For the dartmouth supplemental essays, applicants must answer three questions in 100 words or less each. The questions aim to get to know the applicant better, including their intellectual curiosity, engagement with community, and ability to navigate challenges.
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Dartmouth college is seeking individuals who can contribute to its diverse and inclusive academic environment. The essays provide an opportunity for applicants to showcase their unique qualities beyond the facts presented in their application such as academic rankings and test scores.
Through these essays, the admissions committee hopes to understand how the applicant’s experiences and personal qualities align with the institution’s values. In this article, we will provide you with a guide on how to write a strong dartmouth supplemental essay that highlights your unique qualities and sets you apart from other applicants.
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Understanding The Dartmouth Supplemental Essays
Applying to dartmouth college can be a daunting experience, especially with the various essay prompt requirements. It is essential to familiarize yourself with the dartmouth supplemental essays, understand the essay questions, and the prompts provided by the dartmouth admissions committee.
We examine each of the essays, discussing the key features of each prompt and what dartmouth is looking for in terms of content.
Explanation Of Each Essay Question And The Prompts Provided By The Dartmouth Admissions Committee
There are two supplemental essays required by dartmouth college, and both are critical to your application process. Understanding the prompts is vital in creating the perfect essay that showcases your abilities effectively. Here are the essay prompts and the guidance provided by the admissions committee:
- Essay 1: *while arguing a dartmouth-related case before the u.s. supreme court in 1818, daniel webster, class of 1801, delivered this memorable line: “it is, sir…a small college. And yet, there are those who love it!” as you seek admission to the class of 2026, what aspects of the college’s program, community or campus environment attract your interest? *
- Key features:
- Understanding of the college history and ethos
- Expression of personal interest in dartmouth
- Clarity of thought and expression
- Essay 2: *please choose one of the following prompts and respond in 250-300 words. *
I. *the hawaiian word moʻolelo is often translated as “story” but it can also refer to history, legend, genealogy, and tradition. Use one of these translations to introduce yourself. *
Ii. *in the aftermath of world war ii, dartmouth president john sloane dickey, class of 1929, proclaimed, “the world’s troubles are your troubles…and there is nothing wrong with the world that better human beings cannot fix. ” which of the world’s “troubles” inspires you to act?
How might your course of study at dartmouth prepare you to address it? *
Iii. *in homecoming, the great writer and dartmouth alumna, louise erdrich ’76, writes, “homecoming is a time when you get to see who you are in relation to others. ” share a story about a relationship that has formed a part of your identity, in about 250-300 words.
*
- Key features:
- Clear expression of thought and response to the prompt
- Understanding of cultural and personal history
- Reflection and introspection on one’s identity.
Highlighting The Key Features Of Each Prompt And What Dartmouth Is Looking For In Terms Of Content.
In writing an excellent dartmouth supplemental essay, it is essential to consider what dartmouth is looking for in terms of content. The following points highlight what the admissions committee wants for each essay prompt:
- Essay 1:
- Understanding of the college’s history and ethos – show an in-depth knowledge of dartmouth college’s history and an appreciation of the college community’s culture.
- Expression of personal interest in dartmouth – demonstrate a genuine desire to join the college, which should reflect in your essay.
- Clarity of thought and expression – clearly state your thoughts and express yourself eloquently.
- Essay 2:
- Clear expression of thought and response to the prompt – ensure that your essay addresses the prompt and showcases your ability to articulate your thoughts.
- Understanding of cultural and personal history – show an appreciation of cultural history and how it shapes personal identity.
- Reflection and introspection on one’s identity – display an ability to reflect on oneself and how relationships have influenced identity.
Understanding the dartmouth supplemental essays and the prompts is essential in gaining admission to the college. Ensure you showcase your abilities by following the guidelines and highlighting what the admissions committee is looking for in terms of content. Good luck in your application process!
Researching And Preparing To Write Your Supplemental Essay
Writing a dartmouth supplemental essay can be a daunting task, especially when you are in the initial stages of writing. It’s essential to ensure that you research and prepare adequately before starting the writing process.
Outlining The Research And Preparation Steps To Take Before Writing Your Essay
Here are a few steps that you need to take before starting to write your essay:
- Check the essay prompt carefully and understand the question that you are being asked to address. It is crucial to analyze the prompt and think through your response.
- Conduct research to gather more information about dartmouth, its values, programs, and overall philosophy. This will help you understand what kind of response to write and how to frame your answer effectively.
- Choose an appropriate topic that best suits your personality, experiences, and interests.
- Brainstorm and outline your essay before starting the actual writing process. This will help you organize your thoughts and ideas and plan your essay’s structure.
Explanation Of How Best To Approach The Writing Process
Once you have finished researching and outlining, it’s time to start the writing process. Here are a few tips that you can follow to ensure that your writing process is productive and successful:
- Start by writing a fast, rough draft without worrying about grammar, punctuation, or sentence structure.
