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Dartmouth’s acceptance rate was the second-highest among Ivy League institutions this year, rising from 10 percent last year and 9.4 percent the year before. Following a 14 percent decline in regular decision applications, the College admitted 2,220 of 19,296 applicants to the Class of 2018, an acceptance rate of 11.5 percent, including the 469 students admitted in December through the early decision process.  Dartmouth has the second highest acceptance rate in the Ivy League this year, behind Cornell University, which accepted 14 percent of its over 43,000 applicants, according to The Cornell Daily Sun. Harvard University had the lowest acceptance rate among Ivy institutions, at 5.9 percent, followed by Yale University at 6.26 percent and Columbia University at 6.9 percent, according to The Crimson, The Yale Daily News and The Columbia Daily Spectator, respectively.

The 11.5 percent acceptance rate represents a rise from previous years. The College admitted 10 percent of applicants to the Class of 2017 and 9.4 percent of applicants to the Class of 2016, a record low.  Of the accepted students, 38.5 percent are valedictorians, 9.9 percent are salutatorians and 97 percent rank in the top 10 percent of their high school classes, according to a College press release. Their average SAT score falls in the 98th percentile nationwide and their mean ACT score was a 32.6.

“Looking at the traditional profile information — academic performance, testing, demographics, geographic, biographic factors and testing — it’s really clear that it’s another exceptional group of students that have been admitted,” Dean of Admissions Maria Laskaris said.  Around half of those admitted identify as students of color, 46 percent qualify for need-based financial aid and 12.4 percent will be the first in their families to attend college. Nearly 9 percent are international students, including the first students admitted from Fiji and Iran.  Laskaris said the diversity of applicants self identifying by race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, home life, community and secondary school experiences, made the admissions process exceptionally interesting and complex.  She said she sensed a real interest in co-curricular engagement among applicants. In their applications, many students discussed issues and experiences that held personal meaning, like anti-bullying efforts and campaigns to end sexual violence.

The class’s diversity extends to their academic interests, which include 54 of Dartmouth’s academic departments and interdisciplinary programs, with the most cited areas of interest including biology, engineering and economics, according to the press release.

Alex Weinberg, of Dallas, was admitted to the College on Thursday after being deferred when he applied early decision in the fall. He said Dartmouth’s small size, campus, and the makeup of its student body influenced his decision to apply.  “I really enjoy the people,” Weinberg said. “I met plenty of great people there in just one weekend, and that was the thing that attracted me the most — spending time with people I’d really like to go to college with.”  Weinberg was playing baseball when the online portal opened and had to wait until the game concluded before he could check his iPhone.

A teammate of Weinberg’s, Phil Rasansky, opened his acceptance letter to the College in the parking lot following the game. After hearing the news, he called his friends and family and breathed a sigh of relief, Rasansky said.

“I loved it when I visited,” Rasansky said. “I’m still waiting to hear back from a couple places, but I imagine that I’ll be accepting that letter pretty soon.”  Jarius James Brown, another accepted student from Hollywood, Fla., was recruited to Dartmouth to play football after attending a camp and connecting with coach Buddy Teevens.

Brown, who learned of his acceptance at a barbershop Thursday afternoon, said he is excited to live outside of Florida, try skiing and connect with a new community.

Rachel Strodel, a senior from Cambridge, Mass., read her acceptance letter Thursday afternoon when she returned home after a run. Upon hearing the news, she said she ran into the next room to tell her mom and grandmother.

Strodel said she envisions spending much of her time at Dartmouth outdoors.

“It’s a very unique place in its geographical location and small town, and I think that creates a sense of community that affects everything.”

Students were notified online of their acceptance today at 5 p.m. Admissions officers expect approximately 1,110 to enroll as students in the Class of 2018.

http://thedartmouth.com/2014/03/28/news/college-accepts-11-5-percent-of-applicants