<p>I haven't gotten a chance to get up to Hanover and I don't know if I will. Will this count against me? So the checking-boxes part of my pre-app about how I learned about the school was pretty lame. I'm hoping that an ivy-league school like Dartmouth (since it doesn't have to worry about getting enough applicants) isn't basing acceptance on student interest...
also, still waiting for interviewer to contact me...</p>
<p>I don't know if it will count against you or not, but I do know that student interest is a potential factor. I suppose it goes case by case. </p>
<p>FWIW, if you apply, apply for Dartmouth not for an "Ivy-league school." To "see" it is to love it (if you love 'it').</p>
<p>Actually, I read it somewhere that Dartmouth stated that they dont take into account students' level of interest. So there's no need to worry</p>
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Actually, I read it somewhere that Dartmouth stated that they dont take into account students' level of interest. So there's no need to worry
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<p>I would not take this as a blanket statement because in a lot of cases it depends. If you were invited to Dartmouth bound or on a recruiting visit, then it is a factor in your favor.</p>
<p>If you are a considerable distance from hanover or if coming will be a huge financial burden for you and your family, no one expects you to visit. However, if you live a reasonable driving distance or in OPs case NY (where the bulk of the incoming class ends up hailing from and they are not at a loss for students from NY) it may make a difference because it does help distinguish you. </p>
<p>Dartmouth does take a lot of time and care in crafting a class and at the end of the day the want students who have shown that they want Dartmouth.</p>
<p>I would suggest turning the question around ... to me the bigger question is not if Dartmouth will like that you visited ... but would it be helpful for you to visit. Dartmouth has a unique and very strong culture driven by both by the students and it's location as a fairly small school located in a rural college town. Before going the remote college town route I strongly suggest kids visit schools situated like that ... personally, when I visited my school in a rural college town I knew that was where I wanted to go ... I also know a lot of people who were turned off during their visit ... and perhaps the biggest group of unhappy undergrads were folks who felt my college town was too small and who had not visited before accepting. Punch line ... visit for you!</p>
<p>{I'm hoping that an ivy-league school like Dartmouth (since it doesn't have to worry about getting enough applicants) isn't basing acceptance on student interest...}</p>
<p>Are you kidding?? Schools like Dartmouth (Ivies and elite LAC's) rely on student interest as that sometimes is the deciding factor. Interviews, school visits and tours are usually very closely monitored. Remember, these schools receive thousands of applications from very highly qualified students, who sometimes look very much the same as far as grades, AP's taken, EC's etc. Putting a face with the name helps a lot to admissions officers, and your showing interest by visiting (sometimes more than once) is critical for some prospects. Don't discount the importance of the visit, tours, and interviews.</p>
<p>Look here: <a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/%7Eoir/pdfs/CDS2005_2006.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.dartmouth.edu/~oir/pdfs/CDS2005_2006.pdf</a></p>
<p>On page 8, it says that the level of the applicant's interest is not taken into consideration. But they could be swayed, I suppose <em>shrug</em></p>
<p>sorry, bjm, sybbie is correct. The Ivies don't give a darn about demonstrated interest ("DI"); they are so selective, they don't need to. OTOH, other highly selective colleges, such as Emory or WashU, DO care about DI -- a LOT. But, schools located in rural areas (like Hanover) do want to know that a student will embrace that kind of college experience -- your interest can easily be expressed to an alum in the interview.</p>
<p>{Dartmouth does take a lot of time and care in crafting a class and at the end of the day the want students who have shown that they want Dartmouth.}</p>
<p>I agree with Sybbie as well. That is why I said it is important to visit and interview if you can!</p>
<p>{But, schools located in rural areas (like Hanover) do want to know that a student will embrace that kind of college experience -- your interest can easily be expressed to an alum in the interview.}</p>
<p>So BlueBayou...where do we differ? I agree with you as well. My point being, as I stated above, that if you can make it to Hanover, by all means do it. It does mean something to adcoms. Sorry. :(</p>
<p>Emory and WashU care about demonstrated interest because it helps to show which students are seriously considering their schools. These schools are trying to improve their yield rates and, hence, don't want to accept kids who have never visited and clearly are using the colleges as safeties. </p>
<p>Ivys like Dartmouth have yields so high that they can assume that most people that are admitted will seriously consider matriculating. Maybe they use demonstrated interest as a tip factor in the most rare cases, but I even doubt that.</p>
<p>Most importantly, you need to be sure that you want to be there (here?, I'm a current student). My friends and I were talking about this earlier. Dartmouth has an amazing "pride" thing. Just about everyone here bleeds green. You have to, the Upper Valley of New Hampshire is very isolated. Everything that you do for the next four years will be tied up in this school. If you like the idea of having random alum talk to you in the airport because you're wearing your Dartmouth sweatshirt, then that's great. Also, the D-plan makes Dartmouth a little weird. Talking to students about how that REALLY works is helpful (I just finished my FSP application, fingers crossed). Dartmouth is not the kind of school that should be taken sight-unseen.</p>
<p>I personally decided to apply to D based on my campus visit. Sometimes I think that we all were born bleeding green, that this has always been our home, we just didn't know it. And this seems to be the way most students feel. Not that we're homogenous or anything, but we all LOVE our school. LOVE it. Sometimes quite frighteningly. Have you heard about H-Cru? They are these crazy upperclassmen who greet you when you first arrive at school. At first, you think "wow, those kids are dressed weird... they must be REALLY strange." Then, you find out that half the student body applies to be involved in the Freshmen Trips. That definitely sets the tone for the entire school.</p>
<p>WOw, you guys are making me so pumped up for next year. I want to be there so much. Since Im from Vietnam, it is almost impossible for me to get to the campus. Could anyone of you who is currently at Dartmouth make contact with me and send me some of those gorgeous photos of Dartmouth. I am feeling it. My email address is:<a href="mailto:megagear23@yahoo.com">megagear23@yahoo.com</a>. Thanx guys, really appreciate it</p>