What does Dartmouth Look for in Applicants?

[Anonymous]

What does Dartmouth look for in Applicant?

[Anonymous]

None of us work there.
We have no idea
Everyone on this site is literally just guessing.
Why ask?

[Anonymous]

Prep school kids with wealthy parents to foot the bill.

[Anonymous]

Outdoorsy
Nature
Liking their weird quarter D system
Research

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does Dartmouth look for in Applicant?

[Anonymous]

Full pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does Dartmouth look for in Applicant?

legacy

[Anonymous]

My high-stats, unhooked DC was admitted this year. I did a fair amount of research (in lieu of hiring a consultant). Current and former Dartmouth AOs are prolific in media--e.g., Lee Coffin's podcast (and appearances on others' podcasts), Valedictorians at the Gate (book), Inside the Admissions Office podcast, etc. Critically, there's no formula and the threshold issue is academic capability. Applicants must do very well in high school: Top 5-10% in class, many APs/IBs, high test scores, and reasonable AP test performance. But academic capability only gets one's foot in the door. Beyond that, here are some of the things that Dartmouth looks for:

Impact: This applies to all colleges, but Dartmouth likes applicants who show that they make an impact, whether it is in their classroom, community, or broader.

Demonstrated Interest: I'm not talking about tours or website visits. Dartmouth is probably the most distinct flavor of the Ivies, and it wants you to understand that distinction rather than merely applying because of its Ivy status. This means understanding that it offers a liberal arts education (broad and often interdisciplinary) and that it's rural location and tight campus community are integral to the Dartmouth experience. Applicants should show that they understand this and that it strongly appeals to them. Dartmouth likes applicants that genuinely like Dartmouth.

Benefit to the Community: As an isolated, small school with a tight community, applicants should show what they bring to that community and that they, well, aren't jerks. This doesn't require anything specific, but I think it helps if applicants can show things like they are kind, they are great teammates or friends, they inspire others, leadership, they're funny, they're quiet but profound, etc., etc. Applicants show show that they'd contribute to the community positively and, if possible, distinctly.

Intellectual Curiosity: This goes back a little to Dartmouth's liberal arts nature, but I think Dartmouth likely prefers kids who are interested in learning for learning's sake. If an applicant's application only shows myopic and pragmatic interest in, say, computer science, one has to question why that applicant is applying to Dartmouth.

Anyhow, it's a great school for the right kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My high-stats, unhooked DC was admitted this year. I did a fair amount of research (in lieu of hiring a consultant). Current and former Dartmouth AOs are prolific in media--e.g., Lee Coffin's podcast (and appearances on others' podcasts), Valedictorians at the Gate (book), Inside the Admissions Office podcast, etc. Critically, there's no formula and the threshold issue is academic capability. Applicants must do very well in high school: Top 5-10% in class, many APs/IBs, high test scores, and reasonable AP test performance. But academic capability only gets one's foot in the door. Beyond that, here are some of the things that Dartmouth looks for:

Impact: This applies to all colleges, but Dartmouth likes applicants who show that they make an impact, whether it is in their classroom, community, or broader.

Demonstrated Interest: I'm not talking about tours or website visits. Dartmouth is probably the most distinct flavor of the Ivies, and it wants you to understand that distinction rather than merely applying because of its Ivy status. This means understanding that it offers a liberal arts education (broad and often interdisciplinary) and that it's rural location and tight campus community are integral to the Dartmouth experience. Applicants should show that they understand this and that it strongly appeals to them. Dartmouth likes applicants that genuinely like Dartmouth.

Benefit to the Community: As an isolated, small school with a tight community, applicants should show what they bring to that community and that they, well, aren't jerks. This doesn't require anything specific, but I think it helps if applicants can show things like they are kind, they are great teammates or friends, they inspire others, leadership, they're funny, they're quiet but profound, etc., etc. Applicants show show that they'd contribute to the community positively and, if possible, distinctly.

Intellectual Curiosity: This goes back a little to Dartmouth's liberal arts nature, but I think Dartmouth likely prefers kids who are interested in learning for learning's sake. If an applicant's application only shows myopic and pragmatic interest in, say, computer science, one has to question why that applicant is applying to Dartmouth.

Anyhow, it's a great school for the right kid.

This should be stickied/pinned

Exactly matches what I’ve observed with the kids I know who have gotten in and attended

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My high-stats, unhooked DC was admitted this year. I did a fair amount of research (in lieu of hiring a consultant). Current and former Dartmouth AOs are prolific in media--e.g., Lee Coffin's podcast (and appearances on others' podcasts), Valedictorians at the Gate (book), Inside the Admissions Office podcast, etc. Critically, there's no formula and the threshold issue is academic capability. Applicants must do very well in high school: Top 5-10% in class, many APs/IBs, high test scores, and reasonable AP test performance. But academic capability only gets one's foot in the door. Beyond that, here are some of the things that Dartmouth looks for:

Impact: This applies to all colleges, but Dartmouth likes applicants who show that they make an impact, whether it is in their classroom, community, or broader.

Demonstrated Interest: I'm not talking about tours or website visits. Dartmouth is probably the most distinct flavor of the Ivies, and it wants you to understand that distinction rather than merely applying because of its Ivy status. This means understanding that it offers a liberal arts education (broad and often interdisciplinary) and that it's rural location and tight campus community are integral to the Dartmouth experience. Applicants should show that they understand this and that it strongly appeals to them. Dartmouth likes applicants that genuinely like Dartmouth.

