Why STEM Applications Should Start with Choosing a Career Direction
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Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
Dartmouth College is one of eight Ivy League universities and one of the oldest universities in the United States, founded in 1769. Despite the college status in its name, Dartmouth is a full-fledged research university with professional schools of business, medicine, and engineering. Its key feature is its small size and exceptional academic quality—approximately 4,570 undergraduate students enroll here, and the faculty-to-student ratio is 6:1.
Dartmouth College was founded in 1769, just four years after Cornell and 14 years before Columbia. Located in Hanover, New Hampshire, surrounded by the natural beauty of New England, the campus is considered one of the most beautiful among the Ivy League universities.
Dartmouth is the only Ivy League university that uses a quad system with a unique curriculum format called the D-Plan. Students can plan their schedules flexibly, taking academic leave for internships, travel, or research projects without disrupting their four-year program. This is a practical advantage that is difficult to find in other Ivy League universities.
Dartmouth is ranked #13 among the best universities in the United States by US News & World Report 2026 and #3 in terms of undergraduate education quality, one of the best rankings in the country. The 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio means that students have real access to leading academics and small class sizes.
| Degree of study | Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral Degrees |
| Percentage of accepted students | 6,03% (набір 2025 