<p>ah, rank. Do they just use academics as setting the standard of if you’ll even be considered and then separate out the accepted based on subjective things like EC’s, recs, and essays?</p>
<p>to some extent…they don’t use a system though; it’s holistic. decent stats and grades combined with a great essay could get you in… i mean, you don’t have to have a crazy hook or perfect stats exactly…</p>
<p>Embedded in their admissions information, we found that Dartmouth looks for the following:
- curiosity
- passion for ideas
- dedication to learning
- sustained commitment and accomplishment
human qualities: - leadership
- creativity
- sensitivity
- tolerance
- compassion
- integrity
- sense of humor</p>
<p>If you posses any/all of these, hopefully, your teacher’s will mention them, possibly with examples. If you don’t, it would be good to begin developing.</p>
<p>I mean, I hope I do and demonstrate those. Honestly, I’m just really worried about the GPA. Hopefully the next time I take the SAT I’ll hit at least 2250, but the GPA…</p>
<p>I’m also interested in Dartmouth. Do you think that two Bs from freshman and sophomore years, as well as the potential for 2 more B+s this year might hold me back? They are only in humanities courses, and I’m mostly a math/science guy. I’ve done research at world-renown laboratories, and I have had scientific internships at laboratories, and I will be doing the Simons Summer Research program, which I know is a prestigious program to get accepted to.</p>
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<p>I’d say that this attitude towards and lack of demonstrated excellence in the humanities would be more likely to hold you back than having received the occasional B at Dartmouth and most Ivies. A pattern of weakness and lack of interest may not demonstrate the qualities noted above:</p>
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<p>While your accomplishments in science may outweigh your weakness elsewhere to an ad com, why the interest in a liberal arts undergrad program? Why not apply to MIT, Cal Tech, Harvey Mudd, GA Tech, Olin and the like if you have no interest in or aptitude for the humanities and no intention of taking those courses seriously? (Not that those schools don’t want kids who excel in all areas, but since they are more specialized it is perhaps less of an issue and more of a fit.)</p>
<p>I am only in the top 20% at a very competitive public school and I got accepted. However, my life story is probably one that is not seen often.</p>
<p>I mean, I’m the same way- I’m not much of a science person at all, but I don’t think that shows that i’m don’t possess those qualities. I just find a particular line to fit me, and though I’ve taken, and struggled through, those various AP science classes, I don’t want to think that those will make or break me for college- because I really find no passion in it at all. Wouldn’t Dartmouth take into consideration all the other strengths I have and find that they truly outweigh my weak spot in the sciences? I’m a curious learner, and I took those classes because my school is known for its top ranked science programs and didn’t want to miss the opportunity, but I really regret that now if colleges are going to see that as a blemish on my record that I got B’s in almost every science class I took here.</p>
<p>Consolation: Don’t get me wrong. I still am interested in learning a broad spectrum of things. I still do take the top courses in those areas. The B’s I have are in AP World and Ap Euro. This year in AP US, I tried a bit harder, and was a bit more interested and will receive an A. I pushed myself to go into AP Lang this year, even though I’ve been an A student in the english honors classes before, because I knew trying Lang would make me a better writer, and I would learn about the strategies and ideas used in readings. I am interested in learning about other areas, and I do take those APs. I happen to be stronger in math and science, and that is where the majority of my interest is, but I would still appreciate a thorough liberal arts education. I thought that maybe since I am more focused in the sciences, which is obviously by my flawless grades in those courses and resume, they would mostly see me as a student that would contribute to the school by environmental biology research and a developer of ideas that relate to the areas I have a more serious passion for.</p>
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<p>Moreover, your SATs sucked by D standards (every section around 600, IIRC). Obviously you must have something to offer that is out of the ordinary.</p>
<p>Tree hugger, all I can say is that the typical Ivy acceptee excels in ALL areas.</p>
<p>i asked this in the penn forum before but it was left unanswered. what happens if your school doesnt rank? does a school send an estimated percentage or put down N/A?</p>
<p>The School Profile they send explains their graduation requirements, course offerings, grading system including weighting and ranking if any, and so forth. Normally, it includes some kind of graph or chart that shows GPA distribution for the last graduating class, and also lists schools that grads are attending or to which they were accepted. (Some schools try to inflate their success by listing every acceptance, others deflate it by listing just schools attended by the last class.)</p>
<p>If colleges want to, they can look at this to get some idea of where your GPA falls. Or rather, where it would have fallen if you graduated last year. Since classes vary, this is obviously not an exact science. But if they don’t rank, they shouldn’t give out a rank, estimated or not. Occasionally a GC will reveal rank in their rec, but they really shouldn’t.</p>
<p>BTW–sorry, missed the editing deadline 
--the school profile is usually visible at the school web site, often thru the Guidance Dept.</p>
<p>ok thanks consolation</p>
<p>If my school doesn’t rank, and 3.1, 3.9, 3.9 (most difficult courseload) are my frosh, soph, and junior grades, im not screwed for dartmouth? what about HYP, will they care a lot about the frosh GPA?</p>
<p>The only reason those four schools would possibly invite you to their campuses would be to publicly execute you for having the audacity to send them your application.</p>
<p>if those are unweighted, i doubt it will hurt you much.</p>
<p>I think most colleges actually prefer to see an upward trend.
Oh, and as for class rank, I emailed the Dartmouth admission’s office and this is what they said:
“We recognize that not all high schools offer the same opportunities and we do take into consideration a student’s academic environment. While we have no minimum grade point average or class rank required for consideration, approximately 90% of admitted students rank in the first decile of their graduating class.”</p>
<p>btw, how do you calculate unweighted GPA. I am very, very lost.</p>
<p>A=4
B=3
C=2
D=1</p>
<p>Is that a trick question?</p>
<p>Is being from an underrepresented state (e.g., Mississippi) a hook?</p>