Hey, y’all. I need help with developing a smart application strategy.
I’m debating between Dartmouth and Williams for ED this fall. I love both schools and would be thrilled to attend either one of them. But here’s the catch: Williams superscores the ACT and Dartmouth doesn’t.
ACT composite: 33
ACT superscore: 34
From what I understand, both schools are just about equally selective. Do I have a better chance at Williams since they would consider my ACT as a 34? (For reference, my GPA is 3.95 UW)
Additionally, Dartmouth requires 2 SAT subject tests, which I have taken. (Lit: 740, US History: 710)
How do these factors impact my application and chances of acceptance? Do I actually have a better shot at Williams?
Speaking personally, I believe I am a good fit for both schools, though Dartmouth might be a slightly better choice for my academic interests due to their emphasis on foreign language and international studies. On the other hand, the Williams tutorial system is an unmatched undergraduate experience.
Which school would offer me better chances of admission? Or do I have a fairly equal shot at both? Thanks for any input!
Use your ED where your heart really wants to be. IMO, both great schools but very different and very different locations. Personally I find the area of Williams/North Adams to have experienced such an economic downturn in the last decade that I don’t care for the area and find it depressing. On the other hand although Dartmouth is remote, it’s a beautiful remote and that area of NH is a very special place. JMHO. Determine your true feelings about each school and use your ED where you would most want to live and study. Good luck!
You would definitely have a better chance at Williams, considering how their ED acceptance rate is much higher than thay of Dartmouth’s, and they superscore their ACT. However, ED is binding, so instead of considering your chances, I would pick the school that you want to attend more.
I think you are over-thinking the difference between a 33 and 34, and you should be submitting your SAT2s to both schools anyway, required or not. Pick the one you prefer—though as one points out, Williams has a higher acceptance rate and fewer applications overall; but then again, Williams is likely a more self-selecting pool and legacies, athletes, etc., make up a bigger percentage of applicants than at Dartmouth.
Remember all the other applicants to Williams get to superscore as well. If we go to the latest CDS, the 25-75th percentile range for Williams is 31-35, and 30-34 for Dartmouth so there is probably no difference/advantage between a 34 for Williams and a 33 for Dartmouth. Go for the one you prefer. Also have you run NPC’s for both and based on that, can you/your family afford both?
@wordnerd2: Just like to write that you are very fortunate to be able to identify two schools about which you are passionate.
Maybe it would help to ask posters to suggest schools which are similar to Dartmouth College and then separately ask for back-up schools to Williams College. For example, I think that Colgate University is more like Dartmouth College than Williams College and that Bowdoin College is more like Williams than Dartmouth.
P.S. OP: Do you have any other colleges & universities to which you intend to apply ? If so, that may help in suggesting which is the better ED school for you.
In a earlier thread, you listed Dartmouth, Williams, Georgetown, Middlebury, Northwestern University, Boston College, Tufts, Virginia, Duke, Bowdoin, JHU, & William & Mary as schools of interest.
Because of your work with Somalis & knowledge of their language, Bates College in Maine might interest you.
If you want to participate in collegiate sports of soccer and/or cross country, then EDing Williams College might be better–although that really depends upon your talent & times relative to those at each target school.
With respect to your list of schools, I do not understand JHU.