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3 Strong Dartmouth Essay Examples

What’s covered:, essay example #1 – the power of stories, essay example #2 – the power of genealogy, essay example #3 – making an impact, where to get your dartmouth essays edited.

Dartmouth College has been a sought-after higher education institution since its founding in 1769. This Ivy League college boasts a tight-knit, engaging, undergraduate-focused community that is tucked away in Hanover, New Hampshire. Dartmouth’s student body of around 4,400 is able to explore its interests in 40 departments, and through 65 distinct undergraduate degrees. 

Writing strong essays is one of the most effective ways to stand out among the competition, especially since Dartmouth greatly values creativity in their applicants.  The best way to write well is to read well, so in this post we will share three strong Dartmouth essays and analyze what they did well and where they could improve. Afterwards, hopefully you’ll have a clearer sense of what approach you should take with your own essay!

Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized. 

Read our Dartmouth essay breakdown to get a comprehensive overview of this year’s supplemental prompts.

Prompt: The Hawaiian word mo’olelo is often translated as “story” but it can also refer to history, legend, genealogy, and tradition. Use one of these translations to introduce yourself. (250-300 words)

As a child, darkness meant nightmares, so I would pester my grandmother to tell me stories while the sun was trapped amongst silver hues. My religious grandmother would proceed to tell me about the Supreme Being in Hindu mythology, made of Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver), and Shiva (the destroyer). Together, these Gods defined the cyclical nature of mortal existence through creation and destruction – life and death.

Although I found this idea interesting, each year in my life brought on a better understanding of these Gods’ purposes – I only had a certain number of years before I faced my life’s “destruction.”

My only answer to living more in my one life was to stuff my head into pages filled with the journeys of fictional characters. I was a member of a motorcycle club, a terminally-ill teenager, and much more than what I could be in my physical life. Authors let me experience hundreds of lives through literature, therefore, inspiring me to create fictional lives of my own.

So, hello! I’m Navya – named after a star shining the night I was born. For most of my life, I’ve struggled with the idea that we each experience life only once before our own lives are destroyed, but books have helped me find a way to live thousands of lives. I am an aspiring author and want to write historical fiction books that cheat the Gods, who said that everything must be destroyed, because my characters will never fade. And all this happened because of my grandmother and her love of Hindu mythology. Mythology sparked a quest for me to find how I could get the most out of my life but my mo’olelo is nowhere near its ending. I have more lives to experience and more lives to write. 

What the Essay Did Well

This essay beautifully combines this student’s life story with their passion for physical stories. Connecting these two types of stories gives extra depth and nuance to the essay, showing this student’s ability to think creatively. The idea that her life story revolves around fictional stories shines through in sentences like: “ My only answer to living more in my one life was to stuff my head into pages filled with the journeys of fictional characters .”

Our stories aren’t just comprised of the past though, and this essay does a great job of transitioning from the past to the future. Telling the reader “ Authors let me experience hundreds of lives through literature, therefore, inspiring me to create fictional lives of my own ” lets us appreciate how deeply engrained literature  is in this student’s personal story. The admissions officers reading this essay walk away knowing exactly what this student hopes to do one day and where the inspiration for that career came from. 

The idea of stories are woven throughout this essay, making it exceptionally well-connected. Although the beginning is meant to introduce a sense of fear at mortality this student encountered, it is done so through a story her grandmother told about her culture. Then the student explains the sanctuary and inspiration she found through famous stories, and finally it concludes with her describing the stories she will tell. Combined, all these pieces of mythology and literature form this student’s personal story.

What Could Be Improved

The only real weakness in this essay is the conclusion. While it is well-written and nicely summarizes everything the author has explained, it doesn’t contribute anything new to the essay. The only new pieces of information the reader gains is that the student wants to “ write historical fiction books ” and that her “ mo’olelo is nowhere near its ending .”

To avoid redundancy, the conclusion could have been made stronger if it was simply focused on the future. Discussing this student’s aspirations to be a historical fiction writer—maybe including possible stories or time periods she dreams about—would have made the finale more focused and also have given the same amount of attention to the future of her story as she did the past and present. Then, the essay would chronologically follow this student’s life story from when she was young, to her current passion, to her future goals, allowing the reader to seamlessly see the progression, rather than having it restated for us. 

My earliest memory is spinning in circles with folk dancers in a flurry of gold, red, and green embroidered on black dresses. We weren’t in a dance hall, but in a gymnasium, twirling on three-point arcs and free throw lines. The Bohemian Hall has tons of contradictions like that. In their beer garden, they serve chicken schnitzel and buffalo chicken wings, macaroni and cheese and tlachenka (head cheese). Happy drunken twenty-somethings pass by little kids and nobody thinks anything of it.

Like the Bohemian Hall, the apartment complex I grew up in had its own contradictions. Our Czech landlord, Jardo, was the stereotypical Slavic badass from the movies. Chatting up a crowd drinking their umpteenth Pilsners, he insulted a tenant that dared complain about asbestos in his apartment. After all, asbestos only spreads if you cut the old pipes. Hung on the walls of Jardo’s basement were works of all shapes and sizes, from the lush, rolling hills of Moravian landscapes to the curves of the female body in… suggestive posters. 

Jardo smelled of cigarettes and beer, which my mom told me to avoid at all costs. I wondered why she befriended him. But then I realized that he reminded her of home. We couldn’t go to the Bohemian Hall everyday, but we could always go to Jardo’s basement and talk Czechoslovak celebrity gossip. 

I am constantly brought back to my Slovak heritage, but it is influenced by American lifestyle . I eat goulash at Thanksgiving dinner, speak a mix of English and Slovak (Slovglish?) with my great aunt, and say Na zdravie! instead of Cheers! when I drink champagne on New Year’s Day. My Slovak-American heritage was, and always will be, perfectly contradictory. 

This essay is excellent at telling a vivid story using flowing writing and an organized structure. It has a clear focus that explains how the past has forged the writer’s identity, starting with their earliest memory. The first paragraph establishes the themes of contradiction and the dichotomy between Slovak and American culture. The essay then expounds upon these themes with a human example of what “home” means for the writer’s mother, and ends with a riveting conclusion that clearly states the main message ─ the fascinating cultural contradiction of the writer’s heritage has created their mo’olelo . 

The creative language employed in this essay is also noteworthy. The writer consistently paints a picture with words, for example they use the metaphor of a “Slavic badass” rather than going into detail about Jardo’s personality. They further explain his character by describing his actions, i.e. drinking and insulting, as a third person observer. The hyperbole of “umpteenth” adds humor to the essay, which always helps your essays if done subtly! 

The essay responds to the full essence of the prompt from the angles of genealogy and tradition. She explains her traditions by showing her story rather than telling, which is crucial. The writer also doesn’t frame their essay in a cliché manner, such as by starting the essay with the phrase “the tradition which has had the largest impact on who I am is…” Starting in media res is a great strategy, as is adding unique human details to the story. Jardo would have been less interesting and amorphous had we not been told about his smell and attitude towards asbestos. The essay is the ideal balance between directly and indirectly answering the prompt.

While the essay has many strong points, it has some room for improvement. At 283 words, the writer has extra room they could take advantage of. The most valuable way they could use this space would be to expand their list of contradictions in the conclusion. Much of the essay focuses on the story of Jardo, and while this story is valuable, it could easily be condensed and retain its meaning. Meanwhile, comparisons between traits such as “Slovak frankness and American niceties” would add commentary that the writer couldn’t express with the Jardo story. 

The essay would also benefit from more comparisons that go beyond food and festivities, and ideally a sentence which shows how the writer’s Slovak heritage influenced them at the big picture level. It would be a nice transition to mention how the contradiction of their “Slovak identity” has led them to seek out other contradictions in life—maybe studying two unrelated topics—because they have found the beauty in combining things.

They were everywhere— on the streets begging, in the market stealing, at the prison fighting. Even more disturbing however, was the fact that they were just children. 

In my neighborhood, people give birth to kids in numbers they can barely cater for. These kids in their quest for survival engage in criminal activities, resulting in an alarmingly high rate of juvenile delinquency. 

Having witnessed several cases of jungle justices carried out on these underprivileged kids, I pondered day and night on what to do to save their futures, until I came up with an idea– education. I opened a free school where I taught the kids basics in mathematics, English, and moral ethics. In no time, they began engaging in menial jobs to fend for themselves and eventually dumped their mentality of “steal to eat.” I was also able to successfully liaise with some philanthropists who helped the kids further their education after they graduated from my free foundation. A few other kids who got no sponsors surprisingly took up menial jobs to sponsor themselves. 

Many people were quite puzzled at the fact that I put in so much passion into the kids’ education despite not receiving monetary incentives. However, there was something more than money that inspired me. It was satisfaction– satisfaction from seeing smiles on formerly smileless faces, satisfaction from the feeling that I am brightening dark paths, and satisfaction from knowing that I am impacting my community in a measure no amount of naira can settle.

This writer does an excellent job of fulfilling perhaps the most important objective of this kind of  “Community Service” essay: not only describing the issue they worked to resolve, but also explaining which solution they identified and how this experience as a whole shaped particular aspects of their personality, background, values, etc. They provide us with enough background context for us to understand what’s going on, and then dive right into the details of how they grew.

For example, rather than going on and on about the horrors the kids in their neighborhood faced every day, the student quickly pivots to talking about what they did in order to improve these kids’ lives. That shows that this student is altruistic and can take initiative, two qualities Dartmouth admissions officers prize in applicants. Additionally, by describing how they saw education as the best path towards bettering these kids’ futures, they teach us something about their values—to them, education is clearly key to success, and that knowledge will help admissions officers envision how they would take advantage of Dartmouth’s resources to contribute to the school’s community.

Finally, on a structural level, this student has organized their essay in a way that makes their ideas both impactful and easy to follow. Setting the scene with short, factual lines underscores that while these kids’ circumstances were tragic, they were also simply a part of life in this neighborhood, until this student came along.

Then, the length of the third paragraph helps readers get fully immersed in the story of how this student made a difference for these kids, one step at a time. Finally, they use the last paragraph to effectively sum up the lasting impact this experience had on them and their values, giving Dartmouth admissions officers a clear sense of why this story is relevant to understanding what kind of college student they will be.

Although this prompt does have a somewhat restrictive word count of 250, the student would’ve been well-served if they had gone into more detail about the specific actions they took to better these kids’ lives. Right now, they provide a nice overview of what they did, but there are almost no details about how they made those things happen. In this kind of essay, you want to paint as clear a picture as possible of the impact you made, as the more concrete details admissions officers have, the better they’ll understand which skills and life perspectives you’d bring to Dartmouth.

Since this student is currently right at 249 words, they’ll need to reallocate some space, which means thinking critically about which parts of the essay aren’t absolutely essential in order for readers to understand their story. For many students, wrestling with word counts is the most frustrating part of college essays, but unfortunately it’s an unavoidable reality that you won’t be able to include every single detail, even ones that feel quite important to you.

For example, the lines “I was also able to successfully liaise with some philanthropists who helped the kids further their education after they graduated from my free foundation. A few other kids who got no sponsors surprisingly took up menial jobs to sponsor themselves” are only tangentially related to the core of this story, which is the student’s initiative to educate kids in their neighborhood. Remember, the purpose of the college essay is always to teach admissions officers about yourself , and while the student does touch briefly on their successful liaison skills, overall these lines are more about the philanthropists than the student themself.

Cutting these lines would save the student 40 words, which they could then use to talk more about what exactly they did to set up their free school—that’s an amazing thing to do as a high schooler, and yet the student is selling themselves short by telling pretty much nothing about how they did it! Something like the following, if added after the sentence which ends with “ethics,” would do much more to highlight which abilities/personal talents the student utilized to make this achievement possible:

“Initially, the school idea had seemed far-fetched—I couldn’t afford to buy a building or hire teachers. But then I noticed our family friend’s bakery had an empty back room, and when I asked if I could use it as a study space, he agreed immediately, and even offered to buy some simple chairs and desks. I then recruited some friends to help teach our neighborhood’s kids, and in no time…”

While this suggested replacement is a little longer than the section that was cut, other tweaks here and there in grammar or phrasing could get the student back under the word count. Needing to cut a handful of words may feel a little tedious, but that time will be well spent, as the added details in the lines above give us a much more concrete sense of how the student took initiative to make their dream a reality. 

Finally, these lines also make the sense of satisfaction the student describes in the final paragraph much more impactful. Previously, that paragraph felt like a broad-strokes summary of the student’s emotions during this experience, but now, we can anchor those emotions to specific actions they took, and thus we have a clear sense of exactly how the student earned that satisfied feeling.

Do you want feedback on your Dartmouth essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

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College Admissions

Dartmouth College , located in Hanover, New Hampshire, is one of the best universities in the world. A member of the Ivy League, Dartmouth has notable graduates, top-of-the-line programs, and a minuscule admissions rate.

If you want to be one of the 7.9% of students accepted to Dartmouth every year, you'll need to write some amazing essays as part of your application's Dartmouth supplement.

In this post, I'll talk about what the Dartmouth essay prompts are, which essays you can choose to write, and how to craft standout responses that'll help ensure your admission.

What Are the Dartmouth Essay Prompts?

You can apply to Dartmouth using the Common Application or QuestBridge Application. No matter which application you choose, you'll also have to submit the Dartmouth Supplement.

Part of the Dartmouth Supplement involves answering three required writing prompts. The first two writing prompts are the same for all students. Students have five prompt options for the third essay and must answer one. 

According to Dartmouth's website, "the writing supplement includes questions specific to Dartmouth that help the Admissions Committee gain a better sense of how you and Dartmouth might be a good 'fit' for each other."

Basically, that means that the Dartmouth Admissions Committee wants to know who you are… and how you'll fit in on Dartmouth's campus. Your Dartmouth supplemental essays give the admissions committee a chance to get to know you beyond your test scores and other credentials. The essays will give Dartmouth a better idea of how you think and act, so they can see if you would be a great addition to the student body.

Similarly, the essays also give the admissions committee a chance to assess your passion for Dartmouth - how badly do you really want to go there? The more you can show your passion for Dartmouth, the better.

Let's take a look at the Dartmouth essay prompts.

Dartmouth Essay Prompts

Here are the 2022-2023 Dartmouth Essay Prompts. Like we mentioned earlier, the first two prompts are the same for all students. For the third essay, students are given five prompt options and must answer one. 

Please respond in 100 words or fewer:

• Dartmouth celebrates the ways in which its profound sense of place informs its profound sense of purpose. As you seek admission to Dartmouth's Class of 2027, what aspects of the College's academic program, community, or campus environment attract your interest? In short, Why Dartmouth? Please respond in 100 words or fewer.

Essay #2 

Please response in 200-250 words: 

"Be yourself," Oscar Wilde advised. "Everyone else is taken." Introduce yourself in 200-250 words.

Please choose one of the following prompts and respond in 200-250 words:

• 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 making—an impact?
• What excites you?
• In The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, William Kamkwamba '14 reflects on constructing a windmill from recycled materials to power electrical appliances in his family's Malawian house: "If you want to make it, all you have to do is try." What drives you to create and what do you hope to make or have you made?
• Dr. Seuss, aka Theodor Geisel of Dartmouth's Class of 1925, wrote, "Think and wonder. Wonder and think." What do you wonder and think about?
• "Not everything that is faced can be changed; but nothing can be changed until it is faced," wrote James Baldwin. How does this quote apply to your life experiences?

Dartmouth Essays Analyzed

Let's take a look at the Dartmouth essay prompts for 2021-2022.

Dartmouth Essay Prompt 1

All Dartmouth students are required to answer this prompt and for good reason — it's the "Why Dartmouth" essay! This essay shows the admissions committee why Dartmouth is the right school for you.

At only 100 words, this prompt doesn't give you a lot of room to expand upon your favorite parts of the College, so you should pick one or two aspects of Dartmouth that you really love and focus on those.

The prompt encourages you to talk about the program, community, or campus, so don't feel like you have to limit yourself to academics. You can talk about other things about Dartmouth that interest you, such as the student life or extracurricular activities.

Whichever features you choose to highlight, make sure your connection to them is real and personal. In other words, don't just say you're a fan of Dartmouth's sterling academic reputation. Instead, focus on a specific part of that reputation - a professor whose work you admire or a class that you really want to take.

Dartmouth Essay Prompt 2

First impressions can be daunting! How do you want to be perceived? What would you say to pique Dartmouth’s admissions counselors’ interest? This is your chance to be bold, and to stand out from the crowd. But remember the prompt: they’re not quoting Wilde for fun. You’ll need to introduce your most authentic self. In other words, introduce who you are, not who you think Dartmouth wants you to be.

Don't feel confined to traditional, linear methods of storytelling in this prompt. You can play around with form and structure, as long as you do it well. Get an advisor or mentor to read your work and offer feedback, especially if you deviate from your typical style.

Dartmouth Essay Prompt 3

Dartmouth's longer essay prompts give you plenty of room to think creatively and show off your individuality. All students are required to pick and answer one of the prompts in 250-300 words. Let's take a look at the prompts and examine how to answer them.

Prompt A: The Introduction Prompt

A. 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 making—an impact?

This prompt is more tangible and concrete than the others available for selection. If you feel intimidated by discussing your creativity or personal history, this prompt is a good one to choose.

This prompt asks you to pick a real-world issue and discuss how you wish to address it (or are already addressing it). Don't feel like you have to pick something grand and far-reaching, like starvation or world peace. You can also pick an issue that affects people locally, in your community, for instance. The key is to pick a topic that you have a personal connection to and reason for wanting to fix. Your passion will come across in your description of the issue.

Prompt B: The Passion Prompt

B. What excites you?

This essay prompt is asking you to think toward your future and write about something—anything!—that gets you pumped. Dartmouth Admissions is looking to see if you have purpose and passion.

To answer this prompt, take some time to think about your future: your goals for your time in college, things you hope to achieve, opportunities that you find invigorating. You'll want your response to be focused and organized, so choose one idea, goal, or possibility that most excites you and go into detail about that in your response.

For example, maybe you're excited about the opportunity to improve your creative writing craft in the company of other student writers at Dartmouth, so you make becoming a better writer the central idea of your response to this prompt. You might go into detail about how you're excited to take writing workshop courses, learn from other students' writing styles, and eventually work on a creative writing publication with other students.

Whatever topic you choose to write about, you need to have a central idea—something that excites you—and you need to be able to explain how your excitement will shape your life choices as a student at Dartmouth.

There are no right or wrong answers in terms of what excites you, but it is important to try to think toward your future and explain

Prompt C: The Creativity Prompt

C. In The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind , William Kamkwamba, Class of 2014, reflects on constructing a windmill from recycled materials to power the electrical appliances in his family's Malawian house: "If you want to make it, all you have to do is try." What drives you to create and what do you hope to make or have you already made

Creativity is crucial to every field of study, and this essay prompt is asking you to show that your interests, academic or recreational, inspire you to make things. To respond to this prompt, you'll need to be able to explain an idea, issue, or interest that motivates you to make stuff, then describe what you've made in the past or hope to make in the future!

