My chances at Dartmouth

Colleges and Universities A-Z Dartmouth College
1

<p>I am an Intl student from India. I also need finaid. My stats are as follows:</p>

<p>GPA - 3.9/4 (school does not weight as every student takes the same difficulty)
SAT I - 2320
maths-800
verbal-750
writing-770
SAT II
Math II -800
Physics -800
Chemistry -780</p>

<p>school does not rank but top 2% (as told by counsellor)
Will get good recco's as I have good relationship with my teachers.</p>

<p>Awards
1st National Cyber Olympiad (state level)
8th i.e. silver merit National Cyber Olympiad (National level)</p>

<p>Participated in a National Computer Olympiad COFAS (70+teams) all four years of high school. (Have won programming in C++,a jingle competition and a Software competition here)</p>

<p>Participated in a National Computer Olympiad sponsored by microsoft in Delhi called MODEM.This too all four years of high school (won programming,Digital video editing and group discussion)</p>

<p>Techno computer whiz Kid 2002- till date (for four consecutive years winner of this award which checks knowledge related to computers)
Here,in my grade 9 I defeated all the students in high school (i.e. 10,11,12 graders)</p>

<p>Activities
Co-Founder (2002) and current president of the computer club of my school
Student Council: School captain (just 1 out of only 16 in whole high school of about 2500)
Debating Society: Panel Member
School Magazine Editorial Board
School Choir-Lead Singer (for 10 yrs,lead for 5yrs)
Participated in a grand musical Peter Pan in grade 11</p>

<p>Research projects
Devised a programme for graphing an exact speed of a moving motor on a computer screen using C++.</p>

<p>work experience
Store Technician at reliance web world (since Dec 2004)abt 6hrs a week.
Pro gamer and have started own league for training pro gamers while charging little fee from them.</p>

<p>Community Service
Tuitions for underpriviliged children during school holidays
In the summer did my school SUPW with mentally underpriviliged children.
Teach general usage of computers to underpriviliged children.</p>

<p>So can anyone tell me what would be my chances if I were to apply RD. I would really appreciate it.</p>

2

<p>I am not one to do chances so I really am not going to assess your chances now. I don't beleive that anyone (current student, alumni, parent, etc) can accurately assess one's chances, because they are assesing you based on their own limited frames of reference and what may have worked for them when they were admitted. Yes, there are tanigibles that will get you over the first hurdle (SAT scores and grades) and put you in the game. However, I believe that the intangibles, the part that speak about you as a person and what you offer and how you can fit into the Dartmouth community are the things that move an application from the admit to the deny pile. My only comment about chances is this, If you don't apply you have a 100% chance of not being admitted. However, I would like to mention the following.</p>

<p>As you already know you will be assessed against Dartmouth's international pool of applicants. while if you get accepted the school will meet 100% of your demonstrated need, keep in mind that Dartmouth is not need blind toward international students, so your ability to pay will be taken into consideration.</p>

<p>The thing that I am a bit concerned about is that your achievements are more solitary events. while you have done some community service work, you have done very little and Dartmouth is a school which is big on giving back. </p>

<p>Since it was recently named one of Princeton reviews College's with a Conscience the community service aspect may even play a bigger role with the next few classes.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/%7Enews/releases/2005/06/23.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.dartmouth.edu/~news/releases/2005/06/23.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Dartmouth President James Wright says he is pleased with the College's inclusion in this publication. "Dartmouth has an important history of building volunteer and outreach programs that are engaging, meaningful and effective," says Wright. "The students involved in these programs truly exemplify how undergraduates can wed their academic work and community service in a way that enhances both. Volunteerism is a vital part of a Dartmouth education."</p>

<p>
[quote]
Colleges with a Conscience gives Dartmouth high marks for providing "a solid education in 'battling the complacency demons,' thanks to an impressive civic-engagement program."

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Colleges build classes that are aligned with the insitutional mission that the school is trying to achieve. This mission often changes year over year so what the college was looking for to build the class of 09, wil lbe different for the class of 10. While Dartmouth already takes a very wholistic stand in admissions, I beleive that this aspect is going to become more important as the school continues to build classes. </p>

<p>The emphasis on community service and giving back to others is already a big part of Dartmouth's culture. They already know that they are not going to be at a loss for smart students. I think that what will key is finding smart students who are also good people showing themselves to be agents for positive change in the lives of others as education takes place both inside and outside of the classroom.</p>

3

<p>I ama little more light hearted. I think you have more than a solid chance. And although you werent involved in service, that is far from a pre-requisite for attending Dartmouth.</p>

4

<p>Thanks for the replies guys. I will be doing some more community service in the following months.
I heard that the process for intl's asking for finaid was very rigorous and only very few get admitted. Do I have a good chance in the needy applicant pool?</p>

5

<p>Vampiro, I would recommend Princeton (or any other need-blind institution for that matter) over Dartmouth. Not only will you recieve better financial aid, but your abilities will flourish at a school with more emphasis on engineering/comp sci.</p>

6

<p>4feynman is correct in recommending Princeton to the extent that Princeton is need blind toward international students so your ability to pay will have no bearing in the admissions process. However, you would still be competing against the international pool of applicants which is still going to have many applicants for a few spots.</p>

7

<p>I think your chances are about as good as mine. I'm an admitted international student, and my SATs and GPA are similar to yours. However, for my ECs, I had a much greater range of activities - I was reasonably strong in karate, cross-country running, piano and volunteering, and I still had stuff to pack on top of that. I got in, so I think you're chances are okay, but far from certain.</p>

<p>My friend had similar SATs and GPA. His ECs were more oustanding than mine. Yet he was rejected and I was accepted - probably because he needed more aid than me. My parents could afford a little more than half the total costs of a Dartmouth education; his couldn't afford a third.</p>

8

<p>You are going to Dartmouth betta. But i think MIT is more along the lines for you.</p>