Deferred, and admitted: here's how!

<p>hey, does anyone know how long it takes dartmouth to tell you they received your application? its been almost 2 weeks now, but i dont know if they got everything or not...</p>

<p>It took me exactly three weeks.</p>

<p>when I sent mine in for ED (around nov 1), I got a mail confirmation about 4 weeks later....late november.</p>

<p>What kind of letter should be sent upon deferral? Should it be basic stating that you are going to be sending a 3rd rec, heres a picture blah blah, or should it be emotional and personal? I wrote a rough draft letter last night that was some what emotional, and my mom tore it apart saying you come across as very needy, which she feels they do not want. Also I know this is a bit extreme, but I read somewhere of a girl sending in a video of her playing the violin and she got in. I do not play any instrument but I break dance, so would they want to see a video of me break dancing or is that a little bit out of the way? Thanks!</p>

<p>-Mike</p>

<p>Don't make it needy. Nothing along the lines of "pleeeease please take me! I've wanted Dartmouth FOREVER! If I don't get in, I'll be heartbroken!" The letter should be personal, though, but not whiny, obnoxious, or gushy. Your goal in this letter is to a) convince the committee that Dartmouth is truly your first choice by telling them EXACTLY why it is (the d-plan? the outdoors club? the community service program?) and b) add any accomplishments you've won since you applied.</p>

<p>Breakdancing sounds a little iffy to me. If you are the first-place winner for the National Breakdancing Championships (made that up), founded the breakdancing club at your school, run an after-school program for disadvantaged youth to help them learn how to dance, spend 30 hours a week in the dance studio breakdancing, or have joined the New York City Breakdancing Troupe (made that up too), then maybe a video would be good. Otherwise it's just a hobby that might seem cool at raves, but not so much to an admissions committee.</p>

<p>I actually did win a national breakdance championship with my school team, but it is an actual class at my school not a club. I also taught young kids at this middle school how to dance. Breakdancing was my main EC throughout HS, so I did most of the things you just listed. Btw not much breakdancing at raves:), but that is a good point you said that, because that may be what the committee sees breakdancing as. In this letter I am working on I mentioned that I looked into the breakdance team at Dartmouth, is that a good idea? Thanks for your feedback, it really helped!</p>