Jess Kimball

My Pseudo-College Experience Jess Kimball

At age sixteen, most high schoolers are trying to navigate college applications, Friday night football games, and SAT scores. But for Jess Kimball, age sixteen meant graduating high school and moving abroad, alone. Her decision to focus on running a business instead of going to college is one that she had no regrets about--except for her curiosity about college life. What did people mean when they referred to college as "a must-have experience," or "the good old days?" At age nineteen, Jess decided to audit classes at Dartmouth College; an experience that would change her life. What resulted was the social experience of college, minus the debt and anxiety--a pseudo-college experience. In the current era of creative and unique career paths, is college necessary for everyone? Are the debt and stress worth it? Are you "missing out" if you choose a trade school or other career path, and can you get the "full college experience" without actually attending? Jess did--and she did it Ivy League style. In My Pseudo-College Experience, Jess explores Greek life, party culture, course loads, student stereotypes, and her overall experience at Dartmouth, all through the lens of a "pseudo" student.