Advice for Applicants

Rather than asking, "How do I improve my chances?" or “What is Dartmouth looking for in an applicant?” we encourage you to focus on how you can best highlight your own strengths and interests in your application. You’ve established a record of success and a range of interests thus far, and your application will be most helpful to us when it clearly reflects those successes and interests.

Pursue the activities that interest you - there are no prescribed activities you should join that will get you into Dartmouth. Use your application to show us your passions and how you've been a contributing member of your community at home, school, and beyond.

Applicants should use the Common Application to describe activities, work experiences, academic interests and any unusual circumstances about which an application reader should know. When considering how to explain a unique circumstance related your academic or personal record, you may want to seek the advice of your secondary school counselor to find the best method for concisely conveying information that will be helpful to the Admissions Committee.

Since Dartmouth does not assign one application reader to review or advocate for all of the applicants from a particular school or geographic region, you do not need to worry about meeting any one member of the admissions staff to improve your chances for admission.