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July 21, 2024

Dartmouth College Supplemental Essay Prompts: 2024-2025

Dartmouth College has released its essay prompts for the 2024-2025 college admissions cycle. In addition to The Common Application ’s Personal Statement, applicants to Dartmouth will be required to answer three supplemental essays: one of 100 words or fewer and two of 250 words or fewer. So what are this year’s Dartmouth essay prompts ? Hint, hint: They’re mostly the same as last year’s, with a few reworded and two new questions.

2024-2025 Dartmouth Essay Topics & Questions

1. required of all applicants. please respond in 100 words or fewer:.

As you seek admission to Dartmouth’s Class of 2029, what aspects of the college’s academic program, community, and/or campus environment attract your interest? How is Dartmouth a good fit for you?

Make no mistake: it’s a Why College essay . While the prompt may be a bit wordier than the equivalent essay for other universities, Dartmouth is asking applicants to detail specifics on why they wish to attend the College on the Hill.

And if you’re a regular reader of Ivy Coach ’s college admissions blog , you know that name-dropping professors or listing classes do not count as genuine specifics. Why College essays should not be approached like a game of Mad Libs where you find and replace a specific for one institution with another’s. Instead, it’s about capturing enduring specifics about a university that only apply to the school in question.

2. Required of all applicants, please respond to one of the following prompts in 250 words or fewer

A. There is a Quaker saying: Let your life speak. Describe the environment in which you were raised and the impact it has had on the person you are today.

This essay should be approached as a chance to share a story about who you are and where you come from. But there’s a trap. When so many students read the word “raised,” they’re inclined to write about themselves as children. Instead, admissions officers would much prefer to read about you as high schoolers. They want to understand who you are, how you think, and how you want to leave a mark on the world now — not as children.  

B. “Be yourself,” Oscar Wilde advised. “Everyone else is taken.” Introduce yourself.

This option is even more of a free-write than the first option for Dartmouth’s second essay. Just as The Common Application allows students to write whatever they’d like, Dartmouth provides another opportunity to write what they wish. Students should always write material that complements their other essays rather than tell the same story twice. Essays, in this way, should be thought of as puzzle pieces. They must fit neatly together, and no two essays can be the same shape.

3. Required of all applicants, please respond to one of the following prompts in 250 words or fewer:

A. What excites you?

This prompt allows a student to showcase how they will change the world. Too often, students write about silly things for such broad questions, and such answers usually don’t showcase intellectual curiosity. Since Dartmouth, and all highly selective universities, seeks to admit singularly talented students — rather than well-rounded students — we at Ivy Coach would always encourage students to creatively shine a spotlight on their hook in such an answer.

B. Labor leader and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta recommended a life of purpose. “We must use our lives to make the world a better place to live, not just to acquire things,” she said. “That is what we are put on the earth for.” In what ways do you hope to make—or are you already making—an impact? Why? How?

This essay prompt allows students to showcase how they’ve contributed — ideally through their singular hook — to their school or larger community. But it should not be misconstrued as an opportunity to brag about one’s achievements since doing so will render an applicant less likable in the very human admissions process.

By simply writing about what a student has done — and leaving out even subtle brags — it’s easy for students to make the leap of what they hope to accomplish. And students should always make sure the goal isn’t too grandiose. For a student’s storytelling and activities in college admissions, saving sea turtles always beats ending climate change.

C. In “Oh, The Places You’ll Go,” Dr. Seuss invites us to “Think and wonder. Wonder and think.” Imagine your anticipated academic major: How does that course of study sync with Dr. Seuss’s advice to you?

Dartmouth’s admissions officers want to know your thoughts and what drives you. They want to understand what you go to sleep thinking about or, in essence, how you hope to change the world in a singular and meaningful way. Like all admissions officers at elite universities, Dartmouth’s readers want to know that you’re introspective and driven to leave your mark on the world.

D. The social and family interactions of wild chimpanzees have been the focus of Dame Jane Goodall’s research for decades. Her understanding of animal behavior prompted the English primatologist to see a lesson for human communities as well: “Change happens by listening and then starting a dialogue with the people who are doing something you don’t believe is right.” Channel Dame Goodall: Tell us about a moment when you engaged in a difficult conversation or encountered someone with an opinion or perspective that was different from your own. How did you find common ground?

Like all highly selective universities, Dartmouth celebrates intellectual diversity. As such, Dartmouth’s admissions officers seek to admit students with differing viewpoints. This new essay prompt is a way for admissions officers to gauge if students will be respectful of the points of view of others when they differ from their own. They want to see that students are malleable to changing their opinions when presented with information they didn’t previously consider.

E. Celebrate your nerdy side.

It’s a broad prompt that allows students to write whatever they wish. But it’s also a booby trap: too many students think that just by spotlighting their nerdiness, they’ll wow Dartmouth admissions officers. If students write about physics, they may write in indecipherable jargon. That’s a mistake. The writing must always be understandable — even to laypeople, as Dartmouth admissions officers aren’t physicists.

