<p>I REALLY want to go to Dartmouth for reasons more than just academic, and I'm planning to apply early there. I'm going to plan out a good second campus visit with tour and info session. Would it be to my advantage to meet with someone such as a professor? What would happen in such a meeting? I also assume that an interview will show that I really want to go there. But what else can I do to show that I'm applying early because I REALLY REALLY like the personality of the school and that I'm not just another kid trying to improve his chances of getting into an ivy by applying early? </p>
<p>To my knowledge, there isn't an essay in the Dartmouth supplement to the common app at all, so i don't have the chance to talk about it there. I can truly see myself there because it matches up with ALL my interests and the lifestyle I want to live, and I just want to be sure that they know I am truly excited about Dartmouth. How might I further convey this?</p>
<p>Dartmouth (and the other Ivies) specifically states in its Common Data Set that "level of applicant's interest" is "Not Considered" in admissions. I understand exactly how you feel (I myself feel the same way about another school which also does not consider level of interest), but the bottom line is that Dartmouth officially does not care. Of course, the human officials who will read your application might care a little but, but they can't use that to argue a case for your application. You're better off improving other areas of your application than focusing on expressing interest when it comes to the Ivies; they don't HAVE to care who really wants to go to them.</p>
<p>Applying ED is, i'd say, enough to show your dedication to the school. I think that if you don't get accepted early, you are allowed to write a letter to show your interest in the school, to tell them that you are still very enthusiastic and really want to go there.</p>
<p>also, if ur good at photography, u can like idk, send a photography portfolio with amazing scenery, and you with a dartmouth t shirt.
just an idea.</p>
<p>what about sending a letter with your early application? Too much and annoying for them, or a good way to stand out from the rest of the applicants and truly show your interest?</p>
<p>No. Ivies don't consider level of interest (beyond ED/EA applicants). Do not send a letter, because it will not affect their decisions, and they'll wonder why you're sending it given that they don't consider interest level anyway.</p>
<p>So many kids show interest, honestly it probably doesnt matter. If they think a kids a good fit, they'll take him. </p>
<p>Apply ED if you really want to go there. Your chances are higher, and you'll have closure faster. I didn't show much interest in Dmouth,other then your standard visit/going to the rep meeting. </p>
<p>When I was waitlisted, I showed alot of interest, outlining specific reasons why I wanted to attend the school. I dont think thats the reason I was accepted.</p>
<p>The most selective colleges assume that the applicants really are interested and do not take it into consideration. Unless you are obnoxious in being overly blase or overly anxious, it just is not a factor.</p>
<p>I too am very, VERY interested in Dartmouth, but I have found that the best solution will be applying ED. It shows your dedication, which I think helps a bit. I mean, if you and a RD fellow were compared side by side, and you have similiar stats, I think they would pick you. Not that you would be compared to an RD fellow anyways.</p>
<p>you tell them, it really isn't that complicated.</p>
<p>for example, haverford was my first choice so in the one sentence they gave us to explain why haverford appealed to us I said something along the lines of: </p>
<p>"I long for community. I want to be in a place that values collaborative learning, where people are super-intense but not competitive about their intellectual passions. Shared excitement motivates me. Haverford is what I'm looking for in college."</p>
<p>more then one scentence, but i couldn't contain my excitment about haverford to only a scentence.</p>
<p>If there isn't a specific space for you to write "why ____________" I'd just add it in with the supplement. I'm sure they ask they ask if there is anything else you want to add.</p>
<p>applying ED is the strongest statement of interest that you can make, so just put your heart into your application and make sure to write a good essay, get good recs, etc. </p>
<p>If you have particular artistic skills or something you can meet with a professor who might recommend you to the admissions committee. Not sure about dartmouth specifically, but some schools that really value arts allow certain departments to give them a list of students that they'd really like to have (like a really talented painter or something) and the admissions committee may take that into account...kind of like sports recruiting but for other disciplines</p>
<p>Depends on the college. HYPS and some of the other Ivies have such high yields that they don't need to worry about it; they can safely assume that a very high percentage of the applicants they admit are going to enroll (roughly 80% in Harvard's case). In short, just about everyone who applies REALLY wants to go there, so that's not a distinguishing feature of your application.</p>
<p>But most schools are looking for people who really want to attend because they're genuinely interested in the school. There are a couple of reasons for this. First, most schools are concerned about yield management, both for practical planning purposes and (though they won't tell you this) they're concerned about ANY factor, like selectivity (indirectly affected by yield) that affects their US News rankings. Second, they'd rather have their entering class be composed of people who really, really want to be there, not people who are there by default because they couldn't get into their top choice. It makes for a very different campus atmosphere.</p>
<p>I agree that applying ED is a very strong statement of interest and it certainly helps the schools with yield management, but I've heard admissions officers say they aren't particularly interested in ED applicants who are using ED only because it increases their chances of admission to a prestigious school. They want you to have better reasons, specific to their school. For LACs, in particular, there are usually ample opportunities to show interest and to demonstrate that the school is a good fit: in interviews, campus visits, and essays. Depending on the school, interest and fit may be just as important as your objective stats in determining whether you're admitted; but this is less true at the Ivies and other super-elites, and also less true at the major publics which process enormous numbers of applications.</p>
<p>Just make sure that if you apply ED that you can afford the school. You then have no leverage to negotiate FA if you are accepted as you have to immediately withdraw all other apps. Be careful.</p>
<p>colleges care about "interest" to the extent that THEY do not want to be turned down. ED definately shows that its ur #1 school and theres no way to turn them down after u get in.</p>
<p>ex. supposedly some guy told a harvard interviewer that he got into yale EA... & that didnt fly well</p>
<p>I don't know, but I just feel like there's more to it (interest) than just nothing. For example, wouldn't it help to distinguish yourself from the rest of the kids at your school applying to a school (Dartmouth) to submit an additional letter (of reasonable length) answering the "why Dartmouth" question and outlining why you think it is a perfect match for your interests, why you like it academically, that you are truly excited about the school. Personally I am just so excited about the school for so many reasons: academics, the Dartmouth plan, extracurriculars that are only possible in NH and at Dartmouth (golf and snowboarding-- the two sports that I am involved heavily with), the outing club, cycling, new england life, the sense of community, Dartmouth's similarity to my current school, down to even the commute from my house! </p>
<p>I would really like to make it known that I am NOT choosing to apply ED there simply because I want a better shot at an ivy league school, but that I am genuinely interested in Dartmouth more than any other school school for many reasons that I can identify with personally- and many others can't. I do not think that simply applying ED, or having a good peer evaluation, can express these things and so I am considering submitting an additional letter. Would this be appropriate?</p>