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.
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?
This question is not just for college admissions, but also for job hiring and other selection processes.
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?
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?
What do you think? Are we admitting the applicant or the application? Is there a better process? What would the alternative look like?
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Update: Dartmouth's Relief Efforts in Haiti
President Kim sent out a late afternoon e-mail regarding the status of our ongoing efforts to support the relief efforts in Haiti:
January 19, 2010
To the Dartmouth community:
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.
A team of nine doctors and nurses from Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) is already on the ground providing direct care to earthquake victims at a Partners in Health (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.
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.
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 http://www.dartmouth.edu/~news/features/haiti/index.html
Many of you have given to relief agencies, including PIH http://act.pih.org/page/outreach/view/haitiearthquake/DHR . I thank you for demonstrating such generosity even as we address financial challenges here in Hanover.
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.
Sincerely,
President Jim Yong Kim
January 19, 2010
To the Dartmouth community:
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.
A team of nine doctors and nurses from Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) is already on the ground providing direct care to earthquake victims at a Partners in Health (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.
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.
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 http://www.dartmouth.edu/~news/features/haiti/index.html
Many of you have given to relief agencies, including PIH http://act.pih.org/page/outreach/view/haitiearthquake/DHR . I thank you for demonstrating such generosity even as we address financial challenges here in Hanover.
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.
Sincerely,
President Jim Yong Kim
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Engineering at Dartmouth: Some Frequently Asked Questions
Note: 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
------------------------------------------
Guest Post by Professor Erland Schulson
Char, Engineering Sciences Department
Erland.Schulson@Dartmouth.edu
Dartmouth and the Thayer School of Engineering 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 Engineering Sciences. 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.
1) How is the undergraduate program structured in the absence of engineering departments?
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.
During the A.B. program, core engineering courses give students tools that are applicable to all fields while electives allow the student to investigate a field of choice.
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.
In our “Introduction to Engineering” course, 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.
2) I do want to work in a specific area within engineering. Is it possible to prepare for such a career at Dartmouth?
Absolutely. At Dartmouth you can select a concentration in a particular area of engineering. 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.
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?
Approximately three-quarters of engineering majors acquire Dartmouth’s professional B.E. degree, and most of the rest go into a variety of full-time employment. Opportunities for A.B.-only graduates include:
· Lab technician
· Computer design and analysis
· Technical sales, marketing, and public relations
· Financial consulting
· Technical writing
· Science and technology public policy
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.
4) What areas of concentration are available through the B.E. degree option?
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.
Biomedical Engineering
Biotechnology
Chemical Engineering
Computer Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Environmental Engineering
Materials Science and Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
5) How does Thayer's approach enhance the engineering student experience at Dartmouth?
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 box does not exist.
You'll learn engineering by solving real engineering problems. Even in your initial courses, you'll be inventing things and analyzing problems using tools common to all engineering disciplines.
At Dartmouth—the smallest school in the Ivy League—you'll also experience unparalleled personal attention within a close-knit, collaborative community.
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.
------------------------------------------
Guest Post by Professor Erland Schulson
Char, Engineering Sciences Department
Erland.Schulson@Dartmouth.edu
Dartmouth and the Thayer School of Engineering 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 Engineering Sciences. 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.
1) How is the undergraduate program structured in the absence of engineering departments?
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.
During the A.B. program, core engineering courses give students tools that are applicable to all fields while electives allow the student to investigate a field of choice.
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.
In our “Introduction to Engineering” course, 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.
2) I do want to work in a specific area within engineering. Is it possible to prepare for such a career at Dartmouth?
Absolutely. At Dartmouth you can select a concentration in a particular area of engineering. 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.
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?
Approximately three-quarters of engineering majors acquire Dartmouth’s professional B.E. degree, and most of the rest go into a variety of full-time employment. Opportunities for A.B.-only graduates include:
· Lab technician
· Computer design and analysis
· Technical sales, marketing, and public relations
· Financial consulting
· Technical writing
· Science and technology public policy
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.
4) What areas of concentration are available through the B.E. degree option?
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.
Biomedical Engineering
Biotechnology
Chemical Engineering
Computer Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Environmental Engineering
Materials Science and Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
5) How does Thayer's approach enhance the engineering student experience at Dartmouth?
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 box does not exist.
You'll learn engineering by solving real engineering problems. Even in your initial courses, you'll be inventing things and analyzing problems using tools common to all engineering disciplines.
At Dartmouth—the smallest school in the Ivy League—you'll also experience unparalleled personal attention within a close-knit, collaborative community.
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.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Dartmouth's Response to the Haiti Earthquake Disaster
As 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 President Jim Yong Kim, sent yesterday evening:
To the Dartmouth Community:
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.
As you may know, over 20 years ago I co-founded Partners in Health (PIH), 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. Author Tracy Kidder wrote in The New York Times today that, "As a result of this calamity, Partners in Health probably just became the largest health care provider still standing in all Haiti."
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, https://donate.pih.org/page/contribute/haiti_earthquake . 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.
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 New England Center for Emergency Preparedness, 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.
