Low GPA, High SAT, Legacy ED chances at Dartmouth

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>GPA: 3.5 UW (upward trend, I did better in harder classes)
SAT: 2320</p>

<p>Prospective Major: History</p>

<p>SAT ii:
Math 2: 740
US History: 750</p>

<p>APs:
US History
AB Calculus
Statistics
Spanish
European History (senior year)
Economics (senior year)
English Language (Senior Year)</p>

<p>Additional Senior Year Courses:
Multivariable Calculus
Spanish 6
Arabic</p>

<p>ECs:
Member of a World Music ensemble that performs Korean and African percussion. I have played at numerous festivals.
Jazz Ensemble: Placed 3rd at UMASS high school competition
Math Team
Volleyball: Won coaches award
Cross Country: Won coaches award</p>

<p>Leadership:
Member of a joint committee of students and facualty that makes policies regarding student life
Resident Leader: Boarding school equivalent of an RA</p>

<p>Work Experience:
Interned for two years at a local historical society. Published a reasearch article in its newsletter.</p>

<p>I attend a decently well-regarded boarding school in New England. I have seen the naviance data, but I did not find it to be particularly helpful. Given my legacy status do I have a realistic shot at Dartmouth ED.</p>

2

<p>Dartmouth would be a reach because of the lack of ECs and leadership and the low GPA</p>

3

<p>Is that how it comes across? Those ECs alone leave me with no free time during the week. As for the leadership positions being a Resident Leader is a full time commitment. I am not trying to rebut your post, because I am looking for honest opinions, but no one has ever told me that I had a lack of ECs or leadership positions. I know for a fact that I am more involved in extracurriculars than any of my peers.</p>

4

<p>I think he just means your ECs are kind of average. Like there isn’t really anything that makes you stand out. And I get the whole thing about being a resident leader but if you’re so busy then drop something. Especially if your GPA isn’t as good as you’d like it to be.</p>

5

<p>Sorry, not trying to step on any toes here, but this is my “brutal honesty” take on it.</p>

<p>1) Dartmouth does like it’s legacies. Every college does, especially the ivies. If it were a borderline decision b/w you and someone else w/out legacy status, you would win. But it isn’t going to be a huge hook, as there are tons of legacies and they can’t take all of them without it looking like they favor them.</p>

<p>2) I’m sorry, but a 3.5 is almost a nonstarter. Granted, it isn’t terrible, hell at most schools it would be pretty good, but it isn’t ivy material. Ivies are looking at 3.8+ (3.7 or 3.75 if you have some outstanding ECs). HYP is 3.85-4.0 almost always.</p>

<p>3) Standardized tests are on par. They would be considered great at other schools, but it’s expected at Dartmouth.</p>

<p>4) APs are good if these are the hardest your school offers. If not, they’re okay. You’re challenging yourself, but remember that they look at top applicants who have literally taken 20 APs. </p>

<p>5) ECs aren’t great. They show you were involved, but not much else. The awards are average, there aren’t too many clubs or leadership positions. At this stage in your high school career, there isn’t much you can do w/out it looking fake, but try to earn more leadership.</p>

<p>I’m sorry. I know this is long, and probably not what you want to hear at all, but it’s my honest opinion. I understand that you’re probably juggling a lot, but remember that these colleges are looking for superman. It isn’t that you’re doing anything wrong, it’s just that everyone in other schools is doing so so much themselves. I’ve seen kids from my school with 16 APs, 3.8, 10 clubs, leadership, 200+ hours, ect. get turned away. My suggestion is to apply, but remember that it is a high reach. It’s okay to set your sights a little lower, look into good state schools like UCLA or UNC, or private schools like GW or American. </p>

<p>Hope this helped! Chance my back? I spent a lot of time on yours.
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1504960-chance-me-ivies-please.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1504960-chance-me-ivies-please.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

6

<p>Thank you for the feedback. I wasn’t expecting for anyone to tell me I eas a lock. I understand that Dartmouth is a pretty big reach and its one of many schools that I am considering applying to ED. I am also interested in Bucknell, Colgate, Lehigh, Vanderbilt, Washington and Lee, Trinity, Davidson, Lafayette, Richmond, and U of Rochester as schools that I could potentially apply to ED. I think Sewanee and Hobart would be viable safety schools. Does that seem reasonable or am I setting my sights too high?</p>