<p>GPA: 3.77/4.0 (unweighted, no weighted available)
Rank: top 13% -> 45/350ish (this is also unweighted, but I've took the most rigorous course load)
SAT: 2310-> 800M, 750 CR, 760 W
SATII:720 Math II, 710 Physics</p>
<p>ECs: Few clubs and sports here and there. Captain of robotics team, research lab intern for 2+ years (getting rec as well), publish/coauthor on paper (related to CS/engineering), etc. </p>
<p>Any shot at my reaches, I know my GPA/rank isn't very high, I had a 3.6 freshman year, but 4.0s Sophomore and Junior year. I'm working on my essays, any hope that they might counterbalance a lowish GPA (my SATs are on the higher end as well). Also, the peer rec- how much does it matter? I'm asking a close friend of mine to write it, who knows me very well.</p>
<p>I’m iffy. The SAT score and excellent GPA in soph/junior years should help to offset the overall GPA that is dragged down by the freshman year (not everyone excels from the start), but I would have liked to see better SAT II numbers. You don’t demonstrate a lot of breadth (ECs), but conventional wisdom seems to go back & forth whether colleges are looking for students with specific desires or students with a broad range of interests. I’ve always thought the answer is probably a bit of both. Your essays may be more important than for a lot of others, because of the above (watch your writing carefully: “took” should have been “taken”), and the peer recommendation is another thing that might help you stand out.</p>
<p>@AboutTheSame: I know the SAT II’s are on the lower end, I took them a long time ago… I know I lack breadth, but it seems that from the kids at my school who have been accepted to Ivies and peers, quality trumps quantity. Would you say that if I can nail the essays (I’ll work on the grammar), and get a good peer rec, I might have a shot at acceptance?</p>
<p>I think your research work can really help as an EC. Have you won any awards in robotics?
I agree with aboutthesame, your SAT is excellent, and your GPA might not be as big of a problem because Dartmouth likes upward trends. However, being outside the top 10% is not a good thing.
And the peer rec I’ve been told matters a lot from the admissions representatives during information sessions.
Overall, I think you have a chance, but in the RD round it might be hard for you to stick out without excellent essays and recs.</p>
<p>You would not be wasting your application fee. I wouldn’t expect to see you get a “likely letter” – unless the paper you mention is really a big deal in a major journal – but I’d say you have a shot if you can pique the reviewer’s interest (see essay/peer rec). I really think you could help yourself with a stellar SAT II if that’s an option for you.</p>
<p>I don’t think I’ll be able to take the Jan SAT II since I’ll be out of town- so that will stay the same (I don’t think those scores will hurt that much, my grades in math and physics are A’s). My paper has been presented at a conference (it’s part of a series of papers), but not in any major journal like Nature or Science. I’m working on another paper right now, so I can send that in during the spring after I apply. Thanks for the insight. Any advice on the essays would be helpful.</p>
<p>I have read/commented on many others this year; I would be happy to take a look at yours. Email to this user name as a gmail address. I am strict, but (I hope) reasonably kind.</p>
<p>@Cirroalex: As part of a robotics team- placed 1st and 2nd in competitions, no awards for research (c’mon I’m like 18…). The rank is iffy, but there have been kids outside of the top decile from my HS to get into Ivies and other top schools. The rank is unweighted, so it’s not uncommon for people to take fluff courses to boost their GPA and rank (I’ve discussed it with my GC- he says its fine). Hopefully I can write strong essays. I’m in the process of asking my friend for the peer rec- is there anything I should tell him that would help when he writes it? Thanks</p>
<p>Only asked if you won awards in robotics, not research…Of course no one expects you to win awards in research at 18, lol.
And yes, for the peer recommendation at the campus information session I went to the admissions representative basically said that it’s “very” (she emphasized this) important and she emphasized to take it seriously, because it really helps in distinguishing candidates. Keep in mind that because Dartmouth has no writing supplement this is one of their only other ways of getting to know you. As a result, she said it’d be helpful if the recommendation was highly specific and/or anectodtal (telling a story or something) involving you or your friendship would help. Your peer reviewer should feel free to elaborate on you in ways that might not be expressed elsewhere in the application (how you interact with family/friends, hobbies, culture, etc.)
I hope that helps!</p>
<p>Being outside of the top 10%, is going to hurt you significantly. Dartmouth typically accepts students in the top 2 places in the classes (and a bit above obviously).</p>
<p>Honestly, your SAT subject scores might hurt you, on second look. Your highest grades are in math and physics, but your scores in those subject tests are not very impressive.</p>
<p>Yeah, well can’t do much about the SAT II’s or the rank. Let’s just apply and hope for the best…</p>