F. “It’s not easy being green…” was the frequent refrain of Kermit the Frog. How has difference been a part of your life, and how have you embraced it as part of your identity, outlook, or sense of purpose?

Like some of Dartmouth’s other essay prompts for the 2024-2025 admissions cycle, this prompt has appeared before in the Dartmouth supplement. And we at Ivy Coach claim credit as one of its authors — along with our Kermit the Frog applicant to Dartmouth from several years ago.

But the prompt has new meaning this year — notably after the outlawing of Affirmative Action. The essay question aims to understand an applicant’s diverse background and appreciation of diversity in all forms. For students, in particular, of diverse backgrounds, we strongly encourage them to write about their culture or race in their answers.

Yet they should approach it as an art form so that it doesn’t come across as though they’re trying to game the system. And even students from non-diverse backgrounds, in their own creative way, can spotlight the diversity they hope to bring and benefit from during their college years.

F. Buddy Teevens ’79 was a legendary and much-beloved coach at Dartmouth. He often told parents: “Your son will be a great football player when it’s football time, a great student when it’s academic time, and a great person all of the time.” If Coach Teevens had said that to you, what would it mean to be “a great person”?

As loyal readers may know, the late Dartmouth football coach Buddy Teevens was a hero of Ivy Coach’s college admissions blog . He made the game of football safer for all by banning tackling in practices and creating the Mobile Virtual Player alongside Dartmouth engineering students. He also blazed a trail by hiring female coaches. He was, in no uncertain terms, a great person by any standard. We love that Dartmouth’s admissions office honored Buddy through this open-ended new essay prompt, one that applicants should be mindful not to veer into the realm of cliche.

Ivy Coach’s Assistance with Dartmouth College Essays

If you’re interested in submitting powerful essays to Dartmouth to optimize your case for admission, you’ve come to the right place. Ivy Coach is known as The Dartmouth Whisperer because of our track record of helping students earn admission to the Ivy League institution. Over the last 10 years, 95% of Ivy Coach’s Early Decision applicants to Dartmouth got in. Bo knows baseball. Ivy Coach knows Dartmouth .

So if you’d like our help, help offered directly with Ivy Coach’s Ben Schwartz , a former Dartmouth admissions officer, fill out our consultation form , and we’ll be in touch to delineate our college counseling services for seniors.

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Dartmouth College 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Early Decision: Nov 1

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 2

Dartmouth College 2024-25 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: 1 short essay of 100 words, 2 essays of 250 words each

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Why , Community , Oddball

Dartmouth’s writing supplement requires that applicants write brief responses to three supplemental essay prompts as follows:

1. required of all applicants. please respond in 100 words or fewer:, as you seek admission to dartmouth’s class of 2029, what aspects of the college’s academic program, community, and/or campus environment attract your interest how is dartmouth a good fit for you.

If you have the unsettling feeling that you’ve read this prompt somewhere before, worry not. This prompt should ring a bell because it’s just a slightly more verbose version of the most common supplemental essay question out there: why here? Dartmouth is specifically probing for information about what piques your interest about its academics, community, and/or campus environment. Focus on how you would spend your time at Dartmouth and how the environment might enrich your own sense of purpose. What are you hoping to major in and why? What cozy corners of campus would you curl up in to review course materials? Are you eager to get involved in the student newspaper or gospel choir? How would this school’s unique offerings, ethos, or campus community support your interests, personality, and values, and how will you get involved? As with all other “why” prompts, research is the key to writing a memorable essay, so spend a little time on the Dartmouth website and literally map your path from where you are now to where you hope to be in the near or distant future.

2. Required of all applicants, please respond to one of the following prompts in 250 words or fewer:

A.  there is a quaker saying: let your life speak. describe the environment in which you were raised and the impact it has had on the person you are today..

Admissions wants to know what or who has made you into the person you are today. Where do you come from? What has shaped you as a person, and how has that made your perspective unique? What you focus on here can be reflective of larger cultural constructs or specific to you and only you. Dartmouth is looking to add diverse perspectives to weave into the fabric of their student body. Is there anything you can teach your classmates about your hometown, traditions, culture, cuisine, orientation, identity, race, or ethnicity that they might not already know? Were you raised in a Muslim family in a small southern town? Have you grown up on a farm tending to the animals and land? Were you adopted as a toddler? Consider what has influenced your identity and how your worldview or background will bring something of value to the community at Dartmouth.

B.  “Be yourself,” Oscar Wilde advised. “Everyone else is taken.” Introduce yourself.

This is the kind of prompt that tends to stump students the most. It’s so open-ended that many applicants don’t know where or how to start—but don’t worry, you’ll have a finished draft in no time! Start by answering the question stream-of-consciousness style. How would you introduce yourself to someone in a setting you’re comfortable in? Think about introducing yourself to someone after one of your plays or soccer games, gaming competitions or yoga classes. What would you say? You might talk about what interests you, things that are important to you, ideologies about life that offer you hope or feelings of connection. Maybe you’d address your favorite qualities about yourself or the burning passions that motivate your choices and worldview. We believe your best bet at a unique and memorable response is to leave yourself enough time to freewrite, draft, organize, edit, and polish. Responses to prompts like these shouldn’t be written in one sitting—there’s too much to capture!