The first thing to do is establish what drives you to create . To do this, think about who you are, where you come from, what experiences you've had, and who you want to become. Like in the example given in the prompt, maybe there's a need right in your own home that inspires you to create. You could think locally, like The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, or you could think outside of your personal experience too. Is there a global issue that drives you to create something that will help others in the future, during, or after college? If so, describe that vision and the global issue that motivates it.

Keep in mind that "creating" and "making something" can be interpreted many different ways. Your vision for "making" doesn't have to be artistic or some scientific invention. It could be creating a virtual reading service for overworked parents who need help educating their children during a global pandemic! On the other hand, maybe you're creating a science curriculum through your school's independent study program so you can learn more about climate change, which is your passion.

Whatever the case may be, it's a good idea to relate that creativity to your time at Dartmouth. For instance, maybe your virtual reading service has inspired you to major in business, so you can turn that service into your future career. It would be a great idea to research and talk about joining the Magnuson Center for Entrepreneurship at Dartmouth to help show admissions counselors that Dartmouth is the only school that can help your dreams become a reality.

Prompt D: The Curiosity Prompt

D. Dr. Seuss, aka Theodor Geisel of Dartmouth's Class of 1925, wrote, "Think and wonder. Wonder and think." What do you wonder and think about?

This prompt is actually just an invitation for you to dive deep into something that you're insatiably curious about. Dartmouth admissions wants to see that you have that intrinsic motivation to learn, grow, and expand your horizons, and they want to get to know you better by hearing you go off about that thing that you're endlessly curious about.

So, how do you celebrate your curiosity in this response? Start by pinpointing that one thing that you're the most curious about. You can probably look to your activities, relationships, and even your Google search history to identify what that one thing is. Maybe you're endlessly curious about food: different cultures of eating around the world, America's relationship to food, how to select, prepare, and eat it...and if you're really curious about food, you could probably go on and on about everything you know and want to know about it in your response.

This is a good thing! To organize your response, describe the thing you're curious about in a way that helps admissions counselors get to know you better . Going back to the food example, you could talk about where your curiosity about food comes from, or your background with food, how your curiosity with food plays into your day-to-day living, and some specific things you hope to learn about or do with food as you continue engaging with it.

And finally, connect your past experience, present questions, and future goals at Dartmouth in your response. This will show Dartmouth that you're a dedicated, independent learner who will be an endlessly curious student too.

Prompt E: The Baldwin Prompt

E. "Not everything that is faced can be changed; but nothing can be changed until it is faced," wrote James Baldwin. How does this quote apply to your life experiences?

Some challenges in life appear insurmountable at first—and not all of them can be overcome. This prompt asks you to reflect on your own life, and on your own experiences with growth and change, whether or not you succeeded.

In your response, you'll get the chance to show that you see the value of being adaptable and accepting change. You can demonstrate this quality by writing about how you've seen something happening cyclically, something changing, or a season coming to an end in your life. It's important that you write about a situation that was meaningful to you—one where you saw yourself growing and learning.

Alternatively, you could write about an ongoing situation in your life that you are still facing. For example, maybe your school enacted a policy that you and your peers consider unfair, and you’ve been working for a while to make your voices heard.

It's okay if the thing you choose to write about is something you've had conflicted feelings about. What's important in your response here is showing how facing the challenges you describe strengthened your determination and adaptability —qualities that will be valuable when you become a Dartmouth student.

How to Write Great Dartmouth Essays

In order to write great Dartmouth essays, you need to show the committee two things. First, you need to give them a clear idea of who you are. Second, you need to show them, "Why Dartmouth." In other words, why Dartmouth is important to you. Here are some tips to help you accomplish both of those goals.

#1: Use Your Own Voice

The point of a college essay is for the admissions committee to have the chance to get to know you beyond your test scores, grades, and honors. Your admissions essays are your opportunity to make yourself come alive for the essay readers and to present yourself as a fully fleshed out person.

You should, then, make sure that the person you're presenting in your college essays is yourself. Don't try to emulate what you think the committee wants to hear or try to act like someone you're not.

If you lie or exaggerate, your essay will come across as insincere, which will diminish its effectiveness. Stick to telling real stories about the person you really are, not who you think Dartmouth wants you to be.

#2: Avoid Clichés and Overused Phrases

When writing your Dartmouth essays, try to avoid using common quotes or phrases. These include quotations that have been quoted to death and phrases or idioms that are overused in daily life. The college admissions committee has probably seen numerous essays that state, "Be the change you want to see in the world." Strive for originality.

Similarly, avoid using clichés, which take away from the strength and sincerity of your work. Don't speak in platitudes about how the struggle for gay and lesbian rights has affected you… unless it actually has! And even then, you don't want to speak in platitudes. It's better to be direct and specific about your experience.

#3: Check Your Work

It should almost go without saying, but you want to make sure your Dartmouth essays are the strongest example of your work possible. Before you turn in your Dartmouth application, make sure to edit and proofread your essays.

Your work should be free of spelling and grammar errors. Make sure to run your essays through a spelling and grammar check before you submit.

It's a good idea to have someone else read your Dartmouth essays, too. You can seek a second opinion on your work from a parent, teacher, or friend. Ask them whether your work represents you as a student and person. Have them check and make sure you haven't missed any small writing errors. Having a second opinion will help your work be the best it possibly can be.

That being said, make sure you don't rely on them for ideas or rewrites. Your essays need to be your work.

#4: Play With Form

Dartmouth's essay prompts leave a lot of room open for creative expression - use that! You don't need to stick to a five paragraph essay structure here. You can play with the length and style of your sentences - you could even dabble in poetry if that makes sense!

Whichever form you pick, make sure it fits with the story you're trying to tell and how you want to express yourself.

What's Next?

Learn more about the most selective colleges in the US . If you're applying to multiple Ivy Leagues, it's a good idea to know your chances at each!

If you're hoping to attend a highly selective school like Dartmouth, you'll need to have a very strong academic record in high school. Learn more about high school honors classes and societies.

Not sure what your GPA means for your chances of college admission? Find out what a good or bad GPA might look like based on your goals.

Hayley Milliman is a former teacher turned writer who blogs about education, history, and technology. When she was a teacher, Hayley's students regularly scored in the 99th percentile thanks to her passion for making topics digestible and accessible. In addition to her work for PrepScholar, Hayley is the author of Museum Hack's Guide to History's Fiercest Females.

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How To Answer Dartmouth's Supplemental Essay Prompts 2023/24

What's New in 2022/23

What Are Dartmouth's Essay Prompts

Why Dartmouth Question

Dartmouth's Deep Dive Questions

Dartmouth's "Exploratory" Questions

Dartmouth is an Ivy League research university in Hanover, New Hampshire. It has an acceptance rate of around 6%, making it one of the most prestigious and selective schools in the United States. The Supplemental Essays offer you a unique opportunity to showcase your motivations for being a Dartmouth student. These essays are also a great opportunity to provide insights into your journey of self-awareness, your values, and aspirations. This blog serves as a comprehensive guide to each of the prompts in the Dartmouth Writing Supplement for 2023/24. Use the tips and insights below to craft strong responses that will help you stand out from other applicants.

How Julian Got Into Dartmouth

Dartmouth College's 2023/24 Supplemental Essay Updates: What's Changed?

Gaining admission into Dartmouth College, an Ivy League institution with an illustrious history, is no small feat. Among the diverse components of the college application, the supplemental essays play a pivotal role in presenting your unique story and illustrating how you resonate with Dartmouth's values.

Elite universities like Dartmouth continually adapt their application requirements each year, seeking a holistic grasp of their potential students' backgrounds, aspirations, and values.

This year, similar to last year, Dartmouth applicants have three required “writing supplements” to complete. For the 2023/24 admissions cycle Dartmouth has made some limited but notable modifications to essay prompts.

1. Modification of Existing Prompts

The foundational prompt about Dartmouth's distinctive sense of place and purpose remains largely unchanged, with minor tweaks in phrasing for clarity.

2. Introduction of New Topics

Dartmouth's second required essay now offers a choice between introducing oneself, in line with Oscar Wilde's famous quotation, or describing the environment in which one was raised, inspired by a Quaker saying. This presents applicants with the opportunity to either present a personal introduction or delve deeper into their upbringing and its influence.

3. Expanded Choices for the Third Prompt

Previously, Dartmouth gave applicants five options to choose from for their third essay. This has been expanded to six, including a chance for applicants to "celebrate their nerdy side", discuss embracing differences, or share about their promise and potential in line with Dartmouth's mission statement. These additions seek richer insights into applicants' personalities, values, and potential contributions to the Dartmouth community.

4. Rephrased Prompts for Clarity and Depth

Several of the essay options have been reworded to invite deeper reflection. For instance, the Dolores Huerta inspired prompt now adds "Why? How?" to drive applicants to think more about their motivations and methods.

5. Inclusion of Diverse Themes

The newly introduced prompts encompass diverse themes like embracing differences and individual promise, showcasing Dartmouth's commitment to nurturing a varied and dynamic student body.

These alterations underline Dartmouth's ever-evolving admissions perspective, spotlighting a more profound comprehension of applicants' diverse experiences, aspirations, and the intrinsic values they might bring to its vibrant academic community.

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What Are Dartmouth's Supplemental Essay Prompts for 2023/24?

For the 2023/24 application cycle, Dartmouth College has thoughtfully designed supplemental essay prompts that delve deeply into the perspectives, backgrounds, and aspirations of its applicants. These prompts aim to illuminate your personal growth, understanding of Dartmouth's ethos, individuality, and potential contributions to the Dartmouth community.

1. Dartmouth's initial prompt is the “Why Dartmouth” prompt.

This prompt revolves around the institution's essence and its impact on your educational pursuits. Note, this first supplementary essay is only 100 words or fewer, making it shorter than the remaining two essays.

Dartmouth's Unique Ethos : Dartmouth celebrates the ways in which its profound sense of place informs its profound sense of purpose. As you seek admission to Dartmouth's Class of 2028, what aspects of the College's academic program, community, and/or campus environment attract your interest? In short, why Dartmouth? (100 words or fewer)

For the remaining two essays (each 250 words or fewer), Dartmouth offers several creative prompts. Choose ONE from each list.

2. Deep Dive Questions

Pick one prompt from two offered. These essay options are crafted to provide a window into your character, upbringing, and thought processes.

• Personal Background and Upbringing : 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.” (250 words or fewer)
• Introducing You : "Be yourself," Oscar Wilde advised. "Everyone else is taken." Introduce yourself. (250 words or fewer)

3. Exploratory Prompts

Pick one prompt from the six offered. These prompts are diverse, encouraging you to showcase various facets of your personality, aspirations, and beliefs:

• Passions and Interests : What excites you? (250 words or fewer)
• Purposeful Living : 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? (250 words or fewer)
• Inner Thoughts: Dr. Seuss, aka Theodor Geisel of Dartmouth's Class of 1925, wrote, "Think and wonder. Wonder and think." As you wonder and think, what's on your mind? (250 words or fewer)
• Embrace Your Quirks: Celebrate your nerdy side. (250 words or fewer)
• Celebrating Otherness: "It's not easy being green..." was the frequent refrain of Kermit the Frog. How has the difference been a part of your life, and how have you embraced it as part of your identity and outlook? (250 words or fewer)
• Unearthing Potential: As noted in the College's mission statement, "Dartmouth educates the most promising students and prepares them for a lifetime of learning and of responsible leadership…" Promise and potential are important aspects of the assessment of any college application, but they can be elusive qualities to capture. Highlight your potential and promise for us; what would you like us to know about you? (250 words or fewer)

Requirements

Ensure your response to the initial question does not exceed 100 words. For the deep dive and exploratory questions, maintain a word count of 250 words or fewer.

Dartmouth's admissions process is exceptionally competitive, but these essay prompts offer candidates a golden chance to shed light on their unique experiences, aspirations, and the richness they'd contribute to the Dartmouth mosaic.

How to Answer Dartmouth's Supplemental Essay Questions?

How to answer the “why dartmouth” question, dartmouth celebrates the ways in which its profound sense of place informs its profound sense of purpose. as you seek admission to dartmouth's class of 2028, what aspects of the college's academic program, community, and/or campus environment attract your interest in short, why dartmouth, - 100 words or fewer.

This prompt seeks to understand your motivations behind choosing Dartmouth. It's an invitation to dive deep into your reasons and showcase how Dartmouth aligns with your academic and personal aspirations.

Reflect on Dartmouth's Essence

Think about the distinct attributes of Dartmouth that appeal to you.

• Is it a specific academic program?
• The close-knit community feel?
• The rich traditions and serene campus environment?

What combination of features like these, and others, make Dartmouth appealing to you and why?

Be Specific

Avoid vague statements. Instead of saying you're attracted to Dartmouth's "strong academic reputation," mention a particular program, research opportunity, or professor that aligns with your interests.

Personalize Your Answer

What personal experiences or goals make Dartmouth the right fit for you? Maybe you're drawn to Dartmouth's unique D-Plan or its emphasis on undergraduate teaching. Relate these aspects back to your own journey and aspirations with authentic and genuine insights into your unique interests, aspirations, and values and how they fit with specific campus attributes.

Stay Concise

With only 100 words, every sentence must be purposeful. Ensure each word contributes meaningfully to your response, and avoid redundancy.

• Drawn to Dartmouth's renowned Engineering program, I'm excited about its interdisciplinary approach, blending liberal arts and technology. Additionally, the Dartmouth Outing Club aligns with my passion for outdoor leadership.
• The intimacy of Dartmouth's community and its emphasis on undergraduate research in the sciences resonate deeply with my aspirations. Coupled with the picturesque Hanover setting, Dartmouth embodies my ideal learning environment.

Dartmouth's first essay prompt provides a canvas to illustrate your unique connection with the college. By being specific, personal, and concise, you can effectively convey why Dartmouth's academic program, community, and environment align seamlessly with your aspirations.

How to Answer Dartmouth's "Deep Dive" Questions?

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., - 250 words or fewer.

Dartmouth, like many elite institutions, values a diverse student body, recognizing that every individual's background shapes their perspectives, values, and contributions. This prompt is an avenue to shed light on the influences that have shaped your character, beliefs, and aspirations.

Exploring Your Roots  

Begin by painting a vivid picture of your upbringing:

• Physical setting: Were you raised in a bustling city, a rural village, a suburban neighborhood, or a tight-knit community?
• Cultural influences: What traditions, customs, or rituals were integral to your family or community?
• Key figures: Who played pivotal roles in your formative years? How did they influence you?

Reflecting on the Impact

Moving beyond mere description, analyze how these elements of your background molded your beliefs, values, and aspirations:

• Challenges and Triumphs: Did certain experiences, perhaps dealing with adversity or celebrating triumphs, particularly influence your growth?
• Evolution: How have the cultural and familial lessons from your upbringing influenced your worldview, values, and future aspirations?

Crafting a Cohesive Narrative

While 250 words might seem restrictive, focus on weaving a concise yet impactful story that encapsulates your upbringing and its influence on you.

Dartmouth's first "Deep Dive" prompt seeks to understand the fabric of your background and how it has sculpted your character and aspirations. Dive deep, be introspective, and craft a narrative that offers a genuine glimpse into your world.

'Be yourself,' Oscar Wilde advised. 'Everyone else is taken.' Introduce yourself.

Dartmouth's prompt resonates with the essence of individuality. Every student brings their unique narrative, beliefs, experiences, and quirks. Through this prompt, Dartmouth seeks to understand *you*, beyond academic achievements and extracurriculars.

Embracing Your Uniqueness

While it's tempting to present an idealized version of oneself, Dartmouth is looking for authenticity. Reflect on:

• Personality: Are you introspective, outgoing, witty, or analytical? What qualities define you?
• Passions and Hobbies: What do you love doing in your free time? How do these activities reflect your character or aspirations?
• Personal Stories: Share an anecdote or experience that captures your essence.

Moving Beyond the Resume

Avoid reiterating what's already in your application. This is a chance to share aspects of your life and personality that don't fit neatly into traditional application boxes.

Be Genuine and Introspective

While keeping your introduction relevant and the tone appropriately formal, consider how you can also incorporate some touches of intimacy and vulnerability with some deeper introspection and with some authentic and genuine sharing about who you are.

Using Your Voice

Sometimes an introduction is formal. But for this essay, also consider using elements of your authentic personal voice to help convey unique features of your personality. Be it a streak of humility or a sense of humor, use an authentic voice to reveal meaningful insights into your individuality.

Crafting a Personal Statement

Given the brevity of the prompt, every word should contribute to your narrative. Be concise yet compelling, ensuring the introduction offers a genuine reflection of who you are.

Dartmouth's second "Deep Dive" prompt is a canvas for you to paint a portrait of yourself. This isn't about showcasing achievements but about presenting an authentic, holistic image of who you are. Dive deep into introspection, embrace your uniqueness, and introduce yourself in a way that remains memorable and genuine.

How to Answer Dartmouth’s “Exploratory" Questions?

Navigating Dartmouth's exploratory essay prompts requires a blend of introspection and a clear understanding of what the college values. While each question is a chance to spotlight a distinct facet of your character, they collectively serve to convey your fit for Dartmouth's vibrant community.

What excites you?

Genuine enthusiasm.

Share what genuinely excites you, not what you think Dartmouth wants to hear.

Make it Compelling

Don't only skim the surface or introduce sources of excitement that are superficial in nature. Connect what excites you with deeper passions and aspirations.

• Look for more profound topics. For example, going to a baseball game may be exciting for you, but does it connect to deeper experiences, reflections, or aspirations? That said, maybe going to a baseball game with a specific family member was exciting because of the relationship and the opportunity these baseball outings presented to deepen it.
• Emphasize sources of excitement that truly reflect or shape your personality and which connect with things you care deeply about.

Personal Anecdote

• Illustrate your passion through a personal story, giving a genuine glimpse into what drives you.
• Highlight anecdotes that will help the reader appreciate the contexts that make your insights compelling for you.
• Craft vivid narratives that cast light on people, events, or circumstances that shaped your feelings of excitement and to make your response more memorable.

Connect with Dartmouth

Maybe there's a Dartmouth program or club that aligns with your passion or with what excites you. Showing that connection can demonstrate both your genuine interest and how you'd immerse yourself on campus. Reveal how what excites you will shape your contributions to campus life and specific goals or aspirations you have for college and beyond.

• Discovering the world of computational biology during a summer program transformed my view of computer science, from merely app development to solving biological mysteries. Dartmouth's interdisciplinary courses promise further exploration into this thrilling intersection.
• Art, for me, isn't just a hobby; it's a lens through which I see the world. Every brush stroke or sketch is a reflection of my interpretations. At Dartmouth, I'm excited about the potential of integrating art with academic studies, enriching my perspectives further.

The first "Exploratory" prompt is very open ended. Try to home in on a source of excitement that offers insights into your more profound passions, motivations, and perspectives on life. Be genuine and be sure to connect what excites you with larger aspirations.

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 prompt calls for a profound understanding of your own commitment to betterment and change. Dartmouth values students who are not just achievers in the academic sense but also those who aspire to make a meaningful impact on society through commitment, conviction, and courage.

Genuine Motivations

Deeply reflect upon the driving forces behind your actions. What inspires you to create change? Whether it's a personal experience, someone you look up to, or a broader vision for society, share the root of your motivations.

