<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>] SAT:2230 1 sitting 730 cr 740 m 760 w
[</em>] SAT IIs: 740 physics 720 bio 630 worldhistory
[<em>] GPA: 3.89, 4.2
[</em>] Rank: top5% out of 200
[<em>] Other stats: 5 in physics b and english language, 4 in world and us history
[ /list][ b]Subjective:[ /b][ list]
[</em>] Essays:supposedly really good- about my bicultural background
[<em>] Teacher Recs: 1 was amazing, 1 was quite good
[</em>] Counselor Rec: amazing
[<em>] Hook (if any): geuss not
[</em>] had interview- went as well as it could have I thought which was quite good
[/ul]Location/Person:[ul]
[<em>] State or Country:ny
[</em>] School Type: public competitive
[<em>] Ethnicity: white. too bad ain't it...?
[</em>] Gender: F
[<em>] Intended Major: neuroscience or russian (equally interested in both)
[</em>] major strength/weakness: weakness- white girl from newyork, alright sat II's
[/ul][ b]Other Factors:**
fluent in another language, black belt martial artist, play oboe, president of NHS, brother wrote my peer rec and supposedly was very strong, vivid, positive</p>
<p>this sucks but life's unfair. but good luck in the future to all of the deferred/rejected/accepted candidates wherever you end up</p>
<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>] SAT:CR:700, M:700, W:710
[</em>] SAT IIs: Bio:790, Math I:690
[<em>] GPA:4.0/4.33
[</em>] Rank:N/A
[<em>] Other stats:top 5%
[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[</em>] Essays:good (and unique)
[<em>] Teacher Recs:good?
[</em>] Counselor Rec:good?
[<em>] Hook (if any):I've taken 5 languages, and started a culture/language-related club, through which I organize larger events.
[/ul]Location/Person:[ul]
[</em>] State or Country:small, rural state
[<em>] School Type: public
[</em>] Ethnicity:caucasian
[<em>] Gender:female
[</em>] Intended Major:Classics or arabic
[li] major strength/weakness:I think having unique interests/involvements helped, as well as decent stats.[/li][/ul]Other Factors:
I had a well-connected alumni write a letter for me. I also play violin in the state orchestra, am in NHS, play intramural crew, and am involved in a bunch of other extras. I got lucky.</p>
<p>All of your stats are amazing, but I guess it does show that gpa/sat and other stats dont all matter. you have to be well rounded.</p>
<p>for dartmouth's decisions to come out earlier than most of the other schools just makes all of us question our ability to get into our ED schools now :(</p>
<p>I'm another one of those Chicago EA folks... hoping for acceptance.... good luck to all those here, accepted or not, I'm sure you'll be happy wherever you do end up going.</p>
<p>hi from stanford scea..
this is stressin' me out! but congrats to everyone who now knows where they're headed in the fall, and to all those deferred, don't worry, your stats are all FAB and you'll all end up somewhere great.</p>
<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>] SAT: 2310 (800 W, 740 CR, 770 M )
[</em>] SAT IIs: 800 Chem, 800 U.S. History, 750 Math IIC
[<em>] GPA: 4.29 W, 4.0 UW
[</em>] Rank: 1/350
[<em>] Other stats:
[/ul] Subjective:[ul]
[</em>] Essays: Didn't read, but she has won tons of awards for writing in high school
[<em>] Teacher Recs: She got a rec from a teacher who also wrote me a rec and he told me he gave her nearly all checks in the "one of the top few in my career" column.
[</em>] Counselor Rec: Generic but positive
[<em>] Hook (if any): Sibling at Dartmouth
[/ul] Location/Person:[ul]
[</em>] State or Country: Connecticut
[<em>] School Type: Public, sends 10-15 students to Ivies each year (Dartmouth is definitely the most represented.)
[</em>] Ethnicity: White
[<em>] Gender: Female
[</em>] Intended Major: English
[li] major strength/weakness: She's kind of awesome :D (I'm biased)[/li][/ul]Other Factors:</p>
<p>I'm a Chicago EA also. Hope it isn't this bad. Fingers crossed. It's a shame it's coming out so late this year. I think they are saying third week in December</p>
<p>Post #124 points out an interesting aspect of admissions which sometimes focuses on underrepresented majors. I disagree, however, that this applicant got "lucky" since the median SAT score for Dartmouth is about 1330/1600 (according to data for the matriculating Dartmouth College Class of 2011) and the poster in Post #123 had a 1400/1600 SAT score and was/is in the top 5% of her class.