3. Required of all applicants, please respond to one of the following prompts in 250 words or fewer:

A.  what excites you.

This prompt is as simple as they come, and yet it can be totally overwhelming to tackle. If nothing comes to mind immediately, read through the other prompts to see if anything makes that magic light bulb appear above your head. If you find yourself coming back to this prompt, try to focus on a subject that stokes your curiosity, a specific concept that has infiltrated your browser history, or an experience that has burned itself into your brain. Which kind of homework assignments are you clamoring to complete first? Which topics want to make you open up a new book, Google the definition of a word you’re not familiar with, or hit play on a podcast? Who challenges you to think of issues in new ways? Whatever excites you, Dartmouth is aiming to bring self-motivated, deep thinkers into their student body. Admissions officers want to know that you’ll be eager to contribute to lively class discussions and maybe conduct research in your latter years on campus. Remember, enthusiasm is infectious, so show them that you’ll be a valuable addition to any classroom setting by getting specific here—and maybe even getting them excited about a new topic!

B.  Labor leader and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta recommended a life of purpose. “We must use our lives to make the world a better place to live, not just to acquire things,” she said. “That is what we are put on the earth for.” In what ways do you hope to make—or are you already making—an impact? Why? How?

Community, community, community. Even though it doesn’t say it explicitly, this question is asking, “What do you hope to achieve for the greater good?” Dartmouth wants to know what you consider to be your life’s purpose. (They know you’re young and still figuring things out, so don’t worry about being held to it!) What kind of mark would you like to leave on the world? If you find yourself drawn to this prompt, odds are you already have a few ideas in mind. Whether you’d like to dedicate your life to advocating for the voiceless or tearing down barriers for marginalized groups, tell admissions why this path is the one you’ve chosen (or maybe it has chosen you!). Be sure to mention any progress you’ve already made toward this goal and how it will influence the work you hope to do in the future.

C.  In “Oh, The Places You’ll Go,” Dr. Seuss invites us to “Think and wonder. Wonder and think.” Imagine your anticipated academic major: How does that course of study sync with Dr. Seuss’s advice to you?

Dartmouth wants to accept intellectually curious applicants, so take this opportunity to share what draws you to your proposed major. (This prompt is most likely to appeal to applicants who have a major in mind already.) How did you first get into this subject? Were you wondering about our solar system and got hooked on the theory of relativity and Physics as a future major? Did a particular chapter in your AP History textbook get you thinking about the rise and fall of empires, leading to a Classics major? Discuss not only how you first got into this field, but also how Dr. Seuss’ advice will guide your future study. How will you continue to wonder and think as a Dartmouth student? Ultimately, you want to describe what truly fascinates you while reflecting on how you will pursue it through your learning style.

D.  The social and family interactions of wild chimpanzees have been the focus of Dame Jane Goodall’s research for decades. Her understanding of animal behavior prompted the English primatologist to see a lesson for human communities as well: “Change happens by listening and then starting a dialogue with the people who are doing something you don’t believe is right.” Channel Dame Goodall: Tell us about a moment when you engaged in a difficult conversation or encountered someone with an opinion or perspective that was different from your own. How did you find common ground?

Engaging with others in meaningful conversations about important issues can be intimidating and challenging, especially when the other person has a different viewpoint than you do. Scroll through your memory to identify a time when you had an uncomfortable conversation with friends, family, or even an acquaintance. How did you approach this complex conversation? Were you able to clearly communicate your perspective? What did you take away from the discussion? Perhaps you learned that one of your friends was a passive supporter of an organization that you vehemently disagree with. How did you broach the subject and what was the outcome of your conversation? Did you question what you believe in, or perhaps, discover a new perspective you hadn’t considered before? How did you become a better listener or speaker because of this chat? You don’t need to have changed someone’s mind (or your own!) to impress admissions here. You just need to show that you’re not afraid to engage with those who may have different opinions from you. Dartmouth wants to foster the kind of learning environment that encourages respectful discussions about beliefs and values, so show admissions that you’re game to learn, listen, share, and grow.

E.  Celebrate your nerdy side.

All right, passionate people, this one’s for us! Dartmouth wants to accept intellectually curious applicants, so take this opportunity to demonstrate your passion for pursuing knowledge! When was the last time you lost track of time while researching something that caught your interest? When were you recently motivated to solve a problem or create something new? What was the last fact or skill you learned outside of school? Ultimately, you want to discuss examples of what truly fascinates you while also reflecting on what these examples say about your personality traits, interests, and/or learning style. Whether you could read about the cult of celebrity for hours on end or spend all weekend in the garage refurbishing old cars with your mom, admissions wants to hear about it. And don’t forget: this is still an essay about you, so don’t get lost in a detailed explanation of linear algebra; instead, focus on why it brings you joy, satisfaction, or purpose. 

