tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80533215939619588852024-03-14T00:49:33.312-04:00Perspectives from Dartmouth AdmissionsRead the philosophical to everyday musings of Admissions Officers at Dartmouth CollegeBenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01457980006837872357noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8053321593961958885.post-80446704677558740032010-05-07T10:00:00.000-04:002010-05-07T10:00:01.031-04:00Check out our Web Chats!During the month of April, the Dartmouth Office of Admissions coordinated a series of <a href="http://www.livestream.com/dartmouth">Live Video Chats hosted by Dartmouth students</a>. Whether you are a newly minted Dartmouth '14 looking for a quick Dartmouth fix or a prospective student in search of different perspectives on the College, you should definitely check out the<a href="http://www.livestream.com/dartmouth"> archive of these chats</a>!<br /><br />Ranging from "Service, Activism, and Politics at Dartmouth" to "Senior Reflections," these chats cover a lot of topics about academic life and student activities at Dartmouth. Most importantly, give an unfiltered student perspective on a variety of aspects of the Dartmouth experience. Our office definitely hopes to offer more live video chats this summer or fall, so if there is a topic or area of the College you would like to see covered, please <a href="mailto:admissions.web.guides@dartmouth.edu?subject=Suggested%20Topic%20for%20Web%20Chats">let us know</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.livestream.com/dartmouth">Enjoy the videos</a>!Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06267111874594299687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8053321593961958885.post-64974026175874923702010-05-06T13:00:00.005-04:002010-05-06T13:00:00.729-04:00A post about the Wait ListWelcome to May in college admissions! This is the time of year when our email in-boxes are filled with communications from the broadest spectrum of constituencies in comparison to other points in the calendar. We hear from seniors who have indicated they will matriculate to the Class of 2014, juniors who are prospective students for the Class of 2015, and other seniors who have accepted our offer to remain on a Wait List in the event that we have spaces to offer in the coming weeks.<br /><br />If you belong to that last group, we recognize that you are very eager for information about Wait List activity. At this point, it is not yet clear whether we will be in a position to make any further offers of admission. We have had a strong response to the offers we made on April 1, and we will be monitoring the situation over the next few weeks to see if an opportunity to make further offers emerges.<br /><br />There are several items we'll be watching: One big variable that we do not yet know is whether or not Wait List activity at any of our peer institutions will lead some students to cancel their plans to matriculate at Dartmouth. A second variable is students who may postpone their enrollment for a year to take a "gap" year between high school and college. Each year, these two variables impact whether and to what extent we make additional offers of admission and each year the situation at Dartmouth evolves from week to week as we get more information.<br /><br />If you are active on the Wait List, it is not important for you to contact our office at this time unless you would like to update your file in the manner described <a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/admissions/apply/advice/waitlist.html">here</a>.<br /><br />If you have decided that you no longer wish to be considered for admission from the Wait List, please <a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/admissions/actions/status.html">update your status online</a>.<br /><br />Keep in mind that all essential Wait List correspondence and updates will come via email from the Dartmouth Admissions Office. We always make every effort to close the class as early in the summer as possible so that Wait List students can move forward with a final decision from Dartmouth, but it may take several weeks or longer before we have any further news for you.<br /><br />We hope that these next several weeks go well for you.</http:></http:>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06267111874594299687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8053321593961958885.post-62225015049999732752010-04-30T13:57:00.004-04:002010-04-30T14:10:33.797-04:00Dart-moose!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_p6iEHr3ZSBo/S9sc1Rz5dbI/AAAAAAAAAa8/vJcls2eTk58/s1600/IMG_1777.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_p6iEHr3ZSBo/S9sc1Rz5dbI/AAAAAAAAAa8/vJcls2eTk58/s320/IMG_1777.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465994274383951282" border="0" /></a><br />Look what meandered by the Admissions Office around 7am this morning!<br /><br />In other news, May 1st is the deadline for students accepted into the Class of 2014 to reply to our offer of admission. Dartmouth does not require a deposit, but we do request that students use our online reply form to secure their spot in the class. We are eagerly anticipating the last replies!<br /><br />-ColleenColleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08245116174812524067noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8053321593961958885.post-21139174350758400392010-04-15T14:17:00.004-04:002010-04-20T19:37:57.421-04:00"Getting up things to say for yourself"April is an interesting month. It's one of the peak visit periods on campus, and I am reminded of this daily as I battle my way up the stairs in McNutt Hall. Hundreds of admitted students come to campus in April - right now it's '14s who are coming to campus for another (or first) look before the May 1 reply deadline. (Over 600 '14s will be on campus next week for <a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/admissions/2014/dimensions/index.html">Dimensions of Dartmouth</a>!) Many juniors and their families, who are entering the next phase of the college search, are on campus, too. Transfer students and students who are on our waitlist are also in the mix. Lots of visitors, lots of different questions, and lots of different perspectives.<br /><br />What I find particularly interesting about this time of year is the contact between admitted students and those who are thinking about applying. I recently overheard a junior parent ask an admitted student, "So, how did you do it?" This is the only time of year when our tours and sessions are filled to the brim with both those who have an offer of admission on the table and those who hope to be in that position in the future. It creates an interesting dynamic and dialogue.<br /><br />A great deal of this talk centers on the "How did you do it?" question. I've heard and read a lot lately about "expressing passion" and standing out. Admitted students, parents, counselors, admissions officers - we've all given this advice, "Write about something you're passionate about." What does that mean? And (as my brother-in-law recently pointed out to me) what if you don't know what you're passionate about? Good questions. Here are some thoughts for the juniors and will-be-applying-soon students, as well as the students looking for <a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/admissions/apply/advice/waitlist.html">waitlist advice</a> who are thinking about what kind of update to send in.<br /><br />Here's what you <span style="font-weight: bold;">don't</span> need to be armed with to stand out in the college admissions process...<br />A defined career path or course of study.<br />Your life calling.<br />Clear passions.<br />A cure for cancer.<br /><br />Here's what you should consider articulating in your essays, interviews, conversations...<br />You. A clear, honest picture of who you are and what matters to you. (All subject to growth and change, I hope.)<br />What you find interesting and intriguing.<br />What you enjoy reading about and discussing.<br />What choices you've made.<br />What (and how) you've learned.<br /><br />If you do have some clear passions, great. We want to hear about them. But if you don't have any capital-P 'Passions,' that's okay. Don't make them up. Pursue what does interest you and keep yourself open to new experiences and ideas. We are very interested in your potential.<br /><br />I think what we actually mean by 'passion' is "getting up something to say for yourself." Robert Frost (a Dartmouth alum!) offered this advice in a Great Issues course at Dartmouth on April 11, 1949. Frost is widely-known as a poet, and some (including many Dartmouth students and community members) were fortunate enough to experience his in-person "talks" and visits back to campus in the '40s through '60s. In this particular talk he goes on to say: "The first thing to say is that you've got to start getting up things to say for yourself, if you want to hold your own. And the pre-first thing to say is that you gotta have an own to hold." (I'm quoting from page 3 of Edward Connery Lathem's 2009 book, <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2009/nov/10/entertainment/et-book10">"Robert Frost Speaking On Campus."