRILL!!!

In addition to working for the Admissions Office - first as a tour guide and now as an intern - I've worked for several other departments on campus. Just like Nichole, I worked as an Undergraduate Advisor for the Office of Residential Life. I organized study breaks and put on events for my residents in an effort to make sure they had access to all of the different resources at Dartmouth. One of my favorite programs was a panel discussion on Study Abroad opportunities with students and faculty from all over campus. The event was catered by a local restaurant and drew an impressive crowd of East Wheelock residents. Another one of my favorite programs was a bit more low key: a bowling night in White River Junction! It was a great event because it allowed my residents to get to know each other better in addition to relaxing after a stressful exam period.

As a native-french speaker, I've also worked for the French Department as a Drill Instructor. Dartmouth is globally renowned for its language program, which was originally developed by Professor John Rassias for the US government. It basically consists of 1) classroom instruction with a Dartmouth professor who stresses grammar and writing as well as 2) morning or evening speaking sessions with a current Dartmouth student who puts an emphasis on vocabulary and pronunciation. I think it's a fantastic teaching method because it really gives students a chance to embrace a new language beyond the textbook. The college offers a wide variety of foreign languages, including everything from Arabic and Chinese to French and Italian. The Rassias method itself is quite entertaining because drill instructors are highly encouraged to "act out" some of the words they require students to say.

Picture Courtesy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dartmouthflickr/3728425396/

Arts, Alumni, and Alumni

I have had a lot of jobs on campus. My freshman year, I worked a significant amount for the Hopkins Center for the Arts in the Box Office - known as the Hop. I sold tickets to members of the Dartmouth community as well as the general public. There are two wonderful things about the arts here at Dartmouth: first, the diverse and often world-renowned performers we bring attract both members of the Dartmouth community and local community members. Second, Dartmouth subsidizes student tickets so you will never pay more than $10 to see any show. We have written about the various awesome performances we have all attended before on the blog, but believe me, we haven't done it justice.

I have also had the chance to work with Dartmouth alumni, as both a member of the Hill Winds Society, and as a worker assigned to class reunions every summer. Both of these opportunities have shown me just how crazy and passionate the alumni of this College can be. They really are Dartmouth's greatest resource, and being a part of that family is wonderful.

For more information on the Hopkins Center for the Arts, click here.

For more information for or about alumni of the college, click here.
picture credit: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~gallery/events/comm06/images/0606-2.jpg

Research, Advising, and More...

Before I started working for the Office of Admissions my sophomore summer, I had a variety of jobs on campus. My freshman year, I worked as a WISP intern in the Biomedical Engineering Lab. WISP stands for Women in Science Project. It is an organization that tries to encourage women to stick with the sciences by offering relevant programming, mentors, internship opportunities, etc. As a WISP intern I did research on what material would be best to use when making things like knee implants in the future.

During my sophomore year I was an Undergraduate Advisor (UGA – which is the equivalent to a Resident Advisor at other schools) for transfer and exchange students. Being an Undergraduate Advisor is a lot of fun because you get to know a group of Dartmouth students, your residents, really well over the course of a term. UGA’s plan social an academic programs for their floors while also working with the other UGAs in their housing cluster to plan fun programs for the housing cluster as a whole.

Another cool place to work on campus is the Rockefeller Center for Public Policy and the Social Sciences (Rocky). I had the opportunity to be a discussion group leader for two of Rocky’s various discussion groups, Women in Leadership and VoxMasters public speaking forum and it was so much fun. All Rocky discussion groups meet once a week, for an hour, to discuss a range of topics over a free dinner. Students are welcome to attend any and/or all the weekly meetings over the course of a term. Attending a discussion group is a great way to meet people from across campus while learning about recent issues in the world at large.

NEW QUESTION THIS WEEK: ON CAMPUS WORK AND RESEARCH EXPERIENCES

Outside of working for the Admissions Office, what are some of the other job and/or research experiences that you have had on campus?

The posts below respond to last week's question: If you had to highlight an event/program that's happening on campus this week, what would it be?