Link to Dartmouth's Values

Show that your vision aligns with Dartmouth's ethos. Perhaps there's a Dartmouth initiative, club, or program that corresponds with your efforts to create positive change.

Narrative Engagement

Use storytelling to bring your experiences to life. Instead of simply stating facts, walk the reader through your journey, the challenges you faced, and the lessons learned.

Vision for the Future

Expand on how Dartmouth can be the platform for furthering your initiatives or supporting your drive for societal improvement.

• Driven by witnessing educational inequalities in my community, I initiated a tutoring program for underprivileged students. Dartmouth's Tucker Center, with its extensive community service programs, inspires me to scale my initiative to broader horizons.
• Ever since participating in a local environmental cleanup, I've been motivated to promote sustainable living. At Dartmouth, I see an opportunity to engage deeply with the Dartmouth Organic Farm, expanding my understanding and driving larger community initiatives.

Dartmouth's second "Exploratory" prompt offers an avenue to express your genuine commitment to pursuing a purpose-driven life and enacting positive change. Through a combination of personal storytelling and a forward-looking mindset, this is your chance to showcase how your life's purpose aligns with Dartmouth's values. Share how you can contribute positively to campus life and reflect on how Dartmouth can help you further your impact on the world.

Dr. Seuss, aka Theodor Geisel of Dartmouth's Class of 1925, wrote, 'Think and wonder. Wonder and think.' As you wonder and think, what's on your mind?

This unique prompt from Dartmouth encourages you to introspect and share your musings, highlighting how deep reflection forms an integral part of your character. It offers a window into your mindset, showcasing how you engage with the world around you.

Venture Beyond the Superficial

While it might be tempting to discuss a recent event or popular topic, delve deeper. Reflect on those bigger questions or thoughts that linger in your mind. It could be something philosophical, societal, or even a personal revelation.

Relate to Dartmouth’s Legacy

Given the mention of Theodor Geisel, an illustrious Dartmouth alumnus, consider ways in which your reflections might connect to Dartmouth’s storied history, its emphasis on liberal arts, or its commitment to fostering critical thinkers.

Just as with the previous prompt, storytelling can be a powerful tool here. Walk the reader through your thought process, the genesis of your musings, and the conclusions or further questions they led to.

Consider Dartmouth’s Environment

Dartmouth's unique setting, amidst the serene landscapes of Hanover, provides the perfect backdrop for reflection. Consider weaving in how such an environment can further fuel your introspection and quest for answers.

• Contemplating the ever-evolving nature of language, I often wonder about the next phase of human communication. Dartmouth’s rich linguistic courses and its diverse community provide the ideal setting for such explorations.
• In today's digital age, I ponder the balance between connectivity and genuine human interactions. Dartmouth’s tight-knit community offers a compelling environment to explore this, bridging the traditional with the contemporary.

Dartmouth’s third “Exploratory” prompt is an opportunity to provide insights into your deeper reflections and how you process the world around you. By delving into genuine thoughts and connecting them with Dartmouth's ethos and environment, you can craft a compelling narrative that underscores your fit for the institution.

Celebrate your nerdy side.

Dartmouth recognizes that it's often our quirks, those distinctive characteristics and passions, that make us uniquely interesting. This prompt invites you to showcase a side of yourself that might not be immediately evident but is an intrinsic part of who you are.

True Colors

It's vital to ensure your response is genuine. Highlighting an authentic quirk or passion can create a more memorable and personal essay. Whether it's a hobby, a talent, or a particular mindset, delve into something you truly identify with.

Narrative Storytelling

Consider using anecdotes or personal stories to illustrate your point. A short narrative about a time when your "nerdy side" played a significant role can effectively showcase your personality and make your essay more engaging.

Relate to Dartmouth

While discussing your quirks, find a way to connect it to Dartmouth's environment or ethos. Perhaps there's a club, organization, or course at Dartmouth that aligns with your quirky side. Demonstrating how your unique traits would fit into and benefit the Dartmouth community can add depth to your essay.

Deep Reflection

Go beyond just describing your quirks. Reflect on why they matter to you, how they've shaped your perspectives, and the role they've played in your life.

• Ever since I started collecting antique calculators, I've been dubbed the "math historian" among my friends. At Dartmouth, I hope to merge this love for history and math by delving into the evolution of mathematical theories.
• I've always been fascinated by the intricacies of board games, often creating my own. Through Dartmouth's Game Design Club, I hope to bring my unique designs to life, encouraging strategic and creative thinking.

Dartmouth's fourth "Exploratory" prompt offers a chance for applicants with a passion for, or obsession with, a particular intellectual or academic interest, or other kind of interest that captivates them, to embrace it and share it in an essay that is compelling and memorable. By focusing on genuine characteristics and weaving a narrative that connects to Dartmouth's values and offerings, you can create a standout essay. Highlight an important area of personal fascination while helping Dartmouth understand how this might shape your aspirations and participation in college life.

'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 and outlook?

Dartmouth acknowledges and celebrates the diverse backgrounds and experiences of its students. This prompt provides an avenue to discuss how you've encountered, processed, and embraced differences in your life, be it in terms of race, culture, beliefs, or personal experiences. It’s an opportunity to highlight your unique journey — and perhaps exceptional resilience or insights shaped by this journey — while foreshadowing the positive ways you’ll impact the college community.

Personal and Genuine Experiences

Begin by introspecting on moments in your life when you felt different or stood out. Was it due to cultural, racial, personal beliefs, or perhaps a unique experience? Share these genuine stories to give a deeper insight into your journey.

Navigating Challenges and Growth

Being different often comes with challenges. Discuss how you navigated them, the insights gained, and how these experiences contributed to personal growth. Show how these challenges strengthened your character and shaped your worldview.

• Did they help you develop personal resilience? If so, how is this reflected in real events or relationships in your life, or in challenges you’ve faced?
• Does your experience with difference shape your worldview, personality, or your perspectives?
• Do these factors impact other facets of your life experiences, such as interpersonal relationships, school or community life, or your views on society?

Connect to Dartmouth

Highlight how you see Dartmouth's diverse community as an extension or complement to your experiences. Maybe there are student groups, initiatives, or programs at Dartmouth that align with your journey. This connection can underscore your fit within the Dartmouth community.

Celebrate the Differences

Rather than merely discussing the challenges, celebrate the advantages and strengths that come from embracing diversity. How has it made you a more empathetic, open-minded, or resilient individual?

• Growing up in a multicultural neighborhood, I've always been the bridge between various cultures, facilitating understanding. Dartmouth's Global Village program, emphasizing cultural exchange, resonates with my experiences.
• Being the only left-hander in my family always made me feel unique. This simple difference taught me early on that there's no one-size-fits-all approach. At Dartmouth, I'm eager to be part of communities that appreciate and celebrate such nuances.

Dartmouth's fifth "Exploratory" prompt offers an opportunity to reflect on your personal journey and how it's shaped by the differences you've encountered or embraced. By intertwining personal narratives with Dartmouth's ethos and values, you can create an impactful essay that showcases your understanding and appreciation of diversity in its many forms.

As noted in the College's mission statement, ‘Dartmouth educates the most promising students and prepares them for a lifetime of learning and of responsible leadership…’ Promise and potential are important aspects of the assessment of any college application, but they can be elusive qualities to capture. Highlight your potential and promise for us; what would you like us to know about you?

Dartmouth is seeking students who not only excel academically but also exhibit promise in their endeavors and potential to impact the world. This prompt is your opportunity to showcase your capabilities, determination, and the promise you hold for the future.

Highlight Authentic Moments

Recall instances where your potential was evident, be it through academic accomplishments, extracurricular leadership, or personal growth moments. Choose stories that capture your drive, ambition, and the qualities that set you apart.

Relate to Dartmouth's Values

Dartmouth's mission emphasizes both lifelong learning and responsible leadership. Ensure your essay reflects these aspects. Discuss how Dartmouth's programs, values, or opportunities align with your potential and how they can further amplify it.

Evolution and Growth

Rather than just stating your achievements, reflect on your journey. How did you overcome challenges? What did you learn? Demonstrating growth gives depth to your potential and makes it more tangible.

Envision Your Future

Project into the future. How do you see your potential evolving at Dartmouth? In what ways do you hope to contribute to the community and eventually make an impact in your chosen field or the broader world?

• My initiative in founding a community service club showcased not just leadership, but a potential to drive change. At Dartmouth, I'm excited to further this potential through hands-on service projects and leadership seminars.
• From initiating a school-wide recycling program to representing my school in national debates, my journey has been about discovering and nurturing my potential. Dartmouth's focus on holistic education and fostering leadership resonates deeply with where I see myself evolving.

Dartmouth's sixth "Exploratory" prompt is an open canvas for you to highlight your strengths, journey, and vision for the future. By weaving in authentic experiences with Dartmouth's values and offerings, you can craft a compelling narrative that showcases not just who you are, but who you aspire to be in the Dartmouth community and beyond.

General Guidelines for Answering Dartmouth's Supplemental Essay Questions

1. deep dive into dartmouth.

Dartmouth's prompts allow you to demonstrate your affinity with the college's ethos and community.

• Highlight specific courses, faculty members, research opportunities, or clubs that align with your interests.
• Be detailed in your approach to specific aspects of college life or specific academic offerings or resources that hold a genuine interest for you personally in order to spotlight the depth of your commitment to understanding Dartmouth.

2. Introspective Insight

Dartmouth highly values self-aware learners. When discussing personal experiences or academic interests, always loop back to the personal growth, insights, or lessons you've absorbed over time.

3. Champion Diversity

Dartmouth is proud of its diverse and inclusive student community.

• Highlight the unique perspectives, experiences, or backgrounds you'd bring and how these have influenced your own evolving self-awareness and life journey in profound ways.
• Emphasize how these perspectives and experiences will enhance diversity at Dartmouth and shape unique contributions you’ll make to community life and academic dialogue at Dartmouth.

4. Genuine Narratives

Honesty resonates deeply. Craft responses that echo your true passions, hurdles, and aspirations, rather than what you feel the admissions committee wants to hear.

• Use a personal voice and/or personal anecdotes to convey authentic glimpses into your unique life circumstances and influences.
• Keep it relevant to the college admissions process, but don’t shy away from sharing intimate features of your personality, inner thoughts, “hidden” interests, and remember some glimpses of humility and vulnerability may add authenticity or further help you make your essay more memorable.

5. Focus on Depth

The word limits mean precision is crucial. Opt for depth over breadth, delving into a few points in detail rather than skimming over many.

6. Engaging Storytelling

Craft your essays in a compelling narrative format. An evocative story or reflection often remains etched in the reader's mind longer than mere facts. Use relevant narrative or storytelling techniques and vivid description, with an emphasis on showing, not telling, to help make introspective elements and reflections more natural, convincing, compelling, and memorable.

7. Meticulous Proofreading

Ensure your essays are impeccable. Beyond checking for grammatical errors, ensure your narrative flows smoothly and communicates your main points effectively. Consider getting feedback from peers or mentors for fresh insights.

8. Tie to the Larger Context

Position your answers in the broader context of your potential contributions to Dartmouth.

• Highlight future-facing aspirations, goals, or commitments.
• Describe how the college's offerings and ethos align with your aspirations.
• Reveal what contributions you expect to make as a valuable member of the Dartmouth community.
• Explain how Dartmouth will further your goals and aspirations.

9. Embrace the Process

Remember, these essays offer a unique opportunity to showcase facets of yourself beyond academics. Relish this chance to illustrate why Dartmouth and you could be the ideal fit.

Armed with these guidelines, you're poised to craft compelling responses that not only answer Dartmouth's supplemental questions but also resonate with the spirit of the institution.

What Makes Crimson Different

Final Thoughts

Dartmouth doesn’t shy away from creative supplemental essay prompts. Nor do they want you to shy away from embracing and celebrating what most makes you, you — whether something deep and purposeful, something quirky, something that’s complex and laced with vulnerability, or an exciting passion…

When multiple prompts are offered, choose the prompt that resonates best with you and will allow you to probe qualities of your personality, life journey, and college aspirations that will play a central role shaping your contributions and achievements at Dartmouth.

Dartmouth wants to get to know you better. Be authentic to your personality. If you’re unsure if the essay sounds like you, have someone close to you read it and tell you if it sounds like you. While grammar and spelling are important, showcasing the unique qualities that make you perfect for Dartmouth are equally important.

Need help with your supplemental essays? Crimson Education is the world’s leading university admission consulting company. Our expert admission strategist can help you narrow down your ideas and word choice to help you craft the perfect essay prompt response. Get your essay reviewed today!

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How to Respond to the 2023-2024 Dartmouth Supplemental Essay Prompts

Cece Gilmore is a Content Writer at Scholarships360. Cece earned her undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Arizona State University. While at ASU, she was the education editor as well as a published staff reporter at Downtown Devil. Cece was also the co-host of her own radio show on Blaze Radio ASU.

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Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

Bill Jack has over a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. Since 2008, he has worked at Colby College, Wesleyan University, University of Maine at Farmington, and Bates College.

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Dartmouth is an Ivy League institution found along the scenic Connecticut River in Hanover, New Hampshire. Just like other Ivy League institutions, Dartmouth is difficult to be admitted to as their acceptance rate is 6% .  So, how do you become a part of the 9%? Writing stellar supplemental essays for your Dartmouth application is one way!

To stand out on your application, you need to have stunning responses to the Dartmouth supplemental prompts. The Dartmouth supplemental essays offer the perfect opportunity to display pieces of your personality. This is your chance to prove that you are a better candidate than others by sharing the unique characteristics and interests you possess. 

So what are you waiting for? Read our guide below on how to make your Dartmouth supplemental essay responses flawless! 

The Dartmouth College supplemental essay prompts

Responding to the Dartmouth supplemental essay prompts allows applicants to share their unique characteristics and interests. After all, Dartmouth wants to admit students who are a good fit for their campus and community. Dartmouth requires three supplemental essays, with the third prompt offering five interesting options to choose from. Read our guide below on how to make your Dartmouth supplemental essay responses flawless! 

Dartmouth celebrates the ways in which its profound sense of place informs its profound sense of purpose. As you seek admission to Dartmouth’s Class of 2028, what aspects of the College’s academic program, community, or campus environment attract your interest? In short, Why Dartmouth? (100 words or fewer) 

Although there are a lot of words included in this question, it is essentially just another “Why us?” question! Therefore, do not overthink this one. 

With the 100 word limit, there is not a lot of room to go on about how amazing Dartmouth is (plus, they already know they are pretty amazing!). Therefore, you should brainstorm around two to three things about Dartmouth that you absolutely love. This can include anything about Dartmouth, such as its beautiful campus and location, any important traditions they have, the academic programs offered, any extracurriculars you are excited for, and much more. 

The key to responding to this prompt is to be specific . Show that you have done your research. Remember, you do not have a lot of words to write your response. Therefore, strive to make it short and sweet but also informative. Mention these two to three specific and detailed pieces and why you are interested in them. 

Be sure to spend time researching Dartmouth and what makes them unique compared to other colleges. Remember, you are applying to an extremely selective college, so you want to make sure you are choosing something that other applicants would not think about. It is all about thinking outside of the box and showing the “true you” through your responses. 

“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. (250 words or less)

Who are you, and how did you become who you are? That is the question Dartmouth is asking. As a student applying to Dartmouth, you have your own unique story to tell. While the description of the environment you grew up in is important, the ‘how” it impacted you is the true focus. Dartmouth wants to know how you made the most of whatever situation you grew up in. If you had privilege, what did you do with the opportunities presented? If you struggled, how did you triumph?

Take note of the word “impact” in the prompt, and think of the meaning of the word, which is “strong effect.” After you briefly describe the environment you grew up in (remember you only have 250 words!), ask yourself what your most positive qualities are. Then, ask yourself how your upbringing impacted, or had an effect, on one or two of those qualities. Even if your upbringing was less than ideal, perhaps you are all the more understanding and helpful to others who are less fortunate. 

“Be yourself,” Oscar Wilde advised. “Everyone else is taken.” Introduce yourself . (250 words or less)

Dartmouth receives a lot of applications from students from around the world with impressive applications. Therefore, this is your time to prove how unique you are and how your individuality will flourish while at Dartmouth. Be sure to not restate items from your resume or detail your entire life story. Rather, be as concise as possible while revealing your identity. 

This is a very open ended question, which can be tricky to start. To help brainstorm, think of the following questions: 

• How would you introduce yourself to a complete stranger? 
• If you had to make a slideshow about yourself, what would you include? 
• What are your main interests? 
• What could you not live without? 
• How would someone close to you describe you? 

To format this response you can either: 

• Write as if you were introducing yourself to someone
• Create a more narrative and story-telling piece of writing
• Something more creative!

Ultimately, the formatting does not matter as long as you accurately introduce yourself and highlight your uniqueness. Just remember to be authentic and focus on what makes you stand out from everyone else. 

For the third Dartmouth supplemental essay, you’ll choose from a list of five potential prompts. Before making your choice, read through them carefully and determine which prompt most appeals to you. Remember to only select one prompt to answer and keep it under 250 words! 

What excites you? (250 words or less)

Although this question is short and sweet, it is extremely broad! This means that you can answer this question in a lot of different ways. However, just because the question is broad does not mean your answer should be too. Rather, your answer should be extremely specific and detailed. 

Before you start answering this prompt, you should sit down for a few minutes and list what excites you and makes you happy. Once you have a solid list of things that excite you, select whichever thing you are most passionate about. 

Remember, there is no right or wrong answer to this question. In fact, you can write about anything big or small. For example, you can choose to write about how each week a new episode of a TV show makes you excited because you get to watch it with your family. Or you can write about how going for a walk in new trails where you live excites you because you love seeing new nature scenes. You can write about how helping people less fortunate than you makes you excited for your dream job at a nonprofit organization. 

It does not matter what you choose to write about. What matters is how you justify your answer. The “why” is so important. Why does this particular thing excite you? How does it impact your life? Does it connect back to your future goals? 

In addition, do not forget that this essay is for Dartmouth. So, if possible, try to connect what you are excited by back to Dartmouth and its resources. For example, as stated before, maybe going for a walk around your neighborhood makes you happy and excites you because of the new nature scenes you are able to see. You can then connect this back to your excitement to be immersed in the beautiful trees and nature of New Hampshire. You might even want to connect it back to being excited about studying environmental studies at Dartmouth. 

This essay can be a good place to tie in a passion to your intended major to give the Dartmouth admissions officers an idea of how your major connects to your interests. 

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 making – an impact?” (250 words or less)

Essentially, this prompt is asking “What do you hope to achieve for the greater good?” or “What do you think your life’s purpose is?” 

This may seem like a daunting question to tackle, but Dartmouth understands that you are young and still figuring life out. Therefore, do not feel like you need to have a concrete answer to this prompt. 

Dolores Huerta is a prominent civil rights activist who dedicated her life to advocating for immigrant rights. Therefore, Dartmouth is looking for someone who is dedicating their time to make a long term positive change in their world and community. 

Try to think of passions you have and what you have done to act on these passions. Have you ever volunteered anywhere? Have you created a business that donates money to charity? Have you created a club at your high school to help those who are less fortunate than you? 

Once you have identified your passions and purpose in life, detail what you want to continue to do to make an impact on this community. 

