How to Get Into Dartmouth: What Actually Works

Acceptance Rate: 6.0%

Dartmouth College's 6% acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 (admissions year 2025) reflects one of the most selective admissions processes in the country. Out of 28,230 applications, just 1,702 students received admission offers, continuing a remarkable downward trend from even a decade ago when the acceptance rate sat at around 9%. Getting into Dartmouth is extraordinarily competitive; your acceptance odds are roughly the same whether you apply Early Decision or Regular Decision given the school's overall selectivity. This low acceptance rate means that thousands of applicants with near-perfect transcripts and test scores will face rejection. The important thing to understand is that Dartmouth is not looking for students who are simply accomplished on paper; they are searching for individuals who will contribute something meaningful and distinctive to their close-knit residential community of 4,000 undergraduates.

Average SAT: 1540

Average ACT: 34

Dartmouth admitted students score in the 99th percentile nationally on standardized tests. If your SAT score falls below 1440 or your ACT score below 33, you begin your application at a significant disadvantage. Note that Dartmouth has reinstated its standardized testing requirement for the Class of 2029 and beyond, meaning you must submit either an SAT or ACT score. Approximately 43% of admitted students submitted SAT scores while 24% submitted ACT scores. Dartmouth superscores both the SAT and ACT, meaning admissions officers will consider your highest section scores across multiple test dates. While exceptional applicants with slightly lower scores can still gain admission if other aspects of their application are truly remarkable, this is the exception rather than the rule. The reality is that test scores serve as an initial screening mechanism; submitting a strong score significantly strengthens your candidacy and ensures you pass this critical first hurdle.

Average Unweighted GPA: 3.9

Nearly 94% of admitted Dartmouth students rank in the top 10% of their high school class, and more than a quarter were valedictorians or salutatorians. An unweighted GPA of 3.9 is the norm among accepted students. This means you need to demonstrate consistent excellence throughout all four years of high school, with particular strength in honors, AP, and IB courses. Admissions officers understand that different high schools have different grading practices and course offerings; they evaluate your performance within your own school's context. What matters most is that you have challenged yourself by taking the most rigorous courses available at your specific school and performed exceptionally well in those courses. A student who earns mostly A's in AP and IB classes will be viewed more favorably than a student with a higher weighted GPA from a school with fewer advanced offerings. Maintain strong grades through senior year, as admissions officers pay close attention to upward (or sustained high) performance across all four years.

Beyond the numbers, what separates admitted Dartmouth students is their demonstrated intellectual depth and a genuine, authentic curiosity about ideas and the world. Admissions officers report that they reject far more valedictorians and perfect test-takers than they admit. What makes the difference is evidence that you think deeply about problems and connect ideas across different fields. Rather than simply stating you are interested in environmental science, show how you have explored this interest through independent reading, personal research projects, conversations with experts, or by applying environmental concepts to real situations in your community. This intellectual passion must be specific and genuine, not a generic interest in helping people or solving global problems. Dartmouth admissions officers look for signs that you actively engage with complex ideas, ask meaningful questions, and pursue knowledge beyond what is required of you in the classroom. They want students who will be active participants in intellectual discussions across campus and will challenge each other to think more deeply.

Admitted Dartmouth students typically demonstrate sustained commitment and real leadership in a small number of extracurricular activities rather than joining a long list of clubs. The college specifically seeks students who have made a tangible impact on their school or community; they want evidence that you didn't just participate passively, but that you led initiatives, started something new, or achieved meaningful results. This might mean founding a peer tutoring program, launching a community service project that addressed a real need, organizing a successful fundraising campaign, or becoming a recognized expert in a specialized skill or sport. What matters is showing depth of involvement over multiple years, not breadth across many activities. The admissions office values students who can demonstrate concrete outcomes from their involvement: Did you increase program participation? Did you secure funding? Did you help others grow? Admissions officers also look carefully at whether you have taken on leadership positions and how your participation directly benefited others. They understand that not every student is a captain or president, but they do want to see evidence of initiative and real commitment.

