Admission Requirements for Dartmouth College

This article provides a detailed breakdown of the necessary academic qualifications, test scores, extracurricular accomplishments, and personal character traits sought by Dartmouth College in its prospective students.

Introduction

Founded in 1769, Dartmouth College is a global leader in education renowned for its commitment to academic excellence and a vibrant intellectual community. Its rich history is intertwined with a steadfast commitment to innovation in order to create transformative student experiences. As a member of the prestigious Ivy League, Dartmouth's reputation is anchored in its rigorous curriculum, top-tier faculty, and a culture that promotes exploration and interdisciplinary learning.

Quick Numbers

• Acceptance Rate: 6.2%

• Test Optional/Blind: Yes

• Average SAT Score: 1483

• Average ACT Score: 33

• GPA: 3.9-4.0

• Number of Letters of Recommendation (LORs): One counselor recommendation, two teacher recommendations, and an optional peer recommendation.

• Common Application Essay/Coalition/Questbridge: Yes, a Common Application essay is required for applying to Dartmouth College

• Number of Supplemental Essays: Dartmouth requires 3 supplemental essays.

• Interview: Dartmouth Interviews are optional, but if offered a chance are highly recommended. It allows the school to see another side of you that might not be expressed in your essays.

• Early Decision/Early Action: Dartmouth offers a binding Early Decision(ED) Program, meaning that if accepted you are required to attend.

• Application Deadline: RD - Jan2nd, ED - November 1st

• Financial Aid Deadline: RD - Feb 1st, ED - Nov 1st

Tests

In terms of standardized test scores, Dartmouth admits students with strong performance on the SAT and ACT exams. Typically, the 25th percentile SAT and ACT scores are 1420 and 30, respectively. This means that 25% of admitted students scored below these figures. On the other hand, the 75th percentile scores (meaning that 75% of admitted students scored below these figures) are usually around 1560 for the SAT and 34 for the ACT. These scores provide a range within which the bulk of admitted students' scores tend to fall and offer you a benchmark to aim for in your test preparation.

Essays

Common App Essay

In terms of the Common App essay, Dartmouth College, like many other schools, asks applicants to respond to one of the seven essay prompts provided by the Common Application, allowing students to showcase their unique perspectives and experiences in a personal and meaningful way.

Below is the full set of Common App essay prompts for 2023-24.

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

4. Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.(This is a very dangerous prompt, and it is recommended to discuss it with your high school counselor before undertaking it.)

In addition, students have the option to tell colleges any additional information that they might want to know. For example, extenuating circumstances that may explain a drop in grades for a certain semester.

Supplementals

1. Required of all applicants. Please respond in 100 words or fewer:

Dartmouth celebrates the ways in which its profound sense of place informs its profound sense of purpose. As you seek admission to Dartmouth's Class of 2028, what aspects of the College's academic program, community, and/or campus environment attract your interest? In short, why Dartmouth?

2. Required of all applicants, please respond to one of the following prompts in 250 words or fewer:

A. There is a Quaker saying: Let your life speak. Describe the environment in which you were raised and the impact it has had on the person you are today.

B. "Be yourself," Oscar Wilde advised. "Everyone else is taken." Introduce yourself.

3. Required of all applicants, please respond to one of the following prompts in 250 words or fewer:

A. What excites you?

B. Labor leader and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta recommended a life of purpose. "We must use our lives to make the world a better place to live, not just to acquire things," she said. "That is what we are put on the earth for." In what ways do you hope to make—or are you already making—an impact? Why? How?

C. Dr. Seuss, aka Theodor Geisel of Dartmouth's Class of 1925, wrote, "Think and wonder. Wonder and think." As you wonder and think, what's on your mind?

D. Celebrate your nerdy side.

E. "It's not easy being green…" was the frequent refrain of Kermit the Frog. How has difference been a part of your life, and how have you embraced it as part of your identity and outlook?

F. As noted in the College's mission statement, "Dartmouth educates the most promising students and prepares them for a lifetime of learning and of responsible leadership…" Promise and potential are important aspects of the assessment of any college application, but they can be elusive qualities to capture. Highlight your potential and promise for us; what would you like us to know about you?

Conclusion

Navigating the admissions process for Dartmouth might seem daunting, but with the right tools at your disposal, it can be a manageable and successful endeavor. Kolly AI, with its advanced capabilities, is designed to guide you through one of the most challenging parts: writing your essays. It provides personalized suggestions and feedback, helping you craft compelling narratives that truly encapsulate your unique experiences, aspirations, and potential.

Don't let the task of essay writing stand in your way. Click the button below to get started with Kolly AI and elevate your application for Dartmouth to the next level. Let's make your dream of studying at Dartmouth a reality, together.