<p>One thing that not many people recognize is that a lot of it has to do with how you fill out your application. Obviously, things like "SAT: 1460" is going to look the same everywhere. For objective data, there are a ton of mean, median, and mode statistics out there. You don't need us for that.</p>
<p>But then there are things like extra-curriculars, awards, recommendations, and essays. Those are very much in your control and here's how you can present yourself in a positive light for those. It's now generally acknowledged that elite colleges want students with "passions." You have to be dedicated to one area, not all over the place, scattered and unfocused. How do you make your application consistent with your passion? Simple: the above four categories (possibly which SAT II's you took, also).</p>
<p>List the EC's and awards that line up with your passion (or passions) FIRST. Art extraordinare? Easy. List Art Club, art competitions, shows, camps, first, even if you're not the president of those. Just as long as you've shown significant commitment to say, three art-related activities, that will demonstrate your interest in that.</p>
<p>Write a line of description next to each award. Dartmouth doesn't know about your school "Shakespeare Award." They don't care about the Shakespeare Award UNTIL you emphasize how only one person in the 11th grade is given this award for best work in Shakespeare research AND it correlates to your passion with Shakespeare's work.</p>
<p>Say your passion is math, but you got an A+ in history and an A- in math. If you are truly enthusiastic about math, you should ask your math teacher for the recommendation first. It lines up with the rest of your application better. Also, remember to include a mini-resume when you're giving your teacher your rec. so that they can include other math-related activities when talking about your commitment (ex. "I know that John is enthusiastic about math outside of class as well. He is one of the most prominent members of the math olympiads...") Bottom line:ask teachers for recommendations in your passion subject area first. </p>
<p>Write a Common App. essay for every college. Then change the name to "Dartmouth" and DON'T STOP THERE. Take twenty minutes out of your life. Browse online on the Dartmouth website. Find something on there that correlates to your passion. Fascinated with Classics and find out that Dartmouth has an award-winning Classics department? List specifics. Talk about professors you would love to work with, papers you've followed, programs exclusive to the college (like Dartmouth's Women in Science Program or Norman Rockefeller Public Policy Internship Grants). Show them you've done your homework, and that you aren't just applying BECAUSE DARTMOUTH'S IVY LEAGUE.</p>
<p>Good essays have two goals: to demonstrate the author's human side, and to correlate to their passions. Been raving about medieval history in your application and suddenly switch to skate-boarding in your essay? That's random. It could work if you are very, very accomplished in medieval history and have won a number of awards and to write about it would be just overkill. But if it's something you just picked up, I would stick with medieval history. Write about how you became interested in it. Don't talk facts... that's boring.Talk about feelings. Better yet: show feelings. Show examples. If Dartmouth wanted an extended resume, they would ask for one.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>