Chance an RDer?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Dartmouth College
1

<p>I have a 2120 on the SAT 780W, 700M, 640CR and a 29 on the ACT. I have a 710 on Math Level 1 (expecting a 760 next time) and I'm expecting around a 730 in Literature.</p>

<p>I am in the top 10% of my grade (about 200 kids.) </p>

<p>I have a 3.8 unweighted and a 4.0 weighted. The reason this is so low is because in the first two years of high school I wanted to be a musician, and then in junior and senior year I realized I didn't so I tried harder. My junior/senior GPA will be about a 4.2 (102). This is a big part of my essay, and the lesson I learned from it.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars: Community Band (9-12) section leader, everyone is like 45+ except for me and I am the saxophone section leader, I have also been a featured soloist in it. Mock Trial (12), Jazz Band (9-12) section leader, Marching Band/Pep Band (9-12) Section leader, IB Leadership Group (12) only year available and I am the president, Manhattan School of Music Pre-College Division (12) worked to contribute about $3000 so I could attend, Interact Club (9-12) event coordinator.</p>

<p>Work Experience: Every summer to help my family. I worked this last summer to help pay my way through the Manhattan School of Music Pre-College, contributed about $3000, instead of doing an archaeological dig. I have been tutoring a young boy with learning disabilities for a little more than a year. I also tutored a girl a few grades lower than me for a few months.</p>

<p>Recs: Music Teacher's is glowing. One from counselor and teachers will be amazing as well. My peer rec will be stunning because it is from my best friend of 12 years and he is a great writer.</p>

<p>Courses: All honors for 9th and 10th grade. 9 IB courses over junior and senior year, most of which are 2 years. I should be getting 6's or 7's (out of 7) on all of them.</p>

<p>Honors and Rewards: Outstanding Achievement in Band (9-12), Outstanding Achievement in Spanish (11, maybe 12), High Honor Roll every quarter, every year, National Junior Honor Society (9,10), National Honor Society (11,12), National Spanish Honor Society (9-12), Musical performances for board of eduaction</p>

<p>Community Service: 500+ hours from community band, Relay for Life, Interact, helping out church, etc.</p>

<p>Essays: A lot of people have lauded my essays, even people who are being paid to find fault with them.</p>

<p>Supplement: My music supplement is, in my (I feel like a jerk, but world-renowned) teacher's opinion, gorgeous. I play the classical alto saxophone. I also compose and play piano, but not as well as my saxophone skills, and none of that went in on the supplement.</p>

<p>There may be some stuff I am forgetting, but this is the bulk of it.</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

2

<p>Ooh you’re an IBer as well! what are your predicted grades? I’m no pro at this chancing or predicting stuff so I doubt I’d be of much help :frowning: I’m applying to Dartmouth too</p>

3

<p>My predicted grades are as follows, (actuals will be in parentheses) averages in the classes will be after (weighted) :</p>

<p>IB Music SL - (5) - 104</p>

<p>IB Physics SL - 6 - 101</p>

<p>IB Biology HL - 7 - 103</p>

<p>IB History of the Americas HL - 7 - 103</p>

<p>IB Spanish HL - 6 - 105</p>

<p>IB Math Studies SL - 7 - 106</p>

<p>I don’t know why I said 9 before, I meant 6 IB courses</p>

4

<p>Anyone else have an opinion?</p>

5

<p>bumpity bump</p>

6

<p>Dartmouth is a reach… but you have a great shot. I have similiar stats but I am not as accomplished on the saxophone. Hopefully we both get in!</p>

<p>Good Luck</p>

7

<p>I’m confused, a reach does not equal a great shot. Unless you mean that it’s a reach for everyone (which it pretty much is), in that case, yeah. Good luck to you as well.</p>

<p>Edit: Since I don’t have the choice to edit my old post, I’m just mentioning that my IB course grades are weighted with 6 points each.</p>

8

<p>Your grades and SAT’s put you close to the middle of the pack of folks who get admitted to Dartmouth. If your essay makes a good case – I’d look for ways to feature your music, because that looks like the EC that stands out – you’ll be OK.</p>

9

<p>I would consider Dartmouth a reach for you. The music will help your chances however. Remember that Dartmouth likes to see Math Level II and not Math Level I. Don’t fear because your app will receive a 2nd reading if you are deferred. Good luck!</p>

10

<p>Thanks, guys.</p>

<p>sub492, do you think Math 1 will necessarily hurt my chances? I’m taking subject tests in a few days but I don’t want to go into math 2 blindly.</p>

<p>Opensecret - my music is featured throughout my application and is in my essays. One of my essays (not for Dartmouth, but for others) is based on my favorite song. My essay for Dartmouth focuses on school/future/music and I think it turned out pretty smokin’.</p>

<p>Anyone else?</p>

11

<p>Honestly I think since you are focusing on music a 710 in fact will not hurt you. Anything above 700 is in the Dartmouth realm if you have excellent extracurriculars, which it seems you do. So definitely study to do well on Literature because that can really help.</p>

<p>However from what I’ve heard, big name schools like the Ivies and Stanford, etc apparently DO want to see the Math II over the Math I. If possible, since you can change what SAT test you take ON TEST DAY, I would review SAT II material. If you are taking IB Math Studies, I feel like you should at least try and take the SAT MATH IIs. To be honest, I think even a 650 and up would look better than a 710 on the Math I. Good luck either way</p>

12

<p>The only thing I know about the two, score-wise, is that a score of 700 in Math I is about 80th percentile where it would be only the 65th or so percentile for Math II. I’m aware that you can change it the day of, but, since I have to report all my scores for all the schools I’m applying to, I’d hate for any one test to hold me back. I’ll consider it though.</p>

13

<p>The reason it is like that is because upper level colleges often require math II over Math I, thus making it so that upper level students take Math II. Math II as I’m sure you know is a more advanced test. I know at least in California, the people who take the Math I are the ones applying to only State colleges (not universities). So they all get low scores, and drag down the average. </p>

<p>Honestly a 710 is a good score, I would take math II. You don’t have to submit all your scores to Dartmouth, they fully subscribe to Score Choice. I got a 750 and 620 on Lit, but I only submitted the 750</p>

14

<p>I know 710’s not a BAD score, but it’s not terribly great either. The only thing is, for schools like Yale, Princeton, etc. I have to submit all scores. The real bummer is that I can’t take two maths. Because I’m not the best at Critical Reading (640) I was planning on not taking a literature test although I’ve been doing decently (~700) on practice tests. I wanted to math 1 and math 2, but princeton said I couldn’t so I’m not going to bother.</p>