polkadot252

49.8% of the 2,190 accepted applications to Dartmouth were ranked either #1 or #2. (Dartmouth News - From its largest pool of applicants for undergraduate admissions to date, Dartmouth invites 2,190 to join the Class of 2012- 03/31/08) When you factor this along with top hs admits (who probably would've been at the top of their class at any other school), legacies, recruited athletes, and those with a hook (who all tend to bring the averages down), it seems as though there's no room for those who are just good students.
Even though I'm definitely not number 1 or 2 (they have a 98+ in every subject), I am at the top of my class--probably the top 3-4% (my school is only competitive at the top; if I decided to take easy classes, school would be a breeze). Should I aim lower in my college choices?

ccd

not val or salut here. top 10%. Got in with a likely. Probably what got me in was high SAT 2350, ACT 35 and tons of leadership. Everyone is different. Everyone has a shot. No one knows why or who will be admitted. Shoot for the stars and keep taking tough classes! Good luck!

APLinke

My school doesn't rank, but I believe I am in the top 2-3% but am definitely not val/salut. I don't have a particular hook but am really solid across the board and am very well-rounded. You have nothing to lose in applying, but definitely take hard classes and apply to other, more reasonable schools.

minkspwn

I am also not in the top 2... I am in the top 10% with ok test scores. I also got a likely.

Kristina

My school doesn't rank, but I was in the top 10%. I do however have a 4.0 UW. I got a LL.

xcrunner18

I'm not Val, Salu. I'm in the top 5% however. Also, mediocre SAT 2180, ACT 34. And, competitive IL high school, not URM. Miracles do happen.

My slight hook was that I'm an immigrant from Sri Lanka who came to the U.S. in 1999.

Wwoody123

I'm ranked 31/491 (semi-competitive public hs in Texas) and was admitted Regular Decision. I think the biggest factors in my favor were my standardized test scores (2280SAT and 34ACT), ECs (Eagle Scout, Debate Team President, and All-State Choir), and the fact that I had a GREAT interview. One of the guys there was also an Eagle Scout so we chatted for a while about the outdoorsy nature of Dartmouth and other stuff like that. Also, I had done my research on the school and asked some insightful questions about things that I wanted an alum perspective on (e.g. the D plan).

Strawboy

What debate team are you from/ school?

LukasLunacy

Wwoody123 I'm an Eagle Scout too haha, I'm also top 4% and i don't have even close to a 4.0, but i carried my weight in ECs and with my essays and reccs

bulldogbull

I'm also an Eagle Scout!

Wwoody123

Strawboy, I got to Grapevine High School in Texas.

Alright cool

Dartmouth is more outdoorsy than the other ivies, so I can see how they can appreciate Eagles Just got my silver palm before turning 18 but I still go to meetings when I can.

Strawboy

Sounds cool. Thought it was Greenhill or Plano.

Wwoody123

Nah, although I know many debaters from both teams there. Where are you from if I may ask?

Gazette

Top 2% here. I actually rank third over all. I made a few notable achievements, and my mother is a graduate from Dartmouth as well. I highly suggest improvement on the SATs since those were definitely my golden tickets in.

Taggart

Top 10 percent (meaning, at my school 95 gpa or higher). Yeah, I think my SAT (2360) got me in, as well as, maybe my Model UN awards. I can't really think of anything else that spectacular about me.