Dr. Suess, aka Theodor Geisel of Dartmouth’s Class of 1925, wrote, “Think and wonder. Wonder and think.” What do you wonder and think about? ” (250 words or less)

This prompt is the perfect opportunity for applicants who find themselves constantly asking questions and wanting to learn more about anything and everything. Try to think of the last time you went down an internet rabbit hole researching or bombarding someone with a million questions about a particular subject. What was it and why did this topic interest you? 

The great thing about this particular prompt is that there are no restrictions! You can talk about literally anything that you think and wonder about. Ultimately, you want to discuss something that truly fascinates you and makes you “nerd” out! 

Some examples of topics you could discuss are: 

• Time travel
• A bucket list trip
• Going to space
• How Bluetooth works

The possibilities are endless! Do not feel like you need to make up a dramatic narrative in order to impress Dartmouth. Rather, just be true to yourself and write from your heart. This will show Dartmouth how you spend time wondering and what truly interests you. 

“Celebrate your nerdy side.” (250 words or less)

Ultimately, this prompt is asking you to explain what brings out your inner nerd! “Nerd” is being used as a very positive description, so be honest!  

First, you should ask yourself the following:

• What does being a nerd mean to you? 
• Who do you do things that you consider “nerdier” with?

Next, describe in detail what you do when feeling your utmost nerd urge! Choose one specific thing, and make it sound like it is not to miss! Do you enjoy putting jigsaw puzzles together, playing role-playing games, or vintage board games? Share how your nerdy side helped shape you into who you are today and how celebrating your nerdy side continues to help you grow (hopefully at Dartmouth!).

“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 and outlook?” (250 words or less)

Do not worry if you feel that you don’t have so much to write about with this prompt. If you do not think that that sounds like you – do not choose this prompt! 

This question has two parts that you should address in your response. The first piece asks you to share what it is about you or your life that is “different.”  Essentially, what is the difference, and why is it seen as different by the world around you?

The second part of this question straightforwardly asks how embracing your “differentness” helped shape you and your view of life. Perhaps you are more empathetic to others and go out of your way to make all people feel more comfortable about being outside the mainstream. 

Once you have written about what your difference is, be sure to connect it back to who you are. For example, let’s say you were an only child raised by elderly grandparents. You should then connect this back to how you are totally comfortable with older people and know how to entertain yourself in the best of ways. Take this prompt as an opportunity to reflect on what may seem “different” helped shape the person (you!) who is applying to Dartmouth! 

“ As noted in the College’s mission statement, “Dartmouth educates the most promising students and prepares them for a lifetime of learning and of responsible leadership…” Promise and potential are important aspects of the assessment of any college application, but they can be elusive qualities to capture. Highlight your potential and promise for us; what would you like us to know about you? “(250 words or less)

This prompt is a good one for students who feel that they are more than their application conveys. Say you are a stellar student (as most Dartmouth applicants are!), but more recently found your groove or a passion that has motivated you like nothing else. Perhaps you know, down to your bones, that your goals will be reached no matter what life throws at you. Tell Dartmouth how they are the place to help you reach those goals! This is the time to be as honest and sincere as you can. Doing so will shine through, and maybe the person reading your essay will realize that you are right!

Final thoughts on responding to the Dartmouth supplemental essays

After reading our guide for responding to the Dartmouth supplemental essays, it is time to write your responses! 

Be sure you are outlining and brainstorming prior to writing your responses. Remember, this is Dartmouth you are applying to! You want to ensure that every piece of your essay responses are well-thought out. Do not repeat yourself, and be sure to evenly distribute bits of personality and interests throughout your responses. 

You are more than equipped to answer the Dartmouth supplemental essay questions! Good luck during the writing process! 

Next steps after applying to Dartmouth

When you are finished writing your Dartmouth supplemental essays – it is time to submit your application!

Now, you should have celebrated your accomplishment of submitting your Dartmouth application! Well done!  Be sure to check: 

• Dartmouth portal
• Any Dartmouth social media accounts

For any updates to your application status! Once again best of luck to you! 

Additional resources

Now that you are done with the Dartmouth supplemental essays, double check that your Coalition Application and Common Application essays are perfect! Also, make sure you check out our guide on how many schools to apply to . 

Have you completed the ACT or SAT ? If you are wondering about whether or not to send your SAT/ACT scores to test optional schools, check out our guide!

Most importantly, check out our free scholarship search tool to help you finance your education. Best of luck in the college admissions process, and remember that Scholarships360 is here to help you! 

Additional supplemental essay guides

• Cornell University (Ithaca,NY)
• Amherst College (Amherst, MA)
• University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA)

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Dartmouth Supplemental Essays 2023-24 Prompts and Advice

August 11, 2023

Dartmouth receives the fewest number of applications of the eight Ivy League schools. There were 28,841 hopefuls for the Class of 2027, less than half the number at Columbia or Harvard. Yet, that still represented an increase in the number of Dartmouth applications from the two years prior, resulting in the school’s lowest-ever acceptance rate of 6% (down from 6.2% the previous year, and a whopping 8.8% in 2024). When applying to a school that rejects 94% of applicants, you need to find ways to grab an admissions officer’s attention and give them a reason to say, “Yes!” The Dartmouth supplemental essays are one such chance.

Want to learn more about How to Get Into Dartmouth College? Visit our blog entitled:  How to Get Into Dartmouth: Admissions Data and Strategies  for all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.

One of the best opportunities to move the admissions needle is through the three supplemental essays that Dartmouth requires. Dartmouth College’s essay prompts for the 2023-24 admissions cycle are listed below along with accompanying advice about how to tackle each one:

1) Dartmouth Supplemental Essays – Required Essay #1

Dartmouth celebrates the ways in which its profound sense of place informs its profound sense of purpose. As you seek admission to Dartmouth’s Class of 2028, what aspects of the College’s academic program, community, and/or campus environment attract your interest? In short, why Dartmouth? (100 words)

This is, in essence, a straightforward “Why this College?” essay. Great things to highlight here include:

• Firstly, specific  student organizations at Dartmouth  that you would like to become involved with.
• Particular courses  offered in your discipline of interest at Dartmouth.
• Dartmouth professors whose work/research/writings you are intrigued by.
• Undergraduate research opportunities  unique to Dartmouth.
• Aspects of Dartmouth’s mission statement that resonate with you.
• Lastly,  study abroad opportunities .

Make sure to really do your research on the school. As a side benefit (and not an unimportant one), you may discover further reasons why Dartmouth truly is the perfect fit for you.

2) Dartmouth Supplemental Essays – Required Essay #2

Please choose one of the following prompts and respond 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 is an opportunity to share something about your background that may not shine through anywhere else on the application. To do so, consider discussing how your role in your family, important aspects of your upbringing, or a particular cultural, religious, or community influence either impacted your core values and beliefs or helped develop a particularly important attribute.

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

This is a fun opportunity to share something genuinely unique about yourself. As such, pick one (or several) key aspects of your personality/background that reveal something deep and meaningful about you. As you brainstorm, consider the following avenues:

• What moves your spirit? Discuss any art, movies, music, and books that you find deeply moving and personally important.
• Your role in your family.
• Your role in your social group.
• The funniest things you’ve ever done.
• The strangest things you’ve ever done.
• Commitment, passion, and enthusiasm.
• Core values and beliefs.
• Important aspects of your upbringing.
• Most intriguing and unique attributes.
• Cultural, religious, community influence.

3) Dartmouth Supplemental Essays – Required Essay #3

Please choose one of the following prompts and respond in 200-250 words:

A) What excites you?

Out of everything on this Earth, what makes you tick? What keeps you up at night? What subject makes you read books and online content until your eyes bleed? If you could address one problem in the world, large or small, what would it be? What do you love to do? If you are answering at least one of these questions, you are on the right track with this essay.

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 making—an impact? Why? How?

This is your chance to show that you are a global citizen, aware and sensitive to issues faced by this planet and all life that occupies it. If you are passionate about climate change, the fate of democratic institutions, food scarcity, human rights, the impact of disinformation campaigns, privacy issues related to big tech, or any of the millions of other challenges faced by humanity, this is a great choice for you. Note that this year’s prompt includes the guiding questions why and how , so be sure to let them both guide your response.

Dartmouth Supplemental Essays (Continued)

C) Dr. Seuss, aka Theodor Geisel of Dartmouth’s Class of 1925, wrote, “Think and wonder. Wonder and think.” As you wonder and think, what’s on your mind?

Last year’s prompt: what do you wonder and think about? This year’s prompt: as you wonder and think, what’s on your mind? It’s clear that Dartmouth is not only interested in what you’re thinking about but also your overall thought process. What questions are you asking? Why are you asking them? What conclusions have your questions led you to, and how do you feel about those conclusions? Is there anything that you  like to know that you don’t have the answer to right now? What motivates, scares, or surprises you about your most pressing questions? The key here will be to take the reader on a little trip inside your brain (Magic School Bus not required).

D) Celebrate your nerdy side.

In just about every nineties movie, the nerds function as insanely smart social rejects with questionable outfit choices and pocket protectors, often banished to the worst lunch table. Luckily, times have changed, and being a nerd—especially at a school like Dartmouth—is downright aspirational. Moreover, the definition of a “nerd” is someone who is incredibly enthusiastic about a certain topic—especially if unique. Accordingly, if you’re interested in answering this question, make a list of any “specialties” that you are particularly dedicated to. Do you love the soundtracks of eighties movies? Science fiction short stories? Strategy games? Rubik’s cubes? Your backyard barometer? Comic book collections? Whatever topic you choose, make sure to truly lean in and celebrate it—what do you love about it, and why? How does it influence you?

E) “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 and outlook?

Do you feel that your lived experience is different from others in your peer group, family, or community, perhaps in regard to relationships, household income level, mental or physical challenges, neurodiversity, gender identity, sexual orientation, or cultural background, to name a few? If so, answering this prompt could be a good option. While crafting your response, the important thing to keep in mind is that the difference/challenge itself is  less important  than what it reveals about your character and perspective. What steps have you taken to cope with your chosen difference? How has it positively impacted you? How has it influenced your perspective and the way you engage with the world? Is there anything about your difference that you feel especially appreciative of?  Make sure you share what you were feeling and experiencing; this piece should demonstrate openness and vulnerability.

F) As noted in the College’s mission statement, “Dartmouth educates the most promising students and prepares them for a lifetime of learning and of responsible leadership…” Promise and potential are important aspects of the assessment of any college application, but they can be elusive qualities to capture. Highlight your potential and promise for us; what would you like us to know about you?

One of the best ways to communicate promise and potential is to demonstrate a passion for learning and growing. This prompt is not about presenting a laundry list of accomplishments; instead, it’s about showing the admissions committee that you possess qualities that can be cultivated for a lifetime, regardless of major or career, such as dedication, curiosity, innovation, or creativity, to name a few. You can accomplish this goal by describing how you’ve grown in a particular area and/or how you wish to grow, while remembering that flaws and mistakes made along the way often demonstrate tremendous self-awareness.

How important are the Dartmouth Supplemental Essays?

The essays (both the Common App essay and the supplemental ones) are “very important” to the evaluation process. Seven other factors are “very important.” These factors are: rigor of coursework, class rank, GPA, recommendations, test scores, character/personal qualities, and extracurricular activities. Clearly, Dartmouth College places enormous value on the quality of your supplemental essay.

Dartmouth Supplemental Essays – Want Personalized Essay Assistance?

To conclude, if you are interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your Dartmouth supplemental essays, we encourage you to  get a quote  today.

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Dartmouth Supplemental Essay Examples

Dartmouth supplemental essay examples will help you in your quest to deliver the very finest essay that you can. Seeking guidance on how to write a college essay can be useful, but equally useful can be reading over existing essays to see what the pros do, and how all the bits fit together.

Your essays are one of the most important aspects of your college application, and they should be as polished as possible. This might mean seeking out an essay workshop for students or reading expert college essay tips , but checking out examples can be helpful as well.

This article will take you through the necessary essays for Dartmouth’s supplemental section and provide you with some general essay writing tips.

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free strategy call here . <<

Article Contents 10 min read

Dartmouth supplemental essays.

Dartmouth requires students to write three essays. For the first two essays, students get one prompt that they will all follow. Pay close attention to all three prompts but note that if a school is requiring absolutely everybody to respond to the same prompt, that prompt is universally important, and something Dartmouth cares a lot about.

There are several prompts for the third essay, so you can choose the one you think will show off your unique abilities, talents, and experiences. Remember: essays in applications are about showing why you are the best possible candidate for that particular school.

All Applicants

Essay no. 1.

“Dartmouth celebrates the ways in which its profound sense of place informs its profound sense of purpose. As you seek admission to Dartmouth ... what aspects of the College’s academic program, community, or campus environment attract your interest? In short, Why Dartmouth?”

Word limit: 100 words, max.

With the beauty of New England, the academic discipline, and exciting research opportunities, there is nothing about Dartmouth that doesn’t appeal to me. 

My primary reason for wanting to attend Dartmouth is the research potential in energy engineering; I want to make an impact on environmental conservation, starting with energy. Dartmouth’s research on biomass processing technologies is very exciting.

Besides academics, I also have family in Hanover, so my support network would be strong at Dartmouth. Furthermore, the beauty and heritage of the campus is inspiring.

Dartmouth imbues me with a sense of place and purpose that inspires.

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

Word limit: 200–250 words

Given the prompt, it seems appropriate to start by saying that I am a big fan of Oscar Wilde. I am normally a shy person, and I may be uncomfortable being talked about, but I know there are worse things…

My sense of humor is my favorite aspect of myself, and I have always had a love of comedy – hence my interest in Oscar. My parents have said I laughed uproariously as a baby and they have taken as much delight in introducing me to Charlie Chaplin, the Marx Brothers, Monty Python, and Mr. Show as I have in laughing with all of them.

I believe that a sense of humor and irony will aid everybody, and we could all use a good laugh at our own expense now and again. So much of politics and business and social anxiety could be better managed with a few well-placed guffaws.

In fact, learning to laugh at myself has been instrumental in conquering my shyness and allowing me to meet people and gain opportunities. Without that, I couldn’t have run for student government at my school – becoming vice president – or attempted stand-up comedy for the first time this summer. For the record, I mostly bombed my set, but I’m re-writing my material and learning how to bounce back from a setback – they won’t stop me!

So, that’s my “me.” Let everybody else be taken, Wilde, I’m perfectly content as I am.

Essay No. 3

Students choose one of the following essays to complete.

A. “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 making – an impact?”

Six hours in the sun pulling a wagon, knocking on doors, and asking people for used aluminum isn’t a fun way to spend a day, but I knew the importance of helping out with our local recycling programs. In this case, we were looking for aluminum tabs from pop cans to be remade into wheelchairs and provided for low-to-no cost to those in need.

My brother Jack uses a wheelchair, and so this cause appealed to me on two levels: I am also an environmentalist – like my parents, who are environmental scientists. Aiding a recycling program and getting wheelchairs to patients was therefore a win-win.

Let’s start with your format, while looking at how to write a college essay . You will follow the standard essay format as often as possible. This is composed of three major sections: the opener, the body, and the conclusion. You can think of them as “beginning, middle, end,” if that is helpful.

The opening paragraph should start with an attention grabber, or “hook,” that will live up to its name and command the focus of the reader. This is the best approach to how to start a college essay . Make it such a good opening line that even someone who isn’t on the admissions committee would want to keep reading.

Your opener also sets up the rest of the essay, providing the central themes and ideas that you’ll explore – these are all contained within the prompts provided by Dartmouth, but your opener will connect those prompts to you, personally. Specifically, reading college essay introduction examples will show you how to accomplish this.

In the body of the essay, you will explore the prompt, how it relates to you, and, ideally, show how you have grown as a person or student, some accomplishments you have made, or skillsets and abilities that you have – all of which must be desirable for a potential Dartmouth student.

If you can connect specifically to Dartmouth, all the better. Mentioning programs or research that are unique to the school or highlighting that you have the qualities they are seeking in their mission and vision statements will connect you to the school and show off how you would be the ideal candidate.

Your overall goal is to make the committee want to bring you in for an alumni-conducted interview, so if your conclusion would make anybody want to meet you, ask questions, and learn more about you and your experiences, you will have succeeded.

Most of Dartmouth’s essays have a short limit of 250 words. The exception is a 100-word essay: even shorter. What this means for you is that you don’t have a lot of space to develop a variety of complex ideas per essay. Be surgical; get in, tell the necessary details for the prompt, and get out.

Be prepared to truncate and mess with the essay format a bit for the 100-word essay, as that prompt really requires a precision answer, and you might not be able to shape the essay in a standard way.

To build a successful application, give yourself every edge and benefit. A strong supplemental essay will achieve that. You are already taking the right steps by reading up on essay writing and seeking out examples to improve your work. Take your time refining the essays for your dream school.

No, you must answer those two essay questions, as per the requirements. Most schools want answers to the questions “Why this school?” and “Tell us about yourself.” They are two of the most common questions asked of students for a reason: they produce information that the admissions committee needs to know.

The amount of time will vary, but generally speaking, we think you should take 2–3 weeks to work on your essays. You don’t need to put in 40+ hours per week, but give yourself time to brainstorm, write, re-write, edit, and proofread; you’ll likely need and want time to get professional feedback as well.

If you’re stuck on an optional prompt, you could switch to a different prompt proposed by the school and see if it resonates more with you. If your required essay is giving you difficulty, you’ll want to break your writer’s block with a little brainstorming. Take two minutes to free-associate on your topic, writing down anything you think of, and you’ll likely open up your thought processes and start to figure out what you want to say.

If you are successful, you will be invited for an interview, which means that you might want to start thinking about how to prepare for your interview.

The Common Application allows for changes to essays after submission, but with Dartmouth, you will specifically need to upload additional materials via your portal.

Look for a credible college essay review service . Teachers and other mentors might be able to help as well, but keep in mind that they are already busy people, so sticking with a professional service might be the better option.

You might think that all you need to do is hit your academics and emphasize how smart you are, but that strategy might not be all that clever. Your transcripts and high school resume will show off your numbers. Instead, use your essay to introduce the “real you” to the admissions committee. They want to know you, and your uniqueness is your best shot at getting into your school of choice. Put the essential you on display for the best results.

Deadlines change from year to year, so just follow the instructions in the Common App or Coalition App. Start as early as possible to maximize your time between now and the deadline.

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Dartmouth University Essays that Worked

Dartmouth essays that worked – introduction.

Are you interested in learning more about how to get into Dartmouth? Dartmouth is a highly-ranked Ivy League institution with a competitive applicant pool. Located in Hanover, New Hampshire, Dartmouth is ranked #12 in the nation by U.S. News. However, this high ranking also means the Dartmouth acceptance rate is low—just 6% . So, you should understand all aspects of the Dartmouth application and review some Dartmouth essays that worked as you prepare to apply.

In this guide, we will focus on the Dartmouth supplemental essay requirement. Many Ivy League institutions have similar approaches to their application review. Reading college essay examples for Ivy League colleges and reviewing sample Ivy League essays can help you put your best foot forward. 

Does Dartmouth have supplemental essays? 

Yes—Dartmouth has supplemental essays.

The Dartmouth writing supplement is a required portion of the Dartmouth application. The Dartmouth admissions committee uses Dartmouth supplemental essays to gather additional information about each applicant.

