Should I even bother applying?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Dartmouth College
1

<p>Hello everyone, I'm a rising senior, and I would really like to go to Dartmouth. I realize that the acceptance rate is very low and am wondering if I even have a prayer.</p>

<p>White Male from Illinois, Public HS
Rank: 18/644 (top 3%)
GPA: 3.75 UW
ACT: 33 (35 E, 32 M, 32 S, 34 R, 10 W)
APs: Psych (5) (took four this year)
SAT Subjects: Math II (690) Lit (690) Spanish (690) US History (740)</p>

<p>Lots of 690s...</p>

<p>I had a difficult time adjusting to high school at first, but my GPA has a strong upward trend. Anyways, here are my grades…</p>

<p>Freshman Year (3.4 UW)
Honors Bio: C/B
Honors Algebra: II B/A
Honors Spanish: II B/B
Honors English: A/A
Global Studies: A/A</p>

<p>Sophomore Year (3.67 UW)
Regular Chem: A/A
Honors Geometry: B/A
Honors Spanish III: B/A
Honors English: A/A
AP Psych: A/A
Science Research: A/C (this class was an elective…)</p>

<p>Junior Year (4.0 UW)
Honors Physics: A/A
Honors Pre-Calc: A/A
AP Spanish: A/A
AP English Lang: A/A
AP US History: A/A
AP Computer Science: A/A</p>

<p>Senior Year:
AP Physics C
AP English Lit
AP Calculus AB
AP European History
Adv. Spanish Topics</p>

<p>ECs:
Urban Exploration Club (President 9-12)
Student Tutoring (11-12)
Job at Movie Theater (10-12/15 hours a week)
Model UN (President 9-12)
Environmentalist Club (Vice President 9-12)
National Honor Society (12)
SADD Club (Treasurer/9)
Camping Club (Field Captain/10-11)
Theater (9/20 hours a week) <- had to quit because it was affecting my grades.</p>

<p>I think my recommendations will be pretty good, and if anyone would care to read my Common App essay, that would be wonderful.</p>

<p>I don't know what my prospective majors are, but probably Spanish and English. Everyone on this website has such amazing transcripts and test scores, and I sort of feel like I would get rejected from Dartmouth and its peer institutions. Anyways, thanks for reading.</p>

2

<p>Hi! I saw that you chanced my thread and I might not be the best person to chance you however, two of my sister’s friends got into Dartmouth last year and I think that although it may be a bit of a reach, you still have a shot a Dartmouth due to your upward trend and the difficulty of classes you are taking, along with your extracurriculars</p>

<p>The Ivy League and all the top 10 schools (for those who have the GPA’s) are always a bit unpredictable so the advice I have for you is to just do really well on your essays and your interview (which almost every applicant has to do) and be passionate about the school, which is sometimes the most important thing.</p>

<p>Best of Luck :)</p>

3

<p>Thanks for reading and replying. I guess there is an element of randomness to the process, but I’m doubtful that that factor is on my side.</p>

4

<p>Anyone else?</p>

5

<p>Well, you’re in the top 3% of your class. Grade-wise, I think you’re fine. SAT IIs - take 2-3 on the upcoming test date. All else is fine, though the ECs aren’t anything special, kids like you have gotten in before. Don’t doubt yourself, my friend. Write good essays, and I’d say you have a strong shot, especially if you apply early decision.</p>

6

<p>Grades are there, although I’m never sure how much the actual school factors in. New Trier is one thing; other schools another. Some EC’s raise a warning flag to me. “President” of Urban Exploration Club and Model UN for all 4 years? Is anyone else actually involved? You can PM me your common app essay or a link if you like. Writing and editing is what I do.</p>

7

<p>Frankly, your grades and scores are a bit low, and your EC’s, while solid, aren’t exactly impressive. You really have nothing to lose by applying though. The only extra thing you need to apply to Dartmouth beyond the main application is a peer evaluation. Make sure you get straight A’s the first semester of senior year, and go for it.</p>

8

<p>obviously i haven’t been model un president since freshman year lol… i’m president now and i’ve been in the club for four years and YES there are other members… duh.</p>

9

<p>Giving snarky replies to people who bother to try to help you is not a good idea. Nothing is “obvious.” If you take that tone with college admissions people you will get nowhere fast.</p>

<p>The mature, constructive response is to take note that you are not conveying what you intended to convey, and fix it.</p>

10

<p>I could have been more specific. OP’s entries “Urban Exploration Club (President 9-12)” and “Model UN (President 9-12)” evidently did not convey what he meant, which I now guess was actually “Urban Exploration Club (9-12; President 12)” and “Model UN (9-12; President 12)” or something like that. But, yes, snarky does not play well. I speak as one with a definite snark problem of his own that I try to control.</p>

11

<p>Well I was kinda mad that he thought that there was no one else in the club. I would think that’s obvious that I’m not trying to run one-member clubs. Besides, on the common app you write what your position is at the time of applying, so it’s not like Vice President 11, President 12, you just write president. I am not “snarky.”</p>

12

<p>690’s are low for unhooked applicants, most of which have at least mid-700’s. But a string of 5’s from your AP tests last May can strengthen any app.</p>

<p>To maximize your chance, apply ED.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

<p>btw: doesn’t Physics C require Calc as a prereq? If so, shouldn’t you take B instead?</p>

13

<p>But no, you’re right, I should be mature and thank you for your concerns about my lack of manners.</p>

<p>And yes, my SAT II’s are garbage. Perhaps I will retake them. But probably not because Dartmouth is a reach regardless of those scores. And at my school, there is no Physics B, and concurrent enrollment in either AP Calc class (which I will have) is required for Physics C. Thanks for reading.</p>

14

<p>^^Regardless of what your HS requires, I might rethink taking Physics C concurrently with Calc AB, since AB is just ~60% of BC. And that means that you really won’t get into much true calculus until the end of the year, at which time you already have solidified your first semester physics grades. (I’m guessing that C requires knowledge of Calc way before the end of next year.)</p>

<p>Right now you have one outstanding year of grades, out of three years total. (Yes, I get it is the most rigorous.) But to solidify your upward trend, straight A’s next semester would be golden; a weak grade in Physics C would not help.</p>

15

<p>You have to be in AP Calc to take AP Physics. I don’t know how it works, but you don’t take Calc first.</p>

16

<p>SgtDonut, it depends on the high school. My school is quite competitive, but, because of the way our math curriculum is set up (frankly, I don’t care for it), very few people take AP Calc (either form) before senior year. Most people don’t take AP Calc until the same year they take AP Physics, though you can take AP Calc beforehand and still be eligible. The only limitation my school has on classes that you can take is that you sometimes can’t take multiple levels of the same subject (e.g., you can’t take regular Bio and honors Bio, though you can take either regular or honors Bio and then AP Bio).</p>

<p>Yeah, though, I think you have a decent shot, though it could be better. Try to get a little more leadership in your EC’s and make them your own, what defines you. Your goal is to stand out, not just to appear competent.</p>