- Take breaks when you need to. Allow yourself some time to step back from your essay so that you can come back with fresh and new ideas.
- Revisit your outline and ensure that your essay follows a logical and cohesive structure.
- Edit and revise your draft, paying attention to the tone and language you use. Ensure that your writing is authentic, personal, and engaging.
- Proofread your essay meticulously to make sure that there are no errors in grammar, punctuation, or spelling.
Managing Your Time To Allow Creative Exploration
It’s crucial to manage your time effectively to allow for creative exploration throughout the writing process. Below are some tips to make the most of your time:
- Create a writing schedule that allows you to work around your other commitments.
- Start working on your essay as early as possible to ensure that you have enough time to write, revise, and edit.
- Break your work into smaller chunks to ensure that you don’t get overwhelmed by the task at hand.
- Take frequent breaks, go for a walk, or engage in other activities that can help you refresh your mind and prevent burnout.
The Importance Of Being Authentic And Personal In Tone
Dartmouth is in search of applicants who are authentic and self-reflective. Your essay should reflect your personality, your experiences, and your voice. Here are some tips to ensure that your essay is personal and authentic in tone:
- Write in a conversational style, as if you are talking to a friend.
- Avoid using overly formal language and jargon that can distance you from the reader.
- Share your personal experiences, stories, and opinions to help the admissions committee get to know you better.
- Avoid writing about topics that you think will impress the admissions committee instead of topics that are meaningful and personal to you.
Researching and preparing for your dartmouth supplemental essay will help you write an engaging and compelling essay that reflects your personality, experience, and authentic voice. Take your time and ensure that you are following the guidelines closely, and you are sure to have success.
How To Write A Compelling Dartmouth Supplemental Essay
Dartmouth supplemental essays are your chance to showcase your personality, interests, and achievements beyond your academic performance. If you’re looking to ace your dartmouth supplemental essays, you need to know how to write a compelling essay that stands out from the competition.
Here’s a guide on how to write a winning dartmouth supplemental essay with key insights and tips that will help you make a lasting impact on admissions officers.
Walking Through The Essential Components Of A Well-Written Supplemental Essay
To write a well-crafted supplemental essay, it is vital to focus on the following essential components:
- Engaging introduction: Start with an exciting hook that captures the reader’s attention, such as a personal anecdote, a provocative question, or a surprising statistic.
- Clear and concise body: Use clear, concise language to communicate your message effectively. Avoid complex sentences, difficult vocabulary, and convoluted arguments.
- Compelling narrative: Explore your life experiences, interests, and passions through a compelling narrative structure. This approach helps the readers connect with your story on a personal level.
- Connection to dartmouth: Show genuine interest in dartmouth by researching the university’s unique features, culture, and programs. Make sure that you’re not just relaying information but showcasing your compatibility with dartmouth’s values and mission.
- Reflective conclusion: End your essay with a reflective conclusion that ties together your key themes and showcases what you’ve learned from your experiences.
Discussing The Key Elements Of Narrative Structure
The narrative structure is a powerful tool that helps you tell your story in a compelling and memorable way. Here are some key elements to keep in mind when structuring your narrative:
- Setting the scene: Start with a vivid description of the scene, people, and surroundings. This step helps the readers visualize the context of your story.
- Conflict or challenge: Identify the conflict or challenge that you faced in your story. This step helps create tension, excitement, and emotional engagement.
- Action and outcome: Describe how you took action to resolve the conflict or overcome the challenge. This step shows your problem-solving skills, resilience, and determination.
- Reflection and growth: Finally, reflect on the lessons you learned from your experience and showcase how they helped you grow, mature and develop as a person.
Exploring The Use Of Anecdotes
Anecdotes are powerful tools that help you illustrate your personality and qualities through a short, memorable story. Here are some ways to effectively use anecdotes in your supplemental essay:
- Start with an anecdote: Start your essay with an engaging anecdote that captures your reader’s attention and sets the tone for the rest of your essay.
- Support your thesis: Use anecdotes to provide evidence and support your claims. For example, if you’re writing about your leadership skills, provide a specific example of how you exhibited leadership.
- Showcase your personality: Anecdotes are an excellent way to showcase your personality traits such as resilience, creativity, empathy, and determination.
Providing Insights As To How To Connect Key Themes Throughout Your Writing
Connecting key themes throughout your writing can help you create a cohesive and impactful essay. Here are some tips on how to do it:
- Identify key themes: Identify the key themes you want to showcase in your essay. For example, if you’re writing about your community service, the key themes could be empathy, compassion, and leadership.
- Use repetition: Use repetition to emphasize your key themes throughout your essay. For example, you can use a particular word or phrase to tie together different sections of your essay.
- Maintain consistency: Make sure that your essay maintains consistency in terms of tone, style, and message. Inconsistencies can distract the readers and undermine the impact of your essay.
By following these guidelines, you can write a compelling dartmouth supplemental essay that highlights your unique personality, qualities, and experiences. Remember to stay true to yourself, showcase your best qualities, and connect your story to dartmouth’s mission and values. All the best in your writing!
