<p>This isn't strictly an odds question, but I couldn't think how to summarize it in less than a dozen words. I go to a mid-size public school, best in our half of the state, and out of the 240 kids in my class, two have already gotten in to Dartmouth, and I'm the third person who applied, and waiting to hear back RD. I'm on par with the other two students and for qualifications (35 ACT, 4.7 GPA, varsity xc captain, etc), but will the fact that two students at my school have already gotten in hurt my chances? I had already resigned to accept rejection because of this, and then I had inarguably my best interview to date: I had two older gentlemen, and after a very healthy conversation, they asked me what was on my mind the most, and I thought about it, decided I had nothing to lose, and explained my romantic quandry in embarassing, but appropriate, detail. We spent over an hour bantering about the opposite sex and telling stories, and I felt like I was on a dock fishing with two old friends and smoking cigars, not sitting at a conference table in a downtown law firm. But back to the question at hand: does Dartmouth place much importance on how many people from a certain school they've previously admitted?</p>
<p>I think yes and no. If you're really "on par" with the other applicants, then you have just as good of a chance of being accepted. However, if they are measurably better than you (better scores, GPA, essay, teacher recommendations or interviews). Then you will come across as the weaker student from your school and then chances would be slimmer that you'd be accepted [than if you were the only student from your school applying].</p>
<p>completely agreed with Former SI. dartmouth seems to care little about who gets in where. my high school was HARDLY a feeder school to Dartmouth--in fact, only 2 had attended in the 5 years before me. but my year, they still accepted at least 5 kids that i know of. so i think that's one numbers game that D doesn't play.</p>