Automatic rejection if I didn't take "most rigorous" course load?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Dartmouth College
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<p>WARNING: Fairly long post, but I really need some advice, so thank you so much in advance if you decide to read! :)</p>

<p>I'm very interested in Dartmouth, and I feel my applicant profile is strong (3.85 UW GPA, 4.625 W, long-term and unique EC's, etc.) However, as someone else pointed out, my "academic prowess" is much stronger in regards to English and social science than it is in regards to math and science.</p>

<p>I have taken all the most rigorous courses in the humanities, including being the only sophomore in my class to be admitted to AP English Literature sophomore year (outside of rare exceptions like me, people cannot take it until senior year.) I got a A in the class and a 5 on the AP exam. I continued this trend in junior year (took AP English Language and Composition [A in the class, 5 on AP exam) and AP U.S. History [A, 5].) This year, as a senior, I am taking AP Government/Politics and AP Economics (so far, I have an A in government and an A+ in economics).</p>

<p>I also tested strongly on these areas in SAT I and SAT II. I got an 800 Writing, 740 CR (retaking though and I think I can improve my CR score). On the math section, I got 600 (but I'm retaking it, so I expect a higher score). My U.S. History SAT II was 710 and I'm taking Literature and World History in November (expecting a high 700s range or 800 on Literature, not entirely sure about World History).</p>

<p>In addition, I took the most rigorous math and science classes that I felt I could excel in. Freshman year, I took Honors Geometry and got an A in the class; sophomore year I took Honors Algebra II and got a B. Science: Freshman year, I took Conceptual Physics (honors isn't offered at my school) and got an A; sophomore year, I took Honors Chemistry and got a B; junior year, I took Honors Biology and got an A.</p>

<p>However, I haven't taken Pre-Calculus or anything higher than Honors Algebra II in math. I'm taking Elementary Statistics at a community college this spring instead because my school couldn't fit me into their Statistics class (unless something changes, then I would take it at my high school.) I wanted to take AP Psychology but again, my school couldn't fit me in. I haven't taken an AP math or science class, and overall I will have taken 5 out of 10 AP classes offered at my school and the rest have all been honors (when honors are offered).</p>

<p>So, my course load would probably be the second-most rigorous level and my strengths are concentrated much more in the humanities. Would this get me an automatic (or if not automatic, a likely) rejection from Dartmouth?</p>

<p>Please let me know; thank you for reading, and thank you for any advice! :)</p>

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<p>When I visited Dartmouth, I know that they mentioned that they have few or no math courses below the level of multivariable calculus. In addition, Dartmouth does have a lot of requirements, and these do include math. I hope that you still have a shot, because I am similar only I excel in math and science but not the humanities. I’m more advanced than almost all of the other students in the sciences, take the highest math courses available and get straight A+s in all of them. I’ve taken 3 SAT IIs, 1 in math and 2 in sciences and got 800s on them all. On the other hand, I only took honors english and regular spanish (honors wasn’t offered). 790 on the math section of the SAT, but only mid 600s for reading. I hope that we both have a shot, btu what I have been hearing is that they like to look at what your strengths are, and what you can offer the school, rather than what you aren’t as good at. I think that your true superiority in the humanities should compensate for your weakness in the math and sciences. If only you and I combined our strengths, we would be a killer applicant.</p>

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<p>Eiffel and Tree Hugger, having read your other threads you both strike me as students who would bring something significant to the mix at D or any other school.</p>

<p>I confess that I have absolutely no idea how the admissions officers typically assess people like you.</p>

<p>I advise both of you to cast a wide net, and I wish you both much luck. I hope that schoolsof the caliber you need will appreciate what you have to offer.</p>

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<p>@ Treehugger: Thank you so much for the encouragement; I really hope we both have a shot and that they appreciate our strengths. I just fear that there will be many applicants who are truly strong in all subjects. :-/ But maybe there’s something to be said for applicants like us, who are really passionate about certain subjects…Though if we could combine ourselves into one single applicant, that’d be amazing! :slight_smile: Since you’re such a science person, maybe you could get working on the proper technology to literally fuse us into some type of Siamese-twin, unbeatable, Ivy League shoo-in?</p>

<p>@ Consolation: Thank you so much for the support as well! I really appreciate your kind words. :smiley: Are you already a Dartmouth student yourself?</p>

