What type of student does Dartmouth look for?

Dartmouth seeks curious, collaborative, and driven students with unique perspectives, looking for academic excellence alongside strong character, intellectual vitality, and a desire to contribute meaningfully to their small, discussion-focused community, valuing passion, purpose, and diverse interests pursued outside the classroom. They want students who ask questions, challenge ideas, and bring something new to campus discussions and activities, often described as adventurous risk-takers who excel in a liberal arts setting.

What kind of student thrives at Dartmouth?

Students who thrive at Dartmouth are curious, collaborative, self-reliant, and energetic, balancing strong academics with active participation in a tight-knit community, often drawn to the outdoors and finding joy in both intellectual pursuits and social engagement. They are adaptable "self-starters" who appreciate Dartmouth's intimate environment but also leverage its resources for diverse interests, from research to athletics and service. 

How to increase chances of getting into Dartmouth?

Because this school is extremely selective, getting a high SAT/ACT score and GPA is vital to having a chance at getting in. If you don't pass their SAT/ACT and GPA requirements, they'll likely reject you without much consideration.

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.

What major is Dartmouth best for?

The most popular majors at Dartmouth College include: Social Sciences; Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services; Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies; Engineering; Mathematics and Statistics; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Visual and Performing Arts; Psychology; Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group ...

How to Get Into Dartmouth!

Does Dartmouth admit based on major?

In schools that follow a US-based curriculum, five “major” subjects are required through the senior year. A student is admitted to Dartmouth College without a major designation but there are specific recommendations for students planning a course of study in STEM disciplines.

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 traits does Dartmouth value?

Consequently, Dartmouth values qualities in students such as risk-taking, curiosity, and adventurousness. Dartmouth rates every applicant in two separate areas on a 1 to 9 scale (9 being the highest and 1 being the lowest): (1) Academic Rating and (2) Personal Rating.

Is Dartmouth harder than Harvard?

Harvard is generally considered harder to get into due to lower acceptance rates and higher median test scores, making it statistically tougher to gain admission, but both are highly selective Ivies with rigorous academics, with the type of difficulty differing: Harvard offers vast urban resources, while Dartmouth provides a smaller, more tight-knit, outdoor-focused, undergraduate-centric environment where challenges can be more communal and less competitive. 

Is Dartmouth a real ivy?

Yes, Dartmouth College is an Ivy League school, one of the eight prestigious private universities in the Northeast known for high academics, selectivity, and research, alongside Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, Princeton, UPenn, and Yale. It's recognized for its strong undergraduate focus, liberal arts, and distinctive quarter-based "D-Plan," often considered a blend of a traditional university and a liberal arts college.
 

Is it harder to get into brown or Dartmouth?

It's extremely close, with recent data showing Brown slightly harder to get into by acceptance rate (around 5-5.6%) versus Dartmouth (around 5.4-6%), but both are exceptionally selective Ivies, making the difference minimal and dependent on the specific year and applicant pool; Brown's Open Curriculum attracts self-directed students, while Dartmouth offers a traditional college experience with a strong undergraduate focus. 

What does Dartmouth look for in a student?

Dartmouth's overall acceptance rate is around 6%, but Early Decision offers a sharply higher rate. Key admissions factors include strong grades in challenging coursework, demonstrable academic curiosity, leadership, character, and thoughtful essays.

Why is Gen Z not going to college?

Gen Z is questioning college due to sky-high costs, massive student debt, and a shaky job market where degrees don't guarantee success, leading many to explore lucrative alternatives like trade schools, entrepreneurship, or acquiring digital skills, valuing direct career entry and financial independence over traditional four-year paths. They see past generations struggling with loans and uncertain job prospects, shifting focus to better Return on Investment (ROI), with many regretting college or seeking more practical, cheaper education. 

What is the hardest major at Dartmouth?

While "hardest" is subjective, Dartmouth students often perceive Engineering, Chemistry, Physics/Astronomy, and Mathematics as the most challenging, due to intense, fast-paced STEM curricula, project-based learning, and demanding problem-solving. Biology and Economics are also frequently cited for their rigor, with some majors like Neuroscience perceived as difficult but not by their own students.
 

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.

Is Dartmouth a preppy school?

Colleges with the most Preppy Students: 1. Princeton University 2. Dartmouth 3. Trinity College 4.

Who is Dartmouth's biggest rival?

Dartmouth's biggest rival, particularly in football and historically within the Ivy League, is Harvard, with the annual Harvard-Dartmouth game often deciding the league championship and being one of the oldest rivalries in college football. Other significant rivals include Cornell, especially when vying for Ivy League titles, and even Princeton, sometimes, due to conference implications, though Harvard remains the most prominent opponent. 

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.
 

Is Dartmouth the easiest ivy?

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 major is Dartmouth best known for?

Top Majors and Programs at Dartmouth

Dartmouth is known for its strong programs in Economics, Government, Engineering, and Environmental Studies. The Tuck School of Business is particularly notable – it consistently ranks among the top business schools in the world.

What is the #1 Ivy League school?

While rankings fluctuate, Princeton University is frequently ranked as the #1 Ivy League school and often the #1 university overall in the U.S., followed closely by schools like Harvard and Yale, with rankings depending on the specific publication (e.g., U.S. News) and year, but Princeton consistently appears at the top for national universities. Harvard and Yale also rank extremely high, sometimes even #1 globally, but Princeton holds the top spot in many U.S. national rankings. 

How much does it cost to go to Dartmouth for 4 years?

Dartmouth College's 4-year cost (tuition, fees, room, board, books) is projected to be over $370,000 for recent entering classes, with the sticker price around $90,000+ per year, though most families pay significantly less due to financial aid, with average net prices for some income levels near zero. For the 2024-2025 year, total costs were around $91,312, with tuition near $66,000, but actual costs depend heavily on aid, potentially dropping to under $20,000 annually for many students.
 

Where do top 1% send kids to college?

The "top 1%" of students, often defined by family income, tend to go to highly selective, elite universities like Dartmouth, Yale, Penn, Brown, Princeton, and Stanford, MIT, and Harvard, with some Ivy League schools having a higher concentration of these students than the bottom 60% of income earners. Rankings vary, but MIT, Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, and UC Berkeley consistently appear at the top for overall academic standing, attracting top talent across all income levels. 

Which ivy is the easiest academically?

Here is a list:

1. Cornell University. Cornell is the easiest and youngest Ivy League school. ...
2. Dartmouth University. The second most accessible Ivy League school to get into is Dartmouth, established in 1769 and based in Hanover, New Hampshire. ...
3. Brown University. ...
4. University of Pennsylvania.

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.