What do you guys think?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Dartmouth College
1

<p>Hey guys,
So I visited Dartmouth in April and LOVED everything about it. I'm definitely applying ED. I was just wondering what you guys thought about my application (what I need to improve and what will help my chances). Thanks in advance!</p>

<p>State: CT
School Type: fairly competitive public
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Male
Hooks: legacies (grandparents) at Columbia and UPenn</p>

<p>SAT I - 2050 (700M, 680W, 670CR) I'm retaking in the fall, along with the ACT for the first time.
SAT IIs - 760 Math II, 710 Physics, 680 Chem
APs - I took Spanish Language and Lit last month...probably 4s or 5s in both.
GPA - ~3.82 (3.92 freshman year, 3.67 soph year, 3.9 jr year)
Class Rank: top 20/400+ I'd say? something around there
Senior course load - AP physics, honors human anatomy, AP Calc BC, AP stats, AP psych, honors world literature, honors modern poetry.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
- top 16 award swimmer for 5 consecutive years, placed 2nd at state championships (26ish hrs a week) --> I'm going for recruitment at NESCAC schools and attempting it at some ivys
- piano: winner of a state piano competition, honorable mention in 2 other separate piano competitions, 3rd place in another state competition, winner of a contemporary piece competition, soloist at school, benefit concerts (6-7 hrs a week)
- violin: member of an audition-only regional orchestra for 3 years, member for an audition-only state orchestra for 2 years, participated in the CT high school music theater award-winning pit orchestra from Les Miserables, principal 1st violin in school orchestra <a href="6-7%20hrs%20a%20week">2nd seat</a>
- Founder and president of Odyssey of the Mind [an international creative thinking club, we do mostly engineering projects. Our team won 4th place at the state competition this year]
- Co-president of Freethinkers club [philosophy, culture, politics, basically a discussion club for any and everything]
- Co-president/reviver of Future Business Leaders of America
- Composer
- Photoshop artist, graphic designer
- I plan on sending recordings of my original compositions as well as of my senior recital (for piano and violin)
- Winner of Excellence in Music award and Society of Women Engineers award for excellence in natural sciences and mathematics at school (I'm not sure these matter, but they might)
- 250+ hours community service at a nursing home, I plan on finding a place to volunteer this summer that has to do with engineering or business
- Getting a job this summer</p>

<p>Recommendations should be excellent from both teachers and swim coach (whom I plan on getting an additional rec from). Peer evaluation should be really good as well. Not too sure about my counselor, but it should be at least decent.</p>

2

<p>Here is my unvarnished opinion. Let me say that I think you sound like a great kid, and I’m sure that you will get into good schools and have a wonderful college experience, whether or not you are accepted at D.</p>

<p>Your best chance of getting in is as a recruited athlete. (That’s the best chance for almost anyone if it is a possibility.) Definitely contact the D swimming coach. You should be able to compare your times to those of D competitors this past year if you do a little searching on the D website. (Remember that it will depend on who is graduating, what events need covering, etc.)</p>

<p>Your ECs look pretty good to me. I think the fact that you compose music in addition to playing two instruments at a high level in multiple venues stands out from the typical HS musical activities. That said, there isn’t anything that screams out “we MUST have this kid!” (I love your freethinkers’ club, BTW, and a good essay on that topic would not go amiss. If I were an adcom that would attract me. But I am not, alas. :slight_smile: )</p>

<p>Are you interested in the five year engineering degree at D? I think that wanting that in the context of a vibrant liberal arts education, including vigorous pursuit of music, is a good indicator of fit.</p>

<p>Your class rank is probably okay IF everything else aligns, although being higher would always help. You major weakness appears to be your standardized test scores. Although people love to say that they don’t matter that much, just look at the admissions results posted on the D website. And realize that most–if not all–of the people at the lower end of the scale are probably hooked. Unless you manage to become a recruited athlete, you are definitely unhooked (CT, ORM, fairly typical ECs for your demographic…). Check out the CR level at which D “invites” students to take extra writing classes freshman year: IIRC you are almost there. Your SATIIs are somewhat weak also. I don’t think that a 710 and 680 are the kind of scores I would expect to see from a person who is the “outstanding student” in natural sciences at their HS in a state like CT. I would strongly consider prepping more effectively for the SATs–and possibly an additional SATII for which you can score 750±-rather than taking a flyer at the ACT at this stage UNLESS pretests indicate that you will get a 33+ on the ACT. I’m not saying spend your whole summer prepping for a test, definitely doing something more worthwhile as you have planned is the way to go simply for the sake of living a rewarding life, but I would think that a couple hours every few days would help. Check out “the Xiggi method” elsewhere on CC. </p>

<p>Lastly, I would consider getting a recommendation from someone in your musical life, preferably someone who can comment on your seriousness/talent as a composer. You need to give D a reason to take YOU.</p>

