It’s beautiful, isn’t it? Dartmouth College. You’ve seen what it looks like, you’ve read everything about it, and you’ve probably fantasized in the shower about your first year there as a freshman. Using up all the hot water in the house, probably. Though, that doesn’t matter. What matters is that you know Dartmouth College is right for you. It’s the perfect fit.

The question, therefore, is how you can get in.

If you’re reading this article, you must have already figured out that a perfect GPA, fantastic test scores (don’t worry, Dartmouth is test-optional now), and impeccable internships will not be enough. After all, Dartmouth can’t rely on numbers alone to make their application decisions! Thus, the power of persuasion and semantics will be your friend.

The Dartmouth supplemental essays will help you achieve exactly that! It’s the only place in your application where you can persuade the admissions officers past numbers alone.

With an acceptance rate of 9.2%, Dartmouth requires the best of the best students. Well, that goes for just about any T20 school, but that’s aside from the point. You’re going to need the best essays if you want to get accepted into Dartmouth, as the difficulty gets higher every year.

Remember: the value of a 4.0 is decreasing with every year due to grade inflation. At the same time, the value of the essays is increasing. So, how do we answer the Dartmouth supplemental essay questions then? Well, we cover exactly that in our guide below. You can navigate to each section in the table of contents.

Table of Contents

1. How to Write the Dartmouth Supplemental Essay #1
2. How to Write the Dartmouth Supplemental Essay #2
   • A. The Hawaiian word mo’olelo is often translated as “story” but it can also refer to history, legend, genealogy, and tradition. Use one of these translations to introduce yourself.
   • B. What excites you?
   • C. In The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, William Kamkwamba, Class of 2014, reflects on constructing a windmill from recycled materials to power the electrical appliances in his family’s Malawian house: “If you want to make it, all you have to do is try.” What drives you to create and what do you hope to make or have you already made?
   • D. Curiosity is a guiding element of Toni Morrison’s talent as a writer. “I feel totally curious and alive and in control. And almost…magnificent, when I write,” she says. Celebrate your curiosity.
   • E. “Everything changes, everything moves, everything revolves, everything flies and goes away,” observed Frida Kahlo. Apply Kahlo’s perspective to your own life.
   • F. 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?
3. Dartmouth’s Advice on How to Write the Supplemental Essays

How to Write the Dartmouth Supplemental Essay #1

This prompt is essentially Dartmouth’s “Why Us” essay. They want to know why you want to attend their university and what about their resources makes you want to apply.

You may be tempted to write this essay in the way that you’ve seen other people write the “Dartmouth Why Us” essays. It usually goes something like, “Working under this professor and joining this club will help me reach my passions and aspirations faster.” Don’t settle for that. It’s not enough.

The reason why it’s not enough is that most other applicants are going to be looking at other guides and tutorials on how to write the Dartmouth supplemental essays. Remember: Dartmouth is a highly competitive school. So, that means the best students are going to be looking at other guides and writing them in the same way.

Therefore, in order to write the Dartmouth supplemental essays, you must write something that no one else can write.

Yeah, we know. That sounds sort of impossible, right? Bear with us here.

In order to write a Dartmouth Why Us essay that is stronger than the rest, something that no one else can write that is unique to you, you will need to understand why the resources provided at Dartmouth even matter on a cosmic scale.

So, let’s say you want to work under one of the professors and there is in fact a club at Dartmouth that is great for your extracurriculars. Fine. Why does that matter to you? Think philosophically. You know that Dartmouth is a school with more than enough resources to set you up for success in a particular industry. Why does success in that field actually mean anything to you at all?

Maybe you wanted to major in Economics, but you couldn’t handle the kind of environment and culture that surrounds schools like UC Berkeley and NYU. You wanted someplace more down to Earth whilst still majoring in Economics. Dartmouth’s vast resources and unique rural learning environment give you something no other school can give: a chance to make a real world’s difference in international economics without having to dread the oppressive atmosphere of a large city school. This is just an example of how you can write richer essays that will stand out past the generic advice often given for this prompt.

Another way to approach this is by talking about how the school’s resources are absolutely necessary for you. You may say that what attracted your interest is the fact that Dartmouth’s resources fit perfectly for your future projects or possible startup. However, this also insinuates that not getting accepted would mean calamities ensue. The fate of your future startup means the possible solution to income inequality in your community, and everything from the networking opportunities to the professors at Dartmouth would be instrumental to this righteous journey. Thus, what attracted you to the school most was that Dartmouth gave you the biggest sword for your crusade against inequality.

