When looking at Ivy League interview tips many inform students to be as relaxed as possible. They stress the importance of the interview feeling like a conversation. This isn’t necessarily untrue at Dartmouth. They want you to be at ease, but it is one of the more formal interviews in the Ivy League. Maybe we shouldn’t say “formal.” Formal feels scary. And this shouldn’t be scary. Let’s just say that Dartmouth takes their interview seriously and you should do some prep to meet their standards. With a little prep, you should be able to crush this interview. And we have our top tips to help you do that!
Wait, what is the Dartmouth Alumni Interview?
Alumni interviews happen once you have applied to a school. An alum will reach out to set up an interview. These interviews are not required for admission, but they are a great resource to introduce yourself to the school and learn a bit more about going there. Due to volume, not everyone will get an interview. So if you don’t get one, don’t freak out. You can still get in without one. Whatever you do, don’t try to contact the admissions office to get one. It might seem like a smart move, but it’s just not how that works.
Tip 1: Be organized (even before the interview)!
This could be a tip for any college and at any part of the college admissions process, but Darmouth says this directly on their alumni interview page. They hope that students check their email frequently and are prompt to respond if they are invited to do an interview. Emailing quickly, being on time, and dressing appropriately are all on their list of things to do. They are also one of the only schools that encourage bringing a resume or an activity sheet for your interview. As interviews have moved online due to the pandemic, this is less important, but having a PDF ready isn’t the worst thing.
Tip 2: Go over their sample questions and be ready to answer them.
Dartmouth has sample questions on its website. These questions will be similar to the ones you are asked at the interview. Every interview is different, but looking over these questions will give you a place to start. Sample questions include:
Tell me about your school: courses, teachers, favorite subject, worst subject?
Is there a project, paper, lab, etc. that you were especially proud of when you completed it?
What are your future plans: college, major, career?
What activities are you involved in? Which are the most important to you and why?
What would your teachers or friends tell us about you?
When you envision your ideal college experience, what does that look like?
If any of these seem difficult, try to think of a good answer before the interview. Dartmouth interviewers are told to ask open-ended questions. This means usually there is no wrong answer. Instead, we are looking for strong answers. This might take a little research especially when it comes to questions about Dartmouth and your future. You should have specifics you can reference. Look for programs, opportunities, and even classes that you hope to participate in. Specifics will help ground your answers. If talking about yourself is difficult for you in general, practice! Have a friend or family member interview you. The more you talk about yourself the easier it becomes.
Tip #3: Come in with questions.
Dartmouth interviewers are instructed to ask, “What are your questions about Dartmouth?” Your answer shouldn’t be, “I don’t have any.” You should naturally have questions about a place you might live for the next four years. The person you will be speaking to will have gone to Dartmouth meaning they have a wealth of knowledge about the school.
Jot down some appropriate questions before the interview. If you are having a hard time thinking of questions, good ones include:
What was your favorite/least favorite thing about Dartmouth?
What is one thing at Dartmouth that not enough people know about?
What was the most unique opportunity Dartmouth gave you?
What was a typical day like when you were a Dartmouth student?
Remember these alums might have graduated a couple of years ago meaning questions like “What is Dartmouth like right now?” might not get the best answers. But these alums can tell you a lot and asking questions might be invaluable if you end up having to choose between several schools down the line.
As long as your questions aren’t inappropriate, you can ask them almost anything. We also advise not to ask them easily looked up facts. (Asking “Does Dartmouth have a nursing school?” will just make you look like you haven’t researched the school.) However, the vast majority of questions are good! Think about what you really want to know about the school and go off that!
Tip 4: Brush up on your analytical and conversation skills.
Dartmouth interviewers are instructed to look for analytical and conversation skills in applicants. Analytical skills include things like research, communication, critical thinking, creativity, and data analysis. You probably won’t be able to show all of these in an interview, but you certainly can show research, communication, and creativity in these interviews.
For research, show that you have researched the school through your answers and questions. This means you actually have to look into the programs you are interested in and take notes before the interview. Knowing things about the school and its opportunities will serve you well. For creativity, you can show creativity through your answers. Don’t just answer the most obvious or first thing that comes to mind. You can also show creativity in the type of questions you ask.
However, the easiest skills to show are good communication and conversation skills. Your answers should be clear and well thought out. You should also avoid long rambling answers as well as one-word answers. You should find a sweet spot in your answers where you have fully explained your reasoning without overloading your answer. For example, if they ask you, “What is a passion of yours?” Your answer shouldn’t be “research” and it also shouldn’t be a five-paragraph essay.
Let’s model an answer that combines research, creativity, and communication. If you are asked “what is a passion of yours?” you might answer, “It might seem unimportant, but I have a passion for cooking. I started by cooking alongside my grandmother growing up and later I worked my way through the Art of French Cooking. I am always testing recipes on friends and family as well as volunteering for school events in the kitchen. While I plan on pursuing Poli-Sci at Dartmouth, I was excited to learn about the Organic Farm at the sustainability office. I think great food comes from great ingredients and it's important to know where your food comes from.”
So let’s break this answer down. First off, it fully answers the question and is around the right length. It gives specifics and is well organized. It also isn’t an answer that is just the first thing on your resume. This shows some creativity. It also shows you have done some research into Dartmouth and the opportunities there. Not every answer has to show a full range of skills, but try to pepper them in.
Interviewers want you to succeed so it’s important not to freak out before your interview. Dartmouth is looking for students who are prepared and insightful. Even if you are nervous, we know that you can do that. If you do a little research and a little practice, you should be able to ace your Dartmouth interview.
Need help getting ready for the application process? It’s what we do! Reach out here.