Desperate! Should I even have hope of getting in?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Dartmouth College
1

<p>Hey, all...I'd really like to go to Dartmouth, but I'd like to know if my stats even put me in a competitive pool or not. </p>

<p>Ethnicity: Egyptian
Gender: Male</p>

<p>(W) GPA: 3.75
Rank: 73/538
SAT I: 2340 (760 CR, 780 M, 800 W)
SAT II: 760 Chem, 750 Math 1, 780+ Math 2 (projected), 700 Lit (projected)
AP Exams:
Calculus AB - 5
Chemistry - 5
Statistics - 5
English Language - 5
English Literature - 4
Computer Science A - 3 </p>

<p>Course Load/Grades:</p>

<p>Freshman Year:
Global Studies - A
Honors Integrated Science - A-
Honors Geometry - A
Honors Biology - A
Gym/Health - A-
German 1 - A-
Honors English 9 - A-
Jazz Ensemble - A </p>

<p>Sophomore Year:
Honors American Studies - A-
Honors Algebra 2 - A
Honors PreCalculus - A
Honors Chemistry 1 - A
Honors Chemistry 2 - A
Honors English 10 - A- </p>

<p>Junior Year (I had brain surgery this year; will be explained)
Honors Comprehensive American Studies - C
AP Chemistry 1 - C
AP Chemistry 2 - C+
AP Calculus 1 - B+
AP Calculus AB - B
AP Statistics 1 - A-
AP Statistics 2 - B+ </p>

<p>Senior Year (Q1 Grades)
AP Biology - A-
AP English Literature - A-
Honors Physics - A-
Journalism - B- </p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
- Founded a video game programming team and hold position as "Lead Programmer"
- Classically trained guitarist, 5 years
- Self-taught pianist, 4 years
- Math team, 1 year</p>

<p>Awards:
- Nat'l Merit Semifinalist
- AP Scholar w/ Distinction</p>

2

<p>I'm assuming your school is VERY competitive, (if a kid who's not even in the top decile gets a 2340, it must be), so that would help. Regardless, your class rank is a problem unless they feel your brain surgery is a viable excuse for your Junior year marks, which I would assume they would.<br>
And yeah, I think it's fair to say you'll get above a 780 Math 2 (I got a 780 math reasoning, a 5 on stats, so we seem similar, and I got an 800 on Math 2.) Excellent scores overall.
EC's are few, but seem solid. Also, few awards...
Being Egyptian will help; make sure they know.</p>

<p>I think it all hinges on making them aware of why your grades were low; clearly you're not a bad chem or Calc student, (you got 5's on both and a 760 chem), so they should excuse this.</p>

3

<p>Well, my SAT's the highest in the school. Only myself, and the valedictorian have 2300+ (she has a 2300). </p>

<p>Junior year was just bad; Missing school for weeks at a time for illnesses, having three surgeries to remove the tumor, another to fix complications and to replace dead bone, etc., really took its toll on me. I know this is an "excuse", but I can say with all honesty that I'm not a "lazy" student who just does badly. It's just...bad luck. Meh =/</p>

4

<p>a tumor! bro that's not an excuse that's a legitimate reason...Dartmouth will obviously look past your jnuior year and weight your sats heavier..</p>

<p>i say good shot, good luck</p>

5

<p>Your SAT's and grades look good, your EC's look pretty distinctive. Go for it.</p>

<p>
[quote]
I'm assuming your school is VERY competitive,

[/quote]
</p>

<p>He got B's and C's one year. His school is not necessarily competitive at all.</p>

6

<p>When I looked at your rank I thought no way, despite strong scores. Yet of all the "excuses" I've read here on CC, yours is one they can actually buy. You are clearly a top student that had a hard year during which demonstrated ability was not able to be deployed. In an ideal world you would get in but I don't know how colleges handle these situations, you had a bad break, do you get the spot over someone with 4 years of perfect records? Write an amazing essay!</p>

7

<p>"He got B's and C's one year. His school is not necessarily competitive at all." I hadn't looked at his actual grades when I wrote that part; it was stupid of me. But yeah, I'm very impressed overall by this kid.</p>

8

<p>Haha, thanks! It's really nice to be told that I'm at least somewhat impressive. Yeah, I try to be a good student, it's just circumstances weren't all too great...I'm doing well senior year, though, so I hope that'll validate my reasons for last year's performance. I just hope I get into some nice schools...my state school is way too much of a party school so I'd like to go somewhere that fosters learning...and not binge drinking.</p>

9

<p>
[quote]
so I'd like to go somewhere that fosters learning...and not binge drinking.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>So instead you're looking at Dartmouth. ;)</p>

10

<p>Re: Post #8: Just how much research have you done on the social life at Dartmouth?</p>

11

<p>Well, a friend of mine goes to Dartmouth and from what he says, I think I'd enjoy it :)</p>

12

<p>^You do understand that the movie Animal House was based on Dartmouth, right? Go rent it if you're not familiar.</p>

13

<p>
[quote]
^You do understand that the movie Animal House was based on Dartmouth, right? Go rent it if you're not familiar.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Animal House is, in fact, Dartmouth's official recruitment video.</p>

14

<p>It would seem that you have taken no foreign language at all? That's rather strange.</p>

<p>Are your AP scores partially projections, or actuals? I see that you are still taking AP Lit but say you have already taken the exam? If you actually have a 4 and a 5 on the English APs, I doubt that you need to take a chance on the SATII. Unless, of course, you need a third non-math score for some other schools.</p>

<p>Your excuse is a lot better than "the dog ate my homework." :)</p>

15

<p>Those are actuals; I self studied the exams, but I need an english credit to graudate :)</p>

16

<p>jesus, you're in with sats/ap's like those-confidence, come on!</p>

17

<p><em>bump</em>? Anyone else?</p>

18

<p>What about the foreign language?</p>

<p>BTW, you would seem to have an excellent chance to me.</p>