In this article, we will cover Dartmouth essays that worked and offer tips on how to get into Dartmouth. You can also check out this guide for more college essay examples for other schools like Dartmouth.

How many essays does Dartmouth require?

The Dartmouth admissions committee requires three Dartmouth essays in addition to the Personal Essay required on the Common Application . Three Dartmouth essays may seem like a lot. However, don’t worry—it’s not as overwhelming as you might think. Each Dartmouth essay varies in length and theme. Some Dartmouth essay questions are even as short as 100 words.

Keep reading for some Dartmouth supplemental essays examples—and take our quiz below to see just how familiar you are with the college admissions process! 

Dartmouth Essay Requirements 

Dartmouth essays can vary from year to year, so you should always double-check the prompts on the Dartmouth website. The Dartmouth essay prompts are typically announced on August 1 st when the new application launches. However, it’s never too early to begin reviewing sample Ivy League essays. Later in the article, we will review a series of Dartmouth essays that worked from previous application cycles. 

Current Dartmouth essay prompts: 

Prompt #1: why dartmouth (100 words): .

Dartmouth celebrates the ways in which its profound sense of place informs its profound sense of purpose. As you seek admission to Dartmouth’s Class of 2027, what aspects of the College’s academic program, community, or campus environment attract your interest? In short, Why Dartmouth? Please respond in 100 words or fewer.

Prompt #2: Introduce Yourself (200-250 words): 

“Be yourself,” Oscar Wilde advised. “Everyone else is taken.” Introduce yourself in 200-250 words.

Prompt #3: Choose One ( 200-250 words):

A. 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 making—an impact?

B. What excites you?

C. In The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, William Kamkwamba ’14 reflects on constructing a windmill from recycled materials to power electrical appliances in his family’s Malawian house: “If you want to make it, all you have to do is try.” What drives you to create and what do you hope to make or have you made?

D. Dr. Seuss, aka Theodor Geisel of Dartmouth’s Class of 1925, wrote, “Think and wonder. Wonder and think.” What do you wonder and think about?

E. “Not everything that is faced can be changed; but nothing can be changed until it is faced,” wrote James Baldwin. How does this quote apply to your life experiences?

The Dartmouth acceptance rate can be intimidating, but CollegeAdvisor is here to help . Keep reading to review some Dartmouth essays that worked. We will start by covering three real Why Dartmouth essay examples. 

Why Dartmouth Essay Examples

Dartmouth admissions cares about why you are interested in their school. Essay prompts that ask applicants to articulate what interests them about a school are often referred to as “Why <Insert College>” essays. In this guide, we will discuss Why Dartmouth essays specifically. 

It’s important to note that Why School essay prompts can be worded differently from school to school. Prompts may also change from one year to the next. 

In this guide, we will cover four Why Dartmouth essays that worked . The first three Dartmouth essays that worked answer a more creative prompt. The last Dartmouth essay answers a more straightforward prompt. However, in each of the prompts, the Dartmouth admissions committee is asking students to ponder some of the same questions: 

Why Dartmouth Reflection Questions

• What interests you in Dartmouth compared to any other college?
• What academic and social features would make you a good fit at Dartmouth?
• How would attending Dartmouth help you achieve your future career goals?

Now, let’s review some Why Dartmouth essay examples.

Dartmouth Essays that Worked #1

Since LGBTQ+ homeless youth are often at the intersections of racism, ableism, and queerphobia, no one discipline, or class, could cover every facet of their experience. 

However, at Dartmouth, I can use the Presidential Scholar Program to research with Dr. Zaneta Thayer. By examining ways poverty and trauma affect health, I will refine the research skills I’ll use during a Senior Fellowship on Houston’s LGBTQ+ homeless youth. 

With help from a Rockefeller Center faculty member, I can spend my senior-year researching ways policymakers and practitioners can better assist LGBTQ+ homeless youth, preparing me for a lifetime of meaningful change.

Why this essay worked: 

The first of our Why Dartmouth essays that worked focuses on an element of diversity and inclusion on Dartmouth’s campus. The author has clearly done their research about what Dartmouth has to offer inside and outside of the classroom . The essay begins by explicitly stating a cause that the author finds valuable and that Dartmouth supports. The author then proceeds to mention a current Dartmouth professor whose research aligns with this work. 

Successful Why Dartmouth essay examples mention campus and community impact. This author not only paints a picture of how they might expand awareness of LGBTQ+ issues on Dartmouth’s campus, but also how they will use their Dartmouth education to engage with their broader community. Finally, the author mentions how their Dartmouth college experience will ultimately prepare them to make a lifelong impact after graduation.

A strong Why School essay should also touch on the missions and values of the institution. Dartmouth’s mission statement states, “Dartmouth educates the most promising students and prepares them for a lifetime of learning and responsible leadership through a faculty dedicated to teaching and the creation of knowledge”. This Why School essay perfectly embodies the mission by focusing on dedicated faculty and lifelong impact. Keep reading for more Dartmouth supplemental essays examples. 

Why Dartmouth essay examples #2

Within a venn diagram of “small liberal arts college” versus “large research institution,” I have discovered that I cannot simply choose between the two; I greatly value ideals from each distinct circle. 

Dartmouth is the millimeter-wide overlap. With the robust undergraduate education characteristic of small liberal arts colleges and the vast resources offered by large research institutions, Dartmouth encapsulates my ideal college community. Tight-knit relationships, check. School spirit, check. Top-notch alumni network, check. 

For a small college, Dartmouth furnishes big possibilities. Within a Venn diagram, it is inside this unique, all-encompassing space that I wish to make my home.

Why this essay worked:

The second of our Why Dartmouth essay examples addresses how, as a small college, Dartmouth is a perfect fit for the writer. The author places Dartmouth at the intersection between a small college and a large research institution. Not only does this Dartmouth essay example show that the applicant is knowledgeable about Dartmouth; it also shows that they have researched how Dartmouth stacks up to other schools. 

Unlike the previous essay, this Dartmouth essay didn’t feel the need to name-drop any top faculty members or signature academic programs . Instead, this author chose to highlight campus features such as school spirit and the alumni network. This Dartmouth essay example is straightforward, unpretentious, and relatively informal in its writing style. This author goes deeper than Dartmouth college rankings and paints a picture of the soul of the institution. 

Why Dartmouth essay examples #3

I loved Dartmouth the moment I heard about the Sanborn Tea. There’s something magical, romantic , about it—sitting under dark wood bookshelves, surrounded by the scent of books, sipping hot tea in front of a roaring fireplace.

When visiting Dartmouth, I asked about the tea, but my tour guide didn’t mention the checkered floors or the buttery cookies I’d read about. Smiling gently, she spoke about loving the chance to chat one-on-one with her favorite professor every week at four o’clock—tea time. 

Dartmouth offers not only academics, but absolutely unmatched intimacy, tradition, and community. Tea at Sanborn is just the start.

So far, we’ve read two why Dartmouth essay examples. Each chose to take a different approach. Our third essay in the Why Dartmouth essay examples series is no different. This author chooses to focus on tradition. The author uses descriptive language to paint a vivid picture of the Sandborn tea tradition. They use vivid descriptions and evocative language to highlight their connection to this tradition and their desire to experience it at Dartmouth. 

Some colleges use demonstrated interest as part of their admissions process. Demonstrated interest can be anything from attending a college fair or going on a campus tour to opening an email from the admissions office. While Dartmouth does not consider demonstrated interest in their application process, visiting campus is always a great way to better answer the Why School essay question. Not every author of Dartmouth essays that worked had the opportunity to visit campus. However, they all find some way to add an insider’s touch to these Dartmouth supplemental essays examples. 

Here is the last of our Why Dartmouth essay examples: 

What attracts you to dartmouth (100)   .

I always had a keen interest in numbers, probability, and finance. Early on, I could quickly calculate sales tax, analyze probabilities, and visualize complex mathematical models. After taking AP classes in economics and statistics, I became intrigued with mathematical representations for economic markets and statistical models. This sparked my desire to pursue an actuarial career to utilize my talents in quantitative reasoning. The Major in Mathematical Data Science will provide me the skills to apply abstract mathematical and statistical theories to the concrete world. I will also have the opportunity to stimulate my academic intrigue through an intensive research project.

The last of our Why Dartmouth essay examples is much more straightforward than the previous one. This author chooses to focus solely on the academic components of Dartmouth. However, this simple approach works quite well for this applicant. 

The Dartmouth acceptance rate and the Dartmouth college ranking show just how important academics are at Dartmouth. This applicant speaks directly to their ability to succeed in an academically rigorous environment. 

The author talks us through what has prepared them for the academic rigor at Dartmouth. They also mention how their passions and talents led them to choose a career in actuary science . Finally, they tell us what they plan to do once at Dartmouth. 

This is one of the more simply structured Why Dartmouth essay examples. However, it still answers the prompt perfectly. Keep reading for more Dartmouth supplemental essays examples. 

More Dartmouth Essays that Worked

The second Dartmouth essay prompt gives students several prompts to choose from. These prompts change frequently from year to year. In the following Dartmouth essays that worked, we will review a selection of these prompts.

While prompts may change frequently, a strong supplemental essay often contains the same essay components. So, don’t worry about these prompts being from previous admissions cycles. You can use these Dartmouth Supplemental essays examples and other sample Ivy League essays to help craft your own essay. 

After reading through the following Dartmouth supplemental essays examples, we encourage you to view one of our webinars on brainstorming for your college essay,  editing your supplemental essays, and essay advice from admissions officers . 

Now, let’s review some more Dartmouth supplemental essays examples. With several different prompts these Dartmouth supplemental essays examples allow students to show their personality off!

Dartmouth Essays that Worked #1: Introduce Yourself Essay 

The hawaiian word mo’olelo is often translated as “story” but it can also refer to history, legend, genealogy, and tradition. use one of these translations to introduce yourself. (250-300 words).

Since my earliest days, my favorite game has been Truth or Dare. In the 1001 ways my friends posed the question, I loudly called out “Dare!” each time and found myself devouring dead ants or climbing trees sky-high. As we grew older, we left behind our hushed whispers and daredevil operations. But something in me never quite stopped playing—never quite stopped choosing dare.

Fifteen years old, I circled the backstage of Spivey Hall, nervously evaluating a plethora of “what-if”s.” What if my bow bounces on the artificial harmonic? Worse, what if — CRACK! The room jolted into pitch black, followed by the conductor barging through the stage doors. “[NAME REDACTED], I’m so sorry… seems like… you won’t be able to perform your concerto…” he sighed. 

I was only half listening, as an idea had crossed my mind. It was crazy, the sort of thing that might have come to me in a fever dream, where nothing made sense. For the first time in years, I felt that question flicker inside me again. Truth or Dare ?

I began to tighten my bow. “Mr. Thibdeau, the show must go on.”

My intense desire to discover, to brave the unknown, is what defines me. Because of Truth or Dare, I do not fear what lies at the end of the tunnel. To dare brings the possibility of glory and of undoing. I subsist on finding the beauty in both. The fall from a tree that illuminates physics principles, the slip of memory in a blind performance that invokes a hidden propensity for improvisation—even through undoing, I make new parts of myself.

Perhaps one day, ants and trees and Mozart will have all coalesced into nothing but ancient history. Until then, my world is born through Truth or Dare.

I will still choose dare every time.

This author used the widely known game “Truth or Dare” to introduce themselves. Immediately, the Dartmouth admissions committee can see that the author has taken a unique approach to this essay prompt. This shows the applicant thinks out the box and takes intellectual risks. The author does a great job at describing how their daring nature transcends different areas of their life. 

From a stylistic vantage point, the author uses prose, descriptive sentences, and dialogue flawlessly throughout the essay. This dynamic writing style keeps the reader engaged from the beginning to the end of the essay. While the author does not explicitly mention how they might “dare” on Dartmouth’s campus, the final sentence leaves you wondering what’s next for this risk-taking student.

Dartmouth Essays that Worked #2: Celebrate Curiosity 

Curiosity is a guiding element of toni morrison’s talent as a writer. “i feel totally curious and alive and in control. and almost…magnificent when i write,” she says. celebrate your curiosity. .

Exhausted and bored, I stare at the hands of the clock in agony. With each tick I digest another spoonful: memorize the formula, rearrange it, plug in the knowns, and solve. I am left perpetually unstimulated. For years, this is what math was about for me — plug and chug. However, I have discovered that mathematics does not have to be so dry and uncreative. Probing and problem-solving captivate me. At once, I am the intrepid Olivia Benson of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit , and then I am the analytical Spencer Reid of Criminal Minds .  

And thus, as I entered Calculus BC in September of junior year, I was begrudgingly prepared to embark on the usual plugging and chugging. However, I found myself staring at a proof: determine why sin(x)/x goes to one as x approaches zero. Why . I heard pencils nervously tapping on the desks then collapsing one by one. I raced through a mental check-list of techniques I had previously learned. And, I analyzed the function in my head, visualized it, and then transferred that picture onto paper. With no single, linear method to solving it, my scribbled attempts painted pages of graph paper. Frustrating. Agonizing.  

Student’s notebooks shuffled onto different subjects. I persisted, raising question after question, much like Captain Olivia Benson, in her attempts to identify the perpetrator. I eventually found success using the “sandwich theorem” — ironic, since I was often hungry in that class. After multiple endeavors, I demonstrated that the limit equals one. Frustrating. Agonizing. Beautiful. A wave of pleasure rolled over me as I softly set down my pencil. From then on, every few weeks, an interesting problem awaited us.

Though I was not alone in solving these proofs, it appeared that I was the only one relishing this process. Like Agent Spencer Reid, I was not concerned with the “usefulness” of this information in my future; I found pure pleasure delving into this abstract material that requires creativity. 

My inquisitiveness is not learned from these TV personalities: I feel as if I were born with these analytical tendencies. Curiosity is the genesis of scientific, political, and social — practically all  — advancement. To some, mathematical skills seem mundane, but synthesizing information to surmount my daily obstacles is enticing! I find myself employing the use of these skills in my exploration of literature, synthesizing history and language to better understand the characters of Crime and Punishment: empathizing with Sonia’s suffering and Dounia’s sacrifice.

Similarly, this mindset helped me find a unique way to stop my neighborhood-famous homemade guacamole from browning and helps me expeditiously calculate distances and speed limits,  technology-free, in order to find the quickest way to a friend’s house. While Emily Dickinson immersed herself in writing and Vincent Van Gogh was constantly painting, my characteristic is to never stop my questioning. Challenges are extremely enticing, and I cannot cease exploring them on my own.

Curiosity is often thought of as the cornerstone of intellectual growth. With Dartmouth’s low acceptance rate, it makes sense that the Dartmouth admissions team would be interested in how applicants display curiosity. The author takes time to illustrate exactly what curiosity means to them while also giving examples of curiosity displayed in multiple areas in their life. 

The author describes their interest in learning for the sake of learning alone. They describe television shows, books, and courses in school as the playground that allowed them to discover their love of learning. This level of intellectual exploration is exactly the type of curious student that Dartmouth would like to see. 

Dartmouth Essays that Worked: Passion to Action Essay

Labor leader dolores huerta is a civil rights activist who co-founded the organization now known as united farm workers. she said, “we criticize and separate ourselves from the process. we’ve got to jump right in there with both feet.” speak your truth: talk about a time when your passion became action. (300 words) .

I sat waiting for my nails to dry while a hoard of anxiety-ridden freshmen trudged onto the bus. I was returning to the place where it all started four years ago: when my classmates used ‘faggot’ instead of gay and left me terrified. 

As a peer leader, I wanted to be the overzealous queer presence I wished I had seen as a freshman. Gay jokes and bigotry weren’t fortifying closet locks under my watch. 

The boys on my bus didn’t disappoint. Within the hour, an intense game of ‘find the homo’ was on. 

This was where I belonged. And after my topcoat was done, I was ready for war. 

Upon arrival, I grabbed two other peer leaders–I’ll call them Adam and Steve–and debriefed them. Although they had a religious objection to homosexuality, they agreed to support me. 

That night, we sat the freshmen before the campfire. I watched my words carefully, referencing their comments and my own experiences from freshman year so they would understand my concerns rather than dismiss me. 

I told them I was there to talk without judgment. None of them were bad people. Until that night, their behavior had gone uncorrected, and just scolding wouldn’t motivate them to change. I wanted them to learn how their peers should be treated. 

The next day, several jokesters apologized. I stressed to them that even if someone believes that homosexuality is wrong, common decency still matters. Later, several closeted students came out to me and asked for advice.

My queer identity has taught me how to create queer-affirming spaces while still having difficult conversations. I’ve learned that bringing people together has less to do with finding common ground than teaching others to respect differences.

This Dartmouth essay example centers the author’s identity while also answering the prompt. The author shows vulnerability by writing about a situation that invoked both sadness and anger. Through the author’s own queer identity, they were able to illustrate how passionate they were about this cause. 

While this is one of the Dartmouth essays that worked, this author took some risks. Using vulgar or offensive language in your college application must be done very thoughtfully. The language used in the first paragraph of this essay might be jarring at first glance. However, the author uses this language only to further underscore their passion. Being a member of the queer community also eases any negative impact of the language used. 

Keep reading for more Dartmouth supplemental essays examples. 

More Dartmouth Essays that Worked 

Yes, books are dangerous,” young people’s novelist pete hautman proclaimed. “they should be dangerous—they contain ideas.” what book or story captured your imagination through the ideas it revealed to you share how those ideas influenced you..

I think that this is best answered by sharing the letter I wrote to the author after reading A Place for Us:

Reading has always been my favorite escape, my favorite pastime. Only, your book was never an escape, but a mirror: the first time I saw my life truly reflected in literature, and not because you told an Indian-American story. I felt as though you’d written my story through the raw, honest meditation on family conveyed in your book.

As is true with many immigrant families,  my family resorts to anger too quickly. We shy away from expressing love. I’ve cried out that I hate my father on more than one occasion, passionately believing it to be true each time — just like Amar did to Rafiq. 

However, as I read Rafiq’s dying words to Amar at the end of the story, expressing his regrets, his love for his son, I couldn’t stop crying because I suddenly saw my family in a completely different light. Not that we will never disagree or fight again, but I began to consider all that goes unsaid between us.

Behind the anger is almost always love. Although I’ve known this subconsciously, there is something about seeing your struggles outside the context of your own life that compels you to confront the truth about them. 

I’m endlessly indebted to you, in awe of you, and I needed to say thank you. I cannot begin to express how much this book truly means to me but have tried to explain a small portion of my love for it. Thank you, Ms. Mirza, for my new favorite book. I will carry it with me always.

[Name redacted]

This essay takes a creative approach to answering the prompt. Instead of just discussing their favorite book, they take a stylistic risk by sharing their essay in a letter format. The letter format works because it shows just how personally the book affected the author. And it still answers the prompt! 

This author also shares a window into their culture. If you read other Dartmouth supplemental essays examples or sample Ivy League essays, you will notice many students sharing some part of their identity, background, or culture. This author does a good job of giving the Dartmouth admissions committee more insight into their upbringing. 

Dartmouth Essays that Worked: Kermit the Frog Essay 

”it’s not easy being green” was a frequent lament of kermit the frog. discuss. 300 words..