Perhaps most importantly, successful applicants demonstrate strong character and personal values that align with Dartmouth's mission as a residential community. Admissions officers want to understand who you are as a person: what drives you, what you care deeply about, how you treat others, and how you engage with different perspectives and ideas. Your essays, teacher recommendations, and the overall narrative of your application should reveal not just your accomplishments but your integrity, resilience, and genuine care for your community. Many admitted students can articulate what service and contribution to society means to them personally, and they demonstrate this through their actions. The Dartmouth community is built on an honor code and a commitment to collaborative learning; the admissions office is looking for students who will strengthen this culture. They want evidence that you value honesty, intellectual integrity, and the wellbeing of others. Character comes through in how you handle challenges, how you treat people different from yourself, and what kind of friend and community member you would be at Dartmouth.

Dartmouth rates its essays as a "very important" factor in admissions, placing them in the same category of importance as your GPA, rigor of coursework, and extracurriculars. Your essays are the primary place where admissions officers hear your authentic voice and gain insight into how you think and who you are as a person. The essays are often what separates a merely strong application from a truly exceptional one, which explains why many valedictorians and perfect test-takers are outcompeted by applicants with slightly lower academic credentials but significantly stronger essays. This is your opportunity to demonstrate your intellectual curiosity, your values, your sense of humor, and your unique perspective in a way that your transcript and test scores simply cannot convey. Admissions officers will read thousands of applications; your essays must be authentic and memorable.

You should check out the how to write the Dartmouth supplemental essays article to see details on how to write the Dartmouth essays.

Your supplemental essays should focus on revealing genuine intellectual curiosity and demonstrating depth of thought rather than what you think admissions officers want to hear. When responding to prompts about your academic interests, avoid simply listing subjects you find interesting. Instead, tell the story of how your curiosity developed. Share specific moments that sparked your interest, describe the questions that fascinate you, and explain how you have pursued deeper understanding on your own time. Admissions officers want to see that you think in sophisticated ways and can connect ideas across different disciplines, showing how your various interests complement each other. Be specific about which Dartmouth programs, courses, professors, and resources align with your intellectual interests, going beyond surface-level name-dropping to explain concretely what you hope to gain and how you will contribute. For your "Why Dartmouth?" essay, demonstrate genuine knowledge of the school by referencing specific aspects of Dartmouth that truly appeal to you. Research the school thoroughly, attend virtual information sessions, and connect with current students if possible. Your essay should make it clear that you understand Dartmouth's unique residential system, intimate class sizes, emphasis on experiential learning, and close-knit community.

Rather than pursuing numerous extracurriculars, focus your energy on a small number of activities where you can create meaningful impact and develop genuine expertise. Choose activities you truly care about, not those you believe will look impressive on an application. Once you have selected your extracurriculars, pursue them with real commitment over multiple years, taking on leadership roles whenever possible. When describing your involvement, focus not on the total hours you have logged but on the specific challenges you faced, the initiatives you took, and the concrete outcomes you achieved. Show admissions officers that you didn't simply participate passively but contributed meaningfully to your community. If you have pursued arts, music, dance, or theater, include that prominently in your application. Dartmouth particularly values students who have meaningful engagement with the arts, whether at a high competitive level or through personal passion. Additionally, consider how your application narrative all fits together. Every component should work cohesively to tell a clear story about who you are, what you value, and why you would be an excellent fit for Dartmouth.

Every element of your application should work together to present a coherent picture of who you are and why you belong at Dartmouth. Choose rigorous coursework across all core subjects (English, math, science, history, and foreign language), taking AP or IB courses if available at your school, to demonstrate that you have challenged yourself and are prepared for Dartmouth's demanding academics. Secure strong letters of recommendation from teachers who know you well and can speak to specific examples of your engagement, character, and intellectual curiosity. Treat recommendations seriously by selecting teachers who taught you in rigorous courses and can describe you as one of the most impressive students they have worked with. Finally, understand that Dartmouth is looking for students who will contribute to its unique residential community in meaningful ways. Show throughout your application that you understand the school's values, that you are genuinely interested in being part of a community built on honor code principles, and that you have thoughtful ideas about how you will engage with others and take advantage of the distinctive opportunities Dartmouth offers. If applicable, consider submitting work samples that showcase your writing ability, as this further demonstrates your intellectual capabilities and can set your application apart.