So, you have been deferred by Dartmouth. That is a huge bummer. We’re here for you, but we also understand if you have a bit of a pity party for a sec. Only a sec, though, because there is a lot to do. First, the numbers.
Last year (2022-2023), the Dartmouth Early Decision acceptance rate was a record low of 19%. 578 students were offered a spot out of over 3,000 applicants, continuing a trend at Dartmouth of filling a huge part of their incoming class in the Early Decision round. With an overall acceptance rate of about 6%, Dartmouth has historically been the most accessible Ivy League school in the Early Decision round.
If you were deferred, though, you probably care more about the numbers that have to do with not getting in — yet. Unfortunately, the Dartmouth admissions office does not publish their deferral vs. rejection numbers, so we don’t know exactly how many students have been deferred. What we do know, though, is that 5-10% of applicants who are deferred in the Early Decision round are later accepted.
So, the admissions team at Dartmouth isn’t just saying “no” nicely. In fact, you may have a better chance of getting in through the regular decision round than the new regular decision applicants. To turn their “ehhhh” into an enthusiastic “YES,” you have got some work to do. Below, we go into what you need to do now to have your best possible outcome in the regular decision cycle.
If you’re bummed about a deferral, drop us a line. We help students get into their perfect fit school.
What Dartmouth Wants
Dartmouth will review your application again, so they will give it a fresh look regardless of whether you send them anything else to look at or not. That said, not sending them anything would be a bit of a wasted opportunity. The team at Dartmouth appreciates a “brief” update on “recent notable academic, extracurricular, and personal accomplishments” that you can upload via the student application portal.
Dartmouth also expects your mid-year grades, which you should remind your school to send. And, if you have new test scores, you can also send those.
But, back to this “brief” update. They really do mean brief, and they really do only want things that are recent. We recommend writing a single, clear, and impeccably edited letter that summarizes the best of the best of what’s gone on in your life since you submitted your Early Decision application. You only get to send this once, and you will need to keep it concise to hit it out of the ballpark. Your letter should absolutely be less than one single-spaced page, and ideally less than half of a page (or about 400 words).
Keeping the letter concise will help you focus on the highlight reel. Give them a few things to celebrate alongside you, reiterate that Dartmouth is your number one choice, and leave it at that. Edit it, submit it, and then move on to ensure you have a wildly successful regular decision application round.
What Else You Need to Do
Getting deferred is a bummer, but there is more to do than simply letting Dartmouth know you still want in. You’ll have to apply to colleges in the regular decision round, and to get your best outcomes you’re going to have to do your best work.
1. Take Another Look at Your College List
First, you need to give your college list a fresh look. You absolutely need to have a balance of “foundation” or “safety” schools, “target” schools that are strong matches but not shoe-ins, and “reach” schools. We advise our students to apply to 8-10 schools in the regular decision round total. This is fewer than many students (and, let’s be fair, parents) want to apply to, but it’s also more than most students actually ultimately need to apply to — if the college list is well-balanced.
If you are taking another look at your college list, and aren’t feeling confident — we can help. Creating a well-balanced college list is the key to a successful admissions outcome.
2. Brush Up Your Common App Essay
After you’ve finalized your refreshed college list, you need to head over to your primary Common App essay, or the comparable essay for colleges that don’t use the Common Application, and give it a look with fresh eyes.
You probably have not looked at your essay in a while — and that is actually a good thing. Having some time away from it will help you see where it really does sing, and where there are opportunities for improvement. And there are definitely places you can improve because you’re human and even professional writers look back at old work with a critical eye.
Some students may need to start over, but most essays can be dramatically improved with even just a few little tweaks. If you are ready to get started, check out our essay ‘bootcamp’. We help students craft acceptance-winning essays that truly make a difference in the admissions process, all in a matter of weeks.
3. Cruise Through the Finish Line
You are so close to the finish line, but there’s work still to be done. Writing supplements is often majorly annoying, but it doesn’t have to be. By working through them methodically and developing “evergreen” content that can be reworked for different schools, it’s possible to make the college application process less daunting or, dare we say it, even enjoyable. We help students turn the college process into a personal growth experience full of laughter, learning, and really good writing. We know how hard it can be, but we also know it doesn’t have to be. Work smart. Be kind to yourself. Tell your truth. And cut yourself some slack when you just need a break. You’re human, not a machine, and sometimes you need friend-time more than you need to tweak that closing paragraph for the thousandth time.
We are experts at helping exceptional students who received disappointing EA or ED decisions get into their dream schools. If you want outstanding results, send us an email.