How to Write the Dartmouth Supplemental Essay #2

Let’s cover how to approach each of these essay questions one at a time.

A. The Hawaiian word mo’olelo is often translated as “story” but it can also refer to history, legend, genealogy, and tradition. Use one of these translations to introduce yourself.

300 words is not a lot of words to answer this question or any of the Dartmouth supplemental essays for that matter!

To answer the Dartmouth mo’olelo story question, you need a sophisticated understanding of yourself. Particularly, you need to have a specific idea –in your own definition– of what your personal story is. If you’re struggling to answer this question, think first about what you believe your identity is.

Some people identify themselves by their community. They may take pride in their Hispanic heritage. Perhaps they take great pride living as a woman in a male-dominated community. Maybe it’s both.

Most people have a story that is not one-dimensional. They’re multi-variable stories. So, they may identify not only as a POC in a heavily gentrified community but also as someone who has a deep relationship with Dungeons and Dragons. Your story isn’t just something about what you were born into, it’s also the parts of your life that make you, well, you!

Okay, here’s an example of how to answer the Dartmouth mo’olelo story question.

Beef Tongue. Parsley. White Onion. Two tortillas; always two, never one. Lay one over the other so the sweet, sweet taco sauce doesn’t drip everywhere.

It’s delicious. After all, I learned the beef tongue recipe from my mother. Hispanic mothers always seemed to have that sort of magic touch with cooking that just made anything taste good. Though, it was also because it was the best dish I’d serve on our Saturday evenings with my friends over Dugneons and Dragons.

As the only Hispanic woman in the group, I love the diversity of our little crew. I’m considered quite unordinary in our group, as most people in my Hispanic community have a disdain for Dungeons and Dragons. Though, everyone in our group self-identifies as a bit unordinary. We’re all special, which makes us not so –and we love it that way!

Jessica always brought boba drinks from her father’s shop, a peculiar combination with tacos. Though, it was delicious: the bane of every diet.

That’s the thing about my community. They’re my family. We never imagined we’d find such a game fun. Yet, in some fortunate twist of fate, Dungeons and Dragons on Saturdays became our tradition. It was like a secret club; though, not really. We were open to everyone. We always were.

I’ve been told many times to take pride in my heritage as a Hispanic woman. I’ve also been told to take pride in my identity as a nerd. Though, I take the most pride in my little D&D communiy. My mo’olelo, or my story, is that I’m an unordinary, ordinary girl. Amongst my ethnic food and mannerisms are unordinary, but this is the norm. It’s okay. I am exactly that: just an unordinary girl who’s found her place in an unordinary world.

Dartmouth Mo’olelo Story Question Example

This example essay works since it strays away from the norm of responses.

Notice how the topic doesn’t revert to one common denominator? It doesn’t follow the Hispanic heritage path that many other Hispanic applicants may follow. It doesn’t follow the easy path.

Instead, this essay dives deeper into what makes the applicant someone who is unique. Everyone has an ethic and racial background that they identify by. However, not everyone has a story or tradition that is unique to them. This essay shows that the applicant has more than just what they were born with. They have an identity and a story to their lives that is meaningful to them.

Think about your personal life and try to think of what is meaningful to you and your identity. Do you play video games? Do you love a certain style of art? Are you a musician? Does your hobby transcend all differences like this applicant here? If so, use it!

B. What excites you?

This is your chance to nerd out. Really, it is!

When writing this essay, remember that the essays are an opportunity for the admissions officers to understand more about you as a person. They already know you want to apply to Dartmouth. They already know you have a strong GPA. They already know you’re excited about those extracurriculars you won so many awards in. It’s in your application already!

So, this begs the question: “what does Dartmouth actually want me to say?!”

That’s the question practically everyone asks when thinking of what to write for their Dartmouth supplemental essays. Though, the answer is quite simple. To answer this question, you need to be open-minded and confident enough to open up about what truly excites you to such a degree that you’re willing to share it with admissions officers.

You should have a topic that is so meaningful to you that you can show your humanness through this topic. It’s an opportunity for the admissions office to see more of you as an individual, not a statistic.

Alright, here’s an example:

As the president of my school’s weightlifting and bodybuilding club, I’m no stranger to the grit, aggression, and overwhelming masculine energy permeates the gymnasium. It’s sweat, drive, and adrenaline that gets quite old.

