Dartmouth College requires three supplemental essays: 1) a 100-word “Why This College?” response, 2) one 250-word essay chosen from two identity or background prompts, and 3) one 250-word essay chosen from seven creative prompts. Dartmouth often updates the second and third prompts each admission cycle, but the intention and focus stays the same.
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How to Approach the Dartmouth Supplemental Essays
You may notice that the Dartmouth supplemental essays, apart from the typical “Why do you want to attend this school?” essay, are more unique and thought-provoking, encouraging students to think critically about themselves and the world. This is by design.
Competitive candidates to Ivy League schools tend to look nearly identical on paper: a 4.0 GPA, strong test scores, an impressive list of extracurriculars. What actually sets candidates apart? To Dartmouth, it’s how they think about and navigate the world around them.
Embrace these prompts as opportunities to make bold choices and reveal something personal about your personality, dreams, and goals. Dartmouth wants to see not only what you have accomplished, but also what kind of person you are.
So don’t fear unconventionality. Tell a story, share a personal anecdote, and surprise the reader. Show Dartmouth that you are the kind of student who will thrive there not just academically, but personally.
Dartmouth Supplemental Essay 1: Why Dartmouth (100 Words)
While the Dartmouth supplemental essays vary yearly, the application typically requires students to answer the following:
As you seek admission to Dartmouth, what aspects of the college’s academic program, community, and/or campus environment attract your interest? How is Dartmouth a good fit for you? (100 words or fewer)
Most schools are interested in learning why students want to attend, but this particular question has a 100-word limit. This is a subtle way that the Dartmouth application champions creativity and personality.
Admissions readers want to know why Dartmouth appeals to you, but they are even more interested in how its opportunities will help you pursue your goals. Rather than focusing on the beautiful campus, famous alumni, or general prestige, highlight specific programs, courses, communities, or experiences that align with your interests.
Choose one or two meaningful reasons instead of trying to cover everything. Explain not only what attracts you, but why it matters to you and why Dartmouth is especially well suited to your plans. Be concise, personal, and specific.
For more in-depth guidance, check out our post on writing a strong Why This College? essay.
Dartmouth Supplemental Essay 2: Choose One Prompt
For the second required Dartmouth supplemental essay, the application requires students to choose one of two questions:
There is a Quaker saying: Let your life speak. Describe the environment in which you were raised and the impact it has had on the person you are today.
“Be yourself,” Oscar Wilde advised. “Everyone else is taken.” Introduce yourself.
Since these supplemental essay questions are liable to change every year, let’s focus on how to choose the best essay when you’re given the choice between a few different prompts.
Schools like Dartmouth understand that a variety of students are applying every year. To accommodate more students, some schools will allow students to choose which prompt they would like to answer. But how do you know which one is the best one for you?
First, if one prompt is more exciting to you than the others, you should absolutely choose that prompt. Your essay is liable to be more interesting and well-written if you’re actually excited to write it. Sometimes, however, none of the prompts seem too exciting.
For example, Prompt A is more straightforward, asking applicants a direct command: “Describe the environment in which you were raised and the impact it has had on the person you are today.” You’ll need to address both parts of this prompt in your essay, but there’s a lot less brainstorming required since the prompt sets the expectations of the essay.
This prompt would be the better choice for someone who doesn’t enjoy writing too much or considers themselves a more logical person.
Prompt B, however, allows for more creativity. “Introduce yourself” is decidedly sparse and open-ended. There are several different ways to answer this prompt, and that can allow for a very creative essay. If you’re seeking a challenge or want to stand out with your essays, this would be the prompt for you.
Dartmouth Supplemental Essay 3: Choose One of Seven Prompts
Finally, if you’re feeling brave, let’s discuss how to tackle a supplemental essay that asks you to choose between four or more prompts.
Dartmouth’s application asks students to choose one of seven supplemental essay prompts to respond to. This can seem daunting at first, but let’s refer back to our strategy.
First, read over each prompt carefully. If one excites you, then that seems like a great choice to write about. But if they all seem challenging, let’s categorize them.
Thankfully, Dartmouth’s third supplemental essay offers an eclectic mix of open-ended and guided prompts.