DARTMOUTH IDOL

Tuesday, February 9th was the semi-finals round of Dartmouth Idol. Since its creation in 2008, Dartmouth Idol has become one of the major events of winter term. The competition takes place over the course of 3 rounds: an open try-out round, a semi-finals performance/competition, and a finals performance/competition. Dartmouth students get to decide who advances to the finals and which performer actually wins after attending the semi-final and final rounds respectively. This year, the performers are competing for major prizes. The first prize is $500 and the chance to record a 3-song demo, second prize is $250 and third prize is $100. The singers come from all parts of campus and perform songs from various genres. This year Andrew Rayner ’10 and Harmony Gbe ’10, both Admissions interns, are participating in Dartmouth Idol as a contestant and judge respectively. Whether or not you’re a fan of the original American Idol, Dartmouth Idol is definitely an enjoyable experience.

Picture courtesy of Dartmouth College, Hopkins Center for the Arts

"Colorline" Discussion

As a part of black history month, the NAACP is hosting a series of discussions with professors from the African and African American Studies department to commemorate the department's 40th year anniversary. Therefore, I've been busy trying to make sure the event is well planned. Even though it has been fairly time consuming, I am looking forward to this week's discussion because it is featuring one of the many great professors I have had the opportunity to take a class with: Professor Soyica Colbert. She has been my idol since the day I met her in class and being able to participate in a discussion with her this week is going to be one of the highlights of my week! The discussion will center around the idea of the 'colorline' being present in today's culture and intertwined with that the belief of us living in a post-racial community. I am excited to hear the thoughts and ideas that Dartmouth students and Professor Colbert have on the particular subject.

WINTER CARNIVAL!

Dartmouth's annual big weekend starts this week on Thursday! Winter Carnival is probably Dartmouth's most famous big weekend because of the 1939 movie Winter Carnival and its national promotion by the Dartmouth Outing Club during the 1920s-1940s. The weekend consists of greek house hosted dance parties, the ski races, 1 dollar rental day at the Dartmouth Skiway, the Winter Ball, and the Polar Bear Swim, where the school cuts a hole in Occum Pond and students take a chilly plunge for a moment. The is also always a snow sculpture constructed in the middle of the Green. In sum, it is a fun weekend for Dartmouth students and Upper Valley residents alike.

African vs. African American Discussion

As the others said, there are many events and panel discussions taking place this week. The program that I am very interested in hearing is called "African vs. African American" which will be a discussion about the different perspectives from students associated with each category. I am anxious to hear both sides because these are distinct categories and often times they are always grouped together.

SOCIAL JUSTICE

One of the reasons why I love Dartmouth so much is that the institution really puts an emphasis on learning outside of the classroom, recognizing that important ideas should not be restricted to traditional academic settings. In light of this, today starts a week-long event focusing on social inequality, whether it is in education, employment or things that many of us take for granted, like having a place to live. Different organizations on campus often host panel discussions on the importance of social justice, but I am really looking forward to this particular segment because it features one of today's leading activists in the public education arena: Jonathan Kozol. Here is a breakdown of the week's activities:


***********************************************
The Ignored of America: A Week Exploring Social Inequality
***********************************************

Thursday, February 4th
The Social Construction of Poverty: a Panel on Inequality and Education in
America
- Faculty Panel: Irene Kacandes, Michael Harris, Samantha Ivery
- Free Dinner at 7pm in Rockefeller 002

Friday, February 5th
Working Class Brilliance: Examining the Many Faces of Intelligence
- Free Dinner Discussion at 6:30pm in Brace Commons

Monday, February 8th
Rachel and Her Children: The Long-Enduring Damage of Homelessness to Children
and their Parents
- Public Lecture by Jonathan Kozol
- 4pm in Filene Auditorium

Film: Whatever It Takes
- Screening presentation by Jay Davis
- 7pm in Filene Auditorium

Tuesday, February 9th
"What Matters to Me and Why" with Jonathan Kozol
- 12pm (noon) in Collis Common Ground

Picture Courtesy of: http://www.uwyo.edu/sjrc/images/socialjustice.jpg

Meditation!

My favorite event this week has to be the Transcendental Meditation (TM) session tonight from 7-8pm. There will be an instructor to help you learn the techniques of TM so everyone is welcome.

This is the point of the term in which midterms are ramping up, so a little relaxation is probably in order. I might just have to drop by and check it out myself...