3

<p>Let me just note that your feedback is nothing short of outstanding. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment on my r</p>

4

<p>It will definitely help you if your school doesn’t officially rank. From the school’s profile, the adcom will be able to see that you are among the top 5-10% or so, which is the basic expectation, and they will be able to concentrate on the rest of your application.</p>

5

<p>You’re SAT score is too low for the Ivies, especially since you don’t have any hooks.</p>

6

<p>As others have pointed out already, your SAT scores are your glaring weakness in the eyes of the admissions officers. And being Asian from CT while playing both piano and violin is not something that will help your candidacy much. I’m not going to discourage you from Dartmouth, but I would also recommend that you look at D3 schools of the same caliber as Dartmouth–i.e. Amherst, Williams, Swarthmore–where your swimming would be very much welcome.</p>

<p>Best of luck to you in your college search!</p>

7

<p>BTW, I think that you should proceed under the assumption that you will not get in to D ED in order to give yourself maximum flexibility and advantage in the RD round should that occur. I think that you ought to look at the University of Rochester as a safety/low match: it’s a very good school, it is very strong in both the sciences and the humanities, it is allied to the Eastman School of Music and has outstanding musical opportunities as a result. (They also give merit aid, if that is an issue for you.) Rochester is big on contact, especially for their larger financial awards. During the fall, their admissions officers travel and do local interviews. I strongly suggest that you check their website and schedule a local interview. (This phase will most likely be over by the time you hear from D, so it is important not to wait.)</p>

8

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<p>Consolation consistently gives good, accurate advice, but this is one of those few times where s/he (?) is off the mark. Your 670 is definitely low for Dartmouth, but you’re not going to be asked/invited to take Writing 2/3 (the invite-only classes to which Consolation is alluding).</p>

<p>I agree with the others who said that your scores are low. Sucks because you seem like a decent guy, and when it’s all said and done, I’d rather go to school with someone who’s a decent guy. Try to get your scores up, but if you can’t, put your heart and soul into getting recruited.</p>

<p>Good luck man</p>

9

<p>Thanks for all the feedback guys. It really is appreciated.</p>

<p>@DartmouthForever (and anyone else who says my SAT score is “too low”)
Sure, it’s not an amazing score, but it does fall within the 25%-75% SAT scores of the class of 2010. I am retaking it in the fall, don’t forget that; and I did get a 2050 with absolutely no preparation whatsoever. I’m spending this summer studying for the SAT, ACT, and practicing for my senior recital. Hopefully I can get a 2250+.</p>

10

<p>Most Asian students at Dartmouth with your profile have scores in the top 25% of the class (or at least the top 50%). </p>

<p>But study hard, pull up the SAT, and you’ve got a real shot.</p>

11

<p>That’s true, but I try not to think of myself as stereotypically Asian, but rather my own kind. I’m writing my essay about something similar to that - addressing stereotypes and being unique.</p>

<p>That being said, I do agree that my SAT score needs to go up. Do you think I should retake my SAT physics?</p>

<p>Also, my school accidentally posted class ranks on our report card website for a one or two days. I managed to get a glimpse of it. There are 449 people in my grade. I was 32nd freshman year, 18th sophomore year, and 4th junior year. My overall rank across the three years is 17th. That’s top 4% so I think that’ll show up pretty nicely on the graph my school sends.</p>

12

<p>You sound like a really interesting kid! Your best bet is to get in as a recruited athlete as your ORM and NE status put you at a disadvantage without really high test scores. It’s not fair but it is a fact. </p>

<p>I agree with Dartmouthforever…work at pulling your test scores up closer to 2300. It will help open up some doors for you where ever you decide to apply.</p>

<p>Best of luck! :)</p>

13

<p>Re: Chances:</p>

<p>I agree with what others have said. As an Asian applicant from a competitive public school in Connecticut, you’re basically expected to have prepped extensively for your standardized tests… and admissions officers will interpret your scores accordingly. The good news is that if you got a 2050 cold, you should be able to bring up your scores to where they “need” to be. I agree with others who suggest the Xiggi method (basically, do practice tests, look at your wrong answers, and try to get inside the test makers’ heads to figure out where you went wrong… lather, rinse, repeat).</p>

<p>Best of luck!</p>

<p>Re: Writing 2-3 cutoff:</p>

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14

<p>Sorry: I was apparently unduly pessimistic about your CR score.I thought I recalled that the Writing 2-3 screening score was around 650/660. (Is it possible that it was a few years ago? I know that the exempt-from-Writing 5 score changes.)</p>

<p>Good news on your class rank!</p>

<p>I think that those of us on this thread perceive your individuality and think that you would be a great guy to have on campus. Your job is to convey that to the admissions people. Better scores will help you, no doubt, but a 2300+ won’t get you in unless, as I said before, you give them a reason to choose YOU.</p>