</a> Check it out if you're looking for some summer reading.)<br /><br />We are interested in learning about what you have to say - what things you "get up about." This is not just how you see the world, it is how you see yourself <span style="font-style: italic;">in</span> the world. What are your opinions? What are your interests?<br /><br />Who knows, Passion might just sneak up and grab you along the way, but don't worry about creating it as much as being open to it.Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11246272174277718397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8053321593961958885.post-74071167665947592662010-04-02T17:07:00.002-04:002010-04-02T17:17:22.755-04:00The Small MomentsI know it has been a momentous week for all the Regular Decision applicants to the Class of 2014. I am sure that my colleagues and I will post some more reflections on the selection process in the coming days and weeks. <br /><br />For now, though, it is a beautiful Friday afternoon in Hanover with students all over the Green enjoying the 75 degree weather - a welcome sign that spring is at hand. I wanted to share a cool Dartmouth moment I observed yesterday. As I walked out McNutt Hall at lunchtime, I saw a group of students tossing a football around the Green. Someone was ambling down the path and stopped to ask if he could throw a quick pass. It was none other than President Kim, in full jacket and tie, obviously on his way to a lunch meeting. He took the football, sent one of the students on a route, and uncorked a perfect spiral. He hit the student in stride at forty yards out and then continued on his way (to some applause from those who witnessed the throw). Now, it is true that President Kim was high school quarterback, so maybe the throw was not a big surprise. But, you have to admit it is still pretty cool.<br /><br />A beautiful Dartmouth moment, and one those students will definitely talk about at a reunion in 50 years.Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06267111874594299687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8053321593961958885.post-75799371082170065942010-03-22T16:14:00.003-04:002010-03-22T16:22:17.622-04:00Here Comes April 1...It's starting to feel a bit like spring. Yes, we have seen some beautiful weather over the last few days, but what really makes it feel like spring is that we are getting close to releasing decisions on April 1! (Admissions officers live by admissions "seasons" - not the weather.) Decision letters will be posted online at 5:00PM Eastern Time on Thursday, April 1. We are in the midst of our final stages of review right now: reading, re-reading, checking updated info, and engaging in our version of "committee" conversations this week.<br /><br />I had the chance to participate in a different decision release process last week, as my partner is graduating from Dartmouth Medical School this year and just received her residency "match." For those who have family or friends who have gone through "The Match" you have an idea about what this annual day in March is like; for those who are unfamiliar with the process, here is a quick overview. <br /><br />In your fourth year of medical school you decide what you would like to specialize in. You complete your applications and send them off to residency programs (maybe this is 10 programs, maybe if it's a highly selective specialty, you apply to 100.) The programs then extend interview offers to candidates. You interview with programs and then develop your rank list (programs you would be willing to attend, in order of preference.) The programs also rank candidates, and everyone sends these rank lists to a central system that creates a match for each candidate. (One match.) For the 2010 Match, fourth-year medical students gathered at different events and ceremonies on March 18 and received envelopes. At Dartmouth, this was a gathering at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, which kicked off with a slide show of pictures compiled by the fourth-year class, and then each member of the class was called up in random order and handed an envelope, which many opened on the spot - in front of classmates, faculty, family and friends - and read aloud their match.<br /><br />Two things stood out in my mind as I watched this process unfold. First, I'm glad college admissions decisions aren't released this way; and second, there are so many people invested in the decision and path of each individual receiving an envelope. Classmates, friends, partners, parents, kids, family, mentors, faculty - all were invested in the contents of each envelope.<br /><br />To all applicants awaiting decisions: I hope you will take some time to reflect again on what your hopes are for your college years (regardless of where you ultimately matriculate and before many of those admissions decisions come rolling in.) I also hope you will take a moment to think about all of the people in your life who are invested in your college process (and maybe take a moment to thank some of them, if you haven't already!) As with college admissions decisions, Match Day saw a wide range of emotions. Unlike college admissions, Match Day is the unveiling of one final match. Prospective '14s, the choice is ultimately yours at the end of this process. You decide, from among your options, where you will be headed next. I am very excited that for some of you, that will be Dartmouth.<br /><br />I'm curious, what are your plans for opening and sharing that decision on April 1?Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11246272174277718397noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8053321593961958885.post-20126141283113695722010-03-09T11:46:00.016-05:002010-03-10T09:02:01.764-05:00The Olympics! A mini photo essay from Whistler.<div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_p6iEHr3ZSBo/S5Z7j_kVr7I/AAAAAAAAAYQ/KsSTFcZZXuU/s1600-h/The+gang+in+Whistler.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 184px; height: 139px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_p6iEHr3ZSBo/S5Z7j_kVr7I/AAAAAAAAAYQ/KsSTFcZZXuU/s200/The+gang+in+Whistler.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446676657640681394" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_p6iEHr3ZSBo/S5Z7lF1XYXI/AAAAAAAAAYw/LeAnnhc9rM8/s1600-h/sara+shoots.jpg"> </a><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_p6iEHr3ZSBo/S5Z7k1LU-II/AAAAAAAAAYo/T7oRVvmrlZ8/s1600-h/Coll+excited.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 186px; height: 138px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_p6iEHr3ZSBo/S5Z7k1LU-II/AAAAAAAAAYo/T7oRVvmrlZ8/s200/Coll+excited.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446676672031291522" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_p6iEHr3ZSBo/S5Z7lF1XYXI/AAAAAAAAAYw/LeAnnhc9rM8/s1600-h/sara+shoots.jpg"> </a><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_p6iEHr3ZSBo/S5Z7kuRIMNI/AAAAAAAAAYg/Zuq7_iNTpu8/s1600-h/Tucker+signs+autographs%21.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 149px; height: 138px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_p6iEHr3ZSBo/S5Z7kuRIMNI/AAAAAAAAAYg/Zuq7_iNTpu8/s200/Tucker+signs+autographs%21.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446676670176571602" border="0" /> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_p6iEHr3ZSBo/S5Z7kA9rITI/AAAAAAAAAYY/8fABDmBq8rY/s1600-h/TEAM+USA+%2B+Dartmouth.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 181px; height: 121px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_p6iEHr3ZSBo/S5Z7kA9rITI/AAAAAAAAAYY/8fABDmBq8rY/s200/TEAM+USA+%2B+Dartmouth.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446676658015379762" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_p6iEHr3ZSBo/S5Z7lF1XYXI/AAAAAAAAAYw/LeAnnhc9rM8/s1600-h/sara+shoots.jpg"> <img style="cursor: pointer; width: 177px; height: 121px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_p6iEHr3ZSBo/S5Z7lF1XYXI/AAAAAAAAAYw/LeAnnhc9rM8/s200/sara+shoots.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446676676502577522" border="0" /> </a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"> </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_p6iEHr3ZSBo/S5Z8AzqLWSI/AAAAAAAAAY4/3kqfMZ82WcM/s1600-h/yay+Sara%21.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 182px; height: 122px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_p6iEHr3ZSBo/S5Z8AzqLWSI/AAAAAAAAAY4/3kqfMZ82WcM/s200/yay+Sara%21.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446677152660150562" border="0" /></a><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Last week, I took a short break from reading applications with the excuse, "My friends from Dartmouth are racing in the Olympics!" I gathered with other Dartmouth alums to watch Sara Studebaker '07 and Laura Spector '10 race in the women's 4x6km biathlon race. We also caught up with Ben Koons '08 and Tucker Murphy '06 (two more Dartmouth grads turned Olympic skiiers), who gave us a tour of the athlete village. Here are a few photos from our amazing trip:<br /><br />(photo 1) Seven friends from Dartmouth met in Whistler. (2) The weather was awesome and we cheered loudly for Team USA in several skiing and biathlon events. (3) Canadian kids requested an autograph from Tucker Murphy '06. (4) We got all decked out for the biathlon relay. Go TEAM USA! And Dartmouth! (5) Sara Studebaker '07 shoots cleanly in leg one of the relay. (6) Post-race congrats to Sara!