F.  “It’s not easy being green…” was the frequent refrain of Kermit the Frog. How has difference been a part of your life, and how have you embraced it as part of your identity, outlook, or sense of purpose?

What a fabulous essay prompt—so simple, so concise, yet so ripe for exploration. Admissions is thinking critically about this common Kermit quote that others may overlook, and they want you to do the same. What is your “green,” so to speak? Feeling different from others is quite a universal experience, especially for teenagers, so take some time to think about what makes you feel different and how your relationship with that difference has changed over the years. This prompt could be a great opportunity to discuss your relationship with your racial, ethnic, or gender identity, but it doesn’t have to be; maybe you have celiac disease and pizza parties have been off the table, forcing you to bring food from home! Perhaps you’re a math nerd living in a family of artists. Whatever you choose to write about, the focus should be on how you have learned to love this part of yourself and how it has influenced the way you interact with the world. If this prompt calls to you, trust your instincts and leave yourself plenty of time to freewrite and revise. 

G.  Buddy Teevens ’79 was a legendary and much-beloved coach at Dartmouth. He often told parents: “Your son will be a great football player when it’s football time, a great student when it’s academic time, and a great person all of the time.” If Coach Teevens had said that to you, what would it mean to be “a great person”?

This prompt is asking you to do some introspection about your own values and what you consider aspects of a “great person.” Start by doing some brainstorming: grab a notebook and list out all of the communities you belong to—your family, sports teams, extracurricular clubs, your cultural groups (e.g. race, religion), your gender identity, etc.—and then jot down the values you associate with each one. You can also approach this prompt by writing down names of people you admire and listing out the qualities you associate with them. Which of these values are most important to you? Why? Maybe you admire the patience and radical optimism that your favorite teacher exudes. Perhaps you try to emulate your debate team coach’s knack for critical thinking and seriously considering each side of an issue. A strong answer to this question will show admissions not only what you consider virtues for a theoretical “great person,” but also what you may hope to contribute to their campus community. 

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Application Instructions

The online graduate application opens early September.

The following application instructions are for graduate programs under the Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies application system.

Please read the following instructions carefully. Only complete applications by the application deadline will be considered for admission. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all materials, including recommendation letters, are submitted by the deadline. The application fee must be paid for an application to be considered complete.  

Acknowledgement   .

After submission of your application, you will receive an email acknowledgement through the application system.

Application Status  

To see the status of your application, visit your online application status page . Please note that it may take a few days for application materials to be processed. 

Application materials and supporting documents become the property of the Admissions Committee and are not returnable. 

Updating Your Application Materials   

Your self-reported test scores, mailing address, and references can be updated at any time through your application status page. After submission, other components (CV, statement of purpose, essays, etc.) cannot be updated. Please be sure you have entered the most accurate information at the time of submission. Due to the volume of applications received, we cannot update these materials after submission. 

General Policies 

• False Statements/Materials: If a candidate for admission to Dartmouth makes a false statement or submits falsified material in connection with his or her application, and the misrepresentation is discovered after the candidate has been admitted, the offer of admission ordinarily will be withdrawn. If the misrepresentation is discovered after a student arrives on campus or at any time during their enrollment, the student will be subject to loss of credits earned and disciplinary action that could include separation from the College. If the discovery occurs after a degree has been awarded, the degree normally will be rescinded. 
• Equal Opportunity: Dartmouth College is committed to the principle of equal opportunity for all its students, faculty, employees, and applicants for admission and employment. For that reason, Dartmouth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or status as a disabled or Vietnam era veteran in its programs, organizations, and conditions of employment and admission. 
• Security and Fire Safety Report: Dartmouth prepares an annual Security and Fire Safety Report which is available to all current and prospective employees and students. The report includes statistics of reported crimes that have occurred on campus, in certain off-campus buildings, or on property owned or controlled by Dartmouth, and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus as well as reported fires occurring in residential facilities. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning sexual assault, fire safety, and other matters. You may obtain a copy of this report by contacting the Director of Safety and Security and the College Proctor at +1 (603) 646-4000. 

International Students 

Language proficiency test scores are required for non-US citizens, with the exception of those who are earning or have earned a degree from institutions in the US, Canada, or the UK or whose primary language of instruction at their non-US institution was English. *Some programs have different requirements. Visit the program page for more details.

While all applications are looked at holistically, we recommend the following score ranges: 

TOEFL scores of 100 or higher 

IELTS scores of 7 or higher 

Duolingo scores of 135 or higher 

The Guarini School initiates the visa process upon admission into one of our graduate programs. For information about the visa and immigration process, visit Dartmouth's Office of Visa and Immigration Services . 

English Language Proficiency Scores (International Applicants) 

Language proficiency test scores are required for non-US citizens, with the exception of those who are earning or have earned a degree from institutions in the US or Canada, or whose primary language of instruction at their non-US institution was English.  

For all graduate programs, Guarini accepts the following English proficiency tests: TOEFL , IELTS , and Duolingo . During the application process, self-reported scores are acceptable. However, once admitted, students will be required to electronically submit official test results directly from the testing organization.

