Should I apply to Dartmouth ED, and if so, what are my chances?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hey everyone,
I’m just took a tour of Dartmouth the other day and really loved the school. I’m considering ED but am a little conflicted because of my situation. I am an athletic recruit for Tufts, Pomona, Middlebury, Colby, and Hamilton (there are a few others but these are the main ones). All of them have told me that if I apply ED to their school, it is almost garaunteed that I will get in. (ED is how most D3 schools recruit). This could be something that the coaches are just saying, but most of them seem pretty sincere; I am above all of the schools’ academic standards, and I would be a top or at least competitive athlete on all of the teams. However, so far, none of these schools has stood out to me as much as Dartmouth has. I used to be a recruit at Dartmouth, but the coach has ceased contact with me so I assume that that is no longer the case. My question is, in your, the readers’, opinion, is It worth forfeiting my almost guaranteed admission for a chance at my dream school. Also, what would be my chance of being accepted at Dartmouth?

ACT: 35
SAT II: Biology E 740, Chemistry 710, Math II 730 (plan to retake Math II to get 750+, I was sick during the test)
GPA: 4.16 W
Rank: school doesn’t rank but prob in top 10%ish
AP: Chem 4, APUSH 5, English 4
Senior courses: Gov, Comp Sci, Econ, BC Calc, English, Physics (all AP)
Major awards: -

Extracurriculars:

Swimming is my main one, takes between 17-40 hours per week depending on whether or not I have a meet. I am a state champion, sectional qualifier and finalist, and winner of various other awards. This is the sport which I am being recruited for at a few schools.

Stock market club (possibly president this upcoming year)
FBLA
NHS
National Spanish Honor Society
I also spend a lot of time researching and investing my own money in a variety of securities.

Work: Lifeguard year round
During winter 5 hours per week
During summer It varies but usually between 15-20 hours per week
I also have all of the required American Red Cross Certifications (AED/CPR, First Aid)

Volunteer: I volunteer my lifeguarding services to CT swimming whenever necessary (usually just a few weekends each year)

I’m not going to comment on essays or recs because they are subjective and unfinished

Also, I plan on majoring in Economics.

Finally, the last thing I want to note is that if I did apply to Dartmouth ED and got denied, what do you think my chances would be for the other schools listed above? (please note that the coaches lose most of their influence in RD) The tufts coach told me that he thought I had a very good shot but I’m not sure if that would be the case for all of the other schools.

Thanks in advance for any and all input, and if you have any valuable opinions please respond; I could really use the insight.

2

Given what you have, you have a solid chance ED with good essays, and if you are at least in the top 10% of your class.

3

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1803097-ivy-league-other-top-30-universities.html#latest

Chance me back?

4

Are you my twin??? I am a swimmer as well, looking at the same colleges, with close scores to you. I am planning to apply ED at Dartmouth, but my swim times are not yet recruitable :-/ We are even taking the same AP classes senior year except for one…Creepy. And I am also planning to major in economics :open_mouth:

5

@MileSwimmerDude I don’t think that I have a twin, but that definitely is creepy. Who knows, maybe we’ll see each other at Dartmouth lol.

6

What is the ED rate for Dartmouth? 25%? So let’s say you have a 50-75% shot at Dartmouth ED. And you’d go for that over a 95%+ shot at Pomona or Tufts? If you got denied Dartmouth ED, you might get into 2-3 of the others RD (maybe shutout from Pomona/Tufts), but the point is, you’ve lost control. If you enjoy that feeling, then apply Dartmouth ED.

7

I’m concerned about your weighted GPA being fairly low. What is your unweighted GPA? Did you take the most rigorous courses your school offers? I would reach out to the coach at Dartmouth and let him know it is your top choice and ask him if he’s willing to support you. You have nothing to lose by asking. Otherwise, without swimming your grades may be a bit low for Dartmouth. Good luck with whatever you decide. Dartmouth is a fantastic school but your other choices are great too!

