Interview with Allie Ohde, Dartmouth College

Interviewer: So today we have Allie joining from Dartmouth. Super excited. And I always say I just appreciate students making time. You guys are so busy and this is more work, but hopefully it’s really fun. So, joining from Dartmouth. You’re studying econ and psychology, and you’ve got some pretty cool internships coming up and a lot of experiences already. And you’re on the back half of your undergrad, which is super exciting, but it’s stressful because you’re kind of prepping for that next step. And you’re tuning in from Chicago. But as promised, first question of every interview, how did you end up at Dartmouth? What was that process like?

Allie: Yeah, I think my process is definitely a little bit different. I was recruited to play softball. So it started, you know, sophomore, junior year of high school, where I was really looking to find a place that would push me athletically, obviously, but more importantly, academically. Obviously, Ivy Leagues are known for that. But I was really looking for a place that would cultivate me personally as well. And just during the recruitment process, the coaches at Dartmouth and the general athletic staff were just amazing to talk to. And I automatically felt a connection where collaboration mattered and engagement was super important. They were really the only ones during the COVID time that made sure to get me up to campus, no matter what. That extra push of kind of wanting me made me feel welcomed in an unparalleled way, compared to other schools. So that’s like the more personal level as to why I chose Dartmouth, but also just Dartmouth in general was beautiful. I got up there and I was like, this is somewhere where I could see myself living my life for four years, even though that’s crazy because it is a small campus. But I think that aspect of a smaller community where you are a bigger fish in a small pond and everyone kind of sees it that way is truly what makes everyone want to be out there and want to be friendly and want to be included in everyone’s lives, which I think is super important.

Interviewer: Yeah, 100%. I think it’s a testament to the brand of Dartmouth. Everyone kind of knows what that means, the academics and sports like you’re talking about. And then kind of on that community theme that we talk about, just feeling like you have a family already and coming in for sports, it’s like the admins that support you, the coaches, the other teammates you have, kind of like you’re talking about. And I’ve seen it too, again, just working at Tuck. I get to see it across campus as well. So in that process for getting recruited for softball, was that cold outreach or camps or stats? Like how did you get found essentially?

Allie: A lot of cold emails, a lot of cold emails. There’s actually a bunch of databases or I don’t even know what they’re called anymore, like online services where you just post all of your videos. You can see what coaches look at it and then you can just send as many emails as you want to any coach in the entire country, which is insane. But as much as I’ve gotten into the interview process for internships and jobs now, that was probably the most hectic form of outreach I’ve ever had to do. Just randomly cold-emailing Stanford coaches, Dartmouth coaches, anyone. I was like, I don’t even know what I’m doing. I’m 14 years old and I’m doing this.

Interviewer: That’s insane. Was that intimidating? Those are big names for schools.

Allie: It was definitely intimidating, but I would say it was more fun because I was like, you never know what could happen. It wasn’t like I had a basis or a connection with any of these coaches in the beginning. But the mentality is you never know until you try. And I think that really has stuck with me since then. But it’s also super cool to just have that opportunity to talk to anyone that honestly would give me a chance.

Interviewer: Yeah, that’s cool. And I think we’ll get into it later with the professional goals and career side. That cold outreach and networking, it’s the same exact skill set, so to do that at 14, you’ve already done it before. Last thing on softball, what position did you play, and is that outreach typical for that position or does it change for different positions?

Allie: So I was mainly a catcher, and then I kind of transitioned into outfield, depending on like what the coaches needed from me. And I think catching is definitely—pitching is obviously the most important for coaches. Having a solid staff of pitchers is key to having a great team. Obviously, you need good hitters, but I think being a diverse player and having diverse experiences on the field was definitely helpful for me. Being able to be a catcher, which is a gritty job in the first place, and then being able to go out in the outfield and do whatever the coaches needed me to do was super important and definitely is a transferable skill that I’ve tried to give in every aspect of my life, making sure that I can be there for whatever job or position I’m in.