Of the few who were rejected outright--rather than deferred--I wonder if teacher recs or the tone/attitude of the application essays played a significant role in the decision since their numbers are outstanding.</p>
<p>You know Coldwind.. Here's the thing about post #123. Beyond the major she mentioned, her ecs strongly supported her interests there. However, there was nothing "remarkable" about the stats. What was also noteworthy, however, was the letter from a well connected Alum.</p>
<p>And too.. I do think what people hope to major in is taken into consideration. You cannot have 600 committed Bio majors. It's about community.</p>
<p>Again, I take issue with any kind of assumption that it is a weak application that plays "a significant role" in the decision process and that it couldn't be just luck or a crap shoot at some point. My son got a call from his counselor last night who absolutely categorically told him that he presented a very strong application and to not in anyway take it personally (she totally rocks by the way). Certainly the application presented should not be ignored, however sometimes it just as matter of being in the pile at the right time in the right hands. End of story.</p>
<p>And hopefully if a parent is reading this, they wouldn't dare turn to their rejected or deferred kid and tell them THEY were the deficient ones. The thought of that happening makes me physically ill. And for those who kids DID get in... I hope you encourage humility for them and for yourself.</p>
<p>You are absolutely right. I know that this point will be proven in April when the deferred and denied are holding acceptances to wonderful colleges, some of which are viewed as "more selective" than Dartmouth. I've been following these boards for years and I know this to be true. I wish your son the best. This time next year may you be saying "Thank God he didn't get into Dartmouth ED, He's just so happy where he ended up"</p>
<p>While there is no magic formula nor any guarantees about getting into the most competitive colleges, it is grossly unfair to call it a "crap shoot". My daughter did not do "chance me" or post her statistics to CC for a reason--to detail what distinguished her would make her readily known to people she knows now or to people she will meet at Dartmouth. I imagine that is true with a lot of successful applicants who read but don't post their personal statistics to CC. </p>
<p>Rather than a "crap shoot", acceptance is most likely based on the unique abilities and successes offered by the successful candidate. Most successful candidates without a big hook probably have great SATs, class rank, recommendations, ECs, peer review, etc. and then something more. Everyone who knows my daughter believed she would get into Dartmouth--not because she was the youngest astronaut to go to the moon but because she excelled solidly in everything she does. They didn't see her application but I did and I thought she offered things that would appeal to Dartmouth. While she had nothing earthshakingly extraordinary, she also had no liabilities or anything merely average.</p>
<p>Those who were deferred or denied probably did not stand out enough from the crowd. That's very different than saying "it's a crap shoot".</p>
<p>Gee VCR... how's your reading comprehension?</p>
<p>What I said was that "at some point" it most certainly becomes more luck of the draw than merely that one student is superior to another. Are you honestly trying to suggest that Dartmouth is so infalliable in their decision-making that they never pass over a more suitable kid? Or are you trying to suggest that your daughter is somehow beyond perfection? Now that is some serious hubris. Might I suggest you get some cotton batting to surround the pedestal you seem to be placing her on because it's sure to be quite a bump should she fall from it.</p>
<p>vcr, the term "crap shoot" doesn't really fit. But when people use it, part of what they mean is that the process can't be managed. Absolutely qualified, standout, wonderful kids are going to get turned down.
People who use the term aren't saying that your D, and others who are accepted, are NOT outstanding. What they're doing is wrestling with the fact that there are not enough spaces for all the kids who are deserving.
People in admissions are being sincere when they say that they could fill another whole class with the kids they turn away. And when they say that a kid who didn't make it one year might have made it last year, or next year.
Congratulations to your D. Don't let what anyone else is saying take away from that . . . and try not to take offense from - or give offense to - people who are just seeking to put things in perspective.</p>
<p>There's a big difference between saying that "there are not enough spaces for all the kids who are deserving" and calling admissions a "crap shoot"--which has the implication of randomness, arbitrariness, and unfairness. </p>
<p>I will leave it at that and not aggravate the raw emotions of some by responding further.</p>