8

I would totally go for it for Dartmouth. If you got that feeling, then I think you should stick with it and apply. Your weighted GPA is pretty low - what’s your unweighted? Also, your ECs are good, but you need more leadership positions, but because you don’t have many so far, focus on your passion for swimming in your application. Also, are you taking the most rigorous courses available to you? If you are, I’d say you have a fairly good chance.

9

I am taking the most rigorous courses available to me, and have done so every year. My unweighted GPA (self-calculated) is around 3.85. I am aware that’s on the lower side, which is one of the reasons I’m so concerned on making the right decision. The reason that my GPA is low is because of business related exteacurriculars that I have taken. They usually do not give the weighted GPA of an honors or AP course, and therefore lower my GPA. I’d say that overall I have a A/A- avg. (im lookin to go into the finance industry so I have taken courses which reflect that)

10

I think you have a great chance for ED at Dartmouth, just reach out to the coach. If you have recruitable times for D3 than you probably have recruitable times for Dartmouth.

11

I think your academic credentials should be ok.

Using Tier 1 Athletics’ Academic Index (AI) calculator and plugging in a 3.85 UW GPA, 35 composite ACT, and SAT II subject test scores of 740 and 730 yields an AI of 229.5 out of a possible 240. That’s probably well above the average AI for accepted students at Dartmouth who are NOT athletic recruits. For athletic recruits, an AI over 210-215 is outstanding.

If I were you I would write to the coach mentioning that you had previously been in touch, and citing your competitive swimming times plus an AI of 229.5. If you are at all competitive, I would think that any coach would jump at that combination.

12

I think you have a great shot at dartmouth, but I dont think that would change in the regular round either because as dartmouth states applying ED doesnt give the applicant a competitive advantage. If you are going ED there you should just make sure you are certain that is where u want to be.

13

If you want to go into finance I suspect you plan on getting an MBA. Middlebury is one of the top feeder schools to Dartmouth’s Amos Tuck Business School. This way you could easily do both - a liberal arts education at one of the top small schools in the country and an MBA from your favorite school. BTW, where are you from?

14

Consider touching base with the Dartmouth coach and tell him you loved the school and that Dartmouth is your first choice. See what he says.

Two questions:

  1. Do you really want to swim in college?
  2. Can you afford Dartmouth?

If you don’t really care about swimming in college, you can afford Dartmouth (affordable numbers from the NPC), and Dartmouth is your true first choice then apply ED to Dartmouth. You may be giving up am place at Tufts etc. if you do this. ED is a bit of a gamble.

15

@urbanslaughter I’m definitely considering that as an option because I loved middlebury probably just as much, that way I could take advantage of what both institutions have to offer. I am from CT

@txstella I definitely want to swim in college. It’s a great thing to do in shape and is also an immediate group of people to hang out with. Plus, it’s what I’ve been doing for almost all my life so it would be weird to stop while I’m still in school. My only concern is that at Dartmouth I wouldn’t be very competitive. While at most of the nescacs I would be one of the faster guys, at Dartmouth I would usually be 2nd or 3rd to last in my best events. While I could probably walk on, I’m not sure if I want to swim in a team where I likely won’t be going to championship meets. That could be a plus of a place like middlebury. In terms of cost, my family, although they frequently complain about it, can afford to send me anywhere. My parents’ real concern is the quality of my collegiate experience.

General note: when I formed this thread last night I hadn’t yet visited Middlebury (my last college to visit). After visiting today I can say that I loved it just as much, maybe more than Dartmouth. However, there are great things about both of the schools, as well as a lot of similarities. I just have to consider which one is better for me.

16

Which of those schools haven’t you visited?

17

@Dunboyne The only one that I haven’t visited is Pomona

18

Did the Pomona coach see you compete and talk to you in person?

19

He’s only talked to me over the phone so far

20

I’d say you’re a great ED candidate. If however it doesn’t go your way, the other schools all seem like viable options RD. Go for it! Good luck!

Chance back?
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