Emily Huang ’09
Ancient History and Government Double Major; Pre-Law
F08-S09 D-plan: R-R-R

Favorite and least favorite thing about department: My favorite thing about the Classics department is its small size. It allows a student to get to know a bunch of professors really well, especially since they are all willing to sit down and get to know their students or introduce their students to other professors in the department. You often take classes where the professor already knows who you are. My least favorite thing about the department is the scheduling constraints of course offerings. Since the department is so small, some crucial major courses may only be offered every other year, so that you end up designing your D-plan around that.

Important info for potential majors: If you took Latin or Ancient Greek in high school, try to get as much credit as possible for that. It will make completing the major so much easier and free up possibilities to double major in some other department as well. Otherwise, he language prerequisites can be a serious hindrance to completing your major. Beyond prerequisites though, exploring your different options within the Classics department will help find the right concentration for you.

Talk to me if: you’re afraid of taking CLST 14

Most valuable academic information learned: Generally, classical studies can be applied to most studies of Western Civilization. Classical literature, philosophy, and even history manage to pop up in unexpected places outside my coursework in the classics. All classics courses are great lessons in writing any kind of paper too. Specifically, as an Ancient History major I have come to study Ancient Rome and Greece at a level I would not have imagined even existed prior to Dartmouth.

Favorite class and professor: My favorite class was CLST 002, but my favorite Classics professor is by far Paul Christesen. His CLST 14 class was my most challenging, demanding academic experience at Dartmouth but his teaching makes it worth it. I have learned a great deal from him inside and outside the classroom and encourage anyone to take one of his classes, whether it is CLST 1 or CLST 14.

Major classes taken:CLST 2; LAT30; CLST14; CLST 24; CLST 17; CLST25; CLST18; CLST19; CLST30; CLST31; CLST29

Major journey: I came to Dartmouth with a background in the classics and was ready to move on so I wanted to be Government major. However, freshman spring I decided to take a Latin class for a LIT credit and found myself loving the department and professors. I decided that given the department at Dartmouth, I couldn’t abandon my classical studies and chose Ancient History to expand on my background in Latin and Ancient Greek.

Major specific activities: Latin Tutor

Off Campus Program: Classics FSP- Italy Fall 2007

Other activities: Alpha Xi Delta- Activity Chair (summer), SAPA

Internship experience:Associated Press: Spring 2008

Adrian Munteanu ’10
Classical Languages and Literature
F08-S09 D-plan: R-R-O

Favorite and least favorite thing about department:I really like that the professors are really easy to approach and that even the most casual conversation with them may very much engage and enrich you intellectually. I would, however, like the Classics department to host more student events, perhaps to help them better orient in their careers after Dartmouth, or to nourish their study interest in Classics even outside of the courses.

Talk to me if: Talk to me if you need any support with beginning Greek or Latin, or you are interested in Classical Antiquity’s world of ideas.

Most valuable academic information learned: By studying the Greco-Roman Antiquity, I learned how to better adjust my mind into thinking within the frame of a civilization quite different from ours. I think this can be generally helpful when one tries to better understand people from other cultures than one’s own and may foster more sympathetic inter-cultural dialog.

Favorite class and professor:I really enjoyed CLST 02 with professor Hakan Tell.

Major classes taken:LAT 10, 22; CLST 02; GRK 1, 3, 10

Major journey: I chose this major because my main intellectual interest leans towards the history of ideas, and I thought that I could have best start on this path by studying Greco-Roman Antiquity. Its culture and civilization lie at the basis of all Western civilization, not only from a chronological point of view, but also because they defined the grand framework in which the West has been thinking and discussing thought for the past two millennia.

Thesis status:I am considering writing a thesis about how Plato understood poetics, but I have not yet clearly singled out a subject.

Other activities: Amarna Coed Society – Secretary, Photographer for the Dartmouth, Editor for the Aporia Philosophy Journal;

Off Campus Program:French FSP in Paris, 09S

Internship experience:Associated Press: Spring 2008

Brian Howe ’10
Classics, Linguistics Double Major
F08-S09 D-plan: L-O-R

Favorite and least favorite thing about department:My favorite thing about the department would be the great interaction with faculty members. Every Latin and Greek class that I have had has been really small to the point where every student really gets great individual attention from the professor. The professors in the department care so much about their teaching and wanting to form relationships with students, which is really amazing. My least favorite thing would be the size of the department. Even though the small department allows students to get to know faculty members really well, the schedule is often limited in terms of what courses you can take and when, so you really need to plan your major schedule in advance.

