My chances at Dartmouth

sybbie719
Mon, 11 Jul 2005 16:11:05 +0000

I am not one to do chances so I really am not going to assess your chances now. I don’t beleive that anyone (current student, alumni, parent, etc) can accurately assess one’s chances, because they are assesing you based on their own limited frames of reference and what may have worked for them when they were admitted. Yes, there are tanigibles that will get you over the first hurdle (SAT scores and grades) and put you in the game. However, I believe that the intangibles, the part that speak about you as a person and what you offer and how you can fit into the Dartmouth community are the things that move an application from the admit to the deny pile. My only comment about chances is this, If you don’t apply you have a 100% chance of not being admitted. However, I would like to mention the following.

As you already know you will be assessed against Dartmouth’s international pool of applicants. while if you get accepted the school will meet 100% of your demonstrated need, keep in mind that Dartmouth is not need blind toward international students, so your ability to pay will be taken into consideration.

The thing that I am a bit concerned about is that your achievements are more solitary events. while you have done some community service work, you have done very little and Dartmouth is a school which is big on giving back.

Since it was recently named one of Princeton reviews College’s with a Conscience the community service aspect may even play a bigger role with the next few classes.

http://www.dartmouth.edu/~news/releases/2005/06/23.html

Dartmouth President James Wright says he is pleased with the College’s inclusion in this publication. “Dartmouth has an important history of building volunteer and outreach programs that are engaging, meaningful and effective,” says Wright. “The students involved in these programs truly exemplify how undergraduates can wed their academic work and community service in a way that enhances both. Volunteerism is a vital part of a Dartmouth education.”



Colleges with a Conscience gives Dartmouth high marks for providing “a solid education in ‘battling the complacency demons,’ thanks to an impressive civic-engagement program.”



Colleges build classes that are aligned with the insitutional mission that the school is trying to achieve. This mission often changes year over year so what the college was looking for to build the class of 09, wil lbe different for the class of 10. While Dartmouth already takes a very wholistic stand in admissions, I beleive that this aspect is going to become more important as the school continues to build classes.

The emphasis on community service and giving back to others is already a big part of Dartmouth’s culture. They already know that they are not going to be at a loss for smart students. I think that what will key is finding smart students who are also good people showing themselves to be agents for positive change in the lives of others as education takes place both inside and outside of the classroom.