达特茅斯 FAQs

ACADEMICS

• Does Dartmouth require specific high school courses?

No. Dartmouth does not have any set academic requirements. For instance, four years of a language are recommended but not required.We carefully review your high school’s curriculum. We look for academic rigor; you should be taking the most demanding courses available to you.

• Is there a minimum grade point average required for admission to Dartmouth?

No. Each application is reviewed holistically, regardless of GPA. A top GPA in high school is one indicator that you will continue to do well in college. We also look at grade trends that help us understand your academic trajectory. If you have a particular reason for a dip in grades, please let us know about it in the "Additional Information" section of the Common Application.

• Does Dartmouth grant credit for AP, A-Level, IB, or CLEP examinations?

Beginning in the fall of 2014, Dartmouth will grant credit on entrance for AP or IB examinations, as well as offering exemptions and placement in some subject areas. Credit on entrance appears on the Dartmouth transcript, however it does not count towards the 35 credits required to graduate. This policy will apply to entering first-year students in the Class of 2018 and to transfer students who enroll in the fall of 2014. For more information about pre-matriculation credits, please visit the Office of the Registrar website.

• I have taken college courses. Will those credits be transferable?

For the most part, online credits and community college credits are not transferable. Credits from other four-year universities may possibly be transferred, up to four credits for entering first-year students. However, we have a rather strict policy on accepting transfer credits and our faculty examines coursework taken at another university on a case-by-case basis. Your experience in these courses may help you place into higher-level courses, but you may not receive academic credits for levels you skip.

APPLICATION PROCESS

• How will I know my application is complete?

You have access to an online system that tracks receipt of the required components of the application.

• November/January 1 is a religious holiday. Can I submit my application the next day?

Yes.

• Do you limit the number of students admitted from a single high school?

No. We are aware that in many cases multiple applicants attend the same secondary school. In such cases, the decision for one candidacy will not determine the outcome of another.

• I changed high schools; do I need to submit anything from my old school?

We need transcripts from every school you have attended during 9th through 12th grades, as well as post-graduate years where relevant. Your current school may be able to send materials from all previous schools.

• When I submitted my Common App I was not prompted to pay the application fee. Now I am getting an email that says my application fee is missing. What do I do?

You may have selected the "Common App Fee Waiver" or "Dartmouth Specific Fee Waiver" and did not provide the proper documentation. If you do not qualify for a fee waiver, you will need to change the payment type. You can go into "Managing Payment Method" and select "Credit Card/eCheck" to make your payment. Your should then see a message saying you have successfully submitted your Common App. Remember that the Common App is renewed each year on August 1 for admissions the following year in fall. If you start your application before August 1, you will have to begin again with a new application.

• What is the earliest date that I can start my application on the Common App website?

The Common Application is updated every year on August 1. It is important to wait until August 1 to start filling out your application so that you can be sure that your content will be saved for prospective admission for the fall of the following year.

• Do you provide a checklist (showing forms to be completed with dates) to help guide students through the application process?

Yes! We have checklists available for applicants applying at different times of the year. There are also PDF versions of the checklist that some students print out so they can check items off their list as they are completed.

Early Decision Applicant Checklist

Regular Decision Applicant Checklist

Transfer Applicant Checklist

• How do I request a fee waiver for the Common App application fee?

If paying the application fee would cause unusual financial hardship for you or your family, you may be eligible for a waiver. To request a fee waiver, please select this option in the fee/fee waiver section of the Common Application. Requesting a fee waiver will not disadvantage an applicant in any way. Your college or guidance counselor has to approve your online fee waiver request or submit your fee waiver form by mail or fax.The following are eligibility guidelines for application fee waivers. You must meet at least one of the following indicators of economic need:

You have received or are eligible to receive an ACT or SAT testing fee waiver.
You are enrolled in or eligible to participate in the Federal Free or Reduced Price Lunch program (FRPL).
Your annual family income falls within the Income Eligibility Guidelines set by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.
You are enrolled in a federal, state, or local program that aids students from low-income families (e.g., TRIO programs such as Upward Bound).
Your family receives public assistance.
You live in federally subsidized public housing, a foster home, or are homeless.
You are a ward of the state or an orphan.
You can provide a supporting statement from a school official, college access counselor, financial aid officer, or community leader.

