<p>When I was looking at the Class of 2016 Decisions on the forum, it seemed that to be accepted to Dartmouth, an SAT score of at least 2300 is required. Is that the case?</p>
<p>In general, unhooked students have 750+ on virtually every test. (And that is true at all top 10 colleges.)</p>
<p>OP, not necessarily. I wasn’t admitted to Dartmouth, but I was admitted to four other top schools and I didn’t have over a 2300 SAT score. The SAT is only a small part of your application - it’s important, but not as much as you think. Top schools are looking to build a class, not just a conglomeration of academic robots. That means you have to have a quality they want. So, while a high SAT score gets you in the door, after a certain threshold (say, 2250+), it no longer matters.</p>
<p>A high score cannot get you in, but a low score can definitely keep you out. (it is always better to be above the median.)</p>
<p>OK everyone thanks! I’ll keep an open mind about applying to Dartmouth :)</p>
<p>You should look at Dartmouth’s own site about admitted students’ stats and not solely rely on the CC Decision thread. Sharpen your research skills?</p>
<p>I copied & pasted this from their "Common Data Set’</p>
<p>C9 SAT Critical
Reading SAT Math SAT Writing
C9 700-800 69% 69% 72%
C9 600-699 22% 28% 22%
C9 500-599 9% 3% 6%
C9 400-499 0%
C9 300-399
C9 200-299
Totals should = 100% 100% 100% 100%</p>
<p>…as you can see 31% of their admits had SAT scores of less than 700 on either CR or M. Of course, as someone has already pointed out, it is impossible to determine what % of these were “hooked”.</p>
<p>My son was admitted with just ACT scores - don’t forget that option. For some students, the ACT is just easier.</p>
<p>Check out this page, which has a very interesting breakdown including admission rates:</p>
<p>[Testing</a> Statistics](<a href=“http://www.dartmouth.edu/admissions/facts/test-stats.html]Testing”>http://www.dartmouth.edu/admissions/facts/test-stats.html)</p>
<p>You will note that only about 9% of admitted students had CR scores under 700 and only about 11% of them had M scores under 700. The group with the highest rate of admission, 32%, was students who scored 800 on the CR section. Almost 25% of admitted students scored 800 on that section.</p>
<p>Then think about how many of those admitted are recruited athletes or first generation URMs from poor backgrounds, and think about the likelihood that an unhooked, middle class kid with scores in the 600s is going to get in. </p>
<p>Not very likely.</p>