Hi everyone!! I have my heart set on Dartmouth after visiting it in February, but I’m not really sure if they’ll take me into consideration because my GPA is a bit on the lower side. I’m a junior in high school right now.
GPA: 4.2/5.0 (weighted, not in top 10% at my school), but I have all As my junior year in Honors/AP classes (my GPA took a hard hit freshman and sophomore year)
ACT: 35 composite (36E 35M 34R 33S)
(didn’t take SAT)
SATII: 800 Biology E, will take Math II later this year
no AP scores yet (haven’t taken the tests)
Senior Year Courseload: AP Psych, AP Spanish 5, AP BC Calculus, Creative Writing, AP Chemistry
Common Awards: National Honors Society, Spanish Honors Society, Presidents Gold Community service award, etc.
Extracurriculars:
-Mentoring/tutoring kids with learning disabilities/from lower socioeconomic backgrounds
-Volunteered at a camp for disabled children
-Destination Imagination: non-profit STEM competition: 1-time national champion, 2-time state champion
-led a team of kids to participate in Destination Imagination- state champions
Other:
-published a research paper in the journal of a clinical research organization on adolescent suicide after my community was hit with 4 cases of suicide in a matter of months
-expanded on my research and worked on the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study at the University of Florida
I would appreciate any help you could give me, or any advice you may have
I interview for Dartmouth as an alum, and I think you’d have a solid shot with your stats. If financial aid isn’t a consideration, apply early decision because there’s a significant advantage by doing so.
I think that converts to a 3.36 on a 4.0 scale, which is obviously low for D. And it is weighted. Does this mean that your transcript is littered with Cs? I think you correctly identify this as your weakness; however, your have good rigor and an significant upward trend. That’s always positive. I would venture to guess that racking up some 5s on your AP exams this year would help. The rest of your app would appear to be strong. Hope you get good recs. Definitely get a rec from the person you worked with at U of F, in addition to the standard ones. And, I know it is against conventional wisdom to have too many, but one from your volunteer activities wouldn’t hurt either. It is important that any such additional recs be from a person who actually knows you and your work, and that they are substantive.
Keep your grades up through the first semester. Pick a couple of safety schools–both financial and academic safeties–and some good matches. I don’t know if applying early would help in your case, since another semester of straight As would help your case anywhere. If you can talk honestly to your GC before s/he writes your rec, get them on your side, and as a result have them talk about your upward trend and other positives, that would help you anywhere. Your excellent test scores will have more weight at schools that are looking to boost their stats.
Certainly, applying to matches EA would be a good idea. Don’t overlook your instate options. Make sure you cast a wide net, and have schools that your family can afford. The single most important thing is your safety.
Sure, you have a shot at D, despite your GPA. But don’t stake all of your hopes on it. make sure you have a well-rounded list
@11collegecurious, in your situation, I agree it probably makes sense to apply RD to get that first semester of grades in, assuming they continue the upward trend.
If Dartmouth is your first choice apply ED, it far outweighs the extra semester of grades, and your junior year shows the upward trend. If you don’t get in, you will most likely get deferred to the RD round anyway.
ED at Dartmouth is heavily dominated by recruited athletes and legacies and other hooked candidates. There is some question whether it really does other applicants much good. In this case, it could go either way.
The rest of your app would appear to be strong. Hope you get good recs. Definitely get a rec from the person you worked with at U of F, in addition to the standard ones. And, I know it is against conventional wisdom to have too many, but one from your volunteer activities wouldn’t hurt either. It is important that any such additional recs be from a person who actually knows you and your work, and that they are substantive.