EARLY DECISION

• Does my chance of getting in really double if I apply early?、There is a slight statistical advantage to applying Early Decision. The practical advantage to applying early is that you learn the outcome in December. If admitted, you will not have to file other applications.

(The published higher percentage of applicants accepted early is somewhat misleading because it includes recruited Division 1 athletes, whose credentials have been reviewed in advance. With recruited athletes removed from the Early Decision numbers, the advantage is much smaller.)

• Does Dartmouth cap Early Decision admits?

No, but we typically admit 35% to 40% of the entering class early.

• May I re-apply Regular Decision if I was denied at Early Decision?

No. You can only apply once per admissions cycle.

• What percentage of students deferred in Early Decision are admitted?

5 to 10 percent of candidates deferred in Early Decision are typically admitted.

• If I apply under the Early Decision program, can I apply to other schools early?

Dartmouth allows you to apply to other schools’ non-binding Early Action programs, as long as we are your only Early Decision application. Remember, under Dartmouth's Early Decision program, if you are admitted you are required to attend (though if you are deferred and later admitted you are no longer bound by the early decision agreement).

Read the fine print of each early program carefully. Some schools use Single-Choice Early Action, and they will not permit you to apply early elsewhere.

• Does my entire Early Decision application have to be completed by November 1?

Your Common App should be submitted online before the deadline. Your school's portion of the application and letters of recommendation may be submitted after the deadline. We will add them to your file as we receive them and review your application when it is complete.

• What is the earliest date that I can start my application on the Common App website?

GAP YEARS

• Can I take a Gap Year before starting at Dartmouth?Yes! After you’re admitted, you can request to postpone your enrollment for one year and to join the next matriculating class at Dartmouth. Here's more information about taking a Gap Year.

• If I take a Gap Year, what happens to my financial aid award?

You will need to re-apply for financial aid. If your family’s financial circumstances don’t change significantly, your aid award won’t change significantly. Dartmouth guarantees to meet 100% of the demonstrated need of all admitted students, regardless of the Gap Year.

LIFE AT DARTMOUTH

• What percentage of students live on campus at Dartmouth?

Over 85% of students live on campus in our residence halls, academic affinity programs, and co-ed/fraternity/sorority housing. The remaining 15% live close to campus in either college-owned apartments or other local rental housing options.

• Does Dartmouth have a Greek system?

Dartmouth has a Greek system made up of three co-ed organizations, 17 fraternities, and 11 sororities. Students can join a Greek-letter organization beginning in their sophomore year.

• What is the Dartmouth Outing Club?

The Dartmouth Outing Club is the oldest and largest collegiate outing club in the country. The DOC organizes student hiking and camping trips, provides outdoor leader and medical/safety education, maintains over seventy miles of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, and oversees the "First-Year Trips" program.

• I want to learn more about living at Dartmouth. Where can I find more information?

Visit the Living at Dartmouth section of our website to learn more about undergraduate housing, dining, diversity, student groups & activities, arts across campus, athletics & recreation, service, sustainability, religious & spiritual life, health & wellness, safety & security, and the outdoors.

PEER RECOMMENDATION

• Who should write my peer reference?

You might ask a friend from school, or camp, or your neighborhood. It might be a teammate, someone from your community of faith, or a co-worker. Perhaps a cousin, a sibling: it doesn’t matter. We don’t want another letter from a teacher, coach, or other supervisory presence in your life; we have enough of those. Ask a peer who can provide fresh insight into your interests and your character.

• My peer recommender does not speak English as her first language. Will you judge my application based on her writing?

No, we are not grading the peer evaluation! Just be sure that the person who writes your Peer Rec can express your strengths and the qualities that you have to share.

• I want my best friend to write my Peer Recommendation, but she is also applying to Dartmouth. Is it okay for her to write it?

Honestly, we don't care who writes the recommendation, as long as this person is able to provide us with context about who you are, and what you could bring to our college community.

• Where can I find the peer evaluation form?

The form is available within the Common Application. Dartmouth requires one "Other Recommendation"—this is the peer evaluation.

STRATEGY AND ADVICE

• Does it improve my chances if I demonstrate interest by visiting, calling, emailing, attending college fairs, or taking part in web events?

No, your completed application is all the demonstrated interest we need. We don’t track visits, communications, college fairs, or web events to enhance or detract from anyone’s application.

• Is it good to submit extra recommendations with my application?