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 dartmouth.haiti.response@dartmouth.edu.
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 students.for.haiti@dartmouth.edu with questions or ideas.
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.
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.
Sincerely,
Jim Yong Kim
To the Dartmouth Community:
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.
As you may know, over 20 years ago I co-founded Partners in Health (PIH), 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. Author Tracy Kidder wrote in The New York Times today that, "As a result of this calamity, Partners in Health probably just became the largest health care provider still standing in all Haiti."
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, https://donate.pih.org/page/contribute/haiti_earthquake . 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.
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 New England Center for Emergency Preparedness, 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.
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 dartmouth.haiti.response@dartmouth.edu.
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 students.for.haiti@dartmouth.edu with questions or ideas.
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.
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.
Sincerely,
Jim Yong Kim
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Engineering at Dartmouth
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.
Watch the video and use the notes below as resource in understanding how Dartmouth does Engineering differently. Enjoy.
- One of the most popular and busy areas of Engineering at Dartmouth is biomedical engineering. Many Thayer faculty, alumni, and even undergraduates have been involved in bio-tech start-ups.
- 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.
- Computer Engineering at Dartmouth focuses more on hardware while Computer Science focuses more on software, but there's lots of collaboration between the two fields and departments at Dartmouth.
- For more information about the BA Major in Engineering (liberal arts degree) and the BE (Bachelors of Engineering) visit the degrees webpage.
- 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.
- 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.
- All Dartmouth majors require a culminating experience (this can be independent research, a play or performance, a project, or any number of things). Similarly, Engineering at Dartmouth (the major and BE) requires a culminating experience.
- 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.
- Engineering undergraduates will take courses across campus and fulfill Dartmouth's liberal arts distributive requirements (this is true for BA and BE students).
- 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.
- 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.
- The Big Green Bus
- Dartmouth's Thayer Formula Hybrid
- The Syllabus for Engineering 21, the first required course for a degree in engineering
- Dartmouth's HELP group (Humanitarian Engineering Leadership Project)
- Sustainability efforts at Dartmouth
- Green Lite Dartmouth, which helps shape people's behavior to lessen their energy use
- Gyrobike, a company started by Dartmouth undergraduates from a project in Engineering 21. They even have a Wikipedia entry
- Visit Dartmouth FAQ
- Visiting Thayer information
- Previously recorded Pre-Med video chat (Sorry the video's a bit choppy, but hopefully it's still helpful)
- Thayer360
Admissions Video Chat: Last Minute Application Tips
On 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 here.
This afternoon (December 22) we will be hosting a video chat with Joseph Helble, Dean of Dartmouth's Thayer School of Engineering. The chat will begin at 4:00pm EST. Click here to participate in the chat.
The Office of Admissions will be closed for the winter holidays beginning on December 24 and will re-open on January 4.
Happy holidays and good luck to everyone working on college applications!
This afternoon (December 22) we will be hosting a video chat with Joseph Helble, Dean of Dartmouth's Thayer School of Engineering. The chat will begin at 4:00pm EST. Click here to participate in the chat.
The Office of Admissions will be closed for the winter holidays beginning on December 24 and will re-open on January 4.
Happy holidays and good luck to everyone working on college applications!
Thursday, December 17, 2009
How to Ace the Alumni Interview
During 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.
Looking for advice on how to prepare for interviews? Check out this inside look at one interviewer's perspective. Blog post How to Ace the College Alumni Interview offers salient advice and lists questions that interviewers love to ask.
More information on Dartmouth's alumni interview process is available here. 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.
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!
Looking for advice on how to prepare for interviews? Check out this inside look at one interviewer's perspective. Blog post How to Ace the College Alumni Interview offers salient advice and lists questions that interviewers love to ask.
More information on Dartmouth's alumni interview process is available here. 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.
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!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Why we do the work that we do
The 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.
Untitled from Chris Farmer on Vimeo.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Class of 2014 Early Decision
The 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.
To read the official Dartmouth press release about this year's Early Decision process, click here
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 Laskaris 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 qualitative 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.
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:
If you were deferred:
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, click here. Deferred students are admitted to the class at roughly the same rate as Regular Decision candidates.
If you were denied:
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 consequences 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.
Congratulations to the those admitted to the Class of 2014! We look forward to welcoming you to Hanover in just 9 months!
To read the official Dartmouth press release about this year's Early Decision process, click here
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 Laskaris 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 qualitative 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.
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:
If you were deferred:
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, click here. Deferred students are admitted to the class at roughly the same rate as Regular Decision candidates.
If you were denied:
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 consequences 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.
Congratulations to the those admitted to the Class of 2014! We look forward to welcoming you to Hanover in just 9 months!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
It'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.
Applicants: click here to log-in and check your decision (but not until 4:00pm EST).
Stay tuned to the blog for additional news and information on the Class of 2014 Early Decision process later today.
Applicants: click here to log-in and check your decision (but not until 4:00pm EST).
Stay tuned to the blog for additional news and information on the Class of 2014 Early Decision process later today.
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