I am a high school senior currently and I was wondering if anybody can give me some tips on getting into Dartmouth as a transfer student. I plan on applying as an incoming sophomore. Things like what college should I choose, extra-curriculars, essays, grades etc would be helpful.
See what notjoe and myself posted on your Harvard thread with the same question: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/harvard-university/1769400-tips-on-getting-into-harvard-as-a-transfer-student.html#latest. Dartmouth is going to be just as difficult for transfers as Harvard.
Not to discourage any potential transfer applicants, but it is valuable to understand that one of the main reasons the transfer program exists at Dartmouth is to bring in students who the school cannot normally attract with the traditional freshman application process, like military veterans or other non traditional students. Of the accepted transfer students last year, roughly half a dozen were military veterans, and several others were from varied and non traditional paths. This article gives a little insight into the goals behind the transfer student program at Dartmouth.
http://thedartmouth.com/2014/05/07/spots-for-transfer-students-decrease-with-higher-yield/
Hey! I just got in as a transfer today. I’m not a non-traditional student at all.
I was very specific about my interests and how they related to Dartmouth. Additionally, I was a little bit risky–I identify as a feminist, and I’m very forward about it. I linked them to my blog and wrote extensively about social justice. Some people who read my essays were worried that I came off as overly pushy, but I left them because they were true to who I was. I’m sure that my essays played a role in my admission.
I say that because my GPA was pretty low for Dartmouth (3.6 at Georgetown). If you look at their website, only 7% of people accepted have lower than a 3.7. I have no hooks or anything. I was actually rejected from Dartmouth last year!
But overall I think what set me apart was my list of ECs. I was involved in things that I really enjoyed and were fairly uncommon. I showed that I was a self-starter and that I was really, really involved at school! For example, as a freshman I’m on the board of 3 or so clubs, on top of working part time in finance.
My tips would be: be yourself in your essays, have an impressive list of extracurriculars, and have fun with the process. I stressed less this round, and I just got into Dartmouth and Penn with more decisions on the way.
Message me if you have any questions!!
Where did you link them the blog through? Did you just email them the link?
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Links to blogs are against CC’s TOS
Try the 2-1-1-1 program with liberal art schools. Technically not a transfer but you’ll end up with a dartmouth degree in engineering.