Chances.

Colleges and Universities A-Z Dartmouth College
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<p>We're not questioning the validity of his ECs - we're pointing out that several of them aren't as good as he might think they are. I mean, I know how Asian countries deal with ECs - they make a huge deal out of the tiniest crap, giving them fancy titles and whatnot. I think it's probably the same with even some American awards.</p>

<p>That's why I pointed out he really ought to emphasise the Linux angle. Your apps are as much about what you emphasise as what you list; adcoms will weight certain things differently, and you should try to influence the weightage towards what stands out. Quite a few people can say they got a special NASA award; every year there's a new gold medallist for some olympiad. How many people can say they've created a Linux distribution that is actually somewhat widely used?</p>

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<p>I'm Indian, and I can tell you that in this country, his EC's would be considered HUGE.</p>

<p>But while on that note, I must agree that the EC's make you, not the awards. (that's just my honest opinion)</p>

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<p>tetris, there's a big difference between what's good in the relative sense, and what's exceptional in the absolute. While Ajay might be exceptional relative to the other Indian prospects, that may still not be enough. In the Class of 2011, there's not a single Indian citizen here on campus. Not a single one. Hopefully Ajay can overcome admissions by selling himself appropriately on his application, but he has to realize that the odds are stacked against him.</p>

<p>Although I do acknowledge that Ajay does indeed "love" Dartmouth, it's kind of a weird thing to rationalize about because I've never heard of a non-legacy student who has Dartmouth as a first choice. The proper rational response calls for Harvard, Princeton, or the like. Let's be honest here, who at Dartmouth would have preferred it over any other school in the nation? </p>

<p>So I suppose the reasoning is that Ajay likes Dartmouth because it's the best school he knows he has a chance at getting into. Let's face it, he's probably not going to get into MIT with those statistics, but I'd say he has a chance at Dartmouth, regardless of how small it is (once again, it's going to come down to his SATs). But regardless, neurotically posting Chances thread just to elicit a sort of awed response from posters isn't productive, and it's not going to help with admissions at all. Ajay, the sooner you realize that there are other places in the world where you can fit in (because you seem WAY too fixated on Dartmouth), the happier you'll be.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Why do I find this dumb?</p>

<p>1) As far as I know Ajay, he's not the kind of guy who'd lie on his app
2) He's SO into this school. Why would he NOT want an accurate analysis of his chances?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Indeed, why do I find those 2 points dumb? Because those are not the proper response when trying to help out a guy who's ASKING for criticism and an assessment, NOT free ego boosting. Saying that "he's not that kind of guy" is a terrible way to go about with what Ajay posted. It's an emotional response elicited from the many months that Ajay has spent here on the Dartmouth forums, but that's not rational. The rational response would be, "What are his weaknesses on the application, and why are they so? What can he do better?" I think johnleemk gave something for the latter question.</p>

<p>The best part was when you said: "He's SO into this school. Why would he NOT want an accurate analysis of his chances?"</p>

<p>Uh, hello, contradiction.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
S: To win the Google Lunar X PRIZE, a team must successfully land a privately funded craft on the lunar surface and survive long enough to complete the mission goals of roaming about the lunar surface for at least 500 meters and sending a defined data package, called a “Mooncast”, back to Earth.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Yes i love Dartmouth but now I am not Stuck! on it. I analyzed what you are saying now long ago.So I now have other colleges on my list where I would love to be. If I get into Dartmouth nothing like it. If I don't things dont end there. :)</p>

<p>
[quote]
The rational response would be, "What are his weaknesses on the application, and why are they so? What can he do better?" I think johnleemk gave something for the latter question.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Agreed!</p>

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<p>"Although I do acknowledge that Ajay does indeed "love" Dartmouth, it's kind of a weird thing to rationalize about because I've never heard of a non-legacy student who has Dartmouth as a first choice. The proper rational response calls for Harvard, Princeton, or the like. Let's be honest here, who at Dartmouth would have preferred it over any other school in the nation?"</p>

<p>I'm a legacy at Yale and have a pretty good chance of getting in there. Though nothing is certain, I'm a female minority with high gpa, amazing sats & have won several comp sci awards so I have better odds than most; my parents also donate a lot of money there because its their alma matter(s?). However, Dartmouth is my top choice and I would prefer it over ANY OTHER SCHOOL in the nation. I am a non-legacy student who has Dartmouth as a first choice. That being said, I have other terrific schools on my list that I wouldn't mind going to if I was rejected but Dartmouth is my number one choice, not because its where I have the best chance of getting in but because I really do love it.</p>

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<p>Haha I don't know what my point was but I wanted to let you know that there are people who have Dartmouth as their first choice because they love it.</p>

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<p>And yeah I would like to see a student who loves an institution because he can get into it! Talk about safeties...</p>