Panels, Panels, Panels

I've been going to a lot of panels lately dealing with a range of issues: Haiti, Preparing for senior year, religion and spirituality at Dartmouth, the list goes on

Tomorrow I am double-booked attending two panels in the evening. At 7:30 I'm going to hear a panel discussion called "The Social Construction of Poverty: a Panel on Inequality and Education in America." This is actually the beginning of a week of events that addresses social inequalities in America. I work in an education/neuroscience lab and have taken an education class about reading and educational development so I am interested to hear the faculty panelists discuss the issues of educational discrepancies. (And there's FREE FOOD!!!!)

Next at 8:30, Dartmouth seniors will talk at "Branded." They will be discussing how the communities with which they identify on campus (athletes, cultural groups, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, etc) shape how they are perceived and how they view themselves. Our very own Admissions Intern, Harmony Gbe '10 will be a panelist! I'm excited! Yay Harmony!

Check out more about Social Justice Week at the Tucker Foundation's website:

http://www.dartmouth.edu/~tucker/

New Question This Week: Weekly Highlight

If you had to highlight an event/program that's happening on campus this week, what would it be?

The posts below respond to last week's question: What is your favorite unconventional thing, place, or activity at Dartmouth that a lot of students don't know about?

Also Fort Lou's Restaurant

Fort Lou's is the best known secret on campus. If you're involved on campus in any number of activities, you can count on the night ending (or the morning beginning) over a plate of crispy home fries at this favorite of Dartmouth students. Yeah sure, it's a decent drive away from campus. And yes, the food isn't exceptionally good compared to regular Lous; but Fort Lou's cant be quantified by these typical restaurant standards because it's the experience that matters.

~*~ Fort Lou's Restaurant ~*~

One of my favorite activities at Dartmouth is actually off-campus, which is why many students don't even know it exists...Fort Lou's, the best truck-stop pretty much middle-of-nowhere breakfast diner in town! Fort Lou's has been around for about 50 years and as a result, it has an intense following which makes it almost impossible to get a meal there quickly. It's soooo worth it though!! I never have to wait in line because I usually go there in the early morning after an eventful night on campus. Fort Lou's is known for its corned beef hash but I always go for the cruller french toast which is absolutely AMAAAAZING. They offer hearty lunch plates and tasty baked goods, but I highly recommend the breakfast menu to anyone who wants a taste of homemade maple syrup! Did I mention that their portions are HUGE? As far as I'm concerned, there's nothing better than enjoying chocolate covered pancakes at four in the morning, talking with friends about the night you all just shared and laughing out loud at the thought of having class the next day. Nothing even comes close.

Organic Farm

Like Jana and Charnice, I haven’t had the chance to fully explore all of the interesting places and things around Dartmouth. That being said, one very cool place to visit, that’s off campus, is Dartmouth’s organic farm. It is located about three miles from campus by car, bike, or river paddle (you can get there by water since its located right next to the river). The organic farm is in operation year round and provides students with tons of educational and recreational opportunities. Whether you decide to work/volunteer for the organic farm, have a lesson there with a class, or visit with a school group there are always tons of things to do and explore on the farm. I had the opportunity to live on the organic farm for five days during my DOC (Dartmouth Outing Club) pre-orientation trip and had so much fun. My group and I learned how the farm operates, picked and sautéed vegetables, and swam in the river. For more information about the organic farm visit http://www.dartmouth.edu/~doc/organicfarm/

Robert Frost Statue

Not many people know that the famous poet Robert Frost spent a few brief months here at Dartmouth as a student. Although he eventually left, he remains a member of the class of 1896. At Dartmouth, if you matriculate, you remain a member of that class forever.

My favorite unconventional place at Dartmouth has to be the Robert Frost statue. If ever I am feeling overwhelmed or just a little lethargic, a quick walk up to his statue refreshes me. It sits in one of the most peaceful wooded areas of the campus, right next to an old stone tower, the site of the Lone Pine (one of the oldest symbols of Dartmouth), and the BEMA, the site of many graduation traditions. In any case, the statue has always been a serene place I can go to clear my head, and not enough Dartmouth students know about it!

Picture by Joe Mehling '69
http://ask.dartmouth.edu/categories/alumni/17.html

The Observatory

Like Jana, I haven't discovered too many unconventional places or things, but Dartmouth's very own observatory is something that I think a lot of students overlook. Shattuck Observatory is the college's oldest science building, but of course the technology isn't. The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers free public viewing usually every Friday night. Since, Dartmouth is in a rural area the skies are so clear and beautiful at night which makes viewing the Moon, stars, and other planets so easy.