Important info for potential majors: I think an important thing for potential majors to consider is which area you would like to concentrate in. For Classics there are four different areas, so you have the opportunity to really narrow you focus on one specific area in the department. If you plan on doing Languages and Literatures, it is really important to start taking either into Latin or Greek as soon as possible so you can get the intro classes out of the way early.

Talk to me if: You have questions about how to balance your schedule with the Classical Language classes and the Classical Studies classes, or if you are having problems with either the Latin or Greek literature itself.

Most valuable academic information learned: My most valuable academic information learned would be to go to professor’s office hours. A lot of students can be really intimidated about going to speak to their professors outside of class, but the professors truly care about their teaching and are really eager to get to know their students and help them with any problems. Forming great relationships with my professors has been so helpful for me academically.

Favorite class and professor: My favorite class was Latin 22 with Professor van den Berg. The class was on Latin comedy, which is something that I had never really explored much before, and Professor van den Berg did a great job planning out a organized course syllabus that allowed us to improve our language comprehension while also appreciating the history of Roman comedy. He was also really down to earth and approachable outside of class and really wanted each student to do well and improve as much as possible throughout the term.

Major classes taken:CLST 2, 4; GRK 1, 3, 10, 20; LAT 22, 22, 30

Major journey: When I came to Dartmouth, I had taken Latin in high school and really enjoyed it, so I decided to take a Latin literature class freshman fall and ending up loving the department and the close relationships that the faculty members formed with the students. I started to take more Classical Language classes, including starting up Ancient Greek, and loving all of the courses I was taking, so I knew I had found the right major for myself.

Major specific activities:Presidential Scholars Research Project with Prof. Margaret Graver on Seneca; Latin/Greek Study Center Director/TA

Thesis status: I intend to do a thesis, but I am not sure what exactly I will focus on. Most likely I will choose a topic on Indo-European Linguistics, either focusing on Latin or Greek.

Other activities:Undergraduate Advisor; Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra, Dartmouth Law Journal-Senior Editor, Tucker Foundation-Early College Awareness Chair, Katrina Help Biloxi-Trip Leader, DOC Directorate, Dartmouth Model United Nations

Off Campus Program: German LSA in Berlin 08S; Linguistics FSP in New Zealand, 09W

Internship experience:Temple and Temple, L.L.P.-Legal Intern, 07S, Syracuse, NY In this internship I got to work first-hand in a law office in Syracuse, working in a wide variety of legal cases that included family court, real estate, adoption law, wills, etc. I did the majority of research on the Westlaw legal database for several cases that the law office was working on, and I also had the opportunity to both go to court and also meet and consult with different clients.

Meredith Bishop ’10
Classics-Latin Literature Major, Pre-med track
F08-S09 D-plan: R-O-R

Favorite and least favorite thing about department:My favorite thing about the Classics department is definitely its small size. It makes it really easy to get to know your professors and get individual attention. It’s also cool to get to know a lot of people in the major, since a lot of the classes are small and often with a similar group of people. My least favorite part about the Classics department is that certain classes are only offered in a particular term, so it can be more challenging to coordinate your D-plan with all of your major classes.

Important info for potential majors: If you took Latin in high school, definitely go talk to Professor Graver about getting credit! The Classics department’s policy on AP credit is a bit unclear, so you really do need to talk to someone about your specific situation.

Talk to me if: Talk to me if you’re also pre-med and not a science major, or if you think 6 language course requirements is too many!

Most valuable academic information learned: I would say the most valuable academic information learned is probably not even one specific fact or the works of a particular author, but the skills you get from translating Latin. The process is surprisingly analytical, so even if you’re not necessarily going to use Latin in your job, you will have gained valuable analytical skills that can be useful in a variety of fields.

Favorite class and professor: Latin 3 my favorite Classics course so far, because it really solidifies your language skills so that you’re ready for upper level courses. I took Latin 3 with Professor Christesen who is my favorite professor in the department. He was very engaging in class and made sure that everyone really understood everything as we went along. Also he’s a really funny guy so class is entertaining, and he definitely keeps you on your toes.

Major classes taken:LAT 3; LAT 10; LAT 24; LAT 26; CLST 2

Major journey: After taking Latin in high school I was a little fed up, but decided to go ahead and take Latin 3 to fulfill my language requirement. It was definitely one of my best course decisions so far, because Latin 3 really changed my mind, and I became a Classics major! After discovering the Classics department at Dartmouth it seemed obvious what my major should be. All the profs are amazing and really inspire interest for their topic.

Major specific activities:Latin Study Center

Thesis status: Undecided

Other activities:Alpha Xi Delta, Habitat for Humanity, College Democrats, Student Assembly, Blood Drives

Internship experience:Planned internship for winter ’09 in pediatric anesthesiology at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City.