Yet, there’s a secret in this club. It’s an exciting secret: one that truly brings me the rush of strength that I can barely comprehend. It’s a beautiful, fantastic song tucked away neatly in my phone’s Youtube app.

This is the secret, exciting dirty trick that makes me a gym monster.

“Naruto vs Sasuke: Linkin Park –Somewhere I Belong. Anime Music Video (AMV)”

In my hometown in Brazil, the tradition of Naruto music videos is quite big. YouTube creators would make music videos featuring rock music such as Linkin Park’s songs and play it over epic fight scenes in the show. Of course, Naruto is an old show. So, these “Anime Music Videos” inexorably are subject to decades old video editing software.

The videos featured cheesy filters and camera effects that, if you viewed them now, would look quite strange. After all, there are many greater edits done today. However, these were earthshattering, especially for the 12-year-old me who wanted music to do push ups to.

Yet, there’s something exciting about this secret.

It’s an unlikely music video to play when getting the Iron Cross technique right. It’s unbecoming of a perfect deadlift. It’s the song that would be quite embarrassing for my current community, which looks down on anime. It’s exhilarating to push my limits in a masculine-majority sport with unconventional music. Childish to some, sure. But, that state of contradiction between childish awe and masculine strength is harmonic.

Some song, unappreciated. In my back pocket. Playing in a place one least expects. With no one the wiser to hear it.

Dartmouth “What Excites You” Example Essay

This example of the Dartmouth “What Excites You” essay shows a more personal side of the applicant.

This is a part of the application for you to show more of yourself, and not just the things you’re majoring in or the work that you want to do in the future. You can in fact talk about the field that you’re excited about; however, remember that the essays are personal. These are meant to show more of you.

Look at the example above and remember what the applicant is doing. They’re showing more of their softer side through the choice of music in an unbecoming environment. When writing your essays remember to show a part of your personality you feel will be good for the school.

C. In The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, William Kamkwamba, Class of 2014, reflects on constructing a windmill from recycled materials to power the electrical appliances in his family’s Malawian house: “If you want to make it, all you have to do is try.” What drives you to create and what do you hope to make or have you already made?

This is an essay that is very strong for those who have a self-starting and productive side. This is also an essay that shows people what their true interests are through the creations that they make.

What’s perhaps more important about this is essay is what the topic you’re writing about says about you than the topic itself. Thus, ask yourself this: if I write my essay about this topic, what kind of person does that make me?

Does your creation show that you’re someone who is empathetic for other people? Does your creation show caring for the conservation of the planet, and therefore a kind personality linked with nature? Is it something that will revolutionize the world of data? Maybe that shows your dedication to futurism.

Here’s an example of how to write the Dartmouth creation essay.

In my school’s Literature club, I was known as the “president who had the biggest crush on Russian Literature”. In fact, our inside joke was ” anything sad, pessimistic, and depressing written by a Russian person is literary with a capital L”.

There was no denying it. I love Russian Literature. It’s not always depressing and bleak, but certain authors like Dostoevsky had the kind of charming prose that flirted with pessimism and suffering in a manner that was artfully tasteful.

“Alexia, how do I write something great? I mean, like, really great?”

“Well,” I’d reply in jest, “Just be super sad! Seemed to work for the other literary geniuses!”

Though this joke has made its mark in our club as a piece of history, I the literary masterminds of Russia always inspired me. How could Dostoevsky weave words so colorfully even in the wake of tragedy? Or, Tolstoy writing an entire epic despite suicidal tendencies?

To create great feats of literature in the face of darkness. To shine a light upon the world despite its nasty sufferings. That is what drives me to create. And it did, at least, to the best of my ability.

Inspired by my favorite authors, I wrote a short story called “Prying Light”. It features the adventures of Yoona, a young girl looking to escape from her tyrannical father and his proclivity to control every aspect of her life. She runs from home in search of a “utopia”, only to discover the “real world” too is also harsh; she contemplates continually whether to return to her father or pursue freedom despite its hardships. It concludes with Yoona walking to the top of a hill during the end of winter, when the flowers finally begin to bloom again in the distance.

Dartmouth Creation Essay Example

Don’t forget that there are two parts to this question: what drives you to create, and what you hope to create (or already made).

As fancy and colorfully you may want to write, don’t forget that you need to answer these two questions in a manner that is clear and effective. Remember: the admissions office is judging you not only on your topic and what it says about you but also on how well you can articulate your ideas.