Picture Courtesy of: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~physics/news/observing.html

Occom Pond in the Spring!

The truth is that unfortunately I haven't discovered much of the stuff outside of Hanover. My unconventional place really isn't all that unconventional but I love to run around Occom Pond when the weather gets nice outside. It's absolutely beautiful and it's so peaceful. Most Dartmouth students know about Occom Pond because in the winter it's a great place to ice skate, but in the spring and summer I never see many people enjoying the pond. I like to run a route that takes me past the pond and up through the Dartmouth golf course. (SIDE NOTE: you can always find some money on the golf course, especially after the snow thaws!!)

I always feel like I'm separated from the rest of the world when I'm over by the pond because it is so gorgeous and so isolated. Occom Pond is a lot of fun in the winter, too! Take a look!

Nathan's Garden and Mink Brook

While we are still in the throngs of winter, I am already thinking about spring. Two of my favorite places at Dartmouth are off the beaten path. A few blocks into campus one can find Nathan's Garden. It is memorial garden made for Nathan Hall, who passed away at the age of 20. His family used their backyard and made it into a beautifully landscaped garden with a small pond, a variety of flowers, and a homemade swing. There is also a beautiful wooden gazebo that over looks the whole garden. It is very quaint and relaxing there and I love going there when it is warm out.

Near Nathan's Garden is Mink Brook which is also very nice for some calm, slow moving water swimming in the summer. After hiking down a hill, students can go there during the day and enjoy another body of water besides the Connecticut River.

Image courtesy of http://www.city-data.com/forum/new-hampshire/211161-picture-thread-nh-143.html

New Question This Week: Unconventional Activity

What is your favorite unconventional thing, place, or activity at Dartmouth that a lot of students don't know about?

The posts below respond to last week's question: Where is your favorite place to eat on campus?

COLLIS CAFE

One of my favorite places to eat on campus is Collis Cafe, located in the Collis Student Activities Center. As some one who is always on the go, Collis offers great dining options that are quick and easy to order. At Collis students have some flexibility as to how their is food is made. You can order chicken, beef or tofu stir fry with your choice of sauces or omelettes with your choice of ingredients in the afternoon. At night you can get pasta made just the way you like too.

Collis also offers oatmeal in the mornings and two soups of the day in the afternoon. It has a great salad bar and tons of baked goods that are great for a mid day snack. Although Collis Cafe closes at 8pm, it reopens at 9:30pm for Late Night Collis. At Late Night, you can get pasta, chicken tenders, paninis and more. On special days there are even crepes and milk shakes available. One of the best things about Collis is the fresh sushi. You can order sushi and have it made right in front of you. With all these options at Collis alone, sometimes there's no need to go anywhere else.

Picture Courtesy of Dartmouth Dining Services

RANDOM CAMPUS EVENT!

Unrelated to our Question of the Week series, here is a Random Event from around campus to give you a better idea for what an average weekend, weekday etc could look like here at Dartmouth.

This past weekend, I was able to volunteer for the Special Olympics Winter Games for our region, held at our very own Dartmouth skiway. This was my second year volunteering, and it gets better and better every year. This Saturday we had perfect weather and a crowd of athletes ready to compete. They could compete in a number of events from varying distances of snowshoe races to slalom and giant slalom downhill skiing. This year, I worked as one of a team of timers for the downhill races. Like I said, it was a ton of fun, and Dartmouth students turned out in huge numbers to act as cheerleaders, guides, and coaches. One of my favorite parts has to be that the Games are held at the Skiway, Dartmouth's own ski mountain, and the place I learned to ski as a youngster.

All in all, a great way to spend a beautiful Saturday in January.

Click here for more information about the Special Olympics.

CoUrTyArD CaFé

You probably know that the Hopkins Center, which brings world class entertainment to the Dartmouth and greater community, is strongly committed to the arts. What you may not know is that the HOP also houses one of Dartmouth's best dining facilities: Courtyard Café.