<br /><br />We weren't the only Dartmouth fans at the Winter Olympics. We ran into bundles of friends that made the trip to Vancouver and Whistler to cheer on the 9 athletes from Dartmouth competing in the winter games. Two athletes from my class -- Gillian Apps '06 and Cherie Piper '06 -- took GOLD in women's ice hockey, and Andrew Weibrecht '09 skiied to a bronze medal in the men's super-G alpine race.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The whole trip a truly incredible experience. The pinnacle was watching Sara at the start of the women's biathlon race. Even thinking back on the moment gives me chills; it was such a magical experience to watch my friends and classmates compete in the Olympics.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">P.S. If you want to read more about Dartmouth athletes in Vancouver, check out this </span><span style="text-decoration: underline;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >link</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. Dartmouth has an impressive tradition with the Winter Olympics. Since 1924, Dartmouth athletes have appeared in the Winter Olympics 120 times--more than any other Ivy League school.</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:small;" ></span>Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08245116174812524067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8053321593961958885.post-83137360263284276592010-02-16T19:35:00.006-05:002010-02-18T18:48:10.893-05:00Check Out the LGBTQA Life Video Chat<object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="400" height="325" id="utv961733" name="utv_n_845436"><param name="flashvars" value="autoplay=false" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.ustream.tv/flash/video/4780469" /><embed flashvars="autoplay=false" width="400" height="325" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" id="utv961733" name="utv_n_845436" src="http://www.ustream.tv/flash/video/4780469" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" /></embed></object><br/>Check out what two current students, Rigel '10 and Anna '13, have to say about LGBTQA life at Dartmouth. This is our first Dartmouth Life student chat - stay tuned for more topics! If you missed the chat when it was live or have questions about LGBTQA life for current students, you can send an email to gsx@dartmouth.edu (our student organization, Gender Sexuality XYZ).Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11246272174277718397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8053321593961958885.post-42295176130844945822010-02-10T12:37:00.009-05:002010-02-16T13:00:55.696-05:00Recent Changes to Dartmouth Financial AidIn a <a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/%7Epresident/announcements/2010-0208.html">letter to the Dartmouth community</a> this week, President Jim Yong Kim announced the implementation of a plan to close a $100 million dollar budget gap in the College's operating budget in the next two years. This plan includes some <a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/%7Efinaid/news/2010changes.html">changes to Dartmouth's undergraduate financial aid policies</a>. None of these changes will impact applicants (or Early Decision admits) to the Class of 2014. For prospective members of the Class of 2015 or future classes, here is a summary of the new policy:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What Has Not Chang</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">ed</span><br /><ul><li>Dartmouth's commitment to being affordable and accessible to all students regardless of their family's financial circumstances</li><li>Maintaining a need-blind admissions process, for all applicants <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">regardless of citizenship</span>, in which the anticipated or actual financial need of a candidate has no bearing on the admissions decision</li><li>Meeting each student's full demonstrated need for all four years of college</li><li>Full tuition grants and the no-loan program for students from households with annual incomes below $75,000<br /></li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;">Now, the Change<br /></span><ul><li>Beginning with the Dartmouth Class of 2015 (whose members will enter Dartmouth in Fall 2011), the College will re-institute a small loan program for financial aid recipients from families which earn more than $75,000 in annual income. The loan amounts will range from $2500 - $5500 per year, depending on family income.</li></ul>For more information, <a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/%7Efinaid/">visit the Office of Financial Aid's website</a>.Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06267111874594299687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8053321593961958885.post-52125880937036731952010-02-10T10:34:00.003-05:002010-02-16T13:00:09.930-05:00LGBTQA Life Discussion With StudentsTwo of our current students will be hosting a "Dartmouth Life" discussion about <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">LGBTQA</span> community, resources, and academics on Tuesday, February 16 at 6:30 EST. <a href="http://www.ustream.tv/channel/dartmouth-life">Join the conversation online</a>.Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11246272174277718397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8053321593961958885.post-85274685485110179592010-01-28T12:03:00.003-05:002010-02-04T22:12:20.019-05:00A Capacity for Self-RenewalI didn’t make any resolutions at the start of 2010. It’s been a year of big changes and events for me – getting married tops the list – and I decided against trying to add anything else, but I’ve been thinking about my own capacity for self-renewal.<br /><br />As a teacher and college counselor at Greenhills School, I found myself returning to the school’s <a href="http://www.greenhillsschool.org/about/mission.php">mission statement</a> frequently, particularly the last part: “[students]… whose lives have meaning, balance, and a capacity for self-renewal.” What an important thing for a school to aspire to nurture in its students (the more daunting part being, how do you do that?)<br /><br />I find myself searching for signs of this in the applications I read, too. Driven, motivated individuals strive to pack their days. We squeeze ever last moment out of hour-23 and minute-52. There is pressure to adjust schedules to make room for just one more AP course. If you’re already president of two organizations (and captain of a team) how much difference could one more vice president post really make? (And it will look so good to those colleges and admissions officers, right?!)<br /><br />Don’t get me wrong, we want to see students who seize opportunities and have an impact on their communities. We want to see that an applicant has elected an appropriately challenging set of courses and is willing to push some of his or her own intellectual boundaries and comfort zones. In my November 20 <a href="http://dartmouthperspectives.blogspot.com/2009/11/you-hit-submit.html">post</a>, I listed five basic questions we ask when reviewing applications, one of them being, what choices has this student made?<br /><br />Your choices are important to us. Your ability to balance that rigorous load is important, not simply with the aim of moving forward and adding more and more, but so that you can grow, impact others, and appreciate your accomplishments and activities. That capacity for self-renewal is critical, in my mind, but students don’t often let us know what that looks like for them.<br /><br />This time of year – and this year in particular with Dartmouth’s <a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/%7Epresident/bio/">new president</a>, the events in Haiti, the economy and current political scene – I find the Dartmouth community examining its own capacity for self-renewal. We’ve been named one of the <a href="http://www.boozallen.com/media/file/143411.pdf">most enduring institutions</a> in the world, and I also believe Dartmouth is a place that can realize tremendous growth over relatively brief periods of time, much of which is student initiated. Our <a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/%7Eide/programs/mlk/">MLK Day celebrations</a> are an annual opportunity to take stock of where we are and where we aspire to be in the coming years (Dartmouth will turn 250 in 2019!)<br /><br />The capacity for self-renewal allows for moments of reflection and renewed sense of purpose, and it can also provide the opportunity to re-commit ourselves to the values we hold most dear.