Chance 5'10 Junior For Dartmouth ED (and others) [MD resident, 95.8% GPA, 32 ACT (34 superscore), biology and pre-med]

Chance Me / Match Me
1

Demographics

  • US Domestic
  • Maryland
  • Private School

Intended Major(s) Biology/Bio-Medical Sciences (something premed related)

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Unweighted HS GPA: 95.8% (Combined average of an average of all grades each year)
  • Weighted HS GPA: 98% (+5% for honors and APs)
  • Class Rank: N/A - No class rank
  • ACT Score: Super score - 34 (35 E, 33 M, 34 R, 35 S), Highest in one sitting 32 (all my school’s super score)

HS coursework

NOTES:
Honors are viewed noticeably more difficult than the on-level version of that class and receive a +5% add to the grade on report cards (so do APs)
It is a requirement to take Honors Biology, Physics, Chemistry, and English I/II before their respective AP Class

  • English: Honors I, Honors II, AP Lang, AP Lit
  • Math: Honors Geometry, Honors Algebra II, Precalculus, AP Calculus AB
  • Science: Honors Biology, Honors Chemistry, AP Chemistry, AP Biology, Honors Physics
  • History and social studies: Human Geo (no AP offered), AP World, APUSH, AP Micro, AP Macro
  • Language other than English: Spanish III, Spanish IV, Spanish V, Honors Latin American Studies (did not take AP Spanish, HLAS is an elective that is also very difficult)
  • Visual or performing arts: Intro to studio art (required to take to graduate)

Awards
App Competition Top 10 Finalist - National
Community Service Gold (100+ hours) x2 Years - School
High Honor Roll - School
Cum Laude - School
AP Scholar - National (planning on receiving)
State Championship Meet Qualifier - Regional

Extracurriculars

Co-Founder of NonProfit: 3 Years
Hosted multiple drives to collect 1,000+ pieces of sports equipment to combat medical disorders from inactivity in low-income kids; partnered with a larger organization.

Founder/Editor/Writer of Medical Blog: 2 Years
Aims to educate teens in medicine; self-published 50+ articles on science/public health topics; conducted interviews/research; 3 editors recruited.

Co-Leader of Club: 4 Years
Helps kids w/ medical issues: Autism, Down Syndrome, etc. play sports; led weekly meetings for 30+ kids; organized end-year banquet w/ 150+ kids.

Global Health Conference: 1 Summer
~8% accept. rate; learned about current public health issues from professionals; chosen to present to 150+ kids about the low-income obesity crisis.

Local Hospital Teen Volunteer: 1 Year
Volunteer at stroke & CCU 100+ hrs; assisted w/ patient care: organized charts, shadowed doctors/nurses, answered patient calls, discharged patients.

Head Junior Swim Coach–Paid: 3 Years
CPR certified; coached 150+ kids ages 5-18; organized/planned daily practices & social events like shaving cream battle; cheered on kids at meets.

Science Student Tutor: 3 Years
Tutored 25+ students in biology/physics/chemistry and ACT; taught basic principles of each subject; communicated w/ teachers; averaged 30% increase in scores.

Club Swim Team: 10 Years
10 total years of swim; responsible for leading lane in practices; attending daily practices/meets; assisting coach in writing practices.

Varsity Swim Team Member: 3 Years
Attended daily practices/meets; cheered on teammates; assisted in the recruiting process; helped decide meet themes; provided tips for new swimmers.

Head Student Ambassador: 4 Years
Led tours for prospective families/students; hosted 1-1 days, introducing students to classes/peers; answered questions; represented school at events.

Schools
Dartmouth - TOP ED
Brown RD
UVA EA
Emory RD
Tufts RD
PENN RD
BC RD
University of Maryland EA
UF EA
Vanderbilt RD
Colgate RD
UMichigan EA
University of South Carolina EA
Penn State EA

2

Cost constraints? If any, have you and your parents used the net price calculator on each college of interest?

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3

We used it and the aid is good from Dartmouth. What do you think are my chances?

4

Are the remaining schools affordable? What does the guidance counselor at your private school say about Dartmouth and your overall list?

Dartmouth is a big reach for most. I agree that your list is reach heavy.

5

Once you account for the recruited athletes, legacies and other hooked applicants, the ED acceptance rate for unhooked candidates at Dartmouth is around 10%.

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Have you spoken to your private school counselor ? They should have a better idea for you.

I think UMD and UF are likely and U of SC and PSU safeties.

U Mich is possible but unlikely as are BC and Colgate - but if full pay (but they are need aware I believe which gives you an edge at Colgate).

The rest will be tough. But you are a strong candidate.

Good luck.

7

Overall, I think your list is very reach-heavy.

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I see Colgate and Dartmouth as occupying the same lane (no pun intended.) Your ECs make you a perfect candidate for either one, but realistically, one is a reach and the other is a super-reach.

9

Just have to ask…is the 5’10 in your subject your height? If so…why would that matter? If not…what does it mean?

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Thanks

11

I just wanted an interesting title. It’s my height, no significance.

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Understood. Thanks for advice.

13

Dartmouth is obviously a reach, which it would be for all people. I’m going to ED there, my school sends lots of kids to BC, UVA, Emory, and UMD (although mainly in the ED round).

14

I’ve heard about this. It’s still a little higher than the RD acceptance rate. So I think it’s still worth it to apply early especially to show my commitment in going there, even if deffered. Do you agree?

15

If it’s affordable and your top choice, yes. Have you visited to confirm it’s your favorite?

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16

Do you have a clear 2nd choice that also works with your financial aid cost calculator? ED2 after Dartmouth is also a consideration and schools like Colgate, Emory, Tufts, BC have those.

17

Mom of 2 Ivy (HYP) kids here. My advice is to pick school that makes you sing as your ED. If that is Dartmouth then go for it!!! As I look at your stats I think it is possible to get admitted ED but it is not 100% probable. The things you still have time to add to your application is a spike worthy summer activity (internship, job, volunteer). Also really spend time on the application. Why Dartmouth, find a peer that really knows you for the peer rec. Make the admissions officer see you as a member of the Dartmouth class they are building. These are things you can control and work on. This will probably be a not so popular bit of advice but I might take the ACT again if I thought I could get 34 or better in one sitting.

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Got it. Thanks for advice!!! Dartmouth super scores so they’ll on see the 34 super scored.

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Keep in mind that the colleges will see the 34 superscore, but they will also receive all of the scores that you send to make up the superscore. They may or may not use them in the evaluation process, but they are included in your application.

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Dartmouth admissions will like this as they seek applicants with strong interpersonal & communication skills.

Your academics are fine.

You excel in two areas (pointy or focused if you prefer different terminology): swimming and medical service.

CPR certified is a plus.

Writing & editing experience and skills = two positives which are often given significant weight.

My guess is that you will be viewed as a strong candidate for admission by Dartmouth adcoms.

Regarding your other listed schools: UF & Vanderbilt may be difficult as Vanderbilt likes high stats/numbers and UF is overwhelmed with well qualified in-state (resident) applicants.

P.S. I do not see your list of schools as top heavy because you have a few safeties among your targeted schools.

Also, while on the surface, Colgate may seem similar to Dartmouth, there is a significant cultural difference regarding the treatment of female students as well regarding those whose sexuality may not be mainstream.

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