Courtyard Café, or simply the HOP, has a great selection of pre-made salads, sandwiches & wraps, soups, chili, chowder, and an impressive grill menu including delicious breakfast items such as the infamous Billy Bob and Breakfast Bomb. The HOP is probably most known for having "the best fries on campus." In addition, the café has a nice burrito bar where students and staff can enjoy tacos, nachos, salsa and dip. Finally, it offers a wide variety of beverages including everything from coffee and tea, to juice, soda, bottled water and milk.

If you're ever in a hurry and in need of a snack, which is pretty much the story of my life, stop by the HOP and grab a few chocolate chip cookies, brownie cakes, apple pies, cinnamon scones, lemon poppy seed muffins, or my all time favorite dessert: CHEESECAKE!!!!

(Picture courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/dartmouthflickr/4104248821/)

A lil' bit of this, a lil bit of that...

Eating is a passion of mine so it is very hard for me to choose one place that is my favorite to eat on campus. Instead I have preferences depending on the meal and the time of day. The HOP is great for breakfast, and they serve certain breakfast items all day. This dining hall is actually called Courtyard Cafe but students call it the HOP because it is in the Hopkins Center for the Arts. Needless to say there is always something to see or hear while you eat: art, music, etc.

For lunch, I love Collis. There is a great salad bar and I love to eat healthy. There are delicious smoothies, sandwiches, and soups. When it's warm it's nice to sit on Collis porch and eat while watching the Green.

For dinner, I usually go for a combination of Homeplate and Pavilion. Pavilion is the kosher dining option, and it has the best cookies and the freshest fruit. Homeplate has homecooked meals, and they have a grill with salmon and steak.

As you can see there is lots of variety which makes life easier for food enthusiasts like me!

Byrne Hal

l

While most undergraduates will never sample the gourmet, made-to-order offerings at Byrne due to its location away from central campus, those who are fortunate enough to be residents of River cluster often discover the unique dining experience Byrne provides sometime during fall term.

Cloistered between the Feldberg library and the main entrance of the Tuck school of Business, Byrne is the official dining hall for Dartmouth's graduate business students. Furnished with plush leather seats and lofted ceiling, the main dining area has--save for short periods of bustle in between Tuck classes--a subdued and refined ambiance that's missing in typical undergraduate dining halls.

And the school intends to keep it that way, because undergraduate students may not charge Byrne hall food on their DDS plans--they must use DASH. Thus, while temptations of prime-rib and steak nights (not to mention omelets that make Collis's fairly good counterparts taste like cafeteria food) draw the occasional wide-eyed undergrad to its stately environs, it's a luxury most cannot afford, even if the dishes are less expensive and better than those offered at other dining halls.

As an undergraduate visitor, be prepared to feel slightly under-dressed and somewhat out of place when you find those eating around you discussing shockingly unacademic things like equity stakes, stock options, and the bulge bracket. But even if you're more at home discussing moral philosophy and can't add value to a conversation on treasury yields, you can still gain Byrne hall cred by guessing the weight of your ice cream--if you guess right, you get the ice cream for free as well as the non-quantifiable but nonetheless fulfilling glances of approval from the Tuckies standing in line behind you.

Homeplate

Along with Ben, my favorite place to eat is Homeplate. I enjoy the home cooked meal aspect of it, but I especially love its Sunday Brunch which is served buffet style. This means I can eat all the pancakes, tator tots, eggs, fruit, and so on that I want. Of course I cannot forget about the delicious waffles. Homeplate provides the batter and there would be lines of students waiting to make their own waffle (that's how good they are, but really what's better than fresh hot waffles with strawberries and whipped cream??)

Homeplate's great food is equally complimented with their wonderful sustainability efforts. It has been proven that students tend to waste more food when they use trays, so Homeplate is now trayless! I have to admit that I used to be one of those people whose eyes were bigger than their stomach, so I'm happy that Homeplate implemented this policy.

(Picture Courtesy of http://www.ghtc-kc.org/pics/logos_graphics/Pancakes_chef.gif

Pavilion

Right around the corner from Ben's choice, Homeplate, in the Thayer Dining Hall is The Pavilion. I have only started eating here regularly last term, but since then I get at least one meal there a day on average. The Pavilion focuses on kosher and halal food for Jewish and Islamic individuals who follow their religions' dietary restrictions. This food is available to anyone on campus. I think as a result of the high amount of detail and critique the food goes through to qualify as kosher or halal, the food tends to be higher quality and occasionally bit more expensive. However, I have found it to be more delicious as a result! I have had brisket, lamb, and salmon from The Pavilion, just to name a few things. Be sure to give this gem, hidden in the back of Thayer, a try if you come to visit Dartmouth!