GRE requirements vary by program. Please visit the individual program page for testing requirements.

If you enter self-reported scores, you will be required to provide official scores if admitted. Visit the ETS website and use code 3351.

Application Fee

The application fee for most programs is $75USD apart from Computer Science, which is $100. Application fees are non-refundable.

Letters of Recommendation 

3 letters of recommendation are required, you may have up to 4.     Letters of recommendation must be completed and submitted online directly by your recommenders. Please note that letters of recommendation should be on official letterhead. If the company/institution does not have or allow letterhead the recommender should note that. Letters of recommendation from personal email accounts will be subject to additional review. 

Letters of recommendation should ideally come from your college professors using their official school email address. Applicants with work or military experience or currently in another graduate program should submit a recommendation from their immediate supervisor, a current or former employer, or someone who knows them well through some other professional or community activity. 

The Guarini School partners with a company specializing in educational verifications to help with the verification of recommendations upon admittance. After acceptance, they will reach out to recommenders for verification.      Academic Transcripts  

All applicants are required to submit academic transcripts from each undergraduate or graduate institution from which you obtained your degrees (eg. your bachelor's degrees or other advanced degrees).

Non-degree coursework: If you attended institutions other than those from which your degree(s) were granted, you are required to scan and upload your academic transcripts from these institutions (transfer coursework, domestic or study-abroad programs, postgraduate non-degree coursework, etc).

International Transcripts: You will upload a copy of your academic transcript (not diploma) issued by the institution(s) from which you obtained your undergraduate degree(s) and any advanced/graduate degree(s) directly to the online application. While a WES evaluation is not mandatory for admission, it can help expedite the application review process.  

Upload BOTH sides of your transcript (provided the second side is not blank). 

The file must be less than 1 MB, in a standard format, WITHOUT password protection or macros. Any of these problems will cause the upload process to fail. 

A diploma is not a transcript. 

Please make sure the upload is clear and easy to read.

If you upload a scanned copy of your transcript, you do not need to send a hard copy. The scanned copy fulfills the requirement for the application process. Upon admission, you will be required to supply an official hard copy of your transcript. 

Enrolling Students: If admitted, you will be required to submit one final official, original hardcopy transcript) directly from each college and/or university you have attended. 

International applicants must make arrangements to have their academic records translated and sent along with the originals. Where American-style transcripts are not used, the applicant must include all available records including courses, grades, degrees, and rank-in-class. The appropriate university officials must certify these records. Evaluations from WES (World Education Services) can be used instead of official transcripts, but they must be sent directly by the evaluation service provider, and they must include a copy of the official transcripts that were evaluated. 

The Guarini School partners with a company specializing in educational verifications to help with the verification and collection of official transcripts and degrees. After acceptance, they will reach out to collect the required documents.  

For all graduate programs, Guarini accepts the following English proficiency tests: TOEFL , IELTS , and Duolingo . During the application process, self-reported scores are acceptable. However, once admitted, students will be required to electronically submit official test results directly from the testing organization. 

The ETS code for the Guarini School is 3351. 

Admissions Decisions 

The Guarini School does not handle the application review process. Individual program admission committees review applications and render admission decisions. 

Applications are not reviewed until AFTER the program application deadline. Applying before the deadline does not necessarily mean you will receive an early decision. 

Admission committees release decisions on various timelines. You will receive an email when a decision has been made. 

Contact Email 

[email protected]  Please be aware that during peak admissions times we may not be able to reply immediately. 

Admission Information

Read admission information here

Read program requirements here

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How to Write the Dartmouth College Supplemental Essays 2017-2018

Dartmouth College, an Ivy League school, is found tucked away in rural Hanover, New Hampshire. Established in 1769 by Eleazar Wheelock, Dartmouth is the ninth oldest institute of higher education in the United States.

Engaging with nature is a critical part of the Dartmouth experience: In addition to featuring elm trees littered throughout the campus, the college owns its own ski slope, and the vast majority of entering freshmen participate in a four-day outing trip before they start the school year.

With only 4,300 undergraduate students, Dartmouth College is the smallest Ivy League school, and fosters a tight knit, liberal arts college type of environment dedicated to undergraduate education. Over 60% of students participate in Greek life, which is partially due to the rural, isolated nature of the campus.

Dartmouth College is ranked 11th in the 2017 U.S. News & World Report rankings , and boasts an acceptance rate of 10.4% for its Class of 2021, with 20,034 applicants. Famous alumni include media personalities such as Mindy Kaling, authors such as Dr. Seuss and Robert Frost, and current Senators such as Kirsten Gillibrand (NY) and John Hoeven (ND).

Dartmouth College accepts either the Common Application or the Coalition Application. In addition to the universal essay prompt, Dartmouth requires two separate supplemental essays. The prompts may seem daunting at first, but we here at CollegeVine are here to help you tackle these essays to the best of your ability!

Want to learn what Dartmouth College will actually cost you based on your income? And how long your application to the school should take?  Here’s what every student considering Dartmouth College needs to know.

