cavalierpup3

Hi there! Dartmouth one of my top 2 schools so I was hoping you guys could let me know if it was a lost cause or not. Thanks!!

I plan on continuing to participate in all my EC's next year.

Also my SAT II scores are only decent, and I haven't taken the regular SAT. Is it worth taking, or should I not send SAT scores and only do ACT?

GPA: 5.2 (5 pt scale)
ACT: 33
SAT IIs: 730 on Bio-M and US History (Not very good :/ )
School doesn’t rank, at least top 6% of 450
Public school
White- Multiracial

Academics (including plan for Senior year):
AP Tests: 4 Word Hist, 5 Bio, 5 US Hist

Math: 4 years (2 honors, Calc BC AP)
Science: 4 years (1 honors, Enviro and Bio AP)
English: 4.5 years (3.5 honors, Lit Crit AP)
History: 4 years (1 honors, WHAP, USAP, Psyc AP)
Art: 4 years (Studio Art AP- self study)
Total of 9 APs, I'm taking 6 senior year
Honor Roll all 4 yrs
Nat. Honors Society, Cum Laude, Quill and Scroll

Significant Extracurriculars:
Global Connections (10,11)
Peer Ministry (11)
Yearbook (10,11)
Young Idea (10,11)
Women’s Club (11)
Pen Pal Club w/ former child slaves (9,10,11)
Golf Team: JV (9,10) Varsity (11)
Currently have almost 600 service hours and was invited on a rescue mission for child slaves in Ghana because of my efforts through Global Connections (not a “service trip,” civilians normally aren’t allowed to go on these).

Work:
Country Club Golf Shop (10,11) on weekends during the fall and spring, about 28 hrs/wk over summer
Professional Photography (10,11) on-call basis

Leadership Positions:
Global Connections: Founder and president (10,11)
Peer Minister: (11)
Young Idea Art Editor (11)
Golf Captain (11)
CoFounder of pen pal program (participants in 14 countries) (9)
Editor for local Veteran Newsletter (11)
NHS Exec Board: Membership Secretary (11)

Awards:

Participant in Northwestern Midwest Academic Talent Search 2007 (9)
2nd place in a Veteran's day essay contest (11)

Art awards include participation in shows at local galleries, received an honorable mention from the Art Institute of Chicago and was one of 50 students selected to be in a regional competition. Photography featured on a charity's website and literature.

Gold Presidential Service Award (250+ hours/year): (10,11)
Service Leadership Award: (10)
Presidential Spirit of Community Local Honoree & Distinguished Finalist (State Level) (11)
Nestlé Very Best in Youth Competition Finalist (11)
Build a Bear Honorable Mention Huggable Hero (11)
Vicariate I Leadership Award for Peer Ministry (11)

Summer activities: art classes, lots of work, and volunteering.
CSLC Leadership University at Stanford (11) (Not that this helps much)
Invited to local athletic leadership conference this fall

Thanks again, I appreciate it!

1ofeach

Dartmouth requires SAT IIs even with ACT. Maybe you could take one more if the History score was bad? Good Luck!

cavalierpup3

Oh that's right, sorry I'm starting to get the requirements mixed up! I got 730 on both Bio and History, which isn't a bad score but it probably won't help either... hm. Thanks for the input!

Consolation

My inclination would be to say that with a 33 ACT--which is solid, albeit not fabulous--you shouldn't take the SAT at this point, because you won't have time to retake it if you don't do particularly well.

The other thing you could do is send your scores to your schools NOW, and then take either the SAT1 or another SATII in October. Wait until you see the results before sending. (Yes, you would have to give up the free reports, but that's really not a lot of $$.) If the results are an improvement, send them. If not, just don't.

According to your list of classes, you have no foreign language at all?

cavalierpup3

Thanks Consolation, I agree a 33 isn't great but it won't be the reason I'm rejected. Also thanks for the SAT advice! I was thinking of taking some SAT IIs, and paying to send reports isn't an issue.

Oh I forgot to mention foreign language- my mistake! I've been taking Spanish since 4th grade and will be taking Spanish 5 AP next year

hmom5

They don't need a reason to reject you, they need a reason to accept you. They will be taking under 13% of a pool where probably 70% are qualified. Every stat needs to be as good as you can get it.

cavalierpup3

That's also a good point, thanks hmom!

natew6338

so have the SAT IIs always been required with the ACT or just starting this year?

spunaugle

They were required last year as well. And from talk I've heard it predates just a few years.

buffalowizard

Go ahead and take the SAT if you want; Dartmouth is allowing score choice, so you could just choose to simply not send the SAT score if it's bad.

Your EC's and possibly race could be a nice hook for getting in. Good chances; very good chances if you improve scores and rank. Best of luck!

cavalierpup3

Thanks buffalowizard!

rmadden15

Ugh, jealous over here. I am also applying next fall. :P Anyway, I think your chances are solid, but you need to really standout to actually get in Dartmouth. Some parts seems pretty good, but a little boost would help you out. What, you may ask? I have no idea, but just make sure your essays, recs, ect are perfect, lest you are just another let down Ivy-hopeful. Good Luck!

cavalierpup3

Thank you rmadden, good luck to you too!!!

rmadden15

Chance back?

Chance for an ED-er?