What are my odds of NOT getting in early?

Colleges & Universities A-Z Dartmouth College
1

<p>Hey there,</p>

<p>I'm one of those people (although I assume that there aren't all that many out there) who is so phenomenally lazy that he'll ditch the university he'd really like to go to (Princeton) in order to go to a university he'd quite like to go to (Dartmouth), just so that he can take half a year off after getting in early.</p>

<p>Of course, that whole train of thought revolves around me getting into Dartmouth early. I'm not sure how easy/difficult it is, so I was wondering of you folks could throw me some tips.</p>

<p>Here's what I've got and who I am:</p>

<p>I'm Canadian, I attend a private school of middling significance on the West Coast. I'm looking to major in philosophy (thus Dartmouth) and minor in PoliSci.</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0 UW overall, 5.0 W this year (GPA calculations are more lenient in Canada, but I'm taking all APs this year)</p>

<p>Rank: 5-7/160 (having slacked off until grade 11)</p>

<p>SATs: 2340 on my SAT I (800 verbal, 790 writing, 750 math); haven't taken my II's yet, but I'm pretty well certain that I'll have 800's in literature and math IIC. I only took the SAT I once, but I'm considering taking it again. What do you think?</p>

<p>APs:
Sophomore - Computer Sciences (5)
Junior - Art History (5), English Composition (5, self-studied), American/Comparative Government and Politics (4 on both, again self-studied)
Senior - taking Computer Sciences AB, Calculus BC, Chemistry, Biology, US History, English Literature, Psychology as courses</p>

<p>Extra-Curricular Stuff:
Debating (okay but not great: not even the best in my province)
Model United Nations (I’m pretty good, and we’ve started our own well-attended MUN)
Reach for the Top (like Quizbowl but it goes on TV: our team’s the national champion, and I’m the captain)
Yearbook (chief copy editor; we’ve won a bundle of awards whose names don’t fit into the Common App)
Rowing (not very good)
Triathlon (even worse)
Cross-country (horrifically bad)
Cello (I’m alright: I’ve won a national scholarship that sounds better than it is)
Etc. </p>

<p>I’ve done oodles of community service at my church and around town but almost no work experience: I volunteered for the Canadian Conservative party and the provincial Liberal party. My teachers love me, I’ve known my counsellor for ages and he likes me too. My essays are about fountain pen collecting and the Wikipedia (is that too weird, or eclectic and unique?)</p>

<p>I don’t really have a hook: I only started thinking about university really seriously in the last few weeks of grade 11. My great-uncle was once the finance minister of China (but a phenomenally bad one, and we’re estranged because he was so corrupt) and my uncle’s family owns random stuff over in Asia like Cathay Pacific Airlines (which I’m not sure if anyone’s heard of).</p>

<p>Anyhow, thanks for the help in advance. It might not sound like I’m that keen on Dartmouth, but I actually am. I’m going out to visit in a few weeks, and hopefully I can get in and get in early. I hear philosophy is good there – hopefully I’ll know for myself soon enough!</p>

2

<p>Why wouldn't you just apply ED to Princeton? I think it's still in place for the class of '07.</p>

3

<p>Well, I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't get into Princeton early. My odds of getting into the school after being deferred would be alright, but at the price of three months of leisure.</p>

4

<p>Haha, title is so glass half empty. I'd give you a 49.876% chance of NOT getting in early, making it a 50.134% chance of getting in, and I give you a 68.533% chance of being defered to RD out of that 49.876% chance of NOT getting in. :)</p>

5

<p>don't take the sat over.</p>

6

<p>i think you'd probably get into princeton early, so go for your dream! you have just as good of a shot as you do dartmouth.</p>

7

<p>LOL yeah retake the SATs! Everyone knows if you have a 2340 you might as well drop out of high school...</p>

<p>Yeah, you're right- I'm pretty sure you'd get into Dartmouth early. Princeton is riskier.</p>

8

<p>Don't retake! A 2340 is as good as a 2400 practically. As for Pton, you have an excellent shot and even a better shot at Dartmouth.</p>

9

<p>Nice stats, you'll probably get in. I wish mine were as impressive :(
I heard that only the most qualified apply early so those who are borderline usually get outright rejected. Might be a rumor. Might not. Who knows what goes on in the mind of an admissions officer?</p>

10

<p>I think you have a great shot at Dartmouth, but that also they're good enough for a real chance at Princeton... I'd advise heading for your dream shot, too, since I think that you'll even get into Dartmouth at your regular decision. Take a chance! Best of luck.</p>

11

<p>"I'd give you a 49.876% chance of NOT getting in early, making it a 50.134% chance of getting in, and I give you a 68.533% chance of being defered to RD out of that 49.876% chance of NOT getting in."</p>

<p>Golly gee whiz, you can work that out to three decimal places? So the advice MUST be good!</p>

12

<p>I'm just another '07, so I don't claim to know oodles about the admissions process, but if I were you I'd apply ED to Princeton and pray for the best (if prayer is your thing, of course.) Otherwise, I think you might regret it later on. Your quantitative stats alone are more than enough to get you in the door at Princeton, and if you play your cards right I'm sure you'd stand a great chance at getting accepted. Don't give up your dream for practicality! BUT, if after you visit Dartmouth you find it to be your dream school, apply ED. Don't make any decisions until you've visited, though!</p>

<p>But best of luck to you regardless. Me, I could only dream of that SAT score (Granted I took the ACT, but still...)</p>

13

<p>dartmouth i think pllaces more value in EC's and personal qualities than u would think</p>

<p>lookin at ur EC's i would say you are about average only...not too great but not too shabby.
You have great SAT scores, way higher than my own, and good ranking, APs etc.
U are risking being placed in the international student pool and also in the "average" applicant pool if you try ED at dartmouth. Do you really have anything that makes u STAND OUT?</p>

<p>colleges arent gonna let u in just cuz u have near perfect SATs and tonz of APs because the other 600 kids applying early are also gonna have something like that.
Question really is, do you have that SPECIAL THING that colleges want/need in their applicant pool?</p>

<p>I think that you should just go with ur first choice, princeton, where u think you will really be happy.</p>

14

<p>I normally do not weigh in on chances, however, I would like to know the numbers behind the 4.0 GPA since there is a 20 point range in what would be the equivalent to a 4.0 in the U.S. </p>

<p>As we both know, if you live in alberta, quebec, newfoundland, brunswick, nova scotia or price ed island the range for an "A" is anywhere from 80 to 100 (75 -100 if you are from ontario). </p>

<p>IF you are closer to the 100 then yes you stand a better chance than if your actual grades were closer to the 75/80. </p>

<p>Your great-uncle once being finance minister and your uncle having great wealth does nothing for your cause unless the wealth has trickled down to you to the point that you are a developmental admit, otherwise, it just means that you probably won't be requesting aid (a moot point since Dartmouth is need blind to canadians).</p>

<p>Unless you elaborate a little more your ECs are all over the place and theoretically you only have 3 that may look like you have been doing them over a sustained period of time (took out the ones you were not good at): Model United Nations , Reach for the Top & Yearbook so there is nothing about your ECs that will make you stand out from thousands of other applications.</p>

<p>For my 5 years looking at the Dartmouth ED & RD process on CC, I can say this: you've got good scores, and many other people will bring good scores to the table for ED. While your chances may be better ED than they are RD all I can say is if you want Dartmouth or even Princeton, all you can do is throw you hat in the ring and let the process play it self out. Good luck</p>

15

<p>You'll probably get in but don't get cocky, make sure your application is strong.</p>