What Dartmouth looks for in applicants?

Dartmouth seeks intellectually curious, authentic, and adventurous students who will contribute uniquely to its close-knit community, valuing deep engagement over broad, shallow interests, using a holistic review of rigorous academics (top grades/courses), compelling essays, strong recommendations, unique extracurriculars, and personal qualities like leadership and community spirit, especially those embracing the flexible D-Plan and rural setting.

What does Dartmouth look for in applicants?

SAT/ACT scores in the 99th percentile. Glowing letters of recommendation indicating that student is best out of applicants from past several years from his/her high school. The intense love of learning, as evidenced by academic research outside the classroom with a college professor leading to publication in a journal.

How to increase chances of getting into Dartmouth?

To have the best shot of getting in, you should aim for the 75th percentile, with a 1550 SAT or a 35 ACT. You should also have a 4.11 GPA or higher. If your GPA is lower than this, you need to compensate with a higher SAT/ACT score.

What kind of student thrives at Dartmouth?

Students who thrive at Dartmouth are curious, collaborative, and self-motivated learners who balance rigorous academics with a vibrant social and outdoor life, embracing Dartmouth's intimate Ivy League setting, "work hard, play hard" culture, and strong emphasis on undergraduate teaching and community engagement, often bringing unique perspectives and a desire to explore diverse opportunities like the D-Plan. 

What does Dartmouth look for in essays?

Your essays should help us understand those intangibles that can't easily be reflected in a resume. Show us the qualities that make you you. Your sense of humor, your passion, your intellectual curiosity, your self-awareness, or social awareness, or some mix of these.

How to Get Into Dartmouth!

What traits does Dartmouth look for?

Character and Personal Qualities

Dartmouth's admissions committee seeks students who are intellectually curious, open-minded, and willing to take risks. This school values individuals with a growth mindset who are willing to learn from challenges and failures.

What are the 5 D's of college essays?

The "5 Ds" of college essays are common, overused topics to avoid, representing Death, Divorce, Disease (or Depression), Drugs, and Dating, as they're hard to write about compellingly and often become cliché, making it tough to stand out; instead, focus on showcasing your personality and growth through more unique experiences, experts advise. 

Is Dartmouth the easiest ivy to get into?

Dartmouth isn't the easiest Ivy, but it's often considered among the "easiest to get into" compared to Harvard or Yale, typically ranking just after Cornell and ahead of Brown/Penn in terms of slightly higher acceptance rates (around 5-6% vs. 3-4%). It's still extremely selective, but its smaller size, undergraduate focus, and unique offerings, plus early decision pools, can make it slightly more accessible than the most difficult Ivies. 

What is the #1 hardest school to get into?

There isn't one single #1 hardest school, as it changes slightly by year and criteria, but Harvard University, Stanford University, MIT, and Caltech consistently rank among the top with extremely low acceptance rates (often 3-4%) and intense competition for spots, though other top global universities like Oxford and Tsinghua are also incredibly selective. Harvard is frequently cited as the hardest due to its high volume of applications and focus on global leadership potential, while Caltech is known for its extreme difficulty in STEM. 

What famous person went to Dartmouth College?

Dartmouth College boasts notable alumni in diverse fields, including Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss), writer; Shonda Rhimes, producer; Mindy Kaling, actress/writer; poets like Robert Frost; politicians such as Daniel Webster and Kirsten Gillibrand; and figures in business, science, and athletics, showcasing a wide-ranging impact from entertainment to public service and academia.
 

Is Dartmouth or Cornell harder to get into?

Based on recent acceptance rates, Dartmouth is generally harder to get into than Cornell, with Dartmouth's rates often in the 5-6% range compared to Cornell's 8-9%, though both are highly selective Ivies. Cornell has a larger undergraduate body and more colleges, meaning more spots and a slightly higher overall acceptance rate, but specific Cornell colleges (like Engineering or Applied Sciences) are much tougher, making the "easiest" to get into a relative term. 

What is the top 10 rule when applying for college?

The "Top 10 Percent Rule" is a Texas law guaranteeing automatic admission to state universities for high school graduates in the top 10% of their class, designed to increase diversity and access, though flagship universities like UT Austin have lowered their specific threshold (e.g., to the top 6%, now 5% for Fall 2026) to manage demand, requiring applicants to still meet program-specific requirements and creating incentives for strategic high school choices, notes this Houston Chronicle article and the NBER. 

