<p>Thanks for the advice! I will be applying to other colleges if I do not get admitted through Dartmouth’s ED. As it is, is Dartmouth a match?</p>
<p>Actually, gmale, you’d be surprised how desperate many of us are to appear more interesting than we are. Like you, I am Chinese. There is a perception out there than Chinese students are pretty much the same. Althought that’s frustrating, there is some truth to it. I am a good student, have hundreds of volunteer hours, play the violin, am an officer in four clubs, have never worked a real job, come from an upper middle class family that emphasizes education, have good test scores and a good class rank, and want to be a doctor. Thousands of other Chinese girls will apply with similar backgrounds. I’ve been trying to think of a way to distinguish myself on college appls for about two years. I’ll come up with something (I hope) but writing an essay about being gay is admittledy pretty interesting, especially for a Chinese girl. Personally, I would never be dishonest on my essays but I can see why some are. </p>
<p>I have many non-Asian friends whose lives are truly interesting. They are in punk bands, they are sky dive instructors, they work on fishing boats in Alaska, etc. My parents would freak if I wanted to do any of these things. They insist I lead an insulated life full of educational opportunities. In the summer, I take summer school and tuttoring. I’ve done all of my AP summer homework already. Although I appreciate my family’s help, my life is pretty uninteresting and it mirrors the lives of many other Chinese girls.</p>
<p>I have heard of people writing a fake spiel about the death of a family member from cancer inspiring them to pursue medicine.
I sincerely believe that writing a dishonest essay wouldn’t fly. All of life’s experience form our beliefs, character, and style. This is difficult, if not impossible to fake. Even if it could conceivably be done, I think there are more interesting stories to tell than pretending to be gay. How is being gay even a predictor of success? I am all of emotional angst and insecurities lol
Hope Full, I think you stand out already with such a great portfolio. What is the point of the college seeking out diversity if the student doesn’t add some cultural flair to the classroom? I say be every bit the Asian you are.
I unfortunately suxx0rs with the Mandarinz.</p>
<p>Yeah, I forgot that one. I have heard a lot of rumors regarding fake essays of dead relatives. Again, I think this is symptomatic of many of us leading similarly boring lives. An Asian girl I knew in junior high won a state writing contest for a fake essay about surviving the 2004 tsunami in Indonesia. She’s since moved to New York. Maybe she’ll use that essay again for college. </p>
<p>I am definitely applying as an Asian. I won’t try to hide it (not that I could given my last name). I am just going to cross my fingers and hope for the best. Maybe being genuine will help me stick out. ;)</p>
<p>Hey Gmale. Looking at your stats, I think you probably have a good shot. 
I’m no expert or anything, but I’m headed to Dartmouth next fall and your stats are good. If Dartmouth is your dream school, then I think you should def apply ED.
I agree that being gay isn’t a “hook”, but I understand that you highlighted your sexuality in your OP because, as it seems, it is a very large part of your personal identity. It may not make you stand out, since -like many before me in this thread have said - there are a lot of gay people, but if it’s significant to you and who you are as a person, then I wouldn’t be afraid to let it show in your application :)</p>
<p>How come no one has pointed out that the fact that this individual was born in China and grew up in the UK is a hook??</p>
<p>And Yes, OP; your stats are terrific and Dartmouth will definitely look at you carefully. That said, no one can tell you if you’ll get in.</p>
<p>Make sure you don’t love Dartmouth to the exclusion of other schools. There is no “one” school for anyone. This way, if Dartmouth doesn’t accept you, you can go on to Plan B without too much anguish.</p>
<p>
Internationals are almost always at a disadvantage in admissions. Living in multiple countries is only a hook if you’re an American citizen.</p>
<p>So how come all the plain vanilla white people from Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York feel like they’re disadvantaged??</p>
<p>Relative to URMs like Blacks and Hispanics, they are. But all other things being equal, an American always has the edge compared to an international.</p>
<p>Gmale: gmail?</p>
<p>Hope Full: maybe write about how you’re ridiculously normal and stereotypical becuz of your parents and explain the stuff u attempt to do within ur parents restrictions.</p>
<p>and gmale, just write about it. and then cross your fingers and pray when december rolls around.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Depending on the circumstances of which an individual born in one country and growing up in another while definitely not run of the mill, it would not be unusual for a student whose parent who works as an for a multinational corporation and moved because of work, is a professional, some one in the military, etc.</p>
<p>However, it could make for an interesting essay.</p>
<p>I’d say being international is a hook if a student is from a country that is not already represented… I’d say China and England aren’t hooks but countries like… idk… Burkina Faso… are. Schools (Dartmouth included) love to brag about how many countries are represented at the school.</p>
<p>^^^ I thought you were making that up, but it’s a real country. Holy cow.</p>
<p>hmm…This year, a great student(She won silver medal for international geography olympiad!!and shown great passion for geography) in my HS applied to Dartmouth and got rejected…Given to the fact that Dartmouth has no students from Taiwan and that she is an outstanding student, I would say that coming from an underrepresented area might help, but it is not a big hook.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the responses, guys!
I keep seeing that my stats are good (thx!). Are my ECs up to par? Looking at other applicants’ profile, it seems that people are so much more involved.
About plan B, I am looking at Yale, Williams, and Amherst, but Dartmouth still seems to be a better match for me.</p>
<p>Hmmmm. The three alternatives you suggest are all extremely, extremely competitive. Perhaps another appropriate Plan B would be schools like Colgate, Hamilton, Bucknell.</p>
<p>Or Vassar! A beautiful liberal arts college in Poughkeepsie, and admittedly very gay-friendly, (just in case you’re really worried about how you will be perceived as a homosexual (which I don’t think you should be)).</p>
<p>Those are really good colleges indeed. They offer good financial aid as well. Thanks for the recommendations!</p>