Post Secondary

Colleges & Universities A-Z Dartmouth College
1

<p>I have been dreaming about going to Dartmouth since I was in 9th grade. I have really tried my best to do well and take some harder classes at my school. However, my school is a very small public school, (maybe 100 in my class?) and it doesn't offer AP or Honors classes. There also aren't many clubs or organizations to join.</p>

<p>There is an option for Juniors and Seniors to do Post Secondary. For those that aren't sure of what this is...it is when you can go to college part time and get both high school and college credits. </p>

<p>I will be a Senior next year. So do you think that taking some college classes while still going to high school will at all increase my chance of acceptance??</p>

<p>And if I don't do it....and my school not offering much as far as accelerated classes go...will it hurt my chances?</p>

<p>Also, if I do well on my ACT's and SAT II's and apply, I will most likely apply ED becasue I don't think I will have much of a chance otherwise. If I do apply ED and I go go the Post Seconadry route...will it even show my senior classes and what I am taking?</p>

<p>Thanks to all who reply in advanced.</p>

<p>If you want to be even extra helpful...please take a look at these two sites. They are the two colleges I am concidering for Post Secondary.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wayne.uakron.edu/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.wayne.uakron.edu/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://www.stark.kent.edu/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.stark.kent.edu/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

2

<p>Jakay,</p>

<p>Welcome to the board.</p>

<p>All colleges want to see that you are taking the most challenging courses possible and that you are doing well in those courses. If your school does not offer AP or Honors, it is not going to be held against your. Your school will submit a profile that explains the rigors of the curriculum and the courses offered.</p>

<p>Taking courses at your local college is good as far as seeking more rigerous courses, but remember that all college academics are not created equal. If this is the route that you are going, speak to your guidance counselor to make sure that the courses are on your transcript even if it means only getting H.S. credit.</p>

<p>As far as EC's are concerned , it is better to have one or to that you re passionate about and have shown a serious commitment to versus having a laundry lists of EC's which are all over the place. Do you work part time? Props are given for that because schools understand that some students work to help their family or help close their own financial gaps. It is a major commitment to hold down a job. Do you do volunteer or community service work, there are always people in need where your time and talents would be beneficial.</p>

<p>Hopefully you will taking some of the standardized test this spring and not wait for the last minute. Testing requirements for the classo f 2010 willbe as follwos:</p>

<p>Class of 2010 - New Standardized Testing Requirements</p>

<p>Dartmouth will allow applicants to submit scores as follows:</p>

<p>Option One</p>

<p>• The new SAT I, or the ACT with writing</p>

<p>AND</p>

<p>• Two SAT II exams of the applicant’s choosing</p>

<p>Option Two</p>

<p>• The old SAT I, or the ACT w/o writing</p>

<p>AND</p>

<p>• Three SAT II exams of the applicant’s choosing</p>

<p>All the best</p>

3

<p>okay, so you want to go to dartmouth since grade 9? let me ask you this!
why dartmouth? why not other ivies?</p>

4

<p>"Option Two</p>

<p>• The old SAT I, or the ACT w/o writing</p>

<p>AND</p>

<p>• Three SAT II exams of the applicant’s choosing"</p>

<p>so you dont have to take the sat2 writing?</p>

5

<p>Newbyreborn....I am not interested in an Ivy League education. If I don't get into Dartmouth then I am not even going to bother with any of the other ivies because frankly,...I don't have the money to be going to one in the first place.</p>

<p>I just love everything that Dartmouth is about. I have been browsing websites and message boards like these, like I said, since I was in 9th grade. I love the environment of Dartmouth. The rural setting is something I love. In general, the people that go there seem to be down to earth and very nice (compared to some of the rich, stuck up people that seem to be the stereotype of other ivies) I was looking for a college where I could find this rural setting but also meet a lot of intelligent people that I could actually hold a conversation with. That is what I dislike so much about high school and the idea of going to some community college around here. You find mostly people that kinda get pushed into college because they really have nothing else they want to do with their lives and they aren't really going to be serious about anything. I would love a setting where people are actually excited about learning and where I could learn from someone just by having a simple conversation with them.</p>

<p>I am not interested in Dartmouth because of the 'name'</p>

<p>sybbie719</p>

<p>Thank you so much for the speedy and lengthy reply. I appreciate it a lot. </p>

<p>Today, I just got an ACT packet...I was planning on signing up for the April test if I can get the money for it. I don't start my job until this Saturday and I don't get paid for two weeks.</p>

<p>Things are stressful at the moment. Between worrying about a job, post secondary, grades, musical, ACT, and senior class schedules, I don't know what to do with myself. The fact that all this decision making was thrown at me at the same time doesn't help.</p>

<p>Lord knows, if someone told me exactly what I had to do to get into Dartmouth I would do it. I have loaded my schedule (With my current schedule I will graduate with 30 credits when our school only requires 20...In fact, after my junior year I will have 22 credits...meaning I could have graduated early)</p>

<p>I try to involve myself is as much as I can. I recently got a job and I am planning on doing about 30 hours a week along with school.</p>

