🍦 Today's Scoops Sep 12: Guide to Rec Letters

Good morning folks! Here’s what we have today:

1. School of the Day: Dartmouth University

2. Admissions Blueprint: Guide to Rec Letters

3. TikTok Thursday: Our favorites from this last week

SCHOOL OF THE DAY
School Name

Every day, we cover a different school, helping you learn something new about your favorite schools or find a new school that could end up being your dream school.

📍 Location: Hanover, NH
🎓 Undergraduates Enrolled: 4,458
📊 Acceptance Rate: 6% (28,336 applicants)
📝 Average SAT/ACT: 1540/34
💸 Cost: $81,762 (tuition, room & board, fees)
📅 Admission Options: Early Decision (Nov 1), Regular Decision (Jan 2)
🏆 Top Ranking Programs: Environmental Science (#4), Economics (#11), Computer Science (#13) (Niche)
📈 Most Popular Majors: Social Sciences (32%), Computer Science (10%), Engineering (9%) (Scoir)

Some positives

🔬 Emphasis on Undergraduate Education: Unlike many research universities, Dartmouth prioritizes undergraduate education, offering small class sizes and close faculty mentorship. The Undergraduate Research Program allows students to engage in research across disciplines, often working directly with professors.

🌲 Picturesque Campus and Strong Community: Nestled in the scenic town of Hanover, Dartmouth’s campus is surrounded by natural beauty. The college fosters a strong sense of community, with traditions like the Dartmouth Outing Club offering outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing, and kayaking.

📊 Tuck School of Business: Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business offers unique programs for undergraduates, including the Tuck Business Bridge Program, which provides business education to students from all majors, helping them develop key business skills.

⚙️ Thayer School of Engineering: Dartmouth’s Thayer School of Engineering emphasizes hands-on, interdisciplinary learning. With its Human-Centered Engineering program and the Magnussen Center for Entrepreneurship, students can explore innovative solutions to real-world challenges.

📚 Unique D-Plan: Dartmouth’s flexible D-Plan allows students to customize their academic schedule, including the option to take off terms for internships or research, providing a unique level of flexibility to shape their academic journey.

🌍 Study Abroad Opportunities: Dartmouth has a robust Foreign Study Program (FSP) that offers students opportunities to study in diverse locations around the world, with programs that combine academic coursework with hands-on cultural experiences.

Some negatives

💸 High Cost of Attendance: As a private Ivy League school, Dartmouth’s tuition is quite high, making it a significant financial investment despite available scholarships and financial aid options.

🏙️ Rural Location: While Hanover’s small-town charm appeals to many, the rural location might feel isolating for students used to urban environments. Entertainment and cultural activities outside campus can be limited.

📚 Competitive Admissions: Dartmouth has highly selective admissions, with a low acceptance rate and rigorous academic expectations, making it difficult for many applicants to gain entry.

🎓 Small Student Body: While Dartmouth’s small student body fosters community, it can also mean fewer course offerings and extracurricular activities compared to larger universities, which might limit options in some specialized fields.

ADMISSIONS BLUEPRINT
Guide to Rec Letters

Letters of recommendation (or rec letters) can make a huge impact on your college application, providing insight into your character, work ethic, and how you engage with learning. Here’s how to make sure you get the best ones possible!

Choosing Your Recommenders

🎯 Pick the Right Recommenders: Choose teachers who know you well—not just those in which you got an “A” but teachers who can speak to your growth, passion, and character. If you have a subject that aligns with your intended major, prioritize that teacher!

📊 Balance Your Choices: Many schools ask for 1-2 teacher recs. If possible, pick teachers from different subjects (e.g., one STEM and one humanities teacher) to show versatility in your abilities.

Requesting a Rec Letter

⏰ Start Early: Ask your recommenders at least a month in advance, especially if they’re popular among other students. Teachers need time to write thoughtful letters, so make sure you’re giving them ample time!

💬 Ask in Person (or Via Email): It’s always polite to ask in person or send a well-written email if you can’t meet face-to-face. Express your gratitude and explain why you think they’re the right person to write your letter.

Providing Brag Sheets

📄 Send a Brag Sheet: A brag sheet is essentially a mini-resume that highlights your achievements, goals, and extracurriculars. This gives your recommenders specific details to include in their letters that align with your college goals.

📝 Include Specific Details: Help your recommenders with details like key projects, leadership roles, or classroom contributions they might have forgotten. This ensures that your rec letters are personalized and detailed.

Additional Recommenders

🏫 Outside Recommenders: Some colleges allow you to submit an additional recommendation from non-teachers like coaches, employers, or club advisors. If you have a meaningful connection with someone who knows you outside the classroom, consider asking them as well!

⚠️ Don’t Overdo It: Stick to only submitting extra letters if they add significant value. Admissions officers are busy, so unless the letter highlights a major part of your life not covered by your teachers, it might not be necessary.

TIKTOK THURSDAY
Our favorite college admissions TikToks from the last week

Essay ideation - This video goes over tips to start coming up with ideas for your essays. The creator, Dylan Ott, is an incoming freshman at UPenn’s competitive M&T program.

Essay Cliches to avoid - We all want to think that our essay topics are great, but oftentimes we end up writing things are simply just basic and not telling of who you really are. Here are some common cliches.

For seniors, recommendations on where you should be at in the process by now - This video goes over pacing your apps and ideally where you should be at by now. Of course, some people may be ahead and some may be behind, but it always helps to get us some motivation.

LINK LOUNGE
Key Resources & Scholarships

Every Wednesday, we update the Link Lounge section with links to great resources such as scholarships during the college application process. You’ll find it at the top of your email on Wednesdays and near the bottom during the rest of the week.

Robertson Scholars - This merit-based scholarship by the Julian H. Robertson, Jr. Fund provides around 25 students admitted to Duke or UNC Chapel Hill with full-ride scholarships. Application for high school seniors is open now and is due November 15. The only requirement to apply is that you are applying to either Duke or UNC.

Hemingway App - This app can help you simplify and clarify your writing, ensuring your college essays are clear and impactful. It has a very easy-to-use interface but also has quality feedback.

NACAC’s College Admissions Decoded Podcast (Apple Music, Spotify) - NACAC, the National Association for College Admission Counseling, runs this podcast to help break down the facts, myths, and rules of engagement for today’s college landscape.

DAILY DEADLINE UPDATES
ACT this Saturday!

In the Daily Deadlines section, we will keep you updated on upcoming deadlines in the college admissions world. Remember to not procrastinate and stay ahead of these deadlines!

September ACT: Saturday, September 14
University of Texas/UNC Chapel Hill Early Action Deadline: October 15
Most ED, REA & EA Deadlines: November 1

THE ARCHIVE
Looking for past mailings?

You can view all our previous posts at our website at https://scholarscoops.beehiiv.com

IDEAS COME FROM EVERYWHERE
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