It is critical that you answer the questions clearly, like in the example essay above. Here the applicant showed that they are inspired to create great works of beautiful literature despite life’s tragedies, which is inspired by the great literary masterminds of Russia. They also go into detail about the story that they’ve created. This story and its details show the admissions officers that the applicant holds a moral value on the importance of individuality and freedom from tyrannical powers, which adds more depth of character to their overall Dartmouth application.

D. Curiosity is a guiding element of Toni Morrison’s talent as a writer. “I feel totally curious and alive and in control. And almost…magnificent, when I write,” she says. Celebrate your curiosity.

Before you jump right into answering this prompt, we want you to forget about Toni Morrison for now. Just look at the part that says “Celebrate your curiosity”

Now, there is a common mistake here that we’ve seen people do when writing this essay. When the prompt asks us to “celebrate curiosity”, we need to focus on the word celebrate. That means you’re not describing what it is or talking about what curiosity is supposed to be. This is a celebration, and therefore a time to feel positive about your curiosity.

Now, look back at Toni Morrison’s quote.

“I feel totally curious and alive and in control. And almost…magnificent, when I write,”

Notice how she is celebrating her curiosity by talking about the positive influence it has on her? This is the way that you want to approach this essay prompt. You’re going to write about how curiosity is a positive force and celebrate it. Here’s an example below.

Reality. Real. Realism. The “real world”. R-E-A-L.

The very word and its forms are enough to leave a bad taste in one’s mouth, and for good reason. The very idea of something being “real” implies an opposite force: the unreal, or, unreal. I’m no stranger to hearing those words. “Wait until you get into the ‘real world'”, “That’s not how the ‘real world’ works” and “Those are not realistic expectations” are all utterances I’m no stranger to –as if anyone were so wise as to know what the ‘real world’ really even is.

If anything, The ‘unreal’ is more influential and meaningful than the ‘real’. In fact, it seems to be a human instinct to desire and fantasize about the ‘unreal’. It’s what our civilization has done creating myths and legends explaining the unnatural. We, in our curiosity, looked upon the stars, so full of mystery, and developed astrological signs that project our fantasies into the unkown skies.

Then, human civilization made the greatest decision in history: we abandoned the comfort of what is real, and journeyed beyond. This pursuit of creative vision –the abandonment of “real”– manifested itself in the form of art and literature.

I adore it. I applaud it. And, I’m inspired by it.

My curiosity challenges me to think outside of “real:. This creative curiosity pushes the boundries of the known and encloses me with the creative unconscious.

I exercise this espeically in the world of digital art. For there, digital art becomes more than just an expression of creative vision. It is also an escape fron the mundane “real” of this world. It is a rejection of the conventional and and acceptance of the new. This freedom of tradition, and the exploration of the unconscious, is how my curiosity allows me to transcend the mundane.

Dartmouth Example Curiosity Essay

When you’re reading this example essay, note the emphasis on how curiosity actually benefits the applicant. It is important that you answer exactly how curiosity is something that benefits you, as this is a ‘celebration’ of curiosity. In this case, the applicant celebrates curiosity because it helps free them from the restrictions of the traditional, real, and mundane.

From this example essay, we can see that the applicant values freedom and liberty from old conventions. When writing your own Dartmouth curiosity essay, think about the values and principles you’d like to imply in your essay, and remember to incorporate them into your writing.

E. “Everything changes, everything moves, everything revolves, everything flies and goes away,” observed Frida Kahlo. Apply Kahlo’s perspective to your own life.

Alright. Same principle.

Remember what we mentioned before in the previous sections. We want to write something that shows some kind of characteristic about us as an applicant. Like in the previous essay example, do we want to show we’re someone who values freedom from tradition? If so, make the topic parallel with it!

In this case, what exactly is going away? Is it family? Is it skills? Money, maybe? Whatever topic you choose, it will shape what the admissions officers think of you –and more importantly, what they believe your values are.

Here’s an example of how to write the Dartmouth Kahlo’s perspective essay.

“What’s on your mind today?” He said with his chin rested on his palm and his fingers caging his mouth.

“Nothing. There’s nothing on my mind, and that’s the problem… ” I started. “Every day of class is the same. Prepare and pass the test. Rinse. Repeat. It’s not hard, but it’s just… empty.” I continued. “There’s this voice in the back of my mind saying I’m wasting away my time. I always think I could challenge myself, but it doesn’t feel real!”

