Dartmouth – The Short List

Ava

Philippines

The Community Builder

Dartmouth

(ED1) – Traditional

Early Decision (Binding)

We first met Ava through her older brother, a charismatic music lover who went on to perform in his college marching band. Ava, however, was determined to carve out her own identity and path.

By the end of sophomore year, Ava was a strong student, varsity tennis player, and active leader in her school community. To build confidence before enrolling in her school’s IB program, she joined a 28-day National Outdoor Leadership School expedition in the Pacific Northwest. As a student raised in Manila, she initially felt overwhelmed and out of place among younger but more experienced campers. But, as fellow campers began seeking her advice on academics, leadership, and high school life, Ava discovered that her greatest strength was not surviving alone but building community.

When she returned home to Manila, her confidence and leadership grew. By senior year, she was organizing major school events, leading service initiatives, performing bass guitar with her student rock band, and rallying classmates during Battle of the Bearcats.

As we explored colleges together, Ava was most energized by the idea of joining an intellectually vibrant, collaborative campus. We recommended Dartmouth for its close-knit culture, distinctive D-Plan, and emphasis on relationships, reflected in its unique peer recommendation requirement.

She loved what she discovered, so we encouraged her to apply through Dartmouth’s binding Early Decision program and helped shape an application that highlighted her ability to build connection wherever she went.

On decision night, Ava opened her admissions portal. Moments later, confetti filled the screen: Dartmouth had welcomed her into its community.

Natt

Thailand

The Environmentalist

Dartmouth College

Natt spent much of his life commuting between Bangkok and Hong Kong, two cities populated by skyscrapers and dense traffic. One of Natt’s favorite pastimes was taking walks with his father and their dog. It was on the trail behind his home that Natt felt most at peace.

Natt was amazed at the abundance of opportunities to explore nature when he arrived at his US boarding school freshman year. At the end of his sophomore year, he jumped at the opportunity to spend his entire junior year in the school’s environmental program. He lived on a separate campus and took interdisciplinary courses that covered all aspects of environmental science. His program explored the political, social, and ethical considerations of environmental policy. The deeper he delved, the more connections he made across all the disciplines. He wrote an extensive research paper on the environmental economics of the fishing industry. He ended the year determined to explore colleges with strong environmental programs.

The Short List helped Natt discover a number of rural East Coast schools that would allow him to pursue his environmental passion and give him access to the great outdoors.

The Short List helped Natt discover a number of rural East Coast schools that would allow him to pursue his environmental passion and give him access to the great outdoors. He toured campuses and narrowed the list down to a select few, with Dartmouth standing out. Dartmouth “Green” goes beyond the school’s moniker and colors. At Dartmouth, Natt discovered a campus deeply committed to the environment. Most students begin their Dartmouth experience on a freshman orientation outdoor trip. All students use the College’s unique quarter D-Plan to explore their interests both in and outside the classroom. Natt began to see himself as a member of this close-knit community, so he decided to apply through their binding Early Decision program.

Natt wanted to write a unique essay for his applications, and he initially worried more about creativity then content, missing the opportunity to tell his environmental story. The Short List encouraged him to focus more on communicating his message, detailing his unique junior year, and connecting the dots for the admissions committee. We prepped him to do the same with his activity list and his interviews. Natt also asked his teachers and counselor to communicate the same message in their reference letters. Dartmouth got Natt’s message loud and clear and offered him a spot in the class of 2020. Natt has already started stocking up on his “green” Dartmouth merchandise.