Dartmouth Interview

Colleges and Universities A-Z Dartmouth College
1

<p>Hey,</p>

<p>I thought it would be nice to write about my interview really quickly to help anyone out there that's panicking about an imminent interview Dartmouth because earlier today I was freaking out (it was my first in person college interview) and I was nervous as hell. Anyways, I looked for what kind of questions and what kind of experiences people had with Dartmouth interviewers, and couldn't find any, so here it goes.</p>

<p>Basically, my interviewer was an alumni and we talked for about an hour. He asked me a lot of typical questions, such as what ECs do you do, do you do any sports, how do you spend your free time, what are your strengths and weaknesses, what do you look for in friends, what was something you failed at and how did you learn from it, etc. He also asked why Dartmouth as the first question, and a lot of what we talked about led off to other questions like what do you think of the stem cell research that Obama is supporting. It was good, and it also helped that he had kids that go to the same school as I do, and we talked about the differences with the school systems that have APs versus IBs.</p>

<p>All in all, after we finished, he said that I looked like a great candidate, and I asked him about his experiences there, social/dorm life, and the professors. I'm really excited after hearing more about the school and the opportunities it offers. I hope I get in, because it moved up a lot on my list of schools I really want to go to after the interview!</p>

<p>In a nutshell, basically, for those of you that don't know too much about Dartmouth but just applied because its an Ivy, Dartmouth really focuses on its Undergraduates and it offers a lot of research and internship opportunities. It has something called a D-plan, which basically is just what you come up with with a counselor to plan how you want to spend the next few years at the college. It seems like a really good school, but its more of a suburban type school where its not too big, so if you're really into city life and stuff, I wouldn't say its a perfect fit. But you know, don't take my word for it, because I've never been there and this is just my understanding of the college. Feel free to correct me or ad more, but I really hope it gives you more of a general idea.</p>

<p>The interview seemed to be very laid back, and I dressed up really formally, but he wasn't as dressed up. It was okay though, because I didn't feel so uncomfortable but that's just the way I am.</p>

<p>I hope this helps anyone feeling nervous about their interviews!</p>

2

<p>thanks! mine is tuesday and it i feel a lot better now! :)</p>

3

<p>Every interview is as different as the alum who does them. You will find many older alum who really don't have a clue about the school today and young alum who know much more. My DS had an interviewer last year who though Dartmouth was still only one-third female!</p>

<p>No one should worry, they don't count for anything and are hit or miss for being informational.</p>

4

<p>Not having an interview will not be held against you. If you have one, two Admissions reps will read the report. In the majority of cases, what the interviewer reports will be consistent with the rest of the student's application. In the cases where this is not the case, Admissions will look carefully at the report. It is also a great opportunity for you, as a student, to ask your interviewer questions about Dartmouth. One of the things that sets Dartmouth apart from other peer institutions is the loyalty and devotion of its alumni. In many instances, local alumni are able to put into perspective the nuances of the applicant's school and community. Enjoy the interview if you are offered one; do not worry if you are in an area where there are not sufficient interviewers. With the significant increase in applicants, it is a challenge for us to get all of the interviews done. Good luck.
MM</p>

5

<p>My DS applied to Dartmouth as a super reach for him. </p>

<p>He thought the alumni interviewer - a recent grad - was wonderful, and found the interview to be one of the more pleasant, relaxed, positive experiences he's had. He came home asking why all the interviews could not have been the same way - like a relaxed conversation about topics related to school and not to school - like a new person he'd just met.</p>

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<p>Paperstars, sounds like you came away with a pretty accurate sense of the place. As much as anything else, interviews are a good opportunitiy for an applicant to gain a better understanding of the school.</p>

7

<p>Interview disaster today!</p>

8

<p>Please use old threads for information purposes only. closing thread</p>