Interviewer: Yeah, that’s a good mindset. Good to be adaptable to things. And anyway, so you chose Dartmouth for a lot of reasons. And thankfully, you had that softball experience, which is great. And so anyway, you end up at Dartmouth, amazing school, top-ranked all the time. Very consistently, great grad schools too. But yeah, that transition is really big no matter how you’re doing it and at what time, and obviously at the COVID thing as well. What was that transition like from high school to Dartmouth?

Allie: It was definitely scary. But like we said, with being recruited, I automatically had some sort of team, some sort of friendships that I had, which was great. But I think Dartmouth made it really easy for me to branch out in the beginning and really gain relationships with other people outside of my team. We have orientation week, which is an interesting time. It’s like a week and a half of just the freshmen on campus. You do these fun first-year trips where you’re designated to go kayaking, canoeing, hiking— all these random trips, which is super fun and definitely pushed me in many ways that I didn’t know I could be pushed because I’d never gone camping before. But from this, it wasn’t softball related. It wasn’t anything. It was Dartmouth making sure that all students and all freshmen kind of had a basis with each other and were branching out and meeting new people with different experiences, different perspectives. And so it automatically set this precedent that everyone might be different, but we’re all together as one, as a family, no matter where you’re coming from. And so for that first week, it was like this whole new world where I was like, wow, there are so many opportunities that Dartmouth is giving me and I’ve only been here for 48 hours at this point.

Interviewer: Well, we need to unpack that because, and it’s great—it’s in the community area, the community theme that I touched on, and I think a lot of colleges, especially small ones, do well kind of getting freshmen acclimated. But it’s also got the reputation of being in the middle of nowhere. So I’m going to give you the chance to talk on that and just say, like all these great opportunities, what else can you do in Hanover living in the area?

Allie: There’s so much to do. I honestly have always been overwhelmed with how much I could do because I’m from the city, either Atlanta or Chicago, where my families live. And I get up there and everyone’s like, let’s go on a sunrise hike. And I’m like, what are we talking about? Where we leave at like 5 am, drive 20 minutes to the closest mountain, whether that’s Gile or honestly the only one I’ve done so far. And you can branch out a little bit. You hike up with a group of people and just watch the sunrise. And I’m like, you would never expect to do this in like a city or anything. And then obviously there’s the river right down the road. And so people just kind of float around and hang out. And there’s so much outdoor activity that I couldn’t even imagine coming into Dartmouth. And the best part is that Dartmouth makes it accessible for everyone. I’m not a part of the Dartmouth Outdoor Club.

Allie: My friends are really into outdoor activities, like rock climbing and all sorts of random things. They invite anyone who wants to join, and it’s amazing how students come together to form these groups. It’s great because it really encourages people to get outside, not just be stuck in the library. Dartmouth is academically rigorous, but the staff and students really make it easy and fun to transition into this life. It’s so accessible, and there are tons of opportunities for exploration, even if you’re not fully organizing it yourself. It’s great how flexible it is for different kinds of students, like double majors or student-athletes.

Interviewer: That sounds awesome. It’s definitely cool that it’s so flexible. So, in terms of the community, what’s the mix like in Hanover? Is it just students, or are there families and professionals too?

Allie: Hanover is super special. It’s a small town, and it’s so tight-knit. I’ll be walking around the Green with my friends, and I’ll bump into professors getting lunch in town. You’ll see people—townies, as we call them—walking around with their kids and dogs. It’s such a relaxed vibe. Even if I don’t know someone, I’ll sit on the Green and randomly play hacky sack with a kid from town. You really feel like you’re part of the community. And I actually work at Dirt Cowboy, the café in town, and it’s so fun seeing the regulars come in who know my name and my history. It just makes you feel connected, not just to the school but to the whole community.

Interviewer: That’s awesome. It sounds like there’s a real connection between the school and the town. I’ve heard from other people that the campus feels so integrated with the town. It’s so small that everyone just knows each other. It sounds like the same vibe I get when I’m at Tuck. The community just feels close-knit.

Allie: Yeah, it’s such a unique vibe. You’ve got Tuck, Geisel, undergrads, professors, and even the townies all in the same place. It doesn’t really matter where you’re from or what part of campus you’re from, you’ll just bump into people. Even on the other side of campus, near the athletic fields and baseball area, there are neighborhoods, and everyone comes together. It’s crazy how connected it all feels.

