Posting for my son since he is not on CC, but asked him to fill out for 2024 and RD applicants.
Decision: Accepted
Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 1590 (800 Math, 790 ERW)
SAT II: 800 Math II, 780 Biology M
Unweighted GPA: 3.98/4.0
Rank: N/A school does not rank
AP: BC Calculus (5), AB Calculus (5), Spanish (3); school does not offer any AP classes so all self-study;
Senior Year Course Load: Multivariate Calculus; Play Production: Musical; Spanish 5; English 4th year; History 4th year; Physics 2nd Year; Yoga;
Academic Awards: National Merit SF, Qualified for AIME as sophomore; various regional math competitions awards; NHS, Spanish honors society; top school AMC scorer (9-11)
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis):
US Junior National Team in an Olympic sport (10th-11th); many national medals; competed for TeamUSA in Europe in international events for 2 years;
Varsity Soccer (9-11) - All-league 2nd team in 11th grade
Club Soccer (9-12) (co-capitan)
All-state Travel Soccer team “academy” (9-12)
Cross-country Ski Race Team (9)
Robotics Team (9-12)
Opera Club (9-12)
A capella Club (10-12) (co-leader in 12th)
Student Council (12) (elected as class rep)
National Honor Society (10-12) (officer)
School musical (10-12)
Job/Work Experience:
4 Years, soccer referee
Volunteer/Community service:
Trails Association (9,10,12) - (ambassador 9-10) build hiking trails and talk at schools
Parks Association (9-12) - volunteer at events (a lot)
School Ambassador (9-12) - work all school events
National Honor Society (10-12) (officer) - this is a big service org at school
Summer Activities:
sport training is full-time in summer; a lot of sport related national and international travel
Essays (rating 1-10, details):
Common App: Wrote about passion for creating things starting wirh making up songs when a child on long wilderness trips with my parents and finishing with my passion for math and science; unique but also kind of quirky essay. Definitely showed my personality.
None of my essays were about athletcs.
Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):
Should have been good. My teachers knew me well.
Teacher Rec #1: Physics
Teacher Rec #2: English
Counselor Rec: 10/10 she put a lot of work into it
Peer: 10/10 friend who has known me my entire life who did trail crews with me; great writer
Coach: 10/10 wrote about my TeamUSA stuff and how I am a good team member
Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
Intended Major: Math/Bio
State (if domestic applicant): WA
School Type: Private
Ethnicity: White
Gender: M
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): None
Reflection:
Strengths: Test scores, academics, athletics, outdoorsy ECs that suit Dartmouth, recs, one of the top students at my school (which does not rank), I did not write about any of my athletics but I asked my coach to emphasize my national team stuff. I won’t be an Olympian (!! that’s super hard) but athletics was my big and unique EC.
Weaknesses: not a recruited athlete; no hooks; SAT essay score weak; no major awards (besides athletic); no major leadership positions; main EC has been athletics and trail building.
Why I got in? I had top stats and grades and great sport ECs, but many others had the same stats and amazing ECs. I spent my childhood summers doing wilderness trips (canoeing and hiking) so I think I was a good fit there. Since I am not from the NE, I prob had it easier. My commitment to outdoor stewardship and trail work prob helped. I read the 3D magazines they sent and tried to show how I would exemplify Dartmouth traditions. But maybe it just came to chance.