I need opinions!!! please help w/ chances

HarryBagatestes
Fri, 13 Jan 2006 20:50:10 +0000

I graduated from Dartmouth in 1996 and was accepted early decision. I interviewed two prospective students for admission while I was a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin at Madison and had a Latin student who is now at Dartmouth, so I suppose I know what kind of people get in.
There’s no way for me to know for sure what your chances of admission are without knowing your SAT and SAT II scores. I would say, however, that even if you get the 2200 you anticipate on the SAT and get acceptable scores on the SAT II tests, I don’t think you have such a good chance. I hate to bring you bad news. A lot of it has to do with your demographic information. Unfortunately, Dartmouth’s admission rate varies according to your race and geographical location and interests. Asians have a tougher time getting in than anyone else. I’m sure you’re aware of that. While you are no doubt talented, Asian females from New York State who play the violin, ice skate, and are interested in biomedical sciences are not at all uncommon.
If you’re really interested in improving your chances, write a startlingly original essay and get teacher recommendations that are more than “nothing stellar.” It would also help if you come across with a distinct, likeable personality in your essay, not, for example, a personality filled with resent over a perceived slight at an orchestra audition.