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<p>I’m the parent of a Dartmouth student. And friend of a number of alums over the years. :)</p>

<p>I’m also a college admissions junkie, I admit. :D</p>

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<p>Nothing to lose by applying. But understand, that Dartmouth states on their website that they recommend calculus for Frosh applicants. Moreover, even “social sciences” can require calculus at the higher academic (research) levels. (And, a standard AP Econ course is not even close the level of Econ offered at Dartmouth, which is extremely rigorous.)</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

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<p>Honestly, your situation is pretty grim. Your 600 raises some serious concerns, and the fact that you haven’t taken any AP math/science classes or SAT II’s is a big setback. In fact, the lowest traditional math class offered at Dartmouth is Calculus with Algebra (math 1), which you might not be prepared for.</p>

<p>Also, commenting on what bluebayou said, basically all the upper Econ, Poli Sci, and even some Gov courses here require at least Intro Calc (math 3).</p>

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<p>I disagree. </p>

<p>Dartmouth has many students with the profile you describe. Getting your math SAT above a 600 is important, but there are many many students at Dartmouth who are “lopsided” like you are – either in favor of the humanities or in favor of math/science. Continue doing what you’re doing, try getting your math score higher, and you’ve got a shot.</p>

<p>That said, you might be happier at an LAC – Middlebury, or Swarthmore, or the like. Don’t pin all your hopes on Dartmouth, or on any single school.</p>

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<p>They might not have math below multivariable calculus, but for the Quantitative and Deductive Science distrib requirement you can opt to take a linguistics 001 or a logic course.</p>

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<p>I think that not taking precalc is a problem. It really is part of the basic curriculum for any serious student, isn’t it?.</p>

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<p>Yes they do, but I think you would be hard pressed to find one that didn’t have a hook.</p>

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<p>Agree. Our counselors thought not taking calc was a problem.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the feedback, everyone. :slight_smile: </p>

<p>I’ve actually decided I probably won’t apply to Dartmouth anyway (the more research I do, the less I think Dartmouth would be a good match for me, for personal reasons [I’m really not big on the frat/drinking scene, the Film Studies program isn’t particularly strong, and I would prefer a school less isolated than Dartmouth].) </p>

<p>However, I’d like to point out that many top-tier schools don’t require that students take an actual math class but instead let them take science classes. So I don’t think taking pre-cal and calculus is in every student’s basic curriculum, especially in a major like mine (Film Studies/Film Production). I think that’s what monroylobo was trying to point out for Dartmouth as well. </p>

<p>For admissions purposes, yes, it is probably an advantage to have taken AP math/science courses; however, a Yale undergrad I spoke to recently said it might be to my advantage to be stronger in the humanities because there is a much greater number of students who are lopsided in science/math and not as strong in the humanities.</p>

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<p>Eiffel, students applying for admission at super-selective schools like the Ivies have taken pre-calc, and it is considered a weakness if they have not taken calculus. I think you’re right that D isn’t the best fit for you.</p>

<p>As I believe I said earlier, it wasn’t clear to me why a student like you with your highly developed interests and somewhat lopsided preparation would be looking at the type of school that expects its philosophy majors to have taken AP science and math in high school, leaving aside the location. Schools with strong film/theater programs seem much more appropriate for you. Other schools you might want to take a look at, besides the obvious ones like NYU and USC, are Northwestern (well, okay, that’s pretty obvious too) and Ithaca College. I know someone whose kid at Ithaca College had an internship at Disney–they do have pretty good connections in the industry, according to what I’ve heard.</p>

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<p>Well, I’ve been looking into all the Ivies to see if any would fit me, just so I can have all my bases covered and make sure I’ve done research on all the top-tier schools before really deciding which are best-suited for me. At first, I thought Dartmouth might be a good fit because I love nature/outdoors and it is a good school; however, after much research about all the Ivies, the only one I think would really fit me is Brown. I will probably apply there, but even so, USC is my first choice school, for a lot of obvious reasons. I’m considering applying to NYU but their financial aid is terrible, and I would be in need of aid to go. Thanks for the other two suggestions; I’ll look into them. :)</p>

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<p>I think you are on the right track, and I congratulate you for your clear thinking!</p>

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<p>hey,
if you like film studies, apply to wesleyan university in CT. It’s a lot less isolated (near NYC) and the party scene is like the opposite of dartmouth’s (where I go).</p>