Anahita (Sem 2, 2022)

My Exchange at Dartmouth College

When I first arrived at Dartmouth, I was stunned at how quaint and quiet it was. The most gorgeous campus I’d ever seen, totally walkable and stunning inside and out. The orientation was not very extensive, but exploring the campus myself proved to be more interesting anyways.

My room at my dorm was shared with an exchange student from Thailand, a lovely girl named Pat who was an angel the whole term. We got along well and became friends, encouraging one another academically and socially. The room was spacious, but as it was a freshman dorm with shared bathrooms and thin walls, there were a lot of learning curves they experienced that we had to endure (e.g, their personal hygiene was not always the best, and alcohol was a novelty that led to some ambulance visits).

Hanover, the town in which Dartmouth lies, is like an idyllic movie set (it reminded me of the show Gilmore Girls at first glance). While it is peaceful, it certainly does not have the social scene we see in places like Auckland: clubs, restaurants and bars are limited, but what the town lacks in entertainment, the campus makes up for. Even for the non-partying types such as myself, there were plenty of great activities the university had planned. There was literally something to do every day.

Food is served in a hall called 53 Commons, adorably nicknamed “Foco”. There is an array of food to choose from, with an omelette, bagel, sandwich, vegetarian, kosher, barbeque, salad, ice-cream and baked goods station. You name it, they have it. Although it was overwhelming at first, I gradually came to enjoy certain meals and even now think fondly of their daily cinnamon rolls.

My courses were amazing. They were taught by very engaged professors. In part, I think the reason I liked my courses so much was because I loved the subject matter, but the small course sizes and discussion-based teaching played a big part in my enjoyable experience.

Q&A

What were some of the highlights of the academic experience at your host university?

My professors, particularly Professor Hudenko, were incredible. Hudenko was especially great; he was knowledgeable, funny and welcomed all sorts of questions. I was excited to attend his classes every week.

Participating in many research studies for extra credit gave me a great insight into the opportunities for future endeavors.

Would you recommend any particular activity/activities unique to your host country or university?

I would definitely join the Outing Club. It was the highlight of my Dartmouth experience and made me fall more in love with hiking and the outdoors. It’s free and you can even hire any gear you need (also for free). It’s a great way to see the area. Make sure to visit the Moosilauke Lodge at least once for their awesome dinners and freshly made bread.

Contra Dancing is a type of New England folk dance that I did a few times and really enjoyed. It’s also a great way to make friends!

What are your top 3 tips for future students attending your host university or going on exchange to your host country?

If going to Dartmouth, join the Outing Club! If going to the USA, use greyhound buses to get around if you want to travel. And make the most of the on-campus activities at US universities, because they usually receive a lot of funding and it’s bound to be a good time.

How much did you budget for your exchange? Was this enough? Were there any lessons learned that would help future students budget for their own exchange?

I budgeted about 7,000 USD for my room, board and insurance costs, and then another 1k USD for disposable spending. At Dartmouth, I didn’t really eat out or shop much because I was in a small town, it was really just at the beginning where I needed essentials (like bedding and textbooks) that I spent money. I think if you live in a dorm without a kitchen, its a good idea to get an unlimited meal plan so that you don’t have to buy groceries (which can be very expensive in the USA) and can save cooking time. I also chose to travel around with the help of the Outing Club (I did a lot of hiking and some birdwatching), which was entirely free of cost (+free meals) and allowed me to see more of the area.

What are your most significant takeaways from your experience abroad?

I learned a lot about my own resilience, as well as my own intellect. I went into the exchange nervous, thinking I didn’t really belong in an Ivy League institution and that I wouldn’t do well. I challenged those beliefs and did surprisingly well. I have learned about my own strengths when it comes to studying, for instance I’ve become a strict longhand note taker through my time there, as I realized it’s how I best learn information. I’ve realized I like to ask questions and discuss concepts, which I hadn’t done at UOA as our course sizes are usually very large.

However, my time in the USA also made me very grateful for my UOA experience. Our emphasis on indigenous knowledge, colonialism and classism was not very present during my time at Dartmouth. There was little racial and class diversity there; by the time I’d finished the exchange and had to return back to Auckland and my minimum-wage job, I realized that I hadn’t met one person who had a part-time job at Dartmouth. In that sense, I’m grateful for the diversity at UOA, as it reminds me how our tertiary education is more accessible and inclusive.