Benefit to the Community: As an isolated, small school with a tight community, applicants should show what they bring to that community and that they, well, aren't jerks. This doesn't require anything specific, but I think it helps if applicants can show things like they are kind, they are great teammates or friends, they inspire others, leadership, they're funny, they're quiet but profound, etc., etc. Applicants show show that they'd contribute to the community positively and, if possible, distinctly.

Intellectual Curiosity: This goes back a little to Dartmouth's liberal arts nature, but I think Dartmouth likely prefers kids who are interested in learning for learning's sake. If an applicant's application only shows myopic and pragmatic interest in, say, computer science, one has to question why that applicant is applying to Dartmouth.

Anyhow, it's a great school for the right kid.

Amazing.

Can you do this for any other T25?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My high-stats, unhooked DC was admitted this year. I did a fair amount of research (in lieu of hiring a consultant). Current and former Dartmouth AOs are prolific in media--e.g., Lee Coffin's podcast (and appearances on others' podcasts), Valedictorians at the Gate (book), Inside the Admissions Office podcast, etc. Critically, there's no formula and the threshold issue is academic capability. Applicants must do very well in high school: Top 5-10% in class, many APs/IBs, high test scores, and reasonable AP test performance. But academic capability only gets one's foot in the door. Beyond that, here are some of the things that Dartmouth looks for:

Impact: This applies to all colleges, but Dartmouth likes applicants who show that they make an impact, whether it is in their classroom, community, or broader.

Demonstrated Interest: I'm not talking about tours or website visits. Dartmouth is probably the most distinct flavor of the Ivies, and it wants you to understand that distinction rather than merely applying because of its Ivy status. This means understanding that it offers a liberal arts education (broad and often interdisciplinary) and that it's rural location and tight campus community are integral to the Dartmouth experience. Applicants should show that they understand this and that it strongly appeals to them. Dartmouth likes applicants that genuinely like Dartmouth.

Benefit to the Community: As an isolated, small school with a tight community, applicants should show what they bring to that community and that they, well, aren't jerks. This doesn't require anything specific, but I think it helps if applicants can show things like they are kind, they are great teammates or friends, they inspire others, leadership, they're funny, they're quiet but profound, etc., etc. Applicants show show that they'd contribute to the community positively and, if possible, distinctly.

Intellectual Curiosity: This goes back a little to Dartmouth's liberal arts nature, but I think Dartmouth likely prefers kids who are interested in learning for learning's sake. If an applicant's application only shows myopic and pragmatic interest in, say, computer science, one has to question why that applicant is applying to Dartmouth.

Anyhow, it's a great school for the right kid.

Seriously, this might be the best description of Dartmouth I've ever seen. Good job, PP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My high-stats, unhooked DC was admitted this year. I did a fair amount of research (in lieu of hiring a consultant). Current and former Dartmouth AOs are prolific in media--e.g., Lee Coffin's podcast (and appearances on others' podcasts), Valedictorians at the Gate (book), Inside the Admissions Office podcast, etc. Critically, there's no formula and the threshold issue is academic capability. Applicants must do very well in high school: Top 5-10% in class, many APs/IBs, high test scores, and reasonable AP test performance. But academic capability only gets one's foot in the door. Beyond that, here are some of the things that Dartmouth looks for:

Impact: This applies to all colleges, but Dartmouth likes applicants who show that they make an impact, whether it is in their classroom, community, or broader.

Demonstrated Interest: I'm not talking about tours or website visits. Dartmouth is probably the most distinct flavor of the Ivies, and it wants you to understand that distinction rather than merely applying because of its Ivy status. This means understanding that it offers a liberal arts education (broad and often interdisciplinary) and that it's rural location and tight campus community are integral to the Dartmouth experience. Applicants should show that they understand this and that it strongly appeals to them. Dartmouth likes applicants that genuinely like Dartmouth.

Benefit to the Community: As an isolated, small school with a tight community, applicants should show what they bring to that community and that they, well, aren't jerks. This doesn't require anything specific, but I think it helps if applicants can show things like they are kind, they are great teammates or friends, they inspire others, leadership, they're funny, they're quiet but profound, etc., etc. Applicants show show that they'd contribute to the community positively and, if possible, distinctly.

Intellectual Curiosity: This goes back a little to Dartmouth's liberal arts nature, but I think Dartmouth likely prefers kids who are interested in learning for learning's sake. If an applicant's application only shows myopic and pragmatic interest in, say, computer science, one has to question why that applicant is applying to Dartmouth.

Anyhow, it's a great school for the right kid.

Seriously, this might be the best description of Dartmouth I've ever seen. Good job, PP!

Its a great school for the right kid who is full-pay and a legacy!

[Anonymous]

The PP's amazing, lengthy and informative post seems applicable to many schools. Thank you, PP. I must say though, it is a little bit stressful to have to demonstrate these characteristics, even if really kids possess them in abundance. I have a kind, hardworking, genuinely inquisitive kid who contributes to her school community in so many ways. It just feels like having to demonstrate that you are kind and intellectually curious is such a strange and artificial task, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The PP's amazing, lengthy and informative post seems applicable to many schools. Thank you, PP. I must say though, it is a little bit stressful to have to demonstrate these characteristics, even if really kids possess them in abundance. I have a kind, hardworking, genuinely inquisitive kid who contributes to her school community in so many ways. It just feels like having to demonstrate that you are kind and intellectually curious is such a strange and artificial task, though.

Often she’s not demonstrating it. Peer rec and LOR would speak to that….

[Anonymous]

There’s a bunch of wrong information above.

Dartmouth is of course need blind and will not know if you are full pay or not when reviewing your application.