<br /><br />At its best, the application and admissions process can provide an opportunity to reflect back on your accomplishments, growth, and plans for the future. I hope you protect time in your busy schedules to actively reflect on your many endeavors and sustain and grow your own capacity for self-renewal. It will serve you well in college, and beyond. And I hope you will feel confident in sharing your decision-making process through your application materials and, perhaps, an interview. We value what you have chosen to take on, but we also value the process by which you arrived at a decision not to add something else to your plate.<br /><br />I am interested to read how you maintain your own capacity for self-renewal (seriously, I’m taking suggestions.) Students, counselors, teachers, parents (and admissions colleagues) – what do you do?<br /><br />My top seven from the last week or so:<br /><br />I took my first run down the <a href="http://skiway.dartmouth.edu/">Dartmouth Skiway</a> on Saturday at about 4PM. It was clear, crisp, and the light was beautiful on the trees and hills.<br /><br />I re-discovered the great <a href="http://chad.dartmouth-hitchcock.org/documents/pdf/Schweitzer_Trailmap.pdf">trail system</a> that runs through the woods surrounding the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.<br /><br /><br />I was thoroughly impressed by the MLK Celebration <a href="http://thedartmouth.com/2010/01/19/news/MLK">keynote speaker</a>, Kimberle Williams Crenshaw, and the comments of Dartmouth’s own, Jessica Guthrie ’10.<br /><br />I read a bit more about my <a href="http://www.yale.edu/opa/arc-ybc/v28.n3/story10.html">grandfather’s</a> vision for the role of university presses in the mid-twentieth century.<br /><br />I cleaned my kitchen (truth be told, we ran out of both dishes and counter space).<br /><br />I am inspired by The Rev. Nancy A. G. Vogele, Dartmouth Class of 1985, of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in White River Junction, VT. You can check out some of her sermons <a href="http://www.stpauls-wrj.org/StPaulsSermons.dsp">here</a>.<br /><br />I am enjoying <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/24/books/24masl.html">Richard Russo’s “Bridge of Sighs”</a>.<br /><br />I had a great dinner with a couple of friends and colleagues.Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11246272174277718397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8053321593961958885.post-18856774120363052042010-01-26T16:10:00.006-05:002010-01-26T16:56:56.257-05:00Online Discussion With President Kim: Mobilizing School CommunitiesI wanted to share this invitation to join in conversation with President Kim today at 5:30 EST. You can also learn more about <a href="http://www.ustream.tv/channel/conversations-with-admissions">last-minute financial aid advice</a> in a chat today hosted by Admissions & Financial Aid at 6:15 EST.<br /><br />Dear students across the nation,<br /><br />Dr. Jim Yong Kim will be leading an online discussion on *Tuesday, January 26 at 5:30pm EST* on the national student response to the recent earthquake in Haiti.<br /><br />To access the online discussion at 5:30pm EST, visit:<br />http://act.pih.org/jyk-students<br /><br />As President of Dartmouth College and a co-founder of Partners In Health, Dr. Kim will speak about the earthquake, PIH's response, why national student solidarity is critical to the response, and how students from across the country can help.<br /><br />The call is open to all students (graduate, undergraduate, high school, middle school, etc) who are interested in learning more about the situation and how to mobilize their school communities to respond to the earthquake in Haiti.<br /><br />Dr. Kim will be speaking via an online video stream and taking live questions through the video player's chat feature. We will also be accepting questions by email up until the talk begins. To send your question in early, email sdhr@dartmouth.edu with the subject line "JYK TALK: Your name, your school"<br /><br />For Jim Yong Kim's bio: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~president/bio/<br /><br />In solidarity,<br /><br />Frances Vernon<br />Dartmouth College, Student Body President<br /><br />Peter Luckow<br />Northwestern University and GlobeMed National Office<br /><br />David Gobaud<br />Stanford University, Student Body President<br />http://assu.stanford.edu/Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11246272174277718397noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8053321593961958885.post-48154838131196823542010-01-22T16:55:00.006-05:002010-01-26T10:48:59.603-05:00MLK Celebrations: Dartmouth students rock my worldFrom January 16 - 29th, the whole Dartmouth community is engaged in our annual celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Events have included a lively concert with African-American Appalachian string-band The Carolina Chocolate Drops, the Keynote Address by law professor Kimberle Williams Crenshaw, and countless films, dinners, presentations, and discussions. The two events that most impressed me were completely student organized: the Student Conference on Global Learning, and the student performance showcase "Lifted."<br /><br /><a href="http://dickey.dartmouth.edu/content/view/208/200/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Student Conference on Global Learning</span></a> featured Dartmouth students who recently pursued international internships and projects, thanks to Dartmouth's unique calendar -- the <a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/apply/generalinfo/overview/dplan.html">D-Plan</a>. From researching AIDS in Vietnam, to volunteering in Cameroon, to interning with the World Health Organization in Geneva, to interviewing Iraqi refugees in Syria... (and so much more!), Dartmouth students have stretched themselves during their terms away from Hanover, and this week reflected upon their experiences. Read their presentation abstracts <a href="http://dickey.dartmouth.edu/content/view/208/200/">here</a>. I am amazed and inspired just by browsing the summaries!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">LIFTED: A Celebration of Unity and Song</span>, the culmination of our MLK celebration, is a dinner, fundraiser, dance show, and community party all rolled into one. Students have teamed up to bring together high-energy performances from hip-hop dancers in Sheba, slam poets in Soul Scribes, rock band Occam's Razor, and more -- plus food from local favorite restaurants Gusanoz, The Orient, and Jewel of India.<br /><br />One of the best parts of my job in Admissions is staying connected with students and seeing the amazing work they are doing -- across the globe and here in Hanover. This week has been a beautiful example of that, combined with a wonderful celebration of MLK's legacy.Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08245116174812524067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8053321593961958885.post-50981368961482738342010-01-19T16:34:00.004-05:002010-01-22T00:14:11.405-05:00Are we admitting applicants or applications?Earlier this week our staff had a lively discussion with President Kim. He brought up this question about admissions in general and I thought I'd pose it to you.<br /><br />Have you asked yourself this question before? How valid is the premise that an application is actually representative of an applicant? How can black-and-white forms capture a person's potential?<br /><br />This question is not just for college admissions, but also for job hiring and other selection processes.<br /><br />Grades, rank, and curriculum are solid measures of academic performance and potential. However, a liberal arts education is so much more than this. Accordingly, our decisions are based on far more information about the range of qualities you bring to our community. We're looking for intellectual inquiry, passion, leadership, talents, sense of humor, compassion, creativity, and much more. How can the entirety of the application accurately reflect all these more difficult-to-measure qualities?<br /><br />Recommendations can be tremendously helpful. The Peer Evaluation similarly reveals intangible qualities. The Personal Statement shows us your life beyond grades and scores. But are we not still simply admitting the collection of words that have been ascribed to you?<br /><br />What do you think? Are we admitting the applicant or the application? Is there a better process? What would the alternative look like?Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01457980006837872357noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8053321593961958885.post-19563280596217823602010-01-19T16:06:00.005-05:002010-01-26T10:48:44.893-05:00Update: Dartmouth's Relief Efforts in HaitiPresident Kim sent out a late afternoon e-mail regarding the status of our ongoing efforts to support the relief efforts in Haiti:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dh1c_weX8Qk/S1Yhq2B5jQI/AAAAAAAAAD4/8tyYyE8ADHM/s1600-h/haiti-banner.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 70px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dh1c_weX8Qk/S1Yhq2B5jQI/AAAAAAAAAD4/8tyYyE8ADHM/s320/haiti-banner.