Frequently Asked Questions about International Applications
Answers
Is Dartmouth need-blind in its admissions decisions for foreign nationals, or is financial need one of the factors that must be considered in the admissions review?
Dartmouth College is need-blind for all applicants. Financial need is not considered as part of the admissions review for any applicant.
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If I attend a Secondary School outside of the United States, do I need to file a different application from other applicants?
All applicants to Dartmouth use the Common Application to apply for admission. Students applying from abroad should ask their secondary school to submit the International School Supplement with their Secondary School Report.
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As an international student, do I have to submit the standardized testing required of U.S. applicants?
Yes, the SAT Reasoning Test or the ACT and two different SAT Subject Tests are required of all applicants to Dartmouth. The College Board or the ACT can provide you with dates and test centers in your country.
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If English is not my first language, am I required to submit the TOEFL or IELTS?
If your first language is not English you are required to take either the TOEFL or IELTS. If you attend an English-speaking school, then we will waive the TOEFL/IELTS requirement. The vast majority of students admitted to Dartmouth score better than a 600 on the paper-based TOEFL, better than 250 on the computer-based TOEFL, or better than 7 on IELTS.
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Does the Admissions Office recognize that my country and/or school has a different grading system than U.S. grading systems?
The Admissions Office takes great care in reading and evaluating applications from students who attend non-U.S. schools. We recognize that each country has a particular way of evaluating their students. We measure your academic success by examining your academic record within your school's grading system. Experienced Admissions Officers are familiar with a variety of international grading systems.
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Should I fill out the International Supplement?
If you are...
- Not a US citizen but have attended a US high school since 9th grade, you do NOT have to fill out the International Supplement.
- Not a US citizen and transferred from a high school abroad into a US high school during 10th, 11th or 12th grade, you DO have to fill out the International Supplement.
- A US citizen and attend an international school abroad, you DO have to fill out the International Supplement.
As a rule of thumb, if you have attended a secondary school (high school) that is not in the US, you should send in the supplement with your other application materials.
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If I am an American citizen who currently attends school abroad, should I apply to Dartmouth as an International Student?
The Short Answer
Yes, you should apply as an International Student!
The Longer Answer
Curricula and grading systems in high schools around the world differ in many ways from that of US schools- and from each other! Because we have applicants from over 60 different countries, the Admissions Committee reads every application within the context of each student's current system of schooling. Thus, your application will be read in the context of your educational experience in Stuttgart, Tokyo, Cairo, Beijing or [Insert City Here!].
We will need information from your secondary school (high school) counselor about programs offered at your school (A-levels, Abitur, etc) and the primary language of instruction. Please ask your counselor to give us this information through the International Supplement. Your counselor needs to fill in the International Supplement IN ADDITION to the Secondary School Report.
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I am an international transfer applicant who currently attends a university in the US. My TOEFL score has expired. Do I need to take the exam again?
No. We will be looking at your essay, grades and coursework to determine your proficiency in the English language.
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Do you accept iELTS (in lieu of TOEFL)?
Yes. You may submit either iELTS or TOEFL scores. (We require students who attend schools where English is not the primary language of instruction to submit scores from either TOEFL or iELTS to help us assess their English language skills. If you are a non-native English speaker BUT you attend an English-language high school, you are not required to take either of these tests, however oftentimes it still is helpful to receive these scores.)
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Can the CSS Profile be replaced by the Foreign Student Financial Aid Profile?
If you are able to submit the CSS Profile then that is the form you are required to submit. We are well aware that in some circumstances and in some countries the CSS We are using the College Scholarship Service PROFILE Form to collect accurate, consistent information and to minimize the possibility for data entry errors.
If the cost associated with the PROFILE Form is going to present a significant financial burden for your family, you may request permission to use an alternative form. Please send an email to Financial Aid International Applicant web page for more information.
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I go to an international school where my classes are taught in Spanish. Can you read recommendations written in Spanish?
We recognize that many of our international students attend schools where English is not spoken in the classroom. For these classes we recommend that those recommendations be translated by an English teacher or an English-proficient official before they are submitted with your application. For ALL translated documents, however, we will ask that the translator sign and date the documents, so that we know they have been translated. Also, We reserve the right to check for accuracy in these translations. We verify translations in various ways once the documents have been submitted to us.
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