Interviewer: Definitely. And on top of that, it’s close to Boston, which is a major city. Do you get to visit it much in your free time?

Allie: Yes! Actually, I’m an executive for Women in Business, and we organized a career trek to Boston. It was a chance for freshmen to visit companies, meet alumni, and learn about career paths from Dartmouth grads. Boston is so accessible for us, and it’s great because it’s only a couple of hours away. Plus, the airport is nearby, so it makes traveling easy.

Interviewer:
That’s so cool. It sounds like Boston is a huge resource for you all. By the way, is the Women in Business club on your LinkedIn?

Allie: Oh, no, I still need to update it. I’ve been so busy, but I’ll definitely get it on there soon!

Interviewer:
You should! That’s such a great thing to be involved in. Even though you’re saying it’s casual, it’s still an impressive role. You’re doing some really cool stuff!

Allie:
Thank you! I’m always updating stuff, so it’s on my to-do list. There’s just so much going on!

Interviewer: I can imagine! You’re involved in so many things—there’s the community, the outdoors, and all the different opportunities on campus. It seems like Dartmouth really offers so much to explore.

Allie: Exactly! Even if it’s freezing outside, people are still out hiking and doing all sorts of things. The outdoors are such an advantage here, and I love how it’s really embraced no matter the weather.

Interviewer: And speaking of your studies, I know economics is a big major at Dartmouth. Was that something you always knew you wanted to study, or did you discover it once you got to college?

Allie: Dartmouth has a unique way of choosing majors—you don’t have to decide until the end of your sophomore year, which gave me some time. When I first came to college, I wanted to study business, but since Dartmouth doesn’t have a business major, I started taking economics courses. I just fell in love with it. I’m fascinated by the graphs and the theories, and it really helps me understand how business works. Plus, some of the professors here are so passionate about what they teach, and that made me fall in love with it even more. Economics also ties into human behavior, which is where psychology comes in. Understanding society’s behavior and applying that to business strategies, especially in marketing, is what really excites me.

Interviewer: That’s awesome. And it sounds like you’re combining psychology and economics in a really interesting way. Is there a specific area of business you’re interested in for your future career?

Allie: That’s a tough one. I love learning in general. Dartmouth, being a liberal arts school, gives me the freedom to take all sorts of random classes like Women’s and Gender Studies, Mexican Art History, and more. But right now, I’m really into consumer neuroscience and neuromarketing. I took this class called Consumer Neuroscience and Neuromarketing, and it was amazing! Professor Clark was incredible, and it gave me such a deep understanding of consumer behavior. I also just landed a retail sales internship with Coca-Cola this summer, which I’m really excited about. Even though it’s not the typical Dartmouth path, I think sales is important because it teaches you how to communicate and collaborate, which are essential skills for business.

Interviewer: That’s fantastic! It sounds like you’re on a great path. So, with your internship at Coca-Cola, did you use connections, or was it more cold outreach?

Allie: At first, it was definitely cold outreach. I applied to a lot of places and wasn’t sure where it would take me. But then, I realized I really wanted this one. Luckily, I have some connections from home, like people I went to high school with and their parents, who worked at Coca-Cola. Those connections helped me get an inside track. I also used Dartmouth Connect, which is a great resource for networking with alumni. Having coffee chats, even if they’re not directly related to a job, helped me build relationships and get advice. In the end, the connections really made the difference.

Interviewer: That’s so great. Networking can really make a huge difference. And it’s awesome to hear that Coca-Cola felt like a family, like Dartmouth does.

Allie: Yeah, it felt so much like Dartmouth. The whole company just had that same vibe. And I’m really excited to work with them this summer.

Interviewer: That’s fantastic! It really speaks to the power of building relationships, both at Dartmouth and outside of it. So, did you have a lot of interviews for that internship, or was it more streamlined after the connections?