It’s well intentioned, I get it. Flowers are an ephemeral beauty, conveying underlying meaning. Yellows for friendship, red roses for romance. Remembering a girlfriend’s favorite flower is a common trope, the epitome of a loving partner.

But to me, flower shops are slaughterhouses, the vendors of a tragic foie gras. A snip severs the artery of a bud, a flower doomed to death by lack of foundation, losing the security of Maslow’s hierarchy.  A doomed career, wilting, never to see the light of sun again.

So here I am crusading for the mute, their silence a frequency more piercing than words. That flower bud had endless potential, surviving as a seedling, buried in peat as civilizations rose and fell at the hands of greedy men. That seed finally found her opportunity to thrive, to be worthy, to be a flower, then cruelly seized for a few dollars and fewer days of appreciation. It’s difficult to be a plant among the egotistical human, a being which thinks himself to be the top of the chain. The flower counterclaims – flowers mean fruit, and fruit is beautiful sustenance.

Somehow, trying to choose a thank-you bouquet turned into this internal debate, a realization of how poorly we treat other life forms, as if they are to accommodate us in this universe in which we’ve only existed for a second. I thought of that village in China, lost without its bees, its remaining flowers pollinated by hand one-by-one.

It isn’t easy being green. You have no voice, no way to fight back except at the very end to yell with a faint echo from the grave: a cry of  “I told you that you needed me,” before fading back to silence as Earth implodes around you, succumbing to exponentially rising extinctions and global warming.

This author takes a creative and reflective approach to this prompt. The essay is full of prose and shows off the authors’ strength as a writer. Instead of focusing on Kermit the Frog, the author chooses to personify flowers. In flowery language, the author describes the lifecycle of a flower, causing the reader to feel empathy.

The author ends the essay with a nod to all green things on earth. This shows their awareness of environmental issues, particularly in the closing sentence. Overall, this essay is the perfect match for this unconventional prompt. The author is confident in their approach and shows the reader they are deep, thoughtful, and aware of issues plaguing the globe. 

Dartmouth Essay Examples: Dr. Seuss Essay 

Oh, the places you’ll go is one of the most popular books by ”dr. seuss” (theodore seuss geisel, dartmouth class of 1925). where do you hope to go what aspects of dartmouth’s curriculum or community might help you get there 100 words.

With my head full of brains and my shoes full of feet, my path through Dartmouth would include a D-Plan of semesters on campus and study-abroad. While on campus, I would pursue my interest in the philosophical and linguistics aspects of cognitive science, conducting research under renowned faculty such as Dr. Kraemer, working in education and specifically teaching STEM with his papers on anxiety towards mathematics. Yet Dartmouth would also specifically support my further interest in abroad programs for global health, such as the Dickey’s Center Global Health Initiative’s research site in Peru, a place I have longed to go.

We’ve included this essay in our general Dartmouth supplemental essays examples. However, it could also be included in the Why Dartmouth essay examples. This is another example of a prompt that may be worded differently but in essence asks the same question: why Dartmouth?

This student has clearly done their research on Dartmouth. They mention faculty, research centers on campus, and other opportunities. They also display an inside knowledge of the curricular progression in their major of interest. 

How do you write a Dartmouth essay? 

Now, you’ve had a chance to read several Dartmouth essays that worked. As you likely noticed, the Dartmouth essays that worked in this guide have many of the same strengths. Next, let’s discuss how you can apply the same techniques to your Dartmouth supplemental essay. 

Check out these tips used in the Dartmouth essays that worked to assist you while writing your Dartmouth essay.

Dartmouth Essays that Worked Tips

• Answer the prompt. This one may seem obvious, but it makes a major difference. 
• Narrow the scope of your essay. You may be tempted to discuss numerous ideas throughout your essay. However, the best essays are those that are focused and narrow in scope.
• Watch out for grammar and formatting issues . It is important to have multiple proofreaders involved in your revisions. 
• Every supplemental essay is an opportunity to share “Why Dartmouth.” Don’t miss the opportunity to show that you are a good fit. 

The Why Dartmouth essay examples in this guide can help you get a better sense of what admissions committees look for. Ivy League institutions are highly competitive, and there are no guarantees. However, reviewing sample Ivy League essays can give you insight on how to enhance your application. 

Dartmouth Essays That Worked – Final Thoughts 

When strategizing about how to get into Dartmouth, supplemental essays should be high on your priority list. After all, it’s easy to be intimidated by the Dartmouth acceptance rate or the Dartmouth college rankings . 

Still, as you can see, college essay examples for Ivy League colleges don’t differ much from other essays. However, the more competitive the college, the more you need to stand out. Our Dartmouth supplemental essays examples highlight what makes each writer unique. By highlighting your strengths in your supplemental essays, you can leave a lasting impression on admissions officers. And with many colleges going test-optional , supplemental essays are more important than ever.  

Dartmouth essays that worked are specific, thoughtful, and tailored to Dartmouth. No matter when you plan to apply, you can use our why Dartmouth essay examples and other Dartmouth essays that worked in this guide to help frame your writing. While prompts change each year, the academic standard for a school like Dartmouth rarely changes. Good luck!

This article on Dartmouth Essays that Worked was written by Chelsea Holley . Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.

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How to Write the Dartmouth Supplemental Essays 2023–2024

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Dartmouth College asks applicants to answer three supplemental essay prompts, each quirkier than the last. As the smallest and most northern Ivy League school, Dartmouth stands out for its tight-knit community and famously creative alumni, from Dr. Seuss and Mr. Rogers, to Mindy Kaling and Robert Frost. If you’re applying to Dartmouth, you might find their unusual essay prompts intimidating. In this post, we’ll break down how to answer each of the Dartmouth supplemental essays. We’ll also help you choose the right prompts for your unique background and personality so that you can put your best foot forward on your application.

Dartmouth College’s 2023-2024 Prompts

You will need to write three essays for your Dartmouth College application. The first essay is a relatively straightforward “Why Dartmouth?” prompt. For the second and third essays, you’ll be able to select your favorite prompt from a list of prompts. You’ll want to choose wisely!

Supplemental Essay Prompts

Dartmouth celebrates the ways in which its profound sense of place informs its profound sense of purpose. as you seek admission to dartmouth’s class of 2028, what aspects of the college’s academic program, community, and/or campus environment attract your interest in short, why dartmouth (100 words).

• 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.
• “Be yourself,” Oscar Wilde advised. “Everyone else is taken.” Introduce yourself.
• What excites you?
• 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?
• Dr. Seuss, aka Theodor Geisel of Dartmouth’s Class of 1925, wrote, “Think and wonder. Wonder and think.” As you wonder and think, what’s on your mind?
• Celebrate your nerdy side.
• “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 and outlook?
• As noted in the College’s mission statement, “Dartmouth educates the most promising students and prepares them for a lifetime of learning and of responsible leadership…” Promise and potential are important aspects of the assessment of any college application, but they can be elusive qualities to capture. Highlight your potential and promise for us; what would you like us to know about you?

Why Dartmouth?

This prompt looks like many other college application prompts: it just boils down to “Why Dartmouth?” That said, there are some differences. Dartmouth admissions officers, when composing this prompt, hint at the location and mission of Dartmouth College. If you find yourself drawn to any specific aspect of Dartmouth’s mission statement and core values , this essay response is a great place for you to break down why those values speak to you and/or draw you to apply to Dartmouth College.

In addition, the reader expects you to have completed some research on Dartmouth’s unique offerings. Name programs, courses, clubs, and/or specific cultural qualities of Dartmouth College that interest you. Then, explain what interests you about them. You could also touch on what makes Dartmouth different. Without putting other schools down, what does Dartmouth provide that you couldn’t have access to anywhere else? The key is that your reader should know you’re writing about Dartmouth whether they’re explicitly told or not. Why? Because your explanation for why Dartmouth is right for you could not be repurposed for any other school.

Who Are You?

The following two prompts, which you can choose between, both focus on who you are. Option A asks about your background; option B asks you to introduce yourself. Unlike many other essay prompts, these prompts don’t focus on who you will be and what you will do, but rather on who you are now. 

Here’s a quick breakdown to help you choose the prompt that’s right for you:

• If you would prefer to focus on how your community, hometown, family, school, or other factors outside of your control have shaped the person you are today, option A is probably the best option for you.
• If you would prefer to write about how you have developed as a unique individual, not necessarily as a result of your background (which may feel less compelling to you to write about), then option B is probably your best bet.

Option 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. (200-250 words)

This prompt asks you to reflect on your past and bring it to the page in a brief essay response. It’s a tall order: you’ll need to describe not only your background, but also how it has impacted you, and who you are today. These elements can be provided in any order. For instance, your essay could have one of the following outlines:

• Describe my unique way of seeing the world
• Describe my family and how they see the world
• Describe how my family influenced the way I see the world
• Open with an anecdote about my school
• Describe how I struggled to fit in at my school
• Express how that experience has shaped who I am today

These outlines are just examples, not suggestions or prescriptions. Before writing this essay, consider writing your own outline so that you can be sure you incorporate all of the important elements into your essay.

Option B: “Be yourself,” Oscar Wilde advised. “Everyone else is taken.” Introduce yourself. (200-250 words)

This essay prompt asks you who you are, but more than that, it asks you to describe what makes you unique. If “everyone else is taken,” authenticity is all the more important. Honesty and integrity are crucial aspects of the college application process; this essay particularly relies on authenticity and standing out from the crowd by means of your authenticity.

Like your “Why Dartmouth?” essay, you want this response to be applicable only to you . If someone who knows you read this essay without anyone telling them who wrote it, they should be able to identify the author confidently.

Introducing yourself is a notoriously difficult task despite sounding quite simple. Consider the biographical details that make you who you are. Also, consider your response to the classic “Tell me about yourself” interview question. Then, try to identify a thread that links some or most of your identifying characteristics together. To the best of your ability, highlight that thread in your essay response.

What Do You Do?

The following six essay prompts are diverse and creative, but each comes down to the same core: what do you do? This question could apply to your academic life, your extracurricular activities, your community service, your family obligations, what you do for fun, or some combination. It can also apply to what you will do in the future (and how you are currently preparing to do those things in the future). 

Here’s a brief breakdown of why you should pick each prompt:

• Option A is the broadest and should be chosen if you feel like you have a good sense of a cohesive answer already that doesn’t quite fit with the other prompts.
• Option B might be best suited to students who are engaged in civic or community service and wish to continue impacting society, though bear in mind that the prompt can be read expansively.
• Option C is likely best suited for students who have powerful imaginations that drive their academic, personal, or extracurricular explorations.
• Option D might be the prompt for you if you possess a specific, unique nerdy interest that might not otherwise be reflected in your application.
• Option E is a strong choice for students whose identities, experience of diversity, or challenging backgrounds have shaped their life experiences.
• Option F, last but not least, is the stand-out choice for students whose identities and actions in the actions in the present are most heavily influenced by their goals and intentions for the future.

Option A: What excites you? (200-250 words)

This essay prompt gives you a broad canvas to paint upon—which means you especially need to make sure your composition is cohesive! When writing your response to this prompt, you might want to start by focusing on a specific 2-4 activities, topics, ideas, etc. that excite you. If possible, draw a thread between the different items you list.

Note that it’s okay to describe just one topic/idea/activity which excites you. If you choose that route, you’ll want to be sure that you expand upon the nuances of your choice and how it excites you in a multitude of ways. Even if your essay focuses on a limited subject, you can describe the different strengths you employ to do this exciting activity. Alternatively, you could discuss the different parts of your personality which are required to engage with this idea which excites you.

When answering this question, don’t feel restricted to academic or “serious” endeavors. Excitement doesn’t need to have formal or educational origins to be genuine and appropriate for a college essay context. Nevertheless, if possible, provide some diversity to your brief list. You can get creative with your answer! For instance, you might list many (i.e. 10+) topics, but each revolves around 1-2 related central ideas. Stay cohesive and cogent.

Option 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? (200-250 words)

This essay prompt requires specificity when it asks “Why? How?” When describing the impact you hope to make or are already making, make sure your description is grounded in concrete details. Consider the following types of details you can name: 

• Community organizations you work with or hope to work with
• Specific communities of individuals you help or would like to help
• Specific initiatives you are spearheading or hope to spearhead
• Specific social issues you are working to solve now or in the future

Even though this prompt implies topics of community or civic service in its response, you can respond expansively. For instance, if you are a painter, you might want to impact the people who view your paintings with a certain kind of emotion. If you’re a student-athlete, maybe you want to inspire the next generation of student-athletes or run marathons for charity. If you’re an aspiring mathematician, maybe you want to impact your specific field of interest with groundbreaking discoveries.

Whatever impact you hope to make or are making, do your best to elucidate what actions you are taking to instigate this change. Additionally, provide some insight regarding what motivates you to make this impact.

Option C: Dr. Seuss, aka Theodor Geisel of Dartmouth’s Class of 1925, wrote, “Think and wonder. Wonder and think.” As you wonder and think, what’s on your mind? (200-250 words)

Imagination comes in many flavors, and this essay prompt gives you the opportunity to share your unique flavor of imagination. Before you respond to this prompt, try sitting with your thoughts (with your phone and other devices put away). Let your mind wander. Do this activity for at least 15 minutes before writing down your thoughts. Write them down quickly, so you remember what they are! Feel free to do this exercise several times on different days. Doing so will help you accrue a diverse selection of thoughts.

When drafting the essay, you can use the fruits of your mind-wandering sessions as the basis for your answer. Using your real thoughts to spark your essay response will allow you to generate a genuine, memorable essay. Still, you’ll need to make sure that your essay is comprehensible to someone who doesn’t know you well. When we think, we often skip through logical progressions that make inherent sense to us. Be sure to share this essay response with a few readers who don’t know you well. These readers can point out where they struggle to follow your thought processes.

Option D: Celebrate your nerdy side. (200-250 words)

This joyful essay prompt gives you the opportunity to embrace what makes you a nerd, freely and without judgment. Many students have nerdy interests that don’t naturally fit into a college application. Maybe you have an obsession with a board game, a book series, or an esoteric area of study. If so, this prompt is for you.

If you’re full of nerdy qualities but finding this essay prompt challenging, consider asking a few friends or family members who know you well to describe what they think are aspects of your nerdy side. Oddly enough, “nerd’ is not usually a label we assign to ourselves, but one that others assign to us, sometimes in a critical manner. This essay prompt lets you reclaim this label in a positive light and express what nerdy activities, behaviors, or thought experiments you engage in—and how your nerdy side makes you you .

Option E: “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 and outlook? (200-250 words)

This essay prompt puts a positive spin on the premise of being different and facing challenges. Try free-writing a response to this prompt before you compose a proper draft. What makes you stand out from the crowd, and how have those character traits, aspects of your identity, activities, or other qualities impacted the way you move through the world?

When embarking upon a draft of this essay, try to describe the way you, today, are influenced by your difference(s). What actions do you take, what perspectives do you hold, and how do you interact with the world as a result of your difference(s)?

As always, keep your essay response specific and personal to you and your experience. Although this essay response is about what makes you different, there may be many other students who are different in the same way or a similar way as you are. Ideally, if someone who knows you reads this essay, they will instantly know it’s about your experience, not the experience of someone who happens to be similar to you. 

Lastly, note the usage of “embraced” in the essay prompt’s wording. The reader is anticipating an optimistic outlook and/or positive view of your differences. If/when you describe the adversity you’ve faced, make sure that your response emphasizes the way you have embraced your difference(s) despite or even because of the adversity you have faced.

Option F: As noted in the College’s mission statement, “Dartmouth educates the most promising students and prepares them for a lifetime of learning and of responsible leadership…” Promise and potential are important aspects of the assessment of any college application, but they can be elusive qualities to capture. Highlight your potential and promise for us; what would you like us to know about you? (200-250 words)

The wording of this prompt is giving you a heads-up when it says “Promise and potential… can be elusive qualities to capture”: many students respond to this prompt without quite capturing the promise and potential they aim to highlight. Knowing this, it’s your job to capture those qualities in yourself nonetheless.

How can you illustrate your promise and potential to a reader, without sounding arrogant or self-satisfied? One way is to describe the concrete actions you have taken to grow and/or better yourself. Demonstrating growth will imply the continuation of growth. Moreover, if you make that implication explicit by describing how you continue to foster your growth, you will be able to humbly prove your potential. 

In sum, you can provide a brief narrative of how you overcame a challenge or obstacle; how you grew as a person; or how you learned an important life lesson. Focus on an area of your life not otherwise highlighted in your application. Then, describe how you changed as a result of that experience. Finally, conclude by describing the actions you take currently to keep overcoming challenges, learn, and grow.

If you need help polishing up your Dartmouth College supplemental essays, check out our College Essay Review service. You can receive detailed feedback from Ivy League consultants in as little as 24 hours.

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August 2, 2023

2023-2024 Dartmouth College Essay Prompts

Dartmouth College has released its essay prompts for the 2023-2024 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 ?

2023-2024 Dartmouth Essay Topics & Questions

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

Dartmouth celebrates the ways in which its profound sense of place informs its profound sense of purpose. As you seek admission to Dartmouth’s Class of 2028, what aspects of the College’s academic program, community, and/or campus environment attract your interest? In short, why Dartmouth?

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. Dr. Seuss, aka Theodor Geisel of Dartmouth’s Class of 1925, wrote, “Think and wonder. Wonder and think.” As you wonder and think, what’s on your mind?

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. 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.

E. “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 and outlook?

Like some of Dartmouth’s other essay prompts for the 2023-2024 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. As noted in the College’s mission statement, “Dartmouth educates the most promising students and prepares them for a lifetime of learning and of responsible leadership…” Promise and potential are important aspects of the assessment of any college application, but they can be elusive qualities to capture. Highlight your potential and promise for us; what would you like us to know about you?

It’s another broad option that essentially allows students to write what they wish to Dartmouth’s admissions officers. It’s another opportunity for students to write about how they hope to leave a mark on the world in their own singular and meaningful way. Oftentimes, it’s a small story that will leave the most indelible mark.

Ivy Coach’s Assistance with Dartmouth College Essays

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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 2023-24 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Early Decision: Nov 1

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 2

You Have: 

Dartmouth College 2023-24 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: 1 essay of 100 words, 2 essays of 250 words or fewer.

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

The Dartmouth writing supplement offers you options! Let’s dig in.

1. Required of all applicants. Please respond in 100 words or fewer:

Dartmouth celebrates the ways in which its profound sense of place informs its profound sense of purpose. as you seek admission to dartmouth’s class of 2027, what aspects of the college’s academic program, community, or campus environment attract your interest in short, why dartmouth please respond in 100 words or fewer..

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? Phrased this way, Dartmouth’s prompt 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? 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! 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 discussion 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. Dr. Seuss, aka Theodor Geisel of Dartmouth’s Class of 1925, wrote, “Think and wonder. Wonder and think.” As you wonder and think, what’s on your mind?

Dartmouth wants to accept intellectually curious applicants, so take this opportunity to share one of the concepts that lives rent-free in your mind with admissions! When was the last time you went down an internet rabbit hole researching something that piqued your interest? Maybe you spend time wondering about the mind, body, and spirit—where each begins and ends—or perhaps you find yourself daydreaming about the potential of time travel and its related consequences on Earthlings (cue Tony Stark’s lecture that it’s nothing like Back to the Future ). 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.

