<p>I'm a junior thinking about applying to Dartmouth next year. I attend a state-supported residential high school that specializes in math, science, and the arts. The school is difficult to get into, ranks in the top-20 nationally, and is visited every year by the Ivies. The school is only for juniors and seniors, so I attended a different school my freshman and sophomore years.</p>
<p>Below is a brief summary of my major accomplishments. I need recommendations on which part of my app to improve, and some questions to be answered.</p>
<p>GPA: 3.95 at old school, 3.7 at current (both on 4.0 scale). Averages to a 3.8.</p>
<p>ACT: 29 from sophomore year. I am taking the ACT again soon and hope to score above a 30. I read that Dartmouth's average ACT is a 31, but think I can score a 32-34.</p>
<p>PSAT: 198 (I know this isn't the best). I did all right in math and only missed one in writing, but missing around 8 in the reading.</p>
<p>Do I need to take the SAT? I'm much better with the ACT than the SAT, and would rather not take it if necessary.</p>
<p>Rank: My current school doesn't rank, but I do know I ranked in the top 3 at my old school.</p>
<p>EC's: ICurrently involved in internship with the National Center for Preservation Technology & Training, which is part of the National Park Service. I single-handedly started my own online business earning thousands of dollars per year, and have more than 300 combined hours volunteering at a local hospital and summer camp. I have also done web design for the same hospital and my old school. For clubs, I was on Tech Squad and Beta Club at my old school. I was also an Ambassador. At my current school I am on Young Democrats, Speech & Debate, and Junior Classical League. I plan on applying to be an Ambassador, and officer positions at my school are reserved for seniors.</p>
<p>I also won 2nd in computer science at my state's literary rally my freshman year and 1st at regionals. Won 1st at regionals in biology my sophomore year.</p>
<p>Essay: I can write killer essays. Writing is my strong point.</p>
<p>Schedule: Below is my schedule for my junior year. Keep in mind that my school offers no AP classes because everything is already on a college level.
Math: Trig & PreCal. Plan on taking Cal I and maybe Cal II my senior year.
Science: Acc. Chemistry. Will take Physics I or II senior year.
English: Composition/Literature. This is the English class all juniors at my school must take.
Foreign language: Latin I,II, and Ancient. Classical Studies. Will take Adv. Latin Prose senior year. The content covered in the Latin II I am taking now is equivalent to Latin III or IV at a regular high school. I also have two years of Spanish from my old school.
Social Studies: Am. History I & II. Modern Presidential Politics.
Arts: Acting I.
Computer Science: Programming in C++.</p>
<p>Recommendations: Most of my teachers are former college professors with PhDs. I can get some good recommendations from them.</p>
<p>Additionally, how important is math to Dartmouth? It is my lowest section score on the ACT, and I tend to make B's in it. I plan on taking Cal I, but would taking Cal II benefit me at all? I would rather not take it unless it would really help me get in. What math score on the ACT does Dartmouth look for?</p>
<p>Assuming I get my ACT up from the 29 I got in 10th grade and take a few AP's and SAT II's, how are my chances at Dartmouth? Right now I am calling it a reach school, but how much of a reach would it be? </p>
<p>My main strengths seem to be my EC's, my teacher recommendations, my essay-writing skills, and my school itself. I've been told by college admissions officers that a 3.5 at my school is better than a 4.5 at a large public high school, and things are so tough 1 out 5 students leave before graduating.</p>
<p>I am also not sure what other colleges to consider. Does anyone know of any good matches for me?</p>
<p>Thanks for the help!</p>