How to Get Into Dartmouth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqqY7F2l4Tc

UPenn wants social entrepreneurs while Princeton wants academic intellectuals. But what does Dartmouth look for/want?

What Dartmouth looks for

Authenticity, autonomy and adventure. These are three key traits Dartmouth looks for in applicants. How do I know? Well, because Dartmouth mentions it right on their admissions website, specifically when referencing their famous D-plan.

In short, “the term ‘D-Plan’  refers to the flexibility Dartmouth gives its students in choosing when they take classes and when they're on break. But the plan isn't about Dartmouth, it's about each individual student. Within a few guidelines, students have the autonomy to schedule their classes and breaks around their academic, research, and professional interests.”

In the D-Plan, there are both Residence Terms and Leave Terms. Residence Terms are terms where students stay on campus in Hanover, while Leave Terms are terms where students go off campus to conduct research, do an internship, or even study abroad!

Given just how much Dartmouth emphasizes the D-Plan, it’s an absolute necessity to talk about it, or at the very least mention it. But how exactly should we go about this? After all, we don’t want to sound cliche or trite, right? Well, let me show you how this is done through an example student, Drew. 

Drew is a high schooler from the South who is intensely passionate about anthropology and the environment. In his free time, he explores trails and even researches the history of how they were made. He’s also conducted humanities research at his local state university and published a few papers about the intersection of Native American agricultural techniques and the sociology of farming.

So, in that 100-word Dartmouth short response question: “Why Dartmouth?” Drew would do well to mention how he plans to leverage the D-plan to not just continue what he’s doing, but really take his passion for anthropology and ecology to the next level. 

He shouldn’t just say where he wants to study abroad, or what classes he wants to take. Instead, Drew should precisely articulate what ambitious adventures he aims to participate in. For instance, Drew might mention how he’s excited to explore Istanbul and study how mass migration in the early 2000s affected the city as well as the fertility of nearby land. After that, he should end by clearly explaining what his short-term goals are and who he wants to help – maybe he wants to go to grad school, become a professor, then continue researching this topic in the South where folks aren’t as aware of these kinds of eco-anthropological issues. 

Moving onto Part 2: what do Dartmouth students a.k.a. Big Greens say?

Throughout all those cold and snowy nights up in Hanover, community is what keeps Dartmouth students warm. Dartmouth’s pride in its tight-knit student body is evident in the sheer number of campus-wide events they have and their small undergrad population. Did you know there’s less than 4500 undergrads in all of Dartmouth? That’s like, smaller than some high schools. 

Back to the events though: One of the biggest annual events is the Winter Carnival. There, Big Greens celebrate the winter through outdoor events like recreational skiing competitions and a polar bear plunge.

Have you ever been to your high school’s pep rally? Well, imagine that and multiply it by 5 and you’ll get a decent picture of what the Homecoming Bonfire looks like. The event is celebrated on Dartmouth’s central quad and serves as a symbol of campus unity.

Fun fact, at all of these events, alumni return to Dartmouth to celebrate with undergrads! Dartmouth’s alumni network is one of its greatest strengths, and again, this is largely due to the school’s very very tight-knit student body. It is, after all, the smallest Ivy. 

Now the reason I mention these is because talking about campus events and traditions is a phenomenal way to boost your application. In fact, it’s kind of a red flag if you don’t mention them. But don’t just write something like “I am excited to go to Dartmouth so I can participate in the Winter Carnival and connect with my peers.” 

Instead, connect the event to one of your passions or previous experiences! For instance, Drew was a summer camp counselor during his sophomore summer. There, he learned a bunch of silly guitar camp tunes. So, in his “Why Dartmouth” supplement, he could write about how he’d play these songs at Homecoming Bonfire as a way to bond with his new classmates. This would convey both Drew’s authenticity, as well as his value for community – two things that Dartmouth genuinely loves!

Something else you probably noticed was that all these Dartmouth events were outdoors. Dartmouth, in addition to Cornell, has a reputation for really being in tune with Mother Nature. It’s not at all like Columbia or UPenn in that respect. So, in your Dartmouth supplements, it might be a good idea to write about a time where you’ve grown intellectually or personally from an “outdoorsy experience.” Another way to hit this environmental note is to connect academic passion to the outdoors. For instance, a math major might talk about the Golden Ratio and how it can be found throughout nature, while a philosophy major might talk about the relationship between the human ego and their physical or natural environment. 

Last but not least, it’s absolutely crucial to talk about how you would contribute to Dartmouth’s vibrant community. Again, let’s return to Drew and pretend he was the president of the environmental conversation club at his high school. Instead of resume-dumping about how he planned certain events and led x amount of kids, he should write about meaningful interactions he helped consistently foster. For example, maybe Drew started a tradition in his club where at the end of each hike, each member would take a leaf they each liked and paste it into a little memory book. We already know how much Dartmouth values traditions, so it would be great for Drew to show how he started his own!

Last but not least, let’s talk about this peer recommendation.

Here’s what Dartmouth has to say about it:

“A peer recommendation is a written statement of support for the applicant's candidacy, completed by anyone the applicant considers a peer. A few examples are a classmate or teammate; brother, sister, or cousin; a co-worker; a friend met at summer school or summer camp; lab or debate partner.”

This is arguably the most unique part of Dartmouth’s entire application process, and I honestly love it so much! Why? Because it gives the admissions officers another chance to see a more “real” side of you. 

You may be wondering how you can make sure your peer rec is as awesome as possible. Well, first and foremost, ask your friend to focus on “wholesome” moments. Dartmouth knows you’re smart and have a bunch of impressive accolades – the goal with this peer recommendation is to show that you’re not just a good person, but a truly kind and compassionate one. Ask your friend to talk about your character, about a time when you went above and beyond to celebrate someone else’s success. Ask them to mention how you encouraged a teammate to try something new, or listened empathetically to a topic you didn’t agree with an open heart or mind, or apologized after making a mistake. 

More than other schools, Dartmouth treasures goodness and humility. Just don't forget to combine that with ambition and adventure. As long as you hit those four key points on the head, I’m sure you guys will do just fine. Thanks for watching! Until next time! 

Your virtual older sibling,

Kevin