Some of the newly admitted 23’s are already e-mailing me, asking what advice I have about getting a good start and/or doing well academically at Dartmouth. I think it’s great that they (you) are thinking and planning ahead, which is probably the most important thing you can do well before September 16th, the first day of classes, and the start of your Dartmouth academic careers.
Here are my suggestions:
1. Review all the good advice on the Academic Skills Center website, including Academic Strategies videos and learning style inventories.
2. Ask and answer (best on paper or computer): why are you coming to Dartmouth and what do you hope to achieve?
Make a list of five to seven goals, which should include both academic and co-curricular goals. For example: do well academically, get to know at least one professor each term, make new friends, try a new club or activity.Limit your goals to the a reasonable number and have them be as concrete or measurable as possible. Having a set of specific and personal goals will help keep you focused and manage your time (very important).
3. Create a weekly schedule, using a time management grid. Using the 2023 Explore, Engage, Excel document you will receive and can view on-line, along the Registrar’s website, “choose” three courses. Put those class/lab times (including x-hours) onto your schedule. Add an activity or two that you might be involved in, wake up and get to sleep times, and exercise. Putting in those “structured” activities will reveal where your available (not “free”) time is. Then, very important, schedule regular study times for each of your three courses throughout the week. Pay particular attention to scheduling most of your study time during the day and early evening, and you should schedule more frequent study times for your more challenging courses. For example, you should put in some study time for any STEM course every day or most days of the week.
4. Know and start to appreciate that the ten week terms at Dartmouth go very quickly. Assignments will begin immediately, and your first hour-long “midterm” will be as early as the third week of classes.
5. Don’t be fooled by “only three courses.” Each course will be much more work, for most of you, than any of your high school courses.
6. Doing well academically at Dartmouth is very do-able, but it requires (talk to upper class students): clear personal goals, thoughtful course choice (get lots of advice/guidance), good time/work management, and putting in the time on each of your courses throughout the ten-week term.
7. Doing #6 well will allow you to be involved in clubs, activities, sports, hanging out, etc. But “ease yourself’ into those co-curricular activities during fall term (i.e. don’t over-commit).
8. The emphasis on fall term should be adjustment: academics, select involvements, new environment, social life, etc.
Once you are on campus, do not hesitate to stop by the Academic Skills Center; schedule an appointment for academic coaching, request a tutor, join a study group and find what works best for you.
Welcome to Dartmouth, Class of 2023!
Best,
Carl P. Thum, Ph.D., Director
This stem course is really interesting! I've learnt a lot, even that I work in the field of Earth Sciences. I think every level of advancement will find something satisfying here. Teachers are talking slowly but I think this is important, especially when somebody doesn't have elaborated language skills; if someone has, always have option to speed up the video. Everything is explained clearly (for me, some things could be not so simplified) and for people that don't have any background of STEM. I recommend this course a lot.