<p>Every Wednesday I volunteer with Ohio Reads where I go in and help 4th graders with Reading.</p>

<p>I have found a love for the arts and was possibly thinking about going to Dartmouth for film and cinematography. I am in Art classes at school....which I can't say that I am extraordinary good in but I enjoy them. I have also been in band since 5th grade and I play the flute and piccolo... I am not to great at that either. I am the head sound chief for plays and musicals...which doesn't require to much besides knowing how to work a sound board.</p>

<p>I guess that is what I have a problem with. I am in a lot of things (other things to) but not to good at any of them...even though I try hard. Last year I got one of my drawings in a locate museum for this special 'student art' thing they were having. I am hoping to get something into the Canton art show this year and at least get an honorable mention. From all the stuff I have done so far...it isn't looking to good.</p>

<p>This post was sooo much longer than I had anticipated. Sorry....lol. I guess I just want to make sure I do things right.</p>

<p>When I thought of Ivy Leagues I always though of rich people. So my finaial situation doesn't seem to help me. My family of three lives off of my dad's income and my Mom is digging us a hole with her little problems so I recently got a job just so I could pay for my expenses like gas, car insurance, cloths, and all this ACT junk.</p>

<p>Sure I guess my stats are ok but my financial situation makes me think that I don't have much of a chance because unless I have these amazing stats why is Dartmouth going to want to accept me and then have to pay so much financial aid for me.....?</p>

<p>I am just a big ball of confusion.</p>

6

<p>Dartmouth is need-blind! They review your app and decide whether or not you're qualified...and THEN they give you financial aid.</p>

<p>I'd definitely take the college courses. My school only offered Honors classes junior year and AP classes senior year...which sucks, because other schools have freshmen taking APs. Colleges want to see that you want to challenge yourself intellectually, with difficult courses. Going the extra mile by taking college courses makes you seem genuine about your love of learning. Anyone on these boards could take all regular classes and get 100's on everything - what colleges want to see is that you consistently take the hardest courses available to you. I did this - but not for colleges, because I couldn't IMAGINE myself sitting bored to death in some regular class, going stir-crazy. Even though I skipped a grade, i took all advanced, all honors and all APs as soon as they were available to me...the MRA (Most Rigorous Available) is just a nice perk lol</p>

7

<p>Take a deep breath, noW breathe out...</p>

<p>Relax a little and catch up With yourself, you can't get anything done until you untangle that ball of confusion and lay out a plan of action.</p>

<p>First of all Dartmouth Has need blind admissions so your financial status Will not be a factor in your admissions decision. Second of all, the school Will meet 100% of your demonstrated need (Wrote about this scenario at length in the financial aid pages). If you can get in, the money Will come and it Will end up being affordable to you.</p>

<p>The fact that you are Working to finance your college admissions process Will say alot about you and your commitment to your education. </p>

<p>Since you have an interest in film and art, I Would hone in on those Ec's and build them up as best you could given the time constraints you have to Work With (please forgive my capital W's as the key is broken on this computer)</p>

<p>Keep doing the Ohio reads, (Dartmouth participates in America Reads and there are quite a feW Work study jobs With Hanover school district for afterschool and the sort.).</p>

<p>lastly, While it is great that you love Dartmouth like so many other's on this board, don't place all of your eggs in the dartmouth basket. look for a good cross section of reach , match and safety schools (including a financial safety, that if accepted you Would attend and it Would be affordable to your family).
Depending upon your stats, and transcript (Which is still the number one factor) also keep a feW schools on hand Where you Would be at the top of the applicant pool and that you have a good chance at some merit money.</p>

8

<p>lol hey sybbie, my mom thinks you're an adcom plant! haha</p>

9

<p>I have Worked a lot of years sending students to colleges (mainly adults) and have coordinated a lot of Work place learning programs. In my other life (off of CC) I have also Worked With quite a feW colleges (reach, match and safety schools) and have done a little brain picking. My daughter tells me I should leave corporate life get licensed and go be a school counselor. he also sends a hello to all of her CC siblings</p>

10

<p>Thanks for all the help.</p>

<p>I just hate thinking of myself going anywhere other than Dartmouth. I know that in the end I will probably end up going somewhere else...probably because I won't get in or something along those lines.</p>

<p>I still am not really sure what it is that I am going to do as a major so it is hard to pick other colleges to go to. If I don't get into Dartmouth I will probably end up going somewhere around here. I don't have much doubt that I will get into those...oh well. I guess I do need to sort all this stuff out with post secondary and wait until musical is over to start thinking about this stuff. Plus, I should probably wait till I take the ACT to get an all around feel of what I am capable of doing on these tests and if I even have a shot in hell.</p>

11

<p>If you are taking the act, you will have to take writing, so try to schedule a wirting SAt so that you will have some idea of where you stand.</p>

<p>Start putting together a list of reach, match and safety schools. If you are interested in film, then look at schools that offer film (I would defer this to my CC friends Carolyn & Jamimom on the parents forum. She is amazing and along with some of the other parents, will be able to give you some suggestions as far as schools)</p>