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428563420783414530" border="0" /></a><br /><br />January 19, 2010<br /><br />To the Dartmouth community:<br /><br />Since last week's earthquake in Haiti, I have been astounded by our community's rapid response to this tragedy. Dartmouth people have come together, and they have reached out to their own networks. The result has been an outpouring of support from students, alumni, faculty, staff, parents, and friends.<br /><br />A team of nine doctors and nurses from <a href="http://www.dhmc.org/">Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center</a> (DHMC) is already on the ground providing direct care to earthquake victims at a <a href="http://www.standwithhaiti.org/haiti">Partners in Health</a> (PIH) hospital in Hinche, Haiti. Another plane carrying 3,000 pounds of supplies landed in Port au Prince yesterday, and a second team of DHMC medical personnel departed from Lebanon, N.H., at 1 p.m. today. I am deeply grateful to these volunteers and the Dartmouth alumni and parents who provided the air transportation.<br /><br />Dartmouth students have quickly mobilized, demonstrating that the world's troubles are their troubles. Through their organization, Students at Dartmouth for Haiti Relief (SDHR), they have raised more than $46,000 to date and are developing a long-term educational effort. Their vision is now serving as a national model, as students at other colleges and universities organize their own responses. I am so proud to see what our students are achieving through compassion, intellect, and hard work.<br /><br />I have often commented on the unique spirit of collaboration at Dartmouth. Now, we are seeing how much we can accomplish by working together. While many other organizations are still trying to set relief efforts in motion, the alliance between Dartmouth College, Dartmouth Medical School, DHMC, and PIH has enabled us to quickly get help to where it is most needed. Regular updates on Dartmouth's response will be posted at <a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/%7Enews/features/haiti/index.html">http://www.dartmouth.edu/~news/features/haiti/index.html</a><br /><br />Many of you have given to relief agencies, including PIH <a href="http://act.pih.org/page/outreach/view/haitiearthquake/DHR">http://act.pih.org/page/outreach/view/haitiearthquake/DHR</a> . I thank you for demonstrating such generosity even as we address financial challenges here in Hanover.<br /><br />Through next week, Dartmouth is celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In 1963, King wrote that, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Our response to Haiti is focused on disaster relief, but we're also working to build social justice for a country that has been allowed to suffer without it for too long.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br /><br />President Jim Yong KimSarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04217854060820897248noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8053321593961958885.post-27577637918018480132010-01-17T22:00:00.001-05:002010-02-02T13:56:01.392-05:00Engineering at Dartmouth: Some Frequently Asked QuestionsNote: To begin what we hope will become a semi-regular feature on this blog, we invited Professor Erland Schulson of the Thayer School of Engineering to answer some frequently asked questions about studying engineering at Dartmouth. In the future, we hope to have similar guest posts from faculty and staff representing various areas of the college. If there are academic or extracurricular topics you would enjoy reading more about on this blog, please leave a comment on this post with your suggestions. -Brian<br />------------------------------------------<br /><br />Guest Post by Professor Erland Schulson<br />Char, Engineering Sciences Department<br /><a href="mailto:Erland.Schulson@Dartmouth.edu">Erland.Schulson@Dartmouth.edu</a><br /><br /><br /><br />Dartmouth and the <a href="http://engineering.dartmouth.edu/index.html">Thayer School of Engineering </a>believe that nothing should stand in the way of creativity, collaboration, and innovation. That’s why you won’t find departments at Thayer, and you won’t be limited to a single area of engineering. Instead, you’ll study <a href="http://engineering.dartmouth.edu/undergraduate/courses/">Engineering Sciences</a>. You’ll master broad principles you can apply in all areas of engineering as you solve real-world problems. You’ll explore a variety of disciplines before delving into a specialty of your choice.<br /><br /><strong>1) How is the undergraduate program structured in the absence of engineering departments?<br /></strong><br />A single department brings together faculty with expertise in a range of engineering and science disciplines. Students are mentored by teachers who are not only experts in one or more fields but also generalists who can envision solutions that cut across traditional disciplines.<br /><br />During the <a href="http://engineering.dartmouth.edu/undergraduate/ab/index.html">A.B. program</a>, core engineering courses give students tools that are applicable to all fields while electives allow the student to investigate a field of choice.<br /><br />At the heart of the undergraduate curriculum is systems analysis. Not mechanical systems or electrical systems or thermal systems. Systems. Students apply equations for lumped, discrete, and distributed systems to engineering problems from all fields.<br /><br />In our<a href="http://engineering.dartmouth.edu/welcome/engs21_experience.html"> </a><a href="http://engineering.dartmouth.edu/welcome/engs21_experience.html">“Introduction to Engineering” course</a>, you’ll team with other students to meet a real-life challenge, such as devising a way to conserve energy, easing life for people with physical disabilities, or helping children learn. In our core courses you’ll master principles you can apply to all areas of engineering. You’ll delve into various fields — biomedical, materials science, and mechanical, to name a few.<br /><br /><strong>2) I do want to work in a specific area within engineering. Is it possible to prepare for such a career at Dartmouth?</strong><br /><br />Absolutely. At Dartmouth you can select a <a href="http://engineering.dartmouth.edu/undergraduate/be/samples.html">concentration in a particular area of engineering</a>. This coursework focus, combined with projects and/or internships in a particular field, prepares students well for launching careers in a variety of traditional engineering disciplines.<br /><br /><strong>3) The A.B. degree in Engineering Sciences does not lead to professional licensure as an Engineer. What educational and career paths do students pursue with an A.B. degree?</strong><br /><br />Approximately three-quarters of engineering majors acquire Dartmouth’s <a href="http://engineering.dartmouth.edu/undergraduate/be/index.html">professional B.E. degree</a>, and most of the rest go into a variety of full-time employment. Opportunities for A.B.-only graduates include:<br />· Lab technician<br />· Computer design and analysis<br />· Technical sales, marketing, and public relations<br />· Financial consulting<br />· Technical writing<br />· Science and technology public policy<br />Of course many students also go on to Master’s and Ph.D. programs, not only in engineering but also in other fields such as medicine, business, and law.<br /><br /><strong>4) What areas of concentration are available through the B.E. degree option?</strong><br /><br />Although engineering at Dartmouth is cross-disciplinary, students can also pursue interests in traditional engineering fields. Engineering sciences majors who plan to pursue the B.E. program work with faculty advisors to develop the best programs. The sample programs accessed through the list below show the typical foundation and advanced courses for specific engineering fields.<br /><br /><a href="http://engineering.dartmouth.edu/undergraduate/be/biomedical.html">Biomedical Engineering</a><br /><a href="http://engineering.dartmouth.edu/undergraduate/be/biotechnology.html">Biotechnology</a><br /><a href="http://engineering.dartmouth.edu/undergraduate/be/chemical.html">Chemical Engineering</a><br /><a href="http://engineering.dartmouth.edu/undergraduate/be/computer.html">Computer Engineering</a><br /><a href="http://engineering.dartmouth.edu/undergraduate/be/electrical.html">Electrical Engineering</a><br /><a href="http://engineering.dartmouth.edu/undergraduate/be/environmental.html">Environmental Engineering</a><br /><a href="http://engineering.dartmouth.edu/undergraduate/be/materials.html">Materials Science and Engineering</a><br /><a href="http://engineering.dartmouth.edu/undergraduate/be/mechanical.html">Mechanical Engineering</a><br /><br /><br /><strong>5) How does Thayer's approach enhance the engineering student experience at Dartmouth?</strong><br /><br />Most engineering schools advocate interdisciplinary thinking while still requiring a commitment to a specific discipline. Climb into the box first, they say, then think outside it. For Dartmouth engineers, the <a href="http://engineering.dartmouth.edu/about/beyond-departments.html">box does not exist</a>.