Rebekah Rombom ’08
English major, Women's and Gender Studies minor
X06-S07 D-plan: R-O-R-R

Favorite and least favorite thing about department: I love that there are constantly new classes offered. My biggest problem with the department probably exists in all humanities departments: because the curriculum is so varied and objective, it can be hard to adjust to a new teaching and grading style every term. I’ve found that it helps if you meet with the professor throughout the term to discuss class work and assignments.

Important info for potential majors: Planning ahead makes everything much more enjoyable. If you want to wait a while to start taking specific classes for the major, that’s certainly not a problem, but at least try to look at the requirements ahead of time and make sure it looks like, first and foremost, you’ll enjoy (or at least be able to stomach) all of them, and check out the ORC to see when classes that fulfill those requirements are offered.

Most valuable academic information learned: Classes in other departments can count towards the English major! There’s a clause in the ORC that allows you to take two classes from another department and have them count towards the major, as long as they’re major classes in that department.

Favorite class and professor: English 22 with Professor Edmondson, because he made me love English 22 (medieval British literature). Edmondson is extremely supportive in class and in office hours; he’ll seriously consider your idea and help you run with it. He’s extremely knowledgeable but not at all intimidating.

Major classes taken: ENGL 15, 22, 38, 41, 50, 67.9

Major journey: I was pretty sure I wanted to be an English major from the beginning. I’ve been interested in journalism but didn’t want to be stuck in a journalism school. The English major at Dartmouth allows (in fact requires) you to read and interpret vastly different texts which keeps it interesting.

Other activities: The Dartmouth; Delta Delta Delta Sorority

Off Campus Program: English FSP in Glasgow F06.

Lauren Caracciola ’09
English Major
F07-S08 D-plan: L-R-R

Favorite and least favorite thing about department: The professors within the English department, in my experience, have been helpful, accessible, captivating and passionate. The classes are varied and cover topics as distinct as contemporary American fiction and John Milton, which provides variety and promotes exploration into aspects of literary history that may not have been discovered before. However, I feel that there should be a little more flexibility within the required subject areas needed in order to complete the major.

Important info for potential majors: The English major requires a fair amount of planning in order to complete all the different concentration areas required. I would also advise choosing a concentration area within the department fairly early on in order to be able to narrow down your focus as you move through the major.

Most valuable academic information learned: The classes that I have done the best in and that have interested me the most have been those in which I have fully committed myself and engaged the professors. Going to office hours and getting to know professors is easily the most important lesson I have learned thus far.

Favorite class and professor: My favorite class was certainly English 47, American Drama with Professor Donald Pease. I found myself reading famous plays that I had always wished to read but never got around to and Professor Pease is a brilliant lecturer. He is easily one of the most captivating professors I have had at Dartmouth.

Major classes taken: ENGL 30, 34, 47, 48, 67

Major journey: I came into Dartmouth convinced that I wanted to be a psychology major and took a few courses in the department and realized it was not the major for me. At the same time, I took American Drama in the English department, which sparked my interest and inspired me to look more into the English major. After taking a few more courses, I made my decision that English was right for me.

Off Campus Program: Spanish LSA in Barcelona, 07W

Other activities: Dartmouth Women's Club Lacrosse; Casual Thursday Improvisational Comedy; Delta Delta Delta

Talk to me if: you're most interested in 20th century literature.

Michael Epstein ’08
Pre-Med, English modified with History
F07-S08 D-plan: R-R-R

Favorite and least favorite thing about department: My favorite thing about the English department is its team of professors. Of course as a major, I'm biased, but I can't imagine another department boasts a better faculty. They all seem approachable both in class and out. The most frustrating thing about the department for me is that its major requirements are split up by time periods, which I don't think is the most effective way of teaching the major. Fulfilling the two-class early period requirement has been particularly irksome for me.

Important info for potential majors: A good strategy for an English major early in their Dartmouth career would be to sit down with an ORC and plan the major out early, so that they don't find themselves in a less interesting class during their last few terms because they need to take it to fulfill a period requirements. With good planning, a prospective major can make it through the whole major without even one "dud" of a class.

Internship experience: Internship at a cancer research lab at Weill Cornell Medical School in New York City, 07W.

Most valuable academic information learned: There is a lot of help available around the edges. TA office hours and professor office hours are an underutilized resource.

Favorite class and professor: ENGL 15- Into to Lit Theory, Barbara Will

Major classes taken: ENGL 15, 24, 36, 42, 54, 67 and 72; HIST 3, 19 and 96.2

Major journey: I was originally a History major, but my favorite courses were consistently in the English department, so I switched my major but kept History as a modification.

Off Campus Program: Art History FSP in Rome, 06S

Other activities: Montage: The Dartmouth Film Journal- Publisher; Mentors Against Violence

Talk to me if: you're having trouble modifying the major, or if you're having trouble balancing it with an unrelated academic pursuit, especially premed.

Rachel LaRocca ’09
English Creative Writing and Psychology (double major)
F07-S08 D-plan: R-L-R

Favorite and least favorite thing about department: Both the English and Psychology departments are challenging and intriguing. Within the Psychology department, there are numerous opportunities to engage in research with graduate students and professors as well as to take courses on increasingly novel topics in all forms of psychology. Such opportunities are more difficult to find within the English department. Unfortunately, the English department is not well-tailored to creative writing majors and it is imperative to take endless literature courses and only a handful of the writing workshops which are the most helpful. In Psychology, there is an overabundance of majors due to a rumor of an easy major, and as such, it is more difficult to enter classes and to seek a specialty amongst other less committed students.

Important info for potential majors: For English, start early. There are a lot of classes, and it’s not as easy as it sounds. Here, also, you must choose a concentration, so an early start let’s you try things out before making a commitment.

Most valuable academic information learned: Taking that class that you never dreamed of enjoying is worth the struggle. You may have to work a little harder, but it often becomes the best class you’ve ever taken. Don’t be afraid to try new things by not locking yourself into a major or concentration too early. It’s cliché, but the attitude has a lot to do with your success in – and enjoyment of – a class. If you don’t believe me, ask about PSYC 026.

Favorite class and professor: PSYC 026-Physiological Psychology (Professor Megan Steven) was amazing. She was so dedicated to our understanding that she sparked an interest in even the least scientific of us. For English, ENGL 066-American Gothic Literature (Professor Michael Chaney) was my favorite. Prof. Chaney takes his job seriously enough to have a blast at what he does. He didn’t ever grade a paper without making sure we understood everything. And he was legitimately interested in our ideas.

Major classes taken: ENGL 036, 047, 066, 080

Major journey: I’ve always loved writing and knew that I wanted to learn to write professionally. But then I took Psych 010 here to fulfill my science with lab requirement and I fell in love with the Psych department professors and the subject. Even though I can’t take other classes that interest me, I am totally dedicated to my work as a writer and absolutely love my Psychology classes.

Off Campus Program: Medical Missions in Honduras, 06X; French LSA+ in Toulouse, 07S

Other activities: Dartmouth Varsity Equestrian Team; Dartmouth Wind Symphony; Navigators Christian Fellowship; Navigators Praise Team-organizational leader

Talk to me if: you have never been good at science (i.e. biology and chemistry) and are terrified of neuroscience. You’d be surprised how amazing and intriguing it is.

Thesis Status: I intend to write a short novel for a creative writing thesis. I am working with a graduate student in the Psych department on her doctoral thesis regarding stigmas in adult populations and may make our work a part of my Psychology thesis, as well.