My favorite place to eat...

... has to be Home Plate (HP for short). HP is located in the Thayer Dining Hall, which houses the majority of our dining locations. The focus of HP is on freshness and nutrition. I like to equate it to more of a home-cooked meal atmosphere and menu. They are typically low fat, cholesterol, sodium and high fiber. On top of it all, they have a great selection - an awesome the salad/soup bar, to an excellent deli and panini counter and a great grill offering everything from grilled Portobello mushroom sandwiches to buffalo burgers!

My favorite meal at Home Plate has to be my usual lunch; turkey-cheddar-lettuce-mayo on a baguette from the deli. I've probably had it twice a week for the last year or so.

One of my favorite things about Dartmouth has to be the food. And you can try it when you visit! All of the dining facilities accept cash, so make sure you wander over to Home Plate when you come visit us in Hanover.

Picture credit: http://thedartmouth.com/content/2009/05/06/photos/3556_dailyd.jpg

Last Week's Question of the Week: What athletic or outdoor opportunities have you taken advantage of here at Dartmouth?

The posts below answer last week's question of the week.

P.E. Classes and Cabins

I am not much of an outdoors person, but participating in the Dartmouth Outing Club (DOC) freshman trips as a freshman and then twice again as a leader have been some of my best experiences at Dartmouth. The campus is also in a great location for day hikes. In addition to the DOC Trips, the DOC also takes care of Dartmouth's 26,000+ acres of land. Throughout this land, there are a number of cabins that student members can rent at any time for just 5 dollars a night. My acapella group, the Dodecaphonics, and my co-educational greek house, The Tabard, rent cabins yearly and termly, respectively.

P.E. classes are also a blast as others have stated. There are unique classes like ice fishing and skeet shooting but also your more conventional sports like tennis and skiing/snowboarding. I took a snowboarding P.E. class freshman year, since I don't have much of a chance to "hit the slopes" in the Midwest. This term, I am taking a tumbling class because I have ALWAYS wanted to learn how to do a flip! Its really hard, but very rewarding.

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT DARTMOUTH RIGHT NOW?

So as many of you know, Haiti was recently struck by a devastating earthquake. Before coming to Hanover, Dartmouth President Jim Kim helped co-found Partners in Health with Paul Farmer. Their first project was in Haiti. Now, Dartmouth has taken a leadership role among U.S. Colleges and Universities in mobilizing relief efforts for Haiti.

"If there were a place least able to afford devastation like this, it would be Haiti..."

- Dartmouth President Jim Yong Kim 1/18/10

Click here for more information on Dartmouth's response to the earthquake in Haiti.

Click here for the Students of Dartmouth for Haiti Relief (SDHR) Facebook page.

Skiing, Cabin Outings, and Fun P.E Classes

As many people already mentioned, winter term is a great time to take advantage of a lot of outdoor activities. During my junior winter, I took beginner's cross-country skiing. I had a lot of fun trekking on the paths that weaved in and out of the woods and across the golf course, while learning how to ski.

Throughout the year, students take advantage of renting Dartmouth owned cabins. These cabins come equipped with everything you would need for the ultimate overnight event. An overnight stay in a cabin is a great way to get away from campus for a little bit while bonding with friends.

At Dartmouth, I've also taken advantage of fun physical education classes. I like to dance so I always look for P.E classes that allow me to explore movement while getting a work-out. This term I am taking a zumba class. "Zumba is an aerobic fitness program...based on salsa, merengue, cumbia, reggaeton and other music." (wikipedia)Zumba has become a really popular work out routine and I was excited when I found out that Dartmouth offered it as a class

RANDOM EVENT: Student Conference on Global Learning

Today, here at Dartmouth, the Dickey Center will be hosting the first annual Student Conference on Global Learning. The Dickey Center for International Understanding, for those who don't know, is home to two minors, International Studies and War & Peace Studies. Additionally, the Center hosts the Great Issues Scholars and War & Peace Fellows programs, while also offering funding for students seeking to work internationally and much more.