<br /><br />You'll learn engineering by solving real engineering problems. Even in your <a href="http://engineering.dartmouth.edu/undergraduate/courses/index.html">initial courses</a>, you'll be <a href="http://www.dartmouthengineer.com/2006/10/awards-fall-2006/">inventing things </a>and analyzing problems using tools common to all engineering disciplines.<br /><br />At Dartmouth—the smallest school in the Ivy League—you'll also experience unparalleled personal attention within a close-knit, collaborative community.<br /><br />And because engineering at Dartmouth is part of the liberal arts, you'll gain the skills and knowledge that distinguish Dartmouth engineers as a breed apart. You'll know how to communicate. You'll know how to see the big picture . And, most importantly, you’ll learn how to work with people to get the job done.Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06267111874594299687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8053321593961958885.post-87061111310624406882010-01-15T09:58:00.003-05:002010-01-15T10:12:42.764-05:00Dartmouth's Response to the Haiti Earthquake DisasterAs the world continues to learn the extent of the devastation in Haiti following this week's earthquake near Port-au-Prince, the Dartmouth community is mobilizing to provide financial and medical assistance. Here is a bulletin to the Dartmouth community from <a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/~president/">President Jim Yong Kim</a>, sent yesterday evening:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">To the Dartmouth Community:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Reports on the aftermath of the earthquake that struck Port-au-Prince this week reveal the devastating extent of the damage and loss of life. At Dartmouth, we share the grief of Haitians and are mobilizing to assist in the relief effort.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">As you may know, over 20 years ago I co-founded <a href="http://www.pih.org/home.html">Partners in Health (PIH)</a>, the nonprofit medical relief organization that operates in several countries. My colleagues on the ground tell me that earthquake victims are streaming into PIH clinics in Haiti, which are located in rural areas that sustained less damage. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/14/opinion/14kidder.html">Author Tracy Kidder wrote in The New York Times </a>today that, "As a result of this calamity, Partners in Health probably just became the largest health care provider still standing in all Haiti."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Many of you have asked how you can help. The urgent need is financial support. I encourage you to donate to organizations that you know will make immediate use of your dollars for earthquake relief. I especially encourage you to consider a donation to Partners In Health, </span><a href="https://donate.pih.org/page/contribute/haiti_earthquake"><span style="font-size:78%;">https://donate.pih.org/page/contribute/haiti_earthquake</span></a><span style="font-size:78%;"> . While there are a number of organizations involved in the response, I guarantee that your donation to PIH will go directly to relief efforts. If possible, we ask that you use your Dartmouth email address when making contributions to show our community's support for the Haitian people.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">The greatest threat to Haiti now is a delayed response from people and organizations of goodwill. Dartmouth is in a unique position to help, due to our close relationship with PIH and our expertise in emergency planning. The <a href="http://dms.dartmouth.edu/necep/">New England Center for Emergency Preparedness</a>, which operates out of Dartmouth Medical School and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC), has been working to improve emergency response in the Upper Valley since 1999.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Dr. John Butterly of DHMC is managing Dartmouth's efforts to send medical supplies and a team of physicians, nurses, and critical care personnel to work with PIH in Haiti as a first line of response. There are major transportation and logistical issues related to providing direct aid. While raising monetary aid is imperative, if you believe you have specific expertise, skills, or access to resources that would be helpful, please email </span><a href="mailto:dartmouth.haiti.response@dartmouth.edu"><span style="font-size:78%;">dartmouth.haiti.response@dartmouth.edu</span></a><span style="font-size:78%;">.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">In addition, students across the institution are organizing to raise funds and awareness. I encourage students to attend an open meeting in Alumni Hall on Sunday, January 17, at 6:30 p.m., and to email </span><a href="mailto:students.for.haiti@dartmouth.edu"><span style="font-size:78%;">students.for.haiti@dartmouth.edu</span></a><span style="font-size:78%;"> with questions or ideas.<br />These are difficult financial times at Dartmouth, and we cannot lose our focus on the work ahead of us. However, moments like these are rare and challenge us to show our compassion for those who are facing unspeakable tragedy and desperation.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">As John Sloan Dickey said, the world's troubles are our troubles and right now, Haiti's troubles are as horrific as anything I have witnessed. Let's show the world that Dartmouth will step up when people are truly in need.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Sincerely,<br />Jim Yong Kim</span>Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06267111874594299687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8053321593961958885.post-80860645905990089412009-12-22T16:46:00.004-05:002010-01-15T15:55:08.510-05:00Engineering at Dartmouth<object id="utv52451" height="386" width="480" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" name="utv_n_720988"><param name="_cx" value="10160"><param name="_cy" value="8170"><param name="FlashVars" value=""><param name="Movie" value="http://www.ustream.tv/flash/video/3341341"><param name="Src" value="http://www.ustream.tv/flash/video/3341341"><param name="WMode" value="Window"><param name="Play" value="-1"><param name="Loop" value="-1"><param name="Quality" value="High"><param name="SAlign" value=""><param name="Menu" value="-1"><param name="Base" value=""><param name="AllowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="Scale" value="ShowAll"><param name="DeviceFont" value="0"><param name="EmbedMovie" value="0"><param name="BGColor" value=""><param name="SWRemote" value=""><param name="MovieData" value=""><param name="SeamlessTabbing" value="1"><param name="Profile" value="0"><param name="ProfileAddress" value=""><param name="ProfilePort" value="0"><param name="AllowNetworking" value="all"><param name="AllowFullScreen" value="true"><embed flashvars="loc=%2F&autoplay=false&vid=3341341" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" id="utv52451" name="utv_n_720988" src="http://www.ustream.tv/flash/video/3341341" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="386"></embed></object><br /><br />Maria Laskaris, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid had a great conversation with Joseph Helble, Dean of Dartmouth's Thayer School of Engineering. We want to thank all our viewers who tuned in live and asked a number of phenomenal questions. It was a great conversation thanks to your questions.<br /><br /><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Watch the video and use the notes below as resource in understanding how Dartmouth does Engineering differently. Enjoy.</span><br /><ul><li>One of the most popular and busy areas of Engineering at Dartmouth is <a href="http://engineering.dartmouth.edu/undergraduate/ab/biomed-major.html">biomedical engineering</a>. Many Thayer faculty, alumni, and even undergraduates have been involved in bio-tech start-ups.</li><li>Faculty at Thayer are incredibly active with research and entrepreneurship and what's so amazing about Engineering at Darmouth (and this is true for departments across campus) is that undergraduates have wonderfully easy access to these professors. Dean Helble explains that undergraduates can simply go knock on a professor's door (though likely it'll be open already) to chat about possible work and involvement in research. Or undergraduates can just chat with a professor right after class.</li><li>Computer Engineering at Dartmouth focuses more on hardware while <a href="http://cs.dartmouth.edu/">Computer Science</a> focuses more on software, but there's lots of collaboration between the two fields and departments at Dartmouth.</li><li>For more information about the BA Major in Engineering (liberal arts degree) and the BE (Bachelors of Engineering) <a href="http://engineering.dartmouth.edu/undergraduate/index.html">visit the degrees webpage</a>.</li><li>Students can begin taking engineering classes as early as their first year. AP credits can certainly help students get a jump-start on prerequisites for the degree and that can help them graduate in 4 years with a BA and BE.