How to Get Into Dartmouth College
Many of our students pine for admission to top schools, such as those in the Ivy League. Gaining admission is notoriously difficult, and every year, admission rates decline further. With that said, admission is not impossible. Read on to learn how you can separate yourself from the competition, and gain acceptance to schools like Dartmouth.
Dartmouth Overview
Dartmouth was founded in 1769, and is located in Hanover, New Hampshire. It was established by Eleazar Wheelock, an ordained minister of the Mohegan Tribe, and the school has, from inception, been focused on a liberal arts curriculum that emphasizes research. 2021, the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education indicated that Dartmouth was one of the only majority-undergraduate, research college that has "some graduate coexistence" and "very high research activity.”
“For generations, Dartmouth graduates have left Hanover with an unerring set of principles that they have carried into the world as leaders in government, industry, academia, journalism, and many other realms. In every field of endeavor and every area of expertise, our alumni are distinguished by their embrace of collaboration, their commitment to creating a vibrant community, and their loyalty to Dartmouth and to their fellow alumni.” — Dartmouth College
How Difficult is it to Gain Admission to Dartmouth College?
It is very difficult to gain admission to Dartmouth College. The average unweighted GPA of accepted students is 3.9, and average weighted GPA is 4.11, which requires nearly straight As. Meanwhile, the average SAT score of accepted students sits at 1500.
While the school is extremely selective, chances of admission increase drastically for students that have completed a passion project, research, and that have compelling essays.
We recommend scheduling an initial consultation to discuss crafting a successful application.
What was Dartmouth’s Acceptance Rate in 2022?
Dartmouth College’s acceptance rate was extremely low, as they admitted 6.2% percent of applicants to the Class of 2026 — 1,767 applicants were selected from a pool of 28,336.
This means that admission to school is very competitive. For those with certain racial demographics, or international students, the numbers look even lower.
What is Dartmouth Looking For?
Dartmouth is looking for students that will take advantage of the resources on campus, and contribute to its unique, close-knit campus culture. The school is, like many top schools, not necessarily looking for a well-rounded student, but rather a student with a spiked passion, interest, or point-of-view that will help to build a vibrant and dynamic campus. The campus is looking for students who have, in addition to excelling in their classes, shown excellence in their area of interest.
“No doubt about it. Applying to Dartmouth has the potential to change your life—but also the lives of the students and faculty you will interact with here on campus. Every student we admit brings something unique to the community: a combination of qualities, experiences, and point-of-view that isn't duplicated by any other student. So come to Dartmouth. Be extraordinary here. You'll fit right in.” — Dartmouth Admissions
How do I Submit an Application?
Dartmouth College uses the Common Application. To apply to Dartmouth, complete the Common Application.
What are Dartmouth’s GPA Requirements?
Dartmouth admission officers will look most closely to the unweighted GPA, not the weighted GPA. This is because of the variability of different schools’ curriculums. Students with an unweighted GPA of 4.0, and a class rank in the top 5%, have the best chance of getting accepted. A class rank of top 10% is nearly mandatory barring exceptional hooks.
Does Dartmouth Require AP or IB?
Students are strongly encouraged to take a rigorous, renowned academic curriculum such as AP, IB, or A Levels. If your school does not offer such courses, you are advised to self-study and take the exams independently.
What are Dartmouth’s Standardized Testing Requirements?
Ivy Brothers recommends sending test scores, unless they are very low, as our data suggests that students who submit their test scores, even if slightly low, fare better in the admission process than those who don’t. This is especially true for students that are unhooked. For reference, unhooked means that the student doesn’t have a compelling admission advantage, such as being a recruited athlete or a child of a donor.
Students may submit either the SAT or ACT, and there is no advantage to one over the other.
What are Dartmouth’s SAT Requirements?
The minimum SAT score needed for Dartmouth’s is 1440, the 25th percentile. However, at Ivy Brothers, we suggest that students score in the 75th percentile for their desired school; for Dartmouth, this would mean an SAT score of 1560.
*SAT requirements are liable to change in future admission cycles
What are Dartmouth’s ACT Requirements?
The minimum ACT score needed for Dartmouth is 32, the 25th percentile. However, at Ivy Brothers, we suggest that students score in the 75th percentile for their desired school; for Dartmouth, this would mean an ACT score of 35.
*SAT requirements are liable to change in future admission cycles
What are Dartmouth’s English Language Proficiency Requirements?
Dartmouth requires a strong, fluent knowledge of English. Proficiency exams are not required, but international students are welcome to submit them, such as TOEFL or IELTS.
What are Dartmouth’s Common App Essay Prompts for 2022-23?
Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma-anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.
Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.