Today Dickey is playing host to the Student Conference on Global Learning. Members of the Dartmouth Community have come together, the result being a collection of presentations, workshops, art exhibits, and discussions that question our views on the world and the interconnectedness of global issues, societal problems, and potential solutions.

I know I am going to drop by. If you are in the area, please feel free to do so as well.

More information on the Conference here.

More information on Dickey here.

Skiing, Sledding, and Snowball Fights!!

The last time I was able to do a winter activity at Dartmouth was during my sophomore year (I spent last winter in Thailand). That winter I decided to take advantage of most of the winter activities. I went skiing for the first time and although it was challenging, I had a great time. I plan to try snowboarding this year. I also went sledding on the golf course which was so much fun. My friends and I would have different competitions like who could go the furthest or who would reach the bottom of the hill first. I also tried to go skating on Occum pond, but unfortunately it didn't work out. Hopefully, I'll have better luck this year.

Although this isn't really a sport, you cannot forget about snowball fights! The first snowfall is always the most epic because the entire campus gets to partake in it. A mass email is sent out to everyone telling them to meet on the green (the main lawn in the center of campus) at midnight for the first snowball fight of the year.

Because of all the activities that I got involved in, my winter term was amazing. It is fun and exciting to be able to feel like a kid again and not have to worry about the real world (i.e. graduating in 6 months and trying to find a job, yikes!)

Picture courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dartmouthflickr/4194407129/in/set-72157623024103280/

Turning Over a New Leaf...

First let me say that I was off last term and "IT FEELS SOOOOO GOOOOD TO BE BACK!" It's also very cold though and I had forgotten what a Hanover winter was like because I was in France last winter. So, needless to say, I have a lot to get adjusted to.

In terms of outdoor activities at Dartmouth, outside of my DOC Freshman trip I haven't done much. I plan to change that though. Looking back on my Freshman year, the biggest mistake I made was not getting out and taking advantage of outdoor activities in the winter. Instead, I complained about how cold it was and stayed inside. I was miserable, but it's because I didn't do anything to make winter enjoyable. There is ice skating, intense hockey games, skiing and just being able to get away and hang out at the ski lodge, sledding on the golf course, etc.

This winter I'm turning over a new leaf. I might as well enjoy this snow since its everywhere. And as you can see in the pics that the others have posted, it is very pretty too!

DOC Trips and Rock Climbing!!!

Even before my first year at Dartmouth, I had the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful outdoors through the Dartmouth Outing Club's first-year trips. They are very popular - about 90% of admitted students go on a DOC Trip - because they are tons of fun! Wild and crazy upperclassmen with fluorescent outfits and tie-dyed hair welcome the incoming class by singing, dancing, and sharing some of the College's most cherished traditions, including the Alma Mater and the Salty Dog Rag. Trips are completely student-run, which is great because it gives freshmen an opportunity to find amazing mentors during their very first days on campus and makes their transition to college memorable.

Trip options include everything from hiking and kayaking to organic farming and nature photography. I chose to go rock climbing because I'm from a big city (Washington DC) and so I never really had a chance to do anything like it. Surprisingly enough, climbing wasn't the hard part, hiking 8 miles uphill to get to the mountain was! By the time my group made it to the climbing site, I was completely out of breath, exhausted from carrying my own backpack (because I over-packed) and shocked by the seemingly endless journey I had just survived. All in all, it remains one of the most exiting experiences I've ever had.

Photo #1 credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dartmouthflickr/3890797689/

Photo #2 credit: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~mountain/res.shtml

Kickboxing Aerobics

Like Uthman said, we have to have at least 3 PE credits in order to graduate from Dartmouth. So for one of my PE credits I decided to take Kickboxing Aerobics with a woman who is famous on campus for her PE classes. Why is she famous? Because she is small (maybe 5' 3"), however she is buff (sort of like those professional weightlifters) , works you like a dog (literally) and she is the nicest person you will ever meet (I personally think it is because of all the endorphins she gets from working out). I had never taken an aerobics class nor a kickboxing class and so after my first day of working out with her, I was exhausted. Also, to whoever said it gets easier after the first day, it doesn't. No matter how often I went to her class, I was constantly huffing and puffing for air after the sessions. However, it was so much fun and since I was taking the class with one of my friends, we made sure to enjoy it while we were dying on the inside. Also, I must say that this class was definitely one of my highlights from sophomore summer.