Dartmouth College Application Essay Prompts

Essay prompt #1, please respond in 100 words or less:, while arguing a dartmouth-related case before the u.s. supreme court in 1818, daniel webster, class of 1801, uttered this memorable line: “it is, sir… a small college. and yet, there are those who love it” as you seek admission to the class of 2022, what aspects of the college’s program, community, or campus environment attract your interest.

Essentially, this first essay question boils down to a “Why Dartmouth?” essay, with a specific focus on college programming, community, and campus environment. Using each word wisely is critical here, as 100 words can easily fly by, and you only have 100 words to prove to admissions counselors you are deeply invested in the school and its values.

To be successful in such a short “ Why X School? ” essay question, specificity and conciseness is key. Well-thought-out research is critical, as you want admissions counselors to know that there are specific aspects of Dartmouth that you could adeptly fit into and contribute to, standing out from thousands of other applicants who may have a more generic “Dartmouth is a very good school” type of essay.

Some Examples:

• For example, Dartmouth’s Rockefeller Center for Public Policy sponsors several interns to work in policy-related fields. Currently, interns are placed at sites such as U.S. Senate offices, think tanks, nonprofits, and courts. There are many more Dartmouth-specific opportunities such as this.
• With the community aspect, Dartmouth is excellent at producing an intimate college feel. If one of your passions is exploring the wilderness and interacting with nature, you could heap praise on the first-year Dartmouth Outing Club Trip. The first-year trip can range from elevation gains from 1000 to 5000 feet, hiking as much as 10 miles a day! If traveling on beautiful routes such as Franconia Ridge and the Kinsmans appeals to you and your identity, consider including it.
• For example, you can apply for a Sophomore and Junior Research Scholars position, a paid research gig in which you can work on anything from spatial cognition learning at the Neuroscience Center to fieldwork at the Dartmouth Organic Farm.
• For example, you can talk about Darmouth’s Winter Carnival, where you hope to win the Ice Sculpting Contest with a group of your friends.

Overall, never let your essay verge onto generic territory, where the essay could be used for another “Why X School?” essay if the word “Dartmouth” is simply taken out. Be sure to include Dartmouth-specific programs, events, buildings, and people, and how they all connect back to who you are , and you will do great on this prompt!

Please choose one of the following prompts and respond in 250-300 words

Now, you will run into six additional prompts, out of which you will have to pick one to work on. Don’t worry or feel overwhelmed, because all the prompts are extremely general and a bit vague! Most prompts are focused on your passions in life , so think mostly about how you can communicate that passion in a unequivocal, genuine way that isn’t redundant to other parts of your Common Application. Chances are if you write an essay for one prompt, it will fit into another nicely, so focus yourself on content before trying to fit into a rigid mold.

Additionally, 300 words is a great allotment of word space to get in a few substantive paragraphs, allowing for short introductions and conclusions. Here is each prompt, and how CollegeVine recommends you tackle them!

Prompt Option A

In love medicine, author louise erdrich ’76 writes, ‘society is like this card game here, cousin. we got dealt our hand before we were even born, and as we grow we have to play as best as we can.’ describe your ‘hand’ and reflect on how you have played it..

Everyone grows up facing a difficulty outside of their control, although some more pronounced than others. Whether it’s financial circumstances, familial troubles, or issues with health, some of us have grown up with an immense setback that has hindered the quality of our life.

However, this essay prompt does not ask to dote on these problems, but rather to express how you have attacked them. You may have been wildly successful, or wildly unsuccessful, but the essay prompt here is looking more for your grit and perseverance through this struggle. Ask yourself: Is there a personal circumstance I have overcome, or tried to overcome, and then have worked to help others with the same issue?

A great example would be one in which you have become impassioned to fix the hand you have been dealt not only for yourself, but for others as well.

A few examples :

• You have grown up with a sibling with a mental disability, whom caring for has been incredibly difficult, but whom you love deeply. In high school you want to do more for others with developmental disabilities, so you join Best Buddies, a club dedicated to fostering friendships between those with disabilities and those without. Eventually, you put more and more time into the organization and see the program at your school expand.
• You have grown up in a low-income household, and you work at your parents’ gas station pretty much every day after school. After work, you spend late nights doing homework to keep up with your grades, as well as taking care of your siblings while your parents are at work. As a result, you don’t have the time or resources to do all the extracurricular activities and prep programs everyone else at your school is doing to get into a good college. However, what you do spend time on is incredibly valuable as well: helping support your family, getting job experience, and striving for success.
• You are a highly underrepresented minority at your school, and often feel alienated from what the other students are doing. Often you feel mistreated by teachers as well, who don’t give you the same opportunities as other students. You talk to other students of your same race, who feel exactly the same as you, and together you form a small, yet powerful group of students all of the same racial background. This group allows you to find comfort in your own identity, discuss pertinent and critical topics regarding both race nationally and in your school, and help each other move forward together and find opportunities for each other.

Prompt Option B

From songs and film to formulae and computer code, human expression and discovery take many forms. how do you express your creativity what ideas or values do you explore and celebrate when your imagination wanders.

