College Intel

Dartmouth College Admissions

With four professional and graduate schools, an undergraduate population of 4,500, and a postgraduate population of 2,150, one might think that Dartmouth College would opt to call itself “Dartmouth University.” But the Ivy League institution values nostalgia and their long history of focusing on undergraduate education, and has hung onto the “College” moniker as a result. The world-famous university is located on a Georgian colonial campus in lush Hanover, New Hampshire. It’s home to a culture of lively social life, athleticism, and high academic achievement. The alumni base from the Big Green is incredibly close-knit, and has included U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, actress Mindy Kaling, television creator and producer Shonda Rhimes, and beloved children’s book author Dr. Suess.

Dartmouth’s liberal arts college offers over 60 majors, including a world-famous economics program and a robust offering of engineering B.S.E.s. The academic schedule, referred to as the D-Plan, offers students the autonomy, unique within the Ivy League, “to schedule their classes and breaks around their academic, research, and professional interests.” Each year is broken up into quarters organized around the four seasons. Students can mix and match which quarters are “residence terms,” and which are “leave terms,” creating more opportunities for research and internships. Students must live on campus for their first three terms, stick around for a summer term at least once (most students opt for their sophomore summer), and fulfill a writing requirement in their first year. “Distributive and World Culture,” “Language,” and “Physical Education” requirements must be fulfilled prior to graduation.

Dartmouth was founded in 1769 by Eleazar Wheelock, a Congregationalist minister. In its 253 year history, Dartmouth has been at the forefront of major innovations in the fields of language acquisition, computer science, public policy, and American arts and letters. Faculty member John Rassias pioneered the Rassias method of foreign language teaching while at the College, leading to the creation of The Rassias Center for World Languages and Cultures. The original version of the BASIC programming language was created at Dartmouth in 1963 by Professors John Kemeny and Thomas Kurtz. The Nelson A. Rockefeller Center, named for the famed Dartmouth alum and Vice President of the United States, is devoted to the study and advancement of public policy and social sciences, and offers undergraduates opportunities for internships, leadership development, and research. 

You might be wondering, where did the name “Dartmouth” come from? William Legge, 2nd Earl of Dartmouth was appointed the head of the trust created to raise funds for the newly minted college. Wheelock named the school in Dartmouth’s honor, hoping to induce him to offer his own personal financial support, but Legge actually opposed the creation of the college and did not donate a cent. So much for flattery!

When it comes to campus life, around 50% of the student body participates in Greek life, while an unknown number participate in the secret society scene. Three out of every four students play for the Big Green on varsity, club, or intramural sports teams, including nationally-ranked golf, skiing, and collegiate rugby teams. Dartmouth is famous both within the Ivy League and across the nation for some of the longest standing and numerous student traditions in higher education. These include: Dartmouth Night, in which the first-year class builds a huge bonfire and run around it in a circles corresponding to their class year; Winter Carnival, which has been organized by the Outing Club since 1911 and consists of sports competitions, concerts, a drag ball, and a snow sculpture contest; and Green Key Weekend, a three-day long party. Leaving campus to explore the great outdoors is another integral part of student culture, and to this end Dartmouth administers large swathes of land in the New Hampshire area, such as the Second College Grant, a 27,000 acre forested area with trails and cabins maintained by the Outing Club.

Perhaps it goes without saying, but getting into Dartmouth is no walk in the park. For admission to the Class of 2027, 28,841 students applied, and 1,751 were admitted, for an acceptance rate of 6.07% that tracks with the increasing competitiveness of all Ivy League schools. As the smallest of the Ivies, Dartmouth seeks to ensure that everyone entering into its community will contribute to its renowned academic and social culture. Here at Ivy Coach, we’re known in many circles as The Dartmouth Whisperer, and we’ll work with you to make you seem irresistible to the Dartmouth admissions committee!