Two prompts are completely open-ended, allowing for a multiplicity of responses:
A. What excites you?
E. Celebrate your nerdy side.
These prompts will require more brainstorming and outlining to ensure that a cohesive, interesting story is being told about you, but they are also more fun and require more creativity.
It may seem like an oxymoron to have fun while applying to college, but essays where a student has fun and allows their personality to shine are more likely to stand out and be memorable to an admissions reader.
If you require more guidance from your supplemental essay prompt, then you’re in luck: There are five other prompts to choose from.
This Dartmouth supplemental essay prompt is for students who feel deeply connected to their culture, ethnicity, or community:
F. “It’s not easy being green…” was the frequent refrain of Kermit the Frog. How has difference been a part of your life, and how have you embraced it as part of your identity, outlook, or sense of purpose?
Another supplemental essay trend is to ask students how they’ve been challenged to change their perspective and/or find common ground with others. Colleges and universities actively seek to promote dialogue among students. Therefore, they want to know that prospective students are willing to engage in constructive conversation with others on topics that may seem charged, like politics or beliefs.
These Dartmouth supplemental essay prompts want students to recall how they’ve been challenged to develop a new perspective:
C. In an Instagram post, best-selling British author Matt Haig cheered the impact of reading. “A good novel is the best invention humans have ever created for imagining other lives,” he wrote. How have you experienced such insight from reading? What did you read and how did it alter the way you understand yourself and others?
D. The social and family interactions of wild chimpanzees have been the focus of Dame Jane Goodall’s research for decades. Her understanding of animal behavior prompted the English primatologist to see a lesson for human communities as well: “Change happens by listening and then starting a dialogue with the people who are doing something you don’t believe is right.” Channel Dame Goodall: Tell us about a moment when you engaged in a difficult conversation or encountered someone with an opinion or perspective that was different from your own. How did you find common ground?
These are excellent prompts to choose if you have strong opinions and feel comfortable articulating them.
These are also excellent supplemental essay prompts for students looking to go into business or politics, as much of your collegiate education will revolve around learning to communicate, voice your opinion, and advocate for others, so choosing these prompts for your application will show the reader that you’re ready for the next part of your journey.
Finally, if none of those prompts seem accessible, consider a prompt that asks you to reflect on the past to think about the future:
B. Labor leader and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta recommended a life of purpose. “We must use our lives to make the world a better place to live, not just to acquire things,” she said. “That is what we are put on the earth for.” In what ways do you hope to make, or are you already making, an impact? Why? How?
G. The Mindy Kaling Theater Lab will be an exciting new addition to Dartmouth’s Hopkins Center for the Arts. “It’s a place where you can fail,” the actor/producer and Dartmouth alumna said when her gift was announced. “You can try things out, fail, and then revamp and rework things… A thing can be bad on its journey to becoming good.” Share a story of failure, trial runs, revamping, reworking, or journeying from bad to good.
These guided prompts require a lot less brainstorming, mostly because you have already included the subject in your activities list.
Think about an extracurricular you’ve already listed. Maybe it’s impressive, but there wasn’t room to go into detail about it. These prompts would be a great way to write about an activity you’ve done in depth to impress the admissions reader and ensure that your achievements are not overlooked.
What are you passionate about? Even little things can make an impact on yourself and others.
Or maybe, the journey toward developing your passion was riddled with mistakes and disappointments. Tell the story of your journey into developing your passion and becoming the person you are today: the intelligent and proactive individual who is applying to be in the next Dartmouth University class.
Dartmouth Supplemental Essays FAQ
How many supplemental essays does Dartmouth require?
Dartmouth requires three supplemental essays: one required “Why Us?” response, one essay chosen from two prompts, and one chosen from seven prompts.
Do Dartmouth’s supplemental essay prompts change every year?
Dartmouth often carries over prompts from year to year, but they do occasionally make updates updates, reword existing questions, or swap in a new option. Check the Dartmouth website before writing.
What are the typical topics for Dartmouth supplemental essays?
Dartmouth’s supplemental essays typically span three topics: why Dartmouth is a good fit for you (and vis versa!), the background or identity that shaped you, and a reflecting on your passion, your purpose, or a moment of growth.
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