As the prompt suggests, you don’t have to be a transcendental poet eclipsed in the woods to tackle this prompt. You can be steeped in a STEM major and still find creativity riddled throughout.

The second part of the prompt asks about “ideas” and “values.” If your passion is related to molecular biology research, maybe your imagination is driven to find new ways to tackle a certain disease, and search for creative outlets to better the health of others. If you are a poet or writer, maybe your ideas and values tie into searching for beauty in the smallest, intimate moments.

Take some time to reflect on all the work that you do. Chances are, there are creative elements strewn throughout, which can be incorporated throughout the essay. Remember that the prompt specifically suggests stretching the conventional bounds of creativity into fields like math and computer science, so take advantage of that.

One way to specifically show how your are creative would be to outline your steps or approach to whatever subject you choose, whether it be poetry, coding, or research. Explain exactly what goes through your mind when making creative decisions, and try to give admissions officers a sense of why you make the choices you do.

Prompt Option C

During the 2016 olympic games, american runner abbey d’agostino ’14 collided with another athlete in the first round of the 5,000-meter event. both fell to the track. although injured, abbey’s first instinct was to help the other fallen athlete so they could continue the race together. their selflessness was widely praised as the embodiment of the olympic ideal of sportsmanship. share a moment when kindness guided your actions..

The key word in this prompt is selflessness . When did you truly put yourself before others, and sacrifice so that other people could have better opportunities? The example given in the prompt is a great model to follow. When was a time where you weren’t guided by any selfish motivations, but were in the background working to benefit others? If you can’t answer this prompt on your own, maybe ask a close friend or family member! They may know the extent of your kindness (possibly being the recipient of it) better than you do.

With a prompt like this, it is easy to fall into the trap of a clichés, especially in regards to a short-term service trip. Make sure that if you do want to talk about a time you went abroad to help others, that the selflessness and kindness comes through in a genuine way, which can be harder than it seems.

The key is to talk about a specific interaction, a specific person you’ve worked with who changed throughout the course of your help, or the tireless hours you’ve spent working on a project that eventually led to others being benefited.

An example:

Maybe you organized a vigil to honor and remember a fellow student who passed away during your time at high school after heroically fighting a disease. To support the student’s family with funeral expenses, you gathered donations from your peers, and you created a wall full of pictures and stories that people at your high school shared with this student. In this way, your actions were made for a purpose much greater than yourself.

Prompt Option D

Twenty years ago, the world met harry potter and his companions. one of the more memorable lines from the j.k. rowling series was spoken by albus dumbledore: ‘happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.’ what ideas or experiences bring you joy.

This prompt is extremely broad and open-ended, as the two key words, “ideas” and “experiences,” stretch far and wide. Essentially, the admissions officers want to know you on a deeper level: What gets you up and running in the morning; what ideas for the future excite you; what work could you imagine yourself doing for days, or years, without being bored or tired out?

Is it literature that brings you happiness “even in the darkest of times?” Is it working with kids? Is it playing basketball? Like the other prompts, you have your entire life experience to draw upon.

Say you’re passionate about basketball, but was never good enough to make the varsity team (definitely not talking about myself here). So maybe you volunteer at a basketball camp for low-income, minority youth because you want to spread the joy you find playing with others. Maybe you call up the state university in your city, and ask their basketball players to come down and possibly speak to the kids, and they do. Maybe you organize a school 3-on-3 basketball competition to help fund this basketball camp, and get the teachers involved too, as the youth camp you are working at is low on funds. Doing all of this doesn’t seem like a chore at all to you, simply because of the immense joy you get playing basketball, and joy you get seeing others enjoy basketball as much as you do.

Prompt Option E

‘i have no special talent,’ albert einstein once observed. ‘i am only passionately curious.’ celebrate your intellectual curiosity..

This prompt is similar to the previous one (prompt D). What is it that captures your attention when scrolling through the news? What specific school assignment did you spend hours doing even though you didn’t have to, just because you were so passionate about the topic?

Hopefully, you have done something tangible related to this passion. Most extracurricular activities could tie back to a root passion, so it isn’t difficult to show how much you’re passionate about a subject through a school activity/outside work. However, true enthusiasm, or lack thereof, is easy to sense through writing — an admissions officer will know if you are truly passionate about a subject, or talking about it simply because it sounds impressive. One way to refine your passion into a clear message, instead of rambling, is to focus on a specific moment or aspect of what you’re doing and explaining why it is so thrilling.

If your great passion is anthropology, and you spent a summer working with a professor researching a specific group of people, talk about that experience as a powerful manifestation of this passion in action. When conducting fieldwork, perhaps you have brief moments of pride during which you feel that your actions are making a true difference in the endeavor of understanding a culture. Eventually, your goal may be to study anthropology in college and do your own field work, traveling to different countries to immerse yourself in other cultures.