These prompts are intended for admission officers to better understand your background, goals, character, integrity, and other positive characteristics. The essay should be vulnerable, and should be unique. One of the biggest pitfalls we see in students’ essays is the topic being cliché and dull. To see some examples of successful essays, please schedule a virtual consultation with us.
What are Dartmouth’s Supplemental Essay Prompts for 2022-23?
Dartmouth requires three supplemental essay prompts as follows:
1. Required of all applicants. Please respond in 100 words or fewer:
Dartmouth celebrates the ways in which its profound sense of place informs its profound sense of purpose. As you seek admission to Dartmouth's Class of 2027, what aspects of the College's academic program, community, or campus environment attract your interest? In short, Why Dartmouth? Please respond in 100 words or fewer.
2. Required of all applicants. Please respond in 200-250 words:
"Be yourself," Oscar Wilde advised. "Everyone else is taken." Introduce yourself in 200-250 words.
3. Required of all applicants. Please choose one of the following prompts and respond in 200-250 words:
A. Labor leader and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta recommended a life of purpose. "We must use our lives to make the world a better place to live, not just to acquire things," she said. "That is what we are put on the earth for." In what ways do you hope to make—or are you making—an impact?
B. What excites you?
C. In The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, William Kamkwamba '14 reflects on constructing a windmill from recycled materials to power electrical appliances in his family's Malawian house: "If you want to make it, all you have to do is try." What drives you to create and what do you hope to make or have you made?
D. Dr. Seuss, aka Theodor Geisel of Dartmouth's Class of 1925, wrote, "Think and wonder. Wonder and think." What do you wonder and think about?
E. "Not everything that is faced can be changed; but nothing can be changed until it is faced," wrote James Baldwin. How does this quote apply to your life experiences?
Dartmouth is looking for personal essays that allow the admission office to better understand you. Additionally, the essays should be creative, with an eye toward outside-the-box thinking. To see some examples of successful supplemental essays, please schedule a virtual consultation with us.
What are Dartmouth’s Extracurricular Activity Requirements?
Dartmouth seeks students who will be engaged in their community or field of interest, and will make an impact on campus and beyond. Dartmouth has countless resources on its campus, with a high ratio in terms of endowment to amount spent on each student throughout their time on campus. This is an area where many students go wrong. You should develop a spiked passion in a particular field of interest. Here are some examples of extra-curricular activities of past, successful students in the admission process:
Started a Small Business
Deep Convolutional Neural Network for Predictions of Several Aspects of Trees with respect to Air Quality via Ardunio Sensors
Created a Novel Technique to Write and Run Neural Networks in C on x86_64 CPU Architecture
Wrote a Research Paper on Climate Policy in China versus Taiwan and Submitted to the Journal of East Asian Studies
ISEF Finalist
USACO Gold
Quantified Human Lung Toxicity During Space Travel by Regolith in Project Funded by NASA
Create a Literary Journal that Focuses on Mental Health
These are examples of top-tier extracurricular activities. If your activities do not resemble something similar, then we suggest scheduling a consultation to learn how we can create a game plan for your activity section. It is important to schedule a consultation to tackle this part of the process sooner rather than later. You don’t want to look as if you are doing projects last minute just for the college application.
What are Dartmouth’s Application Deadlines?
Early Decision: November 1st
Regular Decision: January 3rd
Does my Race or Ethnicity Affect my Acceptance Rate at Dartmouth?
Yes, Dartmouth considers race and ethnicity. Students who identify as East Asian, Southeast Asian, or South Asian have significantly more difficult chances at admission. Many of our students fall into this category, and we make it our mission to help them stand out in a highly competitive pool.
This is backed by data from the National Centre for Education Statistics. Below is a graph that shows how, even as the Asian American population increases, the % of enrolled students has remained constant at top schools.
Does my Choice of Major Affect my Acceptance Rate at Dartmouth?
Yes, Dartmouth will compare you to other students who are seeking similar majors. In general, students will face the highest level of competition, and lowest acceptance rates, in majors such as Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, and Physics.
What is the Average Salary of a Graduate of Dartmouth College?
Dartmouth graduates, on average, make $104,000 ten years after finishing undergrad. Graduates who enter fields like consulting, technology, or finance regularly make a starting salary of $120,000 to $200,000.
For all students, the price of professional help in the admission process is well worth it in terms of return on investment. The last thing you want is for your student’s hard work in high school to go to waste.
Final Thoughts
Gaining admission to top schools is not an easy feat. Dartmouth is looking for students who will contribute positively to their campus, upholding the school’s values, and who are ambitious and yearn to contribute to their field of interest.
Ivy Brothers helps students to stand out in the competitive admission process through one-on-one mentorship. Schedule an initial consultation to learn how we help students achieve their educational and career goals.