We review supplementary recommendations, but they aren’t usually necessary. An extra letter from someone who knows you well from a significantly different setting may be useful; generic letters from distant connections can detract from the impact you’re trying to make.

• Should I submit my IB extended essay or another research paper with my application?

Generally speaking, it would not do a lot of good for you to submit an entire IB extended essay or additional research paper with your application. We don’t review lengthy supplemental materials.

• How do I impress Dartmouth with my essays?

Make sure your essays illustrate your personality! Everything you say should help us understand those intangibles that can't be easily reflected in a resume. Show qualities like sense of humor, passion, intellectual curiosity, self-awareness, and social-awareness. Your writing lets us get to know you and we read every word. Help us envision what you'll bring to Dartmouth.

• Should I send Dartmouth my athletic "highlights" video?

If you are a student-athlete with a keen interest in a particular sport, we encourage you to contact the coach at Dartmouth directly. Dartmouth Admissions does not accept "athletic supplements" from the Common Application, and we do not review athletic videos or portfolios. Contact information for coaches can be found on the Dartmouth Sports site.

• Do admissions officers check my Facebook profile?

Routine web and social media checks are not part of our normal process. Anything published online is public information, however, and we reserve the right to use public information when making admissions decisions. Sometimes the web can be a helpful tool in understanding the context or community of a particular applicant.

• Should I attend a local info session if I already attended one on campus?

If you've already visited campus, the information session might be somewhat repetitive, but we can answer any new questions you have.

• How do you evaluate music/art supplements?

Applicants with extraordinary talent in the fine or performing arts may submit supplementary materials for review. The arts supplement is an optional component of the application. You don’t have to submit a portfolio or demo to major in studio arts, music, or any other discipline, nor does submitting an arts supplement mean you will be required to study any specific subject.

• I graduated from high school ten years ago. Can I still apply?

Yes! While most Dartmouth students enroll directly after high school, a number of students at the College have spent anywhere from a year to several decades or more out of school before attending. The experiences they're able to share and the perspectives they bring add to the diversity of our community.

TESTING

• If I re-take the standardized tests, which results does Dartmouth consider?

We consider the highest component scores from the SAT, even if these results are from different dates. For the ACT, the committee considers the highest composite score and does not combine sub-scores from multiple test dates.

• When is the latest I can take the SAT or ACT?

Early Decision (application deadline: November 1st)
Last test date for SAT or Subject Test: November.
Last test date for ACT: October.
*Be sure the College Board or ACT knows you're applying to Dartmouth ED so we receive your scores when they're ready. You do not need to rush your scores.Regular Decision (application deadline: January 1st)
Last test date for SAT or Subject Test: January.
Last test date for ACT: December.

• What SAT Subject Test scores should I submit?

We only consider your highest two SAT Subject Test scores from 2 different Subject Tests. It is totally fine to take both the Math I and Math II exams, or to take language exams in which you are a native speaker. (We generally discourage applicants from submitting two scores from the same language such as “Spanish” and “Spanish with listening,” unless they're also submitting scores from other exams.)

• Do I need to take the SAT Subject Tests related to my academic interest or intended major?

No, you may take whatever Subject Tests you choose.

You'll probably do the best in subjects you like most and this can help us understand your academic strengths.

Some subject tests scores may help with placement at Dartmouth and give you a head start on your desired concentration, but you will also have the opportunity to take placement exams during orientation.

• What test scores will you look at if I have taken the SAT, Subject Tests, or ACT multiple times?

We look at your best scores. If you submit scores from the SAT and ACT, we will look at whichever comparable score is higher. We don’t recommend excessive testing. Making the most out of your high school opportunities is more important than repeatedly taking standardized tests.

• If I submit my ACT scores, do I also need to submit SAT Subject Test scores?

Yes. We need either:

ACT with writing AND 2 different SAT Subject Test scores OR

SAT with writing AND 2 different SAT Subject Test scores

• Do I need to send in AP Exam scores with my application for admission?

If you have AP scores, we strongly encourage you to submit those scores to us by reporting them under the "Tests" section of the Common Application.

• Can I use Score Choice for the SAT?

Yes. Dartmouth permits the use of Score Choice. However, we encourage you to send us ALL of your scores.

• Is there minimum test score on the SAT or ACT required for admission to Dartmouth?

No. We review each application carefully, regardless of standardized testing results. Take a look at our recent testing stats, but keep in mind that we treat every application holistically.