Prompt Option F

‘dreams are lovely. but they are just dreams,’ television producer shonda rhimes ’91 told graduating seniors during her 2014 commencement address. ‘it’s hard work that makes things happen. it’s hard work that creates change.’ what inspires your hard work what matters to you, and how do you ‘make things happen’ to create change.

This last essay prompt has multiple parts: first describe your dreams, and then describe how you are working to achieve those dreams, as well as why you are doing so. You cannot just talk about your extremely far-fetched visions in life, unless you have done work to at least somewhat actualize. Don’t be afraid to talk about more minor dreams that you have a genuine heart to work towards.

In terms of the why part of the essay, make sure to mention the core values that drive you to do the work that you do. Whether it is your personal circumstances growing up, your ethnicity, a character trait, a family member, or your religion, don’t be afraid to let the admissions officers know what your grounding is.

Lastly, you want to tie these values into a physical, less abstract manifestation in your daily life.

Maybe you are extremely drawn towards education and dream about providing quality educational access to those in low-income, high-need areas. Maybe to work towards that goal, you spend countless hours after school in elementary and middle schools, helping kids with after-school learning, working with them on their homework, and just being a good role model to help them stay motivated to keep learning. Maybe the reason you decided to do this was that you believed that a good education is a great equalizer in our society. Maybe you are incredibly thankful for the educational opportunities and resources you have received growing up, and you want to make sure you can impart some of those resources on at least a few other kids who will not get the help you did.

The Bottomline

Dartmouth College is a tough school to get into, period. However, by following these broad guidelines, hopefully you will be able to better brainstorm your essay, and eventually craft a finished piece of writing you are proud of. Answering these prompts is difficult, but ultimately very rewarding, and CollegeVine is committed to helping you along that journey.

Want help with your college essays to improve your admissions chances? Sign up for your free CollegeVine account and get access to our essay guides and courses. You can also get your essay peer-reviewed and improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

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• Embankments

Universitetskaya Naberezhnaya (University Embankment)

The architectural ensemble on the University Embankment is rightly recognized as one of the most beautiful in St. Petersburg. On the waterfront, there are magnificent views of the opposite bank of the Neva, the Admiralty, the English Embankment, the dome of St. Isaac's Cathedral, and the landmark monument to Peter the Great, the Bronze Horseman. The construction of the embankment had a powerful influence on later architectural constructions of the 18th century.

The first buildings appeared here soon after the founding of St. Petersburg. There is the palace of Prince Alexander Menshikov, the first stone apartment building in St. Petersburg, and the Palace of Peter II, now owned by St. Petersburg State University. Shortly after this, the Kunstkammer - the first public museum in Russian history, the building of which now houses the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography of the Peoples of the World - was built on the embankment. The Twelve Colleges building was the idea of Peter I and was supposed to be the main administrative building of the Russian empire. However, for the past two centuries it has been the main building of St. Petersburg State University. Nearby at the Blagoveshchensky (Annunciation) Bridge, Domenico Trezzini, the first architect of Petersburg, built his own house. By the end of the 18th century the waterfront ensemble also included the Academy of Arts by Jean-Baptiste Vallin de la Mothe and the Academy of Sciences by Giacomo Quarenghi.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the Southern Warehouse of the Stock Exchange was built on the waterfront and became part of the ensemble of the Spit of Vasilievsky Island. Today in the warehouse the rich collection of the Zoological Museum is exhibited. At the same time, University Embankment was reinforced with granite and a pier was built in front of the Academy of Arts. Its architect, Konstantin Ton, wanted the pier to be decorated with bronze horses like those designed by Baron Peter Klodt on the Anichkov Bridge. However, after long discussion, authentic Egyptian sphinx sculptures were installed here. The landmark site of the embankment became the Rumyantsev Garden. An obelisk moved from the Field of Mars and dedicated to General Field Marshal Pyotr Rumyantsev and his glorious victories over the Turks in the years 1768-1774 stands here.

From 1840-1842, the Rector's House on the waterfront was used for the needs of St. Petersburg University. In 1880, this house, built by Apollon Schedrin, was the birthplace of the great poet Alexander Blok.

Today University Embankment is constantly filled with tourists and students. Meteor hydrofoils to Peterhof sail from here, along with numerous other pleasure boats. There are also popular restaurants on some of the docked ships, while traffic hurries across Palace Bridge and past the Spit of Vasilievsky Island.

Accommodation near the University Embankment

Trezzini palace hotel, all-suites boutique hotel with a prime location next to the neva river, trezzini art hotel, attractive small hotel located in the heart of historic vasilevskiy island, solo sokos hotel vasilievskiy, superior business hotel with stylish interiors and attractive location, apartments ers nevsky, attractive and well equipped modern rental apartments at great location, friendly and welcoming backpacker hostel with a prime location for sightseeing, nevsky 3 guest house, affordable accommodation steps from palace square and the hermitage, dining near the university embankment, grad petrov, home-brewed beer and affordable german food with great views across the neva, staraya tamozhnya, luxury restaurant with a sterling reputation and charming historic premises, russian kitsch, outrageous interiors and traditional russian cuisine with some modern touches.

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