Allie: Actually, it was pretty streamlined! The first round felt more like a conversation than an interview. I had a talent manager from Coca-Cola just walk me through the job details and pick my brain a little. After that, I went in for what I thought would be a two-round interview process, but by the time I got there, they were already familiar with me from the connections I’d made. It ended up being just a one-interview process, which was a huge relief!

Interviewer: That’s so efficient! And rare, honestly. It’s great to hear that your networking efforts paid off.

Allie: For sure. I know the job search can be tough, though. I think I applied for upwards of 60 positions and only really heard back from 20, only probably got 10 interviews or first round interviews. And then from that only maybe two or three second, or third round interviews. And the more it kept happening, the more I kind of fell in this pit of like, oh, like maybe this industry isn’t for me. Maybe I need to try and figure out like a different direction of like my professional life, which was hard because obviously you work super hard in your classes and just your overall being to like want to like fulfill this dream of yours. It was definitely tough, but it made me even more determined to push through. And I had an incredible mentor, Professor Lee. She’s been incredibly helpful with my professional life. She told me, “You can’t give up. This isn’t a reflection of you, but of the world. Figure out how gritty you’re going to get for the next position.” I got lucky with my current job at Coca-Cola, but it was about setting the precedent: I wasn’t going to give up. I built a network of over 10 people who could vouch for me, and I kept reaching out to them.

Interviewer: And that transparency is key. I played baseball, so I know that a 20-for-60 batting average is good, but in the job market, it feels different because it’s so competitive. It’s like, “I applied, I’m qualified, and I want 60 interviews.” The best part of my job is meeting students, which is why I enjoy this so much. When people speak from the heart, their experiences resonate with others. And having mentors is so helpful. I think every stage of your career feels challenging. Even now, I have friends trying to move from mid-level roles to senior roles, and the struggle remains. But you’re doing everything right as an undergrad. It’s still a grind. And we’ve hit our 10-minute warning, so I’ll wrap it up. You’ve explored so many industries and have an impressive internship at one of the world’s biggest companies. What’s your best advice for students wanting to make the most of their undergrad experience?

Allie: I think for me it’s twofold-say yes to everything, go to events, introduce yourself, don’t be afraid to try something new, and you don’t have to have it all figured out right away. I would say being curious and being open to new experiences, new perspectives, new people is super important and it grows you exponentially, and creates a foundation of honesty and perspective and understanding of everyone around you, which I think is super important in the real world. And being able to contribute in a group where you can rationalize other people’s opinions and be empathetic. I think being personal and understanding that everyone has different opinions and perspectives is super awesome, and so I say ‘yes’ to everything and enjoy it-you don’t have to necessarily be the best at it, which I think is difficult for Ivy League students to understand, but just know that you add value in any situation you’re in, whether that’s you know being the smartest in the room or not; it doesn’t really matter. But, twofold from that: Saying ‘yes’, but understanding your routine and your mental health and sleep is super important. And understanding what habits create a better you at the end of the day is critical to sustaining a healthy life, especially in this academically rigorous setting. But I would say Google Calendar is your best friend.

Interviewer: Why is that like the number one thing I hear? Is it that good?

Allie: It’s gotten to the point where, I mean, it’s booked up minute by minute, and it’s not necessarily I’m in meetings; it’s ‘oh, I’m getting dinner with this person.’ Let me send them a Gcal invite. And so it’s just staying organized and making sure that you do have the time to say yes to everything. Making sure that you’re getting your work done and going to office hours and doing the extra things you can do for your classes, but also doing the extra things you can do for your friends and clubs, which is awesome.

Interviewer: It’s amazing advice. I think at this point, that might be the seventh person that said Google Calendar. So they’re probably too big to get as a sponsor, but hey, we’ll see. It’s amazing advice. And I think another core piece to what you’re saying is like, you’re going to feel that struggle and like there’s a lot of work that goes into stuff that doesn’t feel successful; you have give or take again, like 40 positions that you aren’t a finalist for. That kind of thing. So, again being confident putting that work in, and don’t be afraid to reach out to someone that you knew before college or after. Well, Allie, thank you one last time for your time and insights. This was an amazing conversation!

Allie: Thank you for having me, this was so fun!