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<p>I'll acknowledge that people out there who are "Dartmouth #1" do exist, it's just that I hate people telling me that "they would've chosen Dartmouth anyways" after being rejected from HYPS and the like. With all of the crazy stuff that's been going on campus these past few months, it's hard to find an '11 now that doesn't love this place. But it's difficult to assess this as a high school applicant who's still in that little world where getting into a top college means the pinnacle of one's life, instead of its logical next step.</p>

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<p>BB84 - Your comment makes me a little nervous; should we infer that D is a school where most students have a chip on the shoulder about not getting into a better school? Yikes! I went to a professional school like that, and hated that aspect of an otherwise great school. My S is a two-generation Yale legacy who is applying ED to Dartmouth because it really is his #1, so CProspect has some company in that camp. My S loves the atmosphere, location, attitude, and the undergraduate focus, among other things. I hope there are many others who don't feel they're just settling.</p>

<p>So Ajay, when do you get your SAT scores? I hope it's good news, because it would be grand to have you go somewhere you're so passionate about. Pay heed to the debate about your EC's and awards, and try to be realistic and objective when you think about how to present them on the application. Good luck!</p>

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<p>^ Thank you for the advice rainmama :)</p>

<p>If needed I can send <em>proofs</em> of the achievements. SAT scores come out tomorrow.</p>

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<p>Rainmama, </p>

<p>Parent of an 08 here.</p>

<p>I wanted to respond to that first choice comment but was going to leave it to those STUDENTS who can testify for themselves that Dartmouth is their #1 choice. </p>

<p>I have NOT observed that the campus is populated in large degree by chip-on-the shoulder students who feel that they had to 'settle' for Dartmouth - I haven't seen it at all actually but it would be naive to think there were not some such students. </p>

<p>BigBrother acknowledges that its hard to find a freshman who, at this point, doesn't love Dartmouth no matter what attitude he/she came in with. I think there plenty of students who loved it before they set foot on campus as a matriculant - and NOT just those who never thought they had a chance at a school they should more 'rationally' love. I get the impression both your D and CProspect2008 have thoroughly familiarized themselves with D and probably have had some first-hand experience of it - and if so the positive vibe they picked up on from staff, faculty and students is very real.</p>

<p>And AJay - JohnLeemk has some good advice about what ecs to stress - others in the past have given you good advice about the essay. You clearly have a passion and you have some very concrete (Linux) ecs. Others are less concrete at this point - so concentrate on what you have actually accomplished. </p>

<p>And good luck to you Ajay, to all the EDers and to Rainmama's D and CProspect!!!</p>

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<p>Though I have never visited Dartmouth and I cant but I have two relatives who are Dartmouth graduates. I think I picked the +ve vibe from them.</p>

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<p>ajayc - </p>

<p>Whatever happens, you are a pretty amazing person, so, I am sure you will be successfull anywhere you end up - but for now, good luck with this application. Be willing to distill from all of the above useful advice. You are going to be able to talk most convincingly about those parts of your ecs which have the most depth.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
In the Class of 2011, there's not a single Indian citizen here on campus. Not a single one.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Ummm where are you getting this information from?</p>

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<p>John, check out the Listserv on 2011.dartmouth.edu. Although Kumar's on there, he's not really an Indian (he's a citizen). Plus, it confirms what we've been noticing so far anyways, since it's kind of weird that you have all these people from Malaysia, New Zealand, and whatever random countries and not a single Indian guy. </p>

<p>
[quote]
I have NOT observed that the campus is populated in large degree by chip-on-the shoulder students who feel that they had to 'settle' for Dartmouth - I haven't seen it at all actually but it would be naive to think there were not some such students.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>OF COURSE you haven't noticed these things, because how uncouth do you think it'd be to say to everyone else that Dartmouth was literally, your second choice? What kind of reaction do you think that would elicit from everybody else, DESPITE how inherently hypocritical those reactions may seem?</p>

<p>Let me tell you something. I remember on the Dartmouth '11 group when the school dropped 2 spots on the USNWR. There were pages of debates over the USNWR debacle justifying why the move was, for lack of a better word, crap! Why did those students who talked about this need to justify Dartmouth? After all, if one is really secure, then we wouldn't be having that discussion right? </p>

<p>Regardless, I still think "chip-on-the-shoulder" is too strong of a remark to use. I would simply state that for the majority of Dartmouth students out there, their preferences were elsewhere. Is that so difficult to believe? Read half_baked's response about this several months ago.</p>

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<p>Yes, to be entirely frank, Dartmouth was my second choice. I think there's an important distinction between Dartmouth not being your first choice, and wanting to go to Dartmouth; I knew I wanted to go to Dartmouth; it's just that I wanted to go to Princeton more. Having come here, though, I have no regrets.</p>

<p>Also, I think Tarang's an Indian citizen in the class of '11 - but he studied in Singapore.</p>