D. Celebrate your nerdy side.

Alright, 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, etc. 

E. “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 and outlook? 

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 say? 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! If this prompt calls to you, trust your instincts and leave yourself plenty of time to freewrite and revise. 

F. As noted in the College’s mission statement, “Dartmouth educates the most promising students and prepares them for a lifetime of learning and of responsible leadership…” Promise and potential are important aspects of the assessment of any college application, but they can be elusive qualities to capture. Highlight your potential and promise for us; what would you like us to know about you?

In this prompt, admissions plainly states that promise and potential are elusive qualities to capture, then challenges you to highlight those very aspects of your candidacy in your response. (Cool, cool, cool.) If you feel that your application, as it stands, does not capture your full potential, this is likely the prompt for you. Maybe responsibilities at home have prevented you from exploring more academic and extracurricular interests. Walk admissions through how taking care of your younger siblings or an elderly family member taught you valuable lessons that you’ll be able to apply in higher ed. Perhaps you are incredibly tenacious and firmly believe that when a door shuts, another opens. How have you applied this ideology to your life thus far? Have you taken rejection on the chin and thrown yourself back into the ring time after time? Show admissions that you have what it takes to succeed.

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Dartmouth College

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Want to see your chances of admission at Dartmouth College?

We take every aspect of your personal profile into consideration when calculating your admissions chances.

Dartmouth College’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Select-a-prompt short response.

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

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.

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

What excites you?

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?

Dr. Seuss, aka Theodor Geisel of Dartmouth’s Class of 1925, wrote, “Think and wonder. Wonder and think.” As you wonder and think, what’s on your mind?

Celebrate your nerdy side.

“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 and outlook?

As noted in the College’s mission statement, “Dartmouth educates the most promising students and prepares them for a lifetime of learning and of responsible leadership…” Promise and potential are important aspects of the assessment of any college application, but they can be elusive qualities to capture. Highlight your potential and promise for us; what would you like us to know about you?

Why This Major Short Response

Dartmouth celebrates the ways in which its profound sense of place informs its profound sense of purpose. As you seek admission to Dartmouth’s Class of 2028, what aspects of the College’s academic program, community, and/or campus environment attract your interest? In short, why Dartmouth?

Common App Personal Essay

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don‘t feel obligated to do so.

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you‘ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?

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TTLG: Tell Our Story

Former photo editor caroline kramer ’24 reflects on her class’s time at dartmouth and calls on readers to tell the story of the class of 2024..

It creeps up on me every now and then.

Usually, it’s on the first sunny day of the spring term, the kind of weather that causes professors to hold class outside. Green2Go boxes sit on picnic blankets and frisbees fly across the Green as groups of friends return from a dip in the river. Everything about Dartmouth, at that moment, seems perfect.

And then I remember when it wasn’t. Flashbacks to freshman year, even three years later, stop me in my tracks. Any joy I feel from seeing Dartmouth at its best is infected by the fear and loneliness I felt when I first arrived on campus amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Just as quickly as it arrives, I push the thought out of my mind and keep moving forward.

Dartmouth’s fast-paced culture makes it difficult to do anything but look toward the future. Ten week terms leave little time to catch my breath. Every day brings about a new deadline, social event or commitment. 

So, when those memories creep up, I find myself shoving them down. I tell myself that if I barely have time to be present, I cannot risk getting so lost in the past that I fall behind. 

This, perhaps, is common sense: to live in the past keeps you from fully enjoying the present. However, as Commencement quickly approaches, the ’24s — the last class to have experienced the 2020-2021 academic year at Dartmouth — will soon leave campus. 

With every passing year, the memory of our freshman year slips a little further away. I felt this most strongly at the beginning of my sophomore year, when it seemed the College just wanted to sweep the events of the past year under the rug and return to normalcy as quickly as possible. My good friend Omala Snyder ’24 captured that feeling especially well in a piece she wrote our sophomore fall. I recall it when my friends from grades below me ask about my First Year Trip, or respond with shock when I joke about how I spent my first Homecoming alone in my dorm room with a College-provided glowstick. The tragedy of the ’24s’ first year — and the mistakes that Dartmouth made in that time — fade from our collective memory with every graduating class. 

All of this is to say: don’t let our story leave with us. I urge you, ’25s, ’26s, ’27s, faculty and staff alike to tell the story of the Class of 2024.

Serag Elagamy ’24 took this sentiment to heart. His senior thesis film, “When the Old Traditions Failed,” details our class’s uniquely difficult experience at Dartmouth and reminds us of the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on students, freshmen especially. You can watch it for yourself on June 4 at Loew Auditorium.

The articles published by this very paper, too, keep our experiences in the public record.

Tell the story of how the tight-knit Dartmouth community we were promised vanished upon our arrival. Learn about how making friends freshman fall felt impossible , when socializing meant the risk of being forced off campus. 

Tell the story of the 86 students who “disappeared” from campus that fall, having been asked to leave for violating pandemic-related restrictions — fueling panic and testing new friendships . Read the words of the freshmen who lived through the chaos firsthand.

Tell the story of Beau DuBray , Connor Tiffany and Elizabeth Reimer , the ’24s who died by suicide our freshman year. Do not let Dartmouth forget them. Honor their stories and the stories of all the other students we have lost since.

I applaud Dartmouth for the improvements it has made to mental health on campus in recent years, in large part thanks to the advocacy of Dartmouth Student Government. The Commitment to Care, announced this past fall — a plan for “supporting student mental health and well-being” on campus — is an enormous step in the right direction, one that could have changed the course of my freshman year. The College now offers free 24/7 teletherapy through Uwill, removing long-standing barriers to mental health care access on campus. Additionally, Dartmouth’s updated Time Away policy prioritizes students’ well-being, a welcome change from the version in place my freshman spring, when students did not have streamlined access to campus resources. 

By many accounts, mental health is now one of the College’s top priorities. It is crucial that it remains as such, which is only possible if we continue to remember how we got here.

I am immensely grateful for so many wonderful moments during my time at Dartmouth, a handful of which I discussed in a photo essay published this past winter. Because of Dartmouth, I’ve formed lifelong friendships, developed a passion for public service and pushed myself out of my comfort zone. In writing this reflection, I do not intend to dismiss my appreciation for any of those experiences. Two truths can exist at the same time: you can love this college and still hold it accountable. This is necessary to ensure that generations of students to come can love it just the same. 

I leave you with a quote from George Santayana: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” We must remember the experience of the ’24s so that future first-years can be welcomed not with fear and isolation, but warmth and community.

If you love Dartmouth, tell our story. 

Caroline Kramer ‘24 is a Government major and Public Policy minor from Palo Alto, California. She has served as the Photo Editor since the spring of 2022 and previously wrote for the Mirror section. 

Moreton, Huang and Voekel: Staff and Faculty Open Letter In Response to the College’s ‘Day for Community’

Nadeem: no, i don’t want your mental health advocacy.

Reflection: What’s in a Woccom?

Graduate student kexin cai found dead, dartmouth faculty votes 183 - 163 to censure beilock, graduate student reported missing, more than 4,200 people sign pro-beilock letter, new food options to open in west lebanon.

The Dartmouth

Getting Into the Swing of the Dartmouth Outing Club

Students talk about the DOC’s impact on their lives.

As one of the largest student organizations on campus, the Dartmouth Outing Club has a wide reach to go with the many activities it offers, ranging from hiking to paddling to rock climbing to identifying flora and fauna.

Hear students talk about the impact the DOC has on their lives and sense of community, and how it also helps them expand their activities beyond campus.

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In Ipswich, a Dam’s History Butts Heads With the River’s Future

Nothing beat the joy I felt after receiving positive feedback from people who stopped by my poster. It affirmed the progress I’ve made and fueled my determination to continue pushing my boundaries.

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Make sure your essay illustrates your personality! 

Applicants to Dartmouth are required to complete four essays – a personal statement and three brief supplemental ( writing supplement ) essays.

Writing supplement prompts included in Dartmouth's application for admission to the Class of 2028

The Common App offers a variety of topics to choose from for your personal statement as well as access to Dartmouth's supplemental essay prompts .

Your essays should help us understand those intangibles that can't easily be reflected in a resume. Show us the qualities that make you you. Your sense of humor, your passion, your intellectual curiosity, your self-awareness, or social awareness, or some mix of these. Your writing lets us get to know you and we read every word. Help us envision what you'll bring to Dartmouth.

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See the Impact Design Immersion Fellowship awardees for 2024.

As a former gymnast who battled my own body image issues and the daughter of a father stigmatized by obesity, I’ve witnessed firsthand the deep-seated problems with America’s relationship to exercise. In college and grad school, I studied preventive care and community health promotion and learned more about the systemic discrimination faced by those with obesity, which fueled my commitment to reframe movement as essential for health, not just weight loss. These experiences drive my pursuit to democratize well-being for all and transform our approach to physical activity, making it inclusive and supportive for everyone.

IDIF Focus: Beginning to exercise for those with obesity

Individuals with obesity commonly understand the health benefits of exercise but face barriers such as psychological, informational, and environmental challenges. These include a lack of supportive, non-intimidating environments, physical discomfort from excess weight, and significant social stigma in fitness cultures favoring certain body types. Marginalized groups, including low SES individuals and racial minorities, disproportionately face these issues, emphasizing the need for accessible and affordable fitness solutions. Over the summer I hope to better understand these challenges and work with individuals from this population to pilot a solution that makes exercise joyful and fun.

Ayesha Karnik and Camila Cordara

Ayesha Karnik

Ayesha and Camila met within the first month of the GSB and connected over their passion for creating patient-centric solutions. 

Ayesha has always loved the healthcare space and believes patients should be treated like true customers. Growing up with an aunt with kidney disease motivated Ayesha to join Strive Health, a value-based kidney care startup before the GSB. There, she worked on new market growth and onboarded 250+ new nephrology partners. She’s excited to use her time at the GSB to continue working towards better ways of getting care to patients like her aunt. 

Camila Cordara

Camila’s passion is to create technology that improves patient outcomes and experiences. Her background is in Biomedical engineering, and has experience in medical devices start-ups, research and management consulting with a focus on Medtech across Latam and the US. Having witnessed first-hand the challenges faced not only by Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients but also their caregivers, Camila is driven to transform how this chronic disease is managed. Her goal is to leverage technology to make the journey for kidney disease care focused on patients’ experience and driven by data.

IDIF Focus: Personalizing support for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) management

Almost 38 million people are diagnosed with kidney disease today, and that number is likely to grow as early diagnosis improves. Patients face multiple challenges in managing their own health including complex treatment plans and information gaps across providers and caregivers. This results in apathy and treatment adherence as low as 12.5%. The project goal is to create a platform that helps patients better manage their disease in coordination with their providers and caregivers.

Carmen Gordon and Lizzie Hunpatin

Carmen Gordon

Lizzie and Carmen connected during their first quarter at Stanford GSB through their mutual interest in the socio-economic empowerment of artisans – the highly talented and creative individuals who make up the 2nd largest economy by employment in the emerging world. 

Carmen, formerly a consultant at McKinsey specializing in Sustainability and Green Business Building, is passionate about leveraging innovation and art to create social impact. Before Stanford GSB, Carmen founded Malawimente, an NGO with a mission of expanding the global reach of Malawian artists, reflecting her deep commitment to integrating cultural appreciation with economic development.

Lizzie Hunpatin

Lizzie, formerly a Technology Private Equity investor, is passionate about the potential for technology to drive efficiency and innovation in informal sectors with low-tech penetration. As an avid connoisseur of art, fashion, and culture, she fundamentally believes that creative pursuits should be treated with the same dignity and respect as is reserved for more technical careers. 

IDIF Focus: Digitizing the artisan economy

Lizzie and Carmen will explore the unmet needs of artisan employers in India’s active and diverse handmade and craft-led sector. These organizations typically employ women from rural communities and face tensions between their traditional practices and the modern and digital solutions to which their customers are accustomed. The team will test and validate AI applications for use cases specific to artisan employers, such as upskilling, design optimization, and working capital management. Their goal is to create a solution that can enhance and automate critical workflows, scaling the impact of these organizations to uplift the livelihoods of their artisans.

Carolyn Bruckmann and Doug Phipps

Carolyn Bruckmann

Carolyn is a dual degree (MPA/MBA) student. Before graduate school, she worked to reduce economic inequality at a global level at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, in East Africa at One Acre Fund, and in Connecticut at the Connecticut Governor’s Office. Carolyn started her career as a consultant at Bain & Company. She believes that social isolation is a driver of growing socioeconomic divides and polarization and is passionate about building caring and connected communities. She has been exploring the loneliness epidemic at Stanford GSB, focusing on loneliness among college students through Startup Garage and independent research.

Doug is a dual degree (MA Education/MBA) student. Before Stanford, he worked for Teach for America in Washington DC and taught for five years at KIPP DC College Preparatory. He has also managed programs that center student belonging at Dartmouth College and Peninsula Bridge. Throughout his career, Doug has consistently helped people find connection. He is invested in bringing a sense of belonging to our country’s most underserved students, especially in Washington DC, where he has deep ties with the education community.

IDIF Focus: Growing Together: High Schoolers and Belonging

High school students across the country are experiencing a loneliness epidemic. They are spending less time with friends (on average ~40 minutes/day) and more time on their devices (on average 9 hours/day). Teens in underserved communities and minority groups are most at risk; they are 11 percentage points less likely to feel connected to peers at school. Carolyn and Doug will be addressing this problem with the goal of understanding what interventions build a sense of belonging for these students.  

Hamza Farrukh and Nicki Liang

Hamza Farrukh

Nicki Liang

While living in his family’s village in Pakistan, Hamza contracted typhoid from contaminated water. Fortunately, he recovered and became driven to prevent others from enduring similar hardships. During his undergraduate studies at Williams College, Hamza initiated the Solar Water Project and further developed it while working at Goldman Sachs. The Solar Water Project team navigated numerous hurdles related to clean water access and successfully developed a solar-powered water filtration system known as the OASIS Box. This innovation is now operational in over 170 villages across six countries.

Nicki is an MBA candidate with an undergraduate degree in computer science from Harvard. Prior to business school she spent five years at Bain & Company, primarily specializing in sustainability and ESG. During this time she consulted extensively for nonprofit organizations and charitable foundations, trying to solve challenges related to innovation and funding. Nicki is eager to leverage this experience, working directly with WASH sector nonprofits to amplify their impact.

IDIF Focus: Solar Water Project

The Solar Water Project is eager to extend their reach into East Africa, seeking collaboration with potential customers, funders, and partners to deliver clean and accessible water to more communities. Their aim is to empower local populations and establish lasting partnerships that contribute to sustainable development. Additionally, the team is committed to integrating climate technology solutions to enhance our impact in these regions.

Mehek Mohan

From ages 13 to 20, Mehek endured the stress and pain of unpredictable menstrual cycles, always being told my hormone levels were “within range”—a vague and unsatisfying answer that left her questioning the standards of normalcy, such as which range and who makes up this range? This frustration ignited a deep-seated desire to innovate highly personalized health products that demystify medical information and are both actionable and easily accessible. Mehek’s journey in bioengineering led to the creation of at-home STD tests to encourage proactive health management and destigmatize testing, while her efforts in pharma propelled the adoption of AI tools aimed at enhancing patient-specific outcomes in real-time during clinical trials. Driven by a commitment to transform healthcare, Mehek is passionate about building cutting-edge solutions that distill extensive medical research into tailored educational insights, particularly for marginalized communities, to alleviate anxiety and ease the pressure on our overburdened healthcare system.

IDIF Focus: Patient-provider telehealth AI platform

Mehek will be exploring the intersection of AI with personalized health care monitoring. Chronic disease, rare disease, and “worried well” patients are three segments of people who require real-time, accurate, and personalized health information in the context of recurring symptoms and disease tracking. These patients have a long health history and require personalized care plans along with frequent access to medical professionals. In the current model, patients suffer long wait times for appointments (on the order of months) and may require second or third opinions. From dozens of interviews, patients feel lonely and abandoned. In an effort to self-educate, they spend hours a day researching their condition. The flood of information is overwhelming: difficult to parse through, understand effectively, and apply to their specific needs. These patients desire a continuous, dedicated care platform that can synthesize large amounts of medical data and contextualize it to their health history for better symptom tracking, education, and longitudinal pattern matching. Mehek plans to explore how open-source medical large language models trained on personal data can function as multimodal chatbots that process voice, text, image, and video for 24/7 patient access to health information and actionable guidance.

Katie Van Dyk and Olivia Rosen

Katie Van Dyk

Katie is an MBA at the GSB currently pursuing opportunities at the intersection of female empowerment and education. On campus, she’s involved with the GSB Impact Fund on the Education Deal team, along with Women in Management. Prior to the GSB, Katie worked as a software engineer at Meta, where she was responsible for building out experiences on Facebook.com for hundreds of millions of users. She also served as co-president of the Duke Technology Scholars alumni board, where she worked to create opportunities and community for women pursuing engineering careers. Katie has a B.S.E. in Electrical and Computer Engineering and a B.S. in Computer Science from Duke University. 

Olivia Rosen

Olivia is an MBA at Stanford GSB, where she is pursuing opportunities at the intersection of entrepreneurship, healthcare, and social impact. She is currently on the healthcare deal team of the GSB Impact Fund and interning part time at a seed stage startup as head of business operations. Most recently, Olivia was Chief of Staff at an early-stage consumer startup, where she oversaw logistics, customer experience, and market operations teams. Previously, Olivia was a Private Equity Associate at Alpine Investors, dedicated to Alpine’s multisite healthcare acquisitions. Olivia started her career in biotech consulting at ZS Associates. Olivia received a B.A. in Economics from Dartmouth College.

IDIF Focus: BeyondChoice

Women’s reproductive and mental health has long been ignored. With the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022, access to abortion has become a national focus, and these disparities are being felt more acutely than ever. While access remains a critical piece of the journey of abortion and miscarriage patients, much less attention has been paid to supporting patients following these procedures. BeyondChoice aims to support young patients who recently had an abortion or miscarriage and are looking for reliable information and confidential resources. This summer, the team will conduct primary research to understand the patient journey and map out existing support resources. With these learnings, they will begin prototyping and testing various business models.

Layla Aboukhater and Zach Dyce

Layla Aboukhater

Layla is pursuing an MD/MBA at Stanford. Layla’s path shifted during her second year of medical school when she took time off to assist a loved one unknowingly addicted to a prescribed medication. The challenging experience of seeking support highlighted the significant gaps in access to care for the Substance Use Disorder population. This realization led her to work at an addiction clinic, where she found her passion for psychiatry. Layla aims to build a career in psychiatry with a focus on addiction. She also plans to leverage her medical and business skills to improve psychiatric practices in the Levant region, particularly in Syria where she grew up. Layla’s extensive interactions with addiction patients have provided her with a deep understanding of their narratives, recognizing recurring pain points and obstacles on their journey to sobriety and sustained remission.