Where do the 1% go to college?

The 1% of the wealthiest Americans disproportionately attend highly selective, elite universities, particularly Ivy League schools (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth, Brown, Penn, Columbia) and other top institutions like MIT, Stanford, Duke, and UChicago, where they make up a large percentage of the student body, often outnumbering students from the bottom 60% of income earners combined. Liberal arts colleges and prestigious public universities also attract many wealthy students, with specific examples including WashU St. Louis, UVA, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Vanderbilt, and Johns Hopkins.
 

Does Dartmouth interview every applicant?

Interviews Are Optional

Interviews are arranged after you have submitted your application. Not having an interview will not put you at a disadvantage in the admissions process.

Which Ivy League admits the most international students?

Which Ivy League accepts the most international students? Columbia University usually accepts the largest number of international students.

What does Dartmouth value most?

Dartmouth expects academic excellence and encourages independence of thought within a culture of collaboration. Dartmouth faculty are passionate about teaching our students and are at the forefront of their scholarly or creative work.

Is brown or dartmouth harder to get into?

It's extremely close, but recent data suggests Brown might be slightly harder to get into than Dartmouth, with Brown's acceptance rates often hovering around 5-6% compared to Dartmouth's slightly higher rates (also in the 5-6% range but sometimes a bit above), though both are highly selective Ivies with very similar profiles and admissions difficulty. The key is that both are incredibly competitive, and your personal fit with each school's unique culture (Brown's Open Curriculum vs. Dartmouth's strong community/traditional feel) matters more than tiny rate differences. 

Where do top 1% send kids to college?

The "top 1%" of students, referring to those from the highest income brackets, tend to attend elite universities like MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, and Yale that consistently rank high in national and global lists, with some even having more students from the top 1% income bracket than the bottom 60% combined, according to The New York Times data. Top-ranked institutions like MIT, Princeton, Harvard, and Stanford are frequent top contenders in various 2026 rankings from U.S. News & World Report and Times Higher Education. 

What is the #1 party school?

For 2026, the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), is widely ranked as the #1 party school by sources like Niche, based on student surveys about campus party scenes, access to nightlife, and Greek life, followed by schools like Florida State and Tulane. Other strong contenders often mentioned include the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USC, and the University of Alabama, with rankings varying slightly by publication and criteria.
 

What was Mark Zuckerberg's SAT score?

Mark Zuckerberg reportedly scored a perfect 1600 on the SAT, achieving the maximum possible score before attending Harvard University. This high score reflects his exceptional academic performance, matching other tech leaders like Bill Gates and Will Smith who also attained near-perfect or perfect scores, according to various reports.
 

How much does 4 years at Dartmouth cost?

For the 2025-2026 year, Dartmouth's undergraduate tuition alone is around $69,207 per year, totaling approximately $276,828 for four years if paid via their prepayment plan (not including room, board, or other fees). However, the total estimated Cost of Attendance (COA), including tuition, fees, room, board, books, and personal expenses, for the 2025-2026 year is closer to $373,083 for four years, with significant financial aid available to lower the actual amount paid. 

Is it harder to get into Yale or Dartmouth?

Keep in mind however that the eight Ivy League schools are all very hard to get into, despite these differences. Harvard, Columbia, Yale, and Princeton have recent acceptance rates slightly below 5%, while UPenn, Brown, Dartmouth, and Cornell have recent acceptance rates slightly above 5%.

What to avoid in college application essays?

Writing about parents, siblings, or famous figures often results in essays that are more about someone else than about you, Smith says. Admissions officers want to hear your voice and how you think, not how much you admire someone else.

How to stand out in college essay?

Top Ten Tips for Writing a College Essay

1. 1: Start early. More time = less stress. ...
2. 2: Be yourself. ...
3. 3: Be honest. ...
4. 4: Stay focused. ...
5. 5: Put your best foot forward. ...
6. 6: Write and rewrite. ...
7. 7: Get a second opinion. ...
8. 8: Keep an open mind.

What is the triangle rule in college essay?

Always think of an introduction as an upside down triangle. It should start broad and become more narrow and specific. There are different things to include in your introduction, depending on the size of your paper.