Editing And Refining Your Dartmouth Supplemental Essay
Dartmouth Supplemental Essays: Editing And Refining Your Dartmouth Supplemental Essay
Applying to dartmouth college is an exciting and challenging journey that requires thoughtful consideration and effort. One of the essential components of the application process is the supplemental essays, which give you an opportunity to showcase your personality, values, and aspirations.
In this section, we will discuss how to edit and refine your dartmouth supplemental essay to ensure that it meets the desired word and character count, is readable, engaging, cohesive, and flows naturally.
Discussion On How To Ensure Your Essays Meet The Desired Word And Character Count
As you begin to write your dartmouth supplemental essay, you need to ensure that your essay meets the desired word and character count. Here are some key points to consider:
- Follow the instructions carefully and review the essay prompts to understand the required length and format of the essay.
- Use straightforward and concise sentences to convey your message and avoid excess verbiage that can affect your word count.
- Use active voice and strong verbs to make your essay more engaging and impactful. Passive voice can make your writing appear weak and less assertive.
- Edit your essay several times to eliminate duplicates and irrelevant details that can increase your character count unnecessarily.
- Use a character count tool to verify that your writing is within the desired limit.
Editing Suggestions To Make The Essay More Readable And Engaging
Once you have written your first draft, it’s time to refine and edit your work. Below are some key points to consider while editing your work:
- Read your essay aloud to yourself or someone else to identify awkward and confusing sentences or parts that need rephrasing.
- Use transition words and phrases to connect your ideas cohesively and maintain the flow of your essay seamlessly. Good transition words can help you obtain coherence and counterbalance idea disarray or abrupt shift.
- Use short paragraphs and sentences to make your essay visually pleasing and easy to read. Ensure that each paragraph covers one topic only and has a clear topic sentence.
- Avoid using jargon and technical terms that may confuse your reader or sound too professional or academic.
- Use sensory details and storytelling techniques to illuminate your essay and make it more interesting and captivating.
- Use grammar and style tools like grammarly and hemingway to review your essay for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.
Tips For Reviewing Your Essay For Cohesion, Structure, And Flow
- Make sure that your essay has an introduction that hooks the reader, a conclusion that summarizes your main points, and a clear thesis statement that expresses the essay’s purpose.
- Review your essay’s structure to ensure that it has a logical flow, a strong beginning, and a powerful conclusion.
- Check the essay for coherence, which is the logical connection between the ideas presented in your essay. Ensure that your sentences state clearly their purpose and connect to other sentences correctly.
- Read your essay aloud to ensure that it flows naturally and that there is a smooth transition between paragraphs and sentences.
Editing and refining your dartmouth supplemental essay is critical to ensure that it meets the admission essay requirements and showcases your personality, strengths, and values. Use the tips discussed above to refine your essay and make it the best it can be.
Good luck!
Frequently Asked Questions For Dartmouth Supplemental Essays
What Is The Dartmouth Supplemental Essay All About?
The dartmouth supplemental essay is an opportunity for prospective students to showcase their unique experiences, skill sets, and personal qualities that complement dartmouth’s holistic approach to admissions.
How Many Supplemental Essays Does Dartmouth Require?
Dartmouth requires two supplemental essays. The first essay prompt requires an applicant to share a personal experience that has impacted their life, while the second prompts students to explain why they are interested in attending dartmouth specifically.
What Makes A Great Dartmouth Supplemental Essay?
A great dartmouth supplemental essay is one that is authentic, engaging, and insightful. Admissions officers look for well-written essays that showcase an applicant’s personality, passions, and strengths in a nuanced and meaningful way.
Can I Reuse Essays From Previous Applications?
No, dartmouth does not accept recycled essays from previous applications. Each year, the admissions committee requests essays specific to the given application cycle. Therefore, applicants must submit newly written essays that respond to the latest prompts.
What Is Dartmouth Looking For In A Successful Applicant?
Dartmouth seeks well-rounded, academically curious, and intellectually adventurous individuals who are also collaborative, compassionate, and committed to community engagement. The admissions committee looks for individuals who are passionate about learning and embody the dartmouth spirit.
Conclusion
After reading this informative article on dartmouth supplemental essays, it’s clear that it can be a challenging task for any applicant. However, the key to acing these essays is to ensure that your voice shines through each word you write.
Dartmouth values authenticity, and so it’s essential to reflect that in your essay. Remember to showcase how you will fit into the dartmouth community and its values. Whichever prompt you choose, it’s critical to answer it honestly, creatively, and vividly.
Always take your time while brainstorming, writing, and editing. Seek constructive feedback from trusted individuals, and make necessary adjustments. Lastly, ensure you adhere to all requirements of the essay, including the word count, formatting, and deadline. Following these steps will help increase your chances of acceptance into dartmouth college.
With the right attitude and diligence, you can overcome these essays’ hurdles and make your dartmouth dreams a reality.
