Posting DS’s results (with his permission of course) as another data point. Hope this helps!
Decision: Accepted
Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 1560 (M790, R770); taken for NMF confirming score, submitted late so not sure this was a factor
ACT (breakdown): 35 (M35 W36 R34 S36); single sitting
SAT II: Math2 800, Chem 780
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.8 (90-92 is a 3.7, 93-100 is 4.0), 4.3 weighted
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): school does not rank, guessing top 5-10%?
AP (place score in parenthesis):
Sophomore: Comp Sci (4), World History(4)
Junior: Lang(4), Chem(5), Calc BC (5), Calc AB subscore(5), Physics 1(5)
Senior Year Course Load: AP Lit, MultiVar/Linear Algebra, AP Physics C, AP Gov, AP Statistics
Major Awards: National Merit SemiFinalist, AP Scholar with Distinction
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Comp Sci Club (President), Math Honor Society (President), Science Olympiad, CyberPatriots, NHS, 4-year varsity track athlete (Pole vaulter, State qualifier, D3-recruitable, NOT Dartmouth level).
Job/Work Experience: summers only
Volunteer/Community service: tutors at local elementary schools, volunteers at athletic center for kids with disabilities, limited hours
Summer Activities: Virginia Governor’s School (STEM), Summer camp counselor/assistant STEM instructor for 5-7 year olds, Travel (multiple trips exploring “Roadside America” and National Parks, International)
Essays (rating 1-10, details):
Can’t rate these objectively as I personally loved them b/c his voice was all over them. None were what I would call profound or intellectual but they all had good humor, humility, and sincerity throughout. Not sure how a stranger would respond but his English teacher and counselor really liked his Common App essay.
Common App essay was about movies and life parallels. A lighthearted and honest read.
Why Dartmouth was VERY specific to Dartmouth programs and location. Brief and to the point.
Creativity Supplement was about dental floss.
Recommendations (rating 1-10, details): I can’t rate these but I assume they were very helpful.
Teacher Rec #1: AP Chem teacher and Science Olympiad sponsor.
Teacher Rec #2: AP Comp Sci teacher and Comp Sci Club sponsor.
Counselor Rec: New counselor this year so possibly quite generic, though DS did fill out a detailed “about me” questionnaire.
Peer Rec: Written by his older sister (Williams '21) because he didn’t realize it was an important part of the application until the night before the deadline and she was the only person he felt comfortable asking at that point. She let me read this after she submitted it. It was amazing and literally brought me to tears.
Interview: He said the interviewer was very nice and they had a good conversation that lasted about 1 1/2 hours.
Applied for Financial Aid?: No
Intended Major: Comp Sci (modified with engineering)
State (if domestic applicant): VA
School Type: Non-magnet, non-specialized public school. Well regarded but not an Ivy feeder by any stretch of the imagination.
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: No aid
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Legacy (Father '89)
Strengths: Test scores, course rigor, essays.
Weaknesses: No spike; nothing really setting him apart from the other thousands of qualified applicants.
Why you think you were accepted: Legacy with strong course rigor, grades, and test scores and no huge holes in his application. I also believe that admissions got a good feel for his personality and character through his essays and recommendations.
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: None as he withdrew all other applications.
General Comments: DS is very blessed. Hoping he makes the most out of this wonderful opportunity.