As the child of two addicts, one of whom died from opioids, Zach has been learning about and fighting against the addiction epidemic his entire life. Having seen firsthand the impact that addiction has on an individual and those around them, he is personally motivated to help the United States break the cycle of addiction and drive lasting, large-scale change in the way the U.S. treats and supports people suffering from addiction. While he may not have any formal training in the science of addiction, Zach has spent a lifetime living the experience. From learning to navigate the unpredictable behaviors of addicts as a child to being a counsel for countless friends and acquaintances who reach out for advice and emotional support, addiction touches his life every day.

IDIF Focus: Digital innovations in addiction treatment

More Americans die each year from drug overdoses and alcohol-related deaths than car crashes. With about 50 million Americans suffering from some form of substance addiction, the team wants to rethink and reimagine how those suffering from addiction are treated and supported. Throughout the summer, Zach and Layla hope to better understand an addict’s journey to sobriety, especially after leaving rehab, to identify where technology can be leveraged to scale compassion and bespoke digital therapeutics. Their goal is to test hypotheses and rapidly iterate and prototype a solution that can be the foundation of a for-profit, patient-first business model.

Ludwig Neumann and Marcos Diehl

Ludwig Neumann

Born and raised in Mexico, Ludwig is an aspiring entrepreneur with a robust financial background, focused on improving opportunities for Mexicans. His career launched in investment banking, where he worked as an analyst at Evercore and later as an associate at Morgan Stanley. Ludwig then became a founding member at Riogrande (YC21), leading over 12 acquisitions and rising to Head of Strategic Finance/CFO. His interest in insurance and fintech is driven by firsthand experiences with the inefficiencies of the Mexican market, which culminated in him losing coverage. This personal encounter fuels his commitment to transformative solutions.

Marcos Diehl

Marcos is an industrial engineer with a profound commitment to improving people’s quality of life. His career is marked by initiating and leading numerous social impact ventures, aiming to make a tangible difference. Previously, Marcos led the sports and health team at Bain & Company, focusing on enhancing health outcomes. He is currently furthering his studies at Stanford University. Marcos’s drive is deeply personal, stemming from a critical health incident in his youth that highlighted the importance of accessible quality healthcare. This experience has fueled his resolve to expand healthcare access to the millions currently underserved.

IDIF Focus: Pulso

Our target segment are the low to mid-income Mexicans aged 20-50 years in the informal economy who need health insurance. They suffer from (1) Limited Access to Preventive Care, (2) Financial Vulnerability and (3) Lack of customized solutions. During the summer, we hope to understand better the real needs and willingness to pay from the target segment while ideating at least a couple of potential solutions.

Mara is an MA Education / MBA student at Stanford, passionate about using technology to generate positive impact in K-12 schools. Before Stanford, Mara was a product manager at Microsoft, Twitter, and Confluent. As a high school student, she founded a financial education mobile game and launched the first start-up accelerator in Romanian public schools, which has so far empowered over 500 students to launch their own businesses, winning a TEDxAward for social impact.

IDIF Focus: TeachAssist

In the United States, nearly 20% of students require special education services due to diverse needs, such as ADHD, dyslexia, and autism. However, merely 1% of the teaching workforce specializes in special education. Given the complex federal special education laws and the scarcity of specialized staff, schools struggle to remain compliant and meet the high demand for special education services that students and their families expect and deserve. TeachAssist streamlines special education compliance for K-12 schools while ensuring that every student’s learning experience is tailored to their unique abilities and requirements. 

Ricardo Anaya and Yoshimi Muneta

Ricardo Anaya

Before Stanford GSB, Ricardo worked at Nexus Group, a private equity firm with investments across LATAM, focusing on the higher education, entertainment, and packaging industries. He became deeply passionate about the future of work space when he joined Kurios, an upskilling startup for professionals in Latin America. While at the GSB, he is a VC Fellow at Owl Ventures. He wants to help people access better job opportunities without enduring the same challenges he faced when he pivoted from being a corporate lawyer to an investment professional.

Yoshimi Muneta

Yoshimi is an MBA candidate with extensive experience in strategic consulting and international expansion. At EY-Parthenon, she advanced her understanding of education policy through several due diligence and go-to-market projects in Mexico City’s higher education sector. Leading HR efforts in the new countries she launched at Wolt (now part of DoorDash), she hired 16 out of ~100 interviewed candidates with a 94% retention rate, underscoring her commitment to connecting people to a job they love. 

IDIF Focus: Dadel: Launching LATAM students to first jobs

Undergraduate students and recent graduates across Latin America, particularly in Mexico, often spend months or even years searching for a job that aligns with their aspirations, qualifications, and experience. Consequently, some resort to dishonesty or accept unsuitable roles. Our aim is to develop a business model for a future-of-work solution tailored to their needs. By analyzing user needs, stakeholder interests, and industry dynamics, we’ll define a compelling value proposition and assess willingness to pay. Through qualitative interviews and experiments, we’ll validate our approach and secure a pilot partnership.

Tireni Ajilore

Tireni is keen to advance wealth equity for underserved communities. Prior to the GSB, Tireni was an investor at BGF, where he focused on making investments to reduce the funding gap for small businesses in the UK. He is passionate about financial inclusion and breaking down barriers to accessing capital. Through his community and professional experiences, he has seen firsthand how the lack of funding for small businesses significantly contributes to the wealth gap. He is dedicated to finding solutions to enable overlooked individuals to secure the funding needed to build wealth for themselves.

IDIF Focus: Small business credit needs

Small businesses in America frequently face a shortage of capital. This issue is particularly challenging for business owners of color, who have long struggled to access the necessary funding. Community finance organizations are vital in providing financial services to these small businesses that are often overlooked by traditional banks. However, many community lenders struggle with operational inefficiencies and lack of access to capital that limit their impact. Addressing these challenges will enable community lenders to serve more clients and better fulfill their mission of fostering economic growth in marginalized communities.

Zooey Carter Wilkinson

Zooey brings extensive experience in democratic approaches to organizational governance, economic justice, and translating academic policy research on race and gender equity into actionable organizational strategy. They also have experience in wealth building, including building models of community ownership, multi-use real estate and cooperative ownership, community funds and community focused banking, urban farming, and resident-led projects in revitalization. Throughout their career, they coordinated 11 electoral political campaigns at the local, state, and national level. Zooey has worked in organic farming and local food access, addiction recovery support services, youth education in transformative justice and democratic community building, prisoner support organizations, social impact investing, state and local economic development, and most recently, the McKinsey Institute for Black Economic mobility, where they worked with public and private sector stakeholders to multiply forms of Black-centered economic development and financial inclusion. They are a Harry S. Truman Foundation Scholar, alumni of Deep Springs College, and former Gerald R. Gill Fellow from the Tufts Center for the Study of Race and Democracy.

IDIF Focus: Litigation funding as a tool for civil rights law

Access to civil rights legal services, protections, and public safety continue to be a growing problem for marginalized communities in the U.S. This problem has significant public and community health impacts and negative ramifications for socio-economic mobility since it is costly for residents and cities. Community residents, organizations, attorneys, investigative reporters, and researchers point to the difficult challenges of rising violence and incidents of police misconduct as well as the limited adoption of alternative solutions for police departments (i.e. de-escalation and harm reduction, hiring specific professionals for mental health crises, hiring more public servants from the communities they serve, and more). The problem is significant, widespread, and upsetting. However, many dedicated Americans have worked to create alternatives and solutions. The problem focus for this project is the lack of access to recourse and legal protections for civil rights violations. This is a challenge for residents of afflicted communities and for civil rights lawyers who struggle with financial unsustainability. Zooey will explore the need for a social entrepreneurship lens to collaborate on innovative approaches to more effective and financially sustaining models.

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Elektrostal

Elektrostal Localisation : Country Russia , Oblast Moscow Oblast . Available Information : Geographical coordinates , Population, Area, Altitude, Weather and Hotel . Nearby cities and villages : Noginsk , Pavlovsky Posad and Staraya Kupavna .

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Eminem’s Date of Birth and his Impact on Music

This essay about Eminem’s date of birth, October 17, 1972, explores his life and impact on music. It discusses his challenging upbringing, rise to fame, and the release of influential albums like “The Slim Shady LP” and “The Marshall Mathers LP.” Eminem’s role in breaking racial barriers in hip-hop and his candid reflections on personal struggles, including addiction and mental health, are highlighted. The essay also covers his contributions to film, philanthropy, and his legacy as a cultural icon and one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Eminem’s influence on music and culture remains significant and enduring.

How it works

Eminem, birthed as Marshall Bruce Mathers III, entered the realm on October 17, 1972, in St. Joseph, Missouri. This date heralds the commencement of the saga of one of the most influential and contentious figures in the melodic domain. Eminem’s odyssey from a tumultuous infancy to global eminence is as extraordinary as his lyrical virtuosity, which has reshaped the confines of rap music.

Navigating through a labyrinth of adversities during his formative years, Eminem grappled with familial upheavals and financial exigencies. These tribulations profoundly imprinted his musical oeuvre, furnishing unrefined material for his forthright and oftentimes incendiary verses.

Relocating to Detroit, Michigan, in his nascent years, Eminem sought refuge in hip-hop, a genre affording him an outlet to articulate his vexations and aspirations. The rap milieu of Detroit, renowned for its gritty and cutthroat ambiance, served as the quintessential incubator for Eminem’s talents.

Eminem’s trajectory soared in the late 1990s with the debut of “The Slim Shady LP” in 1999. This opus, bestowed with a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album, unveiled Eminem’s alter ego, Slim Shady, and showcased his prowess in amalgamating levity with trenchant societal critique. Anthems such as “My Name Is” and “Guilty Conscience” epitomized his idiosyncratic style, distinguished by intricate rhyme schemes and an audacious approach to contentious subjects.

The triumph of “The Slim Shady LP” was succeeded by “The Marshall Mathers LP” in 2000, swiftly ascending to the echelons of rap album sales history. This magnum opus entrenched Eminem’s stature in the music domain, earning him plaudits as well as censure. Tracks such as “Stan” and “The Real Slim Shady” further showcased his narrative prowess and his readiness to confront personal and societal quandaries head-on.

Eminem’s influence transcends the sonic realm. He has been a vanguard in dismantling racial barriers in the predominantly African American milieu of hip-hop. His ascendancy has paved the way for other Caucasian rappers and has sparked pivotal dialogues concerning race and representation in music. Despite weathering vociferous backlash and controversies, including accusations of fomenting violence and misogyny, Eminem has steadfastly utilized his platform to address these criticisms, often reflecting on his own evolution and transgressions.

Across his journey, Eminem has grappled with a plethora of personal battles, encompassing bouts with addiction and psychological afflictions. These struggles have been painstakingly chronicled in his musical oeuvre, offering an unvarnished glimpse into the existence of an artist perpetually under public scrutiny. His albums “Relapse” (2009) and “Recovery” (2010) delve deeply into his expedition towards sobriety and personal reclamation, earning him further acclaim and reverence from admirers and critics alike.

Eminem’s imprint on music and culture is indelible. He has vended over 150 million records globally, placing him among the pantheon of best-selling musicians of all time. His oeuvre has garnered a plethora of accolades, encompassing 15 Grammy Awards, an Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Lose Yourself,” and an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His influence reverberates in the works of myriad artists who regard him as a font of inspiration.

Beyond the sonic sphere, Eminem has ventured into the realm of thespianism, proffering a memorable turn in the semi-autobiographical film “8 Mile,” which chronicles the travails of a fledgling rapper striving to carve a niche in the Detroit hip-hop arena. The film met with both critical acclaim and commercial success, further solidifying Eminem’s status as a cultural luminary.

In tandem with his artistic accomplishments, Eminem has made substantial contributions through his philanthropic endeavors. The Marshall Mathers Foundation, inaugurated in 2002, aids underprivileged youth in Detroit and its environs. His dedication to giving back to his community underscores the profound impact of his upbringing on his life and career.

Eminem’s legacy is multifaceted. He is a savant of verse, a cultural agitator, and a survivor who has harnessed his personal travails to forge connections with millions of enthusiasts worldwide. His date of inception, October 17, 1972, heralds the genesis of a trajectory that would challenge conventions, shatter records, and imprint an enduring legacy on the music industry.

As we ruminate on Eminem’s odyssey, it becomes apparent that his influence will persist across generations. His capacity to metamorphose as an artist, his readiness to confront his inner demons publicly, and his impact on both music and culture render him a figure worthy of scrutiny and veneration. From his humble origins in Missouri to his ascent as one of the preeminent rappers of all time, Eminem’s saga is a testament to the potency of resilience, ingenuity, and authenticity.

This discourse serves as a springboard for contemplation and further inquiry. For personalized guidance and assurance that your discourse aligns with academic standards, consider engaging professionals at EduBirdie.

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The N.C.A.A.’s Landmark Athlete-Pay Settlement, Explained

The $2.8 billion agreement announced on Thursday would, if approved by a judge, allow college athletes to share team revenue for the first time. Here is what we know.

By Billy Witz

When the N.C.A.A. and the major athletic conferences agreed on Thursday night to a $2.8 billion settlement of a class-action antitrust lawsuit by college athletes, it was a pivotal moment in the long history of college sports.

For the first time, the N.C.A.A. agreed to allow colleges and universities to pay athletes directly for playing sports, through revenue sharing plans.

The agreement also would pay compensation to close to 25,000 athletes who attended 363 Division I colleges and were denied the ability to make money by marketing their names and images during their playing days. Restrictions on those kinds of deals were lifted by the N.C.A.A. in 2021.

Here’s what we know about the settlement and its possible impact.

How is this settlement different from other lawsuits and decisions over pay for student athletes?

This settlement would create a system through which Division I athletes can be paid directly by their schools for playing sports — a first in the nearly 120-year history of the N.C.A.A. An earlier decision three years ago permitted college athletes to make money on their own by marketing their names and images individually.

Is the settlement final?

Not yet. The federal judge in California, Claudia Wilken, who is presiding over the case, known as House v. N.C.A.A., will decide in the next few months whether to approve or reject the settlement.

Judge Wilken has decided two other influential antitrust cases against the N.C.A.A. involving payment to student players. In each of the cases, known as O’Bannon and Alston, she ruled for the plaintiffs, but awarded only minimal relief.

What would the settlement do?

There are two major parts of the settlement — one to compensate players for income they have already foregone, and the other to allow schools to pay their players from now on, through revenue sharing.

The compensation part calls for $2.8 billion in damages to be divided among athletes in three categories. One group is made up almost exclusively of athletes who played major-conference football and men’s basketball, the college sports that yield the most revenue. Another category covers women’s basketball players in the major conferences. And the third includes any other Division I athlete who competed between 2016 and 2020 and joined the lawsuit. (One of those athletes is Grant House, a former swimmer at Arizona State who is the first named plaintiff in the case.)

The N.C.A.A. has not released details on how these back payments would be distributed, or on what basis the amounts would be decided.

Where would that $2.8 billion come from?

The money would be paid over 10 years by the N.C.A.A. and by athletic conferences made up of Division I colleges and universities, who account for about 30 percent of the N.C.A.A.’s more than 1,100 members.

Here is how it breaks down: The N.C.A.A. would cover 41 percent ($1.2 billion) of the bill through spending reductions and new revenue and by dipping into its reserves.

The conferences that were co-defendants in the lawsuit — Big Ten, Southeastern, Big 12, Atlantic Coast and Pac-12 — would pay about 24 percent, and the remaining five conferences that compete for the College Football Playoff would contribute about 10 percent.

The Football Championship Subdivision, which includes conferences like the Big Sky and the Ivy League and historically Black colleges and universities, would pay about 13 percent. And Division I conferences that do not play football, like the Big East, would foot 12 percent of the bill.

The conferences’ share would come from money withheld from future N.C.A.A. distributions, mostly from the men’s basketball tournament. The N.C.A.A. is using each conference’s representation in the tournament to determine its individual share, so a conference like the Ivy League, whose teams have won tournament games the last two years, would be on the hook for more than, say, the Southland Conference.

How will the revenue sharing part work?

Many details are unclear, and may not be made public until the judge makes her decision.

Here are the broad outlines: Beginning with the 2025 football season, Division I schools would be allowed — but not required — to set aside up to about $20 million of sports revenue a year to pay athletes. Each school would decide for itself how to distribute the money and which athletes would receive it.

Overall, the settlement would call for schools to share about 22 percent of their sports revenue with players. That is a much smaller share than in the professional sports world, where leagues have agreed to share about 50 percent of revenue with players.

Might a volleyball player, say, receive money, or will it just be for football and basketball players?

That would be left up to each school. Some might choose to pay all varsity athletes, others might pay only those in high-profile programs that bring money in, or any other combination.

It is unclear how this plan would be affected by Title IX, the federal law dictating that schools must provide equal opportunities for men and women in athletics.

Why did the N.C.A.A. opt for this settlement?

The organization wanted to avoid what could have been a far larger award to the plaintiffs if the case had gone to trial and the plaintiffs won — a potential price tag of more than $4 billion.

By settling the case and creating a plan for revenue sharing, the N.C.A.A. is hoping to ward off more antitrust lawsuits claiming that athletes are being unfairly denied compensation. Litigation on those lines has hampered the N.C.A.A.’s ability to make even basic rules about how it governs itself.

How would the settlement affect college players’ efforts to unionize?

At this point, not at all. There are three cases working their way through various forums that seek to classify athletes as employees, and those efforts would not be directly affected by the settlement.

Dartmouth men’s basketball players have been allowed to form a union by the National Labor Relations Board, though the college is appealing the decision. An N.L.R.B. administrative judge is awaiting final written arguments on whether U.S.C. football and men’s and women’s basketball players should be classified as employees. And an antitrust lawsuit over the issue, Johnson v. N.C.A.A., has been marooned in a federal appeals court for 15 months awaiting a ruling on the N.C.A.A.’s motion to dismiss it.

One thing to consider: The settlement would last for 10 years. If revenue sharing is extended beyond that, it might have to be done through collective bargaining.

What about the N.C.A.A.’s efforts to get help from Congress?

The N.C.A.A. has spent millions of dollars lobbying Congress in recent years, asking for an antitrust exemption that would shield it from lawsuits that limit its ability to make its own rules. For example, the N.C.A.A. had to abandon any restrictions on student transfers after a lawsuit by state attorneys general challenged the restrictions as a restraint of trade.

The organization will continue to ask Congress for help, but action is highly unlikely in this election year. Many lawmakers have expressed reluctance to intervene in how the N.C.A.A. governs itself.

The N.C.A.A. may use this settlement as a way to demonstrate to Congress that an antitrust exemption is necessary assistance, not a bailout.

Are all member schools in favor of this plan?

No. While many college leaders have acknowledged a need for some kind of compensation system., there is heated debate about how to go about it. Administrators from smaller conferences are upset that they were not included in discussions about the settlement, and are worried that their conferences will have to pay a disproportionate share of the cost.

What might block the settlement from being approved?

On Thursday, a judge in Colorado denied the N.C.A.A.’s request to move another antitrust case, Fontenot v. N.C.A.A., to the same court in California that will decide on the settlement. That decision leaves open the possibility that athletes who are part of the settlement class in the House case — any Division I athlete going back to 2016 — could opt out of the settlement if they believe that the Fontenot case might deliver more money to them. And if many athletes do opt out of the House case, that might affect Judge Wilken’s decision on whether to approve the settlement.

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