Joseph, my brother’s friend, thought until the ideas in his head burrowed a curl into his eyebrows.

“You want to help me out?” He asked suddenly. “There’s this client of mine. We need to help them market their software to local therapy firms. Something about parsing legal and confidential patient documents, complex code, streamlining stuff for thereapists so they can do more, well, therapy-ing… stuff like that!”

I was curious, as I’ve never actually had the opportunity to work in a real startup company before. All I’ve known was the bubble-in sheets in school and flashcards.

“Yeah. Yeah I think so. I think I can do that!”

I learned more working for that startup than I did in all my years of high school. I was challenged like never before; but, most of all, the time when I was the smartest person in the room was finally over. My paradise of not feeling any pressure –or anything for that matter– in school ended. Now, that I was starting from the bottom in a startup out of the blue, I struggled through a gruelling pace.

It was far from my paradise. It was tough. It took blood and sweat. But, at the end of the day, it made me feel alive.

Dartmouth Kahlo’s Perspective Example Essay

In this example, the applicant writes about their experience as a gifted student who is used to passing their school work with flying colors. This perception of being the smartest person in the room all goes away when he is given a true challenge: working for Joseph’s startup. It is more grueling than anything he has encountered; nonetheless, he feels more alive from the challenge than he ever was.

Although his position as the dominant student in the class is now challenged by this new obstacle, the applicant shows that they value learning in the truest sense. That means challenging oneself to strive to the best of their ability, and not just doing the easy work that is paraded in schools.

F. 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?

The Dartmouth world troubles essay question is a very good prompt to choose from.

This question allows you to tackle all of the following points:

1. What your major is.
2. Why you wanted to choose that major and the moral reasons behind it.
3. Why Dartmouth is the best place to achieve your goals.

In other words, this question essentially answers a majority of the questions admissions officers already have in their mind. With that said, remember to consider how Dartmouth’s courses would actually fit with what you plan to do in the future. It is easy to say that courses from any university can help students with their goals. However, Dartmouth wants to see that their academic catalog is actually a good fit for what you want to do in the future.

Here’s an example of how to write the Dartmouth world troubles essay.

When Yeong-Ja, the founder of a new content marketing firm I interned for, helped her company reach new heights, it was no surprise that her stern, energetic leadership played a major role. It was powerful, strong, and different; but, it came at a cost.

It was at this time that the small startup’s success needed more space to stretch its wings. So, like the fate of the Roman Empire, I’ve witnessed the company grow far too wide for Yeong-Ja to manage.

This stress took a toll on her. It carved lines under her eyes and face. It’s hard to articulate the feeling. But, as someone who grew up in a patriarchal household, seeing my only idol for strong female leadership torn down by the stress filled me with indescribable melancholy. She couldn’t rely on her managers enough.

She was one of many founders who found that the hardest part of their work was not just growth, but managing managers. It’s the quintessential story of the hardworking leader who found that their own projects, their own baby, crushed them under their own weight.

I’d be lying if I said I chose Dartmouth without any emotional consideration. I’d like to become a future consultant who could guide aspiring leaders like Yeong-Ja and lift the load for them.

Attenging Dartmouth with a major in Economics means using classes such as (filled in) to not only help other future businesses scale but also use the knowledge and management experience I accumulate to make a life for future female leaders easier. It is my hope to one day use Dartmouth’s courses, program, and clubs to one day become an experienced women’s entrepreneur consultant –I may it to help future leaders like Yeong-Ja avoid a dark fate.

Dartmouth World Troubles Example Essay

Burnout for women in entrepreneurship is a topic seldom talked about. We often hear of people praising women in STEM and entrepreneurship because it means they’re pursuing fields outside of the typical gender norms. This essay covers one of the lesser known world problems that so often plagues the world of global business: the fact that we’re pushing women into tough careers without considering the responsibilities of it.

This essay also shows how a major in Economics at Dartmouth would help the applicant solve this problem. They will use the school’s courses and resources to become a consultant for female leaders and help them manage their time in an age when women are now pressured to take on more challenging roles.

If you have any other questions or concerns about the Dartmouth supplemental essays and the essay prompts, please don’t be afraid to reach out to us! If you’re having trouble writing out a draft for your Dartmouth supplemental essays, or you just need someone to give you advice, consider scheduling a free consultation! We can get back to you within 24 hours for free advising!