</li><li>Students interested in Engineering may submit an abstract of their previous research work with their application, though it won't be sent to the Engineering School for review, it'll just help the officer reading your application get a sense of your intellectual work and interests. Please don't send entire papers.</li><li>All Dartmouth majors require a culminating experience (this can be independent research, a play or performance, a project, or any number of things). Similarly, <a href="http://engineering.dartmouth.edu/undergraduate/ab/faq.html">Engineering at Dartmouth (the major and BE) requires a culminating experience</a>.</li><li>Engineering, like all academic programs at Dartmouth, requires time and effort, but engineering students are involved across campus with everything from serving as Captain of the Ski Team to being a tour guide. </li><li>Engineering undergraduates will take courses across campus and fulfill Dartmouth's liberal arts distributive requirements (this is true for BA and BE students).</li><li>Courses in engineering may be co-taught by faculty from other areas of campus, including the Medical School, Tuck School of Business or other departments. Dartmouth is very interdisciplinary by nature given it's size and philosophy.</li><li>Engineers from Dartmouth go on to do pretty much anything and everything. Graduates of Thayer are leading corporations large and small, have started their own firms for engineering or architecture or gone into the arts and design. Some go into finance and consulting while others go into public service and the non-profit sector.</li></ul><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Other Great Resources related to Engineering at Dartmouth</span><br /><ul><li>The <a href="http://engineering.dartmouth.edu/dfr/hybrid.html">Big Green Bus</a><br /></li><li>Dartmouth's <a href="http://engineering.dartmouth.edu/dfr/hybrid.html">Thayer Formula Hybrid</a><br /></li><li>The <a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/~engs21/syllabus21.html">Syllabus for Engineering 21</a>, the first required course for a degree in engineering<br /></li><li>Dartmouth's <a href="http://www.dartmouthhelp.org/projects.html">HELP group</a> (Humanitarian Engineering Leadership Project)<br /></li><li><a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/~sustain/">Sustainability efforts</a> at Dartmouth<br /></li><li><a href="http://greenlite.dartmouth.edu/portal/dartmouth">Green Lite Dartmouth</a>, which helps shape people's behavior to lessen their energy use</li><li><a href="http://www.thegyrobike.com/">Gyrobike</a>, a company started by Dartmouth undergraduates from a project in Engineering 21. They even have a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyrobike">Wikipedia entry</a><br /></li><li><a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/apply/pdfs/visiting_faq.pdf">Visit Dartmouth FAQ </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://engineering.dartmouth.edu/admissions/visit.html">Visiting Thayer information</a><br /></li><li>Previously recorded <a href="http://dartmouthperspectives.blogspot.com/2009/12/pre-med-video-chat-with-dean-laskaris.html">Pre-Med video chat</a> (Sorry the video's a bit choppy, but hopefully it's still helpful)<br /></li><li><a href="http://engineering.dartmouth.edu/thayer360/tour.php">Thayer360</a><br /></li></ul>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01457980006837872357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8053321593961958885.post-46543984438151923792009-12-22T11:24:00.005-05:002009-12-22T14:12:42.578-05:00Admissions Video Chat: Last Minute Application TipsOn December 21, our Dean of Admissions Maria Laskaris and Assistant Director of Admissions Colleen Wearn hosted a video chat called "Last Minute Application Tips." In case you missed it or wish to watch it again, we have it archived <a href="http://dartmouthquestions.blogspot.com/2009/12/application-tips-video.html">here</a>.<br /><br />This afternoon (December 22) we will be hosting a video chat with Joseph Helble, Dean of Dartmouth's <a title="Dartmouth Thayer School of Engineering" href="http://engineering.dartmouth.edu/index.html">Thayer School of Engineering</a>. The chat will begin at 4:00pm EST. Click <a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/apply/admissions/videochat.html">here</a> to participate in the chat.<br /><br />The Office of Admissions will be closed for the winter holidays beginning on December 24 and will re-open on January 4.<br /><br />Happy holidays and good luck to everyone working on college applications!Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06267111874594299687noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8053321593961958885.post-20600082522837063902009-12-17T10:28:00.004-05:002009-12-17T10:53:31.471-05:00How to Ace the Alumni InterviewDuring the upcoming months, Dartmouth alumni across the country will reach out to students in their hometowns that have applied to the College, and invite them to an alumni interview.<br /><br />Looking for advice on how to prepare for interviews? <span style="font-weight: bold;">Check out this inside look at one interviewer's perspective.</span> Blog post <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://gtotd.blogspot.com/2007/07/how-to-ace-college-alumni-interview.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">How to Ace the College Alumni Interview</span></a> offers salient advice and lists questions that interviewers love to ask.<br /><br />More information on Dartmouth's alumni interview process is available <a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/apply/admissions/firstyear/interviews.html">here</a>. Please note that applicants do not need to request an interview; alumni will contact students directly sometime after they have applied to Dartmouth (usually Dec - Feb for Regular Decision). The interview is optional, and if you are unable to interview, or are not contacted due to a shortage of alumni in your region, please don't worry--it will not have an adverse impact on your admissions decision.<br /><br />Finally, I must add a quick personal thank you to all the alumni and students that will spend time interviewing this winter. We on the Admissions Committee really appreciate it!Colleenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08245116174812524067noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8053321593961958885.post-35288360417679869132009-12-16T16:01:00.006-05:002009-12-17T10:01:25.278-05:00Why we do the work that we doThe Young Women's Leadership School of East Harlem shared this video with us. After making these hard decisions, it's quite meaningful to us to see the emotions on the other side. Knowing all the stress that's developed around this entire process, we work hard to keep this process personal and human. Thank you TYWLS for reminding us of this! We welcome you to share with us your personal stories of excitement or disappointment.<br /><br /><object width="480" height="270"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=8075994&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=8075994&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="480" height="270"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/8075994">Untitled</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1808713">Chris Farmer</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12735320319103192554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8053321593961958885.post-80354630018569670012009-12-09T14:15:00.001-05:002009-12-11T14:55:58.831-05:00Class of 2014 Early DecisionThe Dartmouth Admissions Office posted decisions for Early Decision applicants to the web yesterday afternoon at 4:00pm EST. I am sure there is a wide spectrum of emotions present in our blog readership at this point.<br /><br />To read the official Dartmouth press release about this year's Early Decision process, <a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/~news/releases/2009/12/09.html">click here</a><br /><br />In many conversations and meetings over the past few days, the admissions officer staff has been reflecting on the tremendous strength we saw in the Early Decision pool. As Dean Maria <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Laskaris</span> noted in the press release, this year's ED applicants were an extraordinary group, not only in terms of tangible academic credentials, but also with respect to the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">qualitative</span> elements and intangible intellectual and personal qualities that are essential when building a residential academic community. In light of the strength of this pool, we have admitted more students through the Early Decision process than we have in previous years.<br /><br />We recognize that, as is the case every year, we also must disappoint a lot of deserving students with the decisions that we make (hence the spectrum of emotions referenced at the start of this post). A few thoughts:<br /><br /><em><strong>If you were deferred:</strong></em><br /><br />As Tom Petty once sang, "The waiting is the hardest part." Your application will be reviewed again during the Regular Decision round. We recognize that you will need to file applications with other schools, but we encourage you to update your Dartmouth application in the early weeks of 2010. You should submit your final grades from the fall semester/term of your senior year when they are available. If you did not have all required standardized test scores as an Early Decision applicant, we hope you will complete your testing profile for our Regular Decision review. You may wish to submit additional material such as an update on significant awards or accomplishments, another writing sample, and/or another teacher recommendation—any and all of these are optional. If you were not offered an alumni interview as an Early Decision candidate, it is possible that one will be offered to you in the Regular Decisoin process. For an overview of how the alumni interview program works, <a href="http://dartmouthquestions.blogspot.com/2009/10/what-if-i-dont-get-contacted-for.html">click here</a>. Deferred students are admitted to the class at roughly the same rate as Regular Decision candidates.<br /><br /><em><strong>If you were denied:</strong></em><br /><br />As an admissions staff, we are honored every time a student thinks highly enough of Dartmouth to submit a binding application to the College. One of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">consequences</span> of working within a highly selective admissions process is that many of us spend just as much time thinking about the students we do not admit as those we do. We feel this all the more because of the emotion and conviction that we know is behind every Early Decision application. On the one hand, we are appreciative that our Early Decision applicant pool has grown over 25% in the past few years, but we recognize that this also introduces much more disappointment for candidates with a great desire to attend Dartmouth. Our thorough and holistic review of every applicant almost always leaves us confident in the student's potential to succeed academically and personally at the College; the pressures of such a large, qualified applicant pool and a limited enrollment capacity force us to turn terrific candidates away.<br /><br />Congratulations to the those admitted to the Class of 2014! We look forward to welcoming you to Hanover in just 9 months!Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06267111874594299687noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8053321593961958885.post-798435099469790542009-12-08T10:56:00.002-05:002009-12-08T11:03:30.245-05:00It's D(ecision Release)-Day!We are well into the final stages of our Early Decision review process, and all ED applicants will be able to check their decisions online beginning at 4:00pm EST.<br /><br />Applicants: click <a href="https://forms.dartmouth.edu/banner/groucho/twbkwbis.P_WWWLogin?login_type=GOAT">here</a> to log-in and check your decision (but not until 4:00pm EST).<br /><br />Stay tuned to the blog for additional news and information on the Class of 2014 Early Decision process later today.Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06267111874594299687noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8053321593961958885.post-91922830598806710942009-12-03T19:34:00.005-05:002009-12-04T11:03:33.615-05:00Pre-Med Video Chat with Dean Laskaris and Frances Vernon '10<object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" id="utv55475" name="utv_n_973018" width="480" height="386"><param name="flashvars" value="loc=%2F&autoplay=false&vid=2703538"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="src" value="http://www.ustream.tv/flash/video/2703538"><embed flashvars="loc=%2F&autoplay=false&vid=2703538" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" id="utv55475" name="utv_n_973018" src="http://www.ustream.tv/flash/video/2703538" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="386"></embed></object><br />Additional references and resources:<br /><ul><li>More about the <a href="http://www.dhmc.org/webpage.cfm?site_id=2&org_id=566&morg_id=0&sec_id=0&gsec_id=2914&item_id=2914">Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center</a><br /></li><li><a href="http://dickey.dartmouth.edu/content/view/65/52/">Dickey Center for International Understanding</a></li><li><a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/%7Eugar/undergrad/programs.html">Research grants at Dartmouth</a></li><li><a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/%7Efrstyear/work/policies/apexams.html">Credit/placement you can get from AP/IB/A-Level/SAT Subject Tests</a></li><li>We offer many placement exams during First Year orientation to help make sure you're taking the classes that are best for you</li><li>Either SAT or ACT are considered equally. Take whichever is best for you. In addition, you will need to take 2 SAT Subject Tests</li><li><a href="http://ocp-prod.dartmouth.edu/ocp/prod/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ListAll">Dartmouth-run Study Abroad programs</a></li><li>For those less familiar with Dartmouth and its surrounds, the Upper Valley is the region surrounding Dartmouth (the Connecticut River Valley)</li><li>Students can get <a href="http://www.dartmouth.edu/%7Eugar/undergrad/other.html">funding from a number of offices and departments across Dartmouth</a></li><li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlSrFkb-76A">A tribute to President Jim Kim</a></li></ul>Also, don't miss <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://dartmouthperspectives.blogspot.com/2009/11/so-you-want-to-be-pre-med.html">Colleen's post about Pre-Health at Dartmouth</a>. She provides numerous specific examples of how Dartmouth's Pre-health Program stands out.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01457980006837872357noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8053321593961958885.post-68597194165922949812009-12-02T09:41:00.002-05:002009-12-02T12:55:03.946-05:00Facebook and Applying to CollegeI've heard many <a href="http://chronicle.com/article/College-Admissions-as/18021">admissions "conspiracy theories"</a> out there about all types of things. One that many seem to believe is that Admission Officers inspect <a href="http://www.facebook.com/">Facebook</a> to learn more about you when making our decisions. One major purpose of this perspectives blog is to debunk the myths and misconceptions out there about Dartmouth admissions. So let's debunk this one (at least as it relates to Dartmouth admissions. I don't and can't speak for other schools.)<br /><br />Never would we use Facebook to learn more about you for making an admissions decision. Honestly, if I was on Facebook while reading applications I would be hard pressed to get through even a single file given how easily I'm amused by what my friends are doing.<br /><br />Also, you should definitely <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#/privacy/?ref=mb">set your privacy settings</a> so only your friends can view your profile. Although <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook">Dartmouth was one of the very first schools to become part of Facebook</a> (back when it was thefacebook.com), we don't have any special connection that would allow us to see anything more than anyone else. We take privacy and confidentiality very seriously.<br /><br />Also, the reliability of information on Facebook is questionable. We don't want to see the photos your friends tagged you in. Nor do we want to hear what your friends have to say about your status update at 3am.<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">How we do use Facebook: Discover Dartmouth</span><br />Currently the one way Facebook may be used in the college search process is through our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=114920020799&ref=ts">Discover Dartmouth Facebook group</a>. There's a wonderful group of current students who are available in the group to answer your questions and offer information about Dartmouth. If you have a question a student can't answer, they'll contact me or another admissions officer and we'll reply as soon as we can. It's the people who make Dartmouth special and we hope you'll use Discover Dartmouth to meet these people and hear directly from them.<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Facebook is Your Space</span><br />We know the college admissions process is stressful enough. Please don't get yourself worked up about your Facebook profile. That's your space and we do not look at it for admissions. In fact we have a policy not to befriend applicants so that we respect your space in this process. If you're going to be concerned about what's on Facebook, be concerned because your mother, teacher, or possible employer could be watching (but I don't mean to start any more conspiracy theories). Relax. We're not. <div><br /><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">I'm afraid to ask, but what other admissions theories have you heard?</span> I'd love to provide the real story behind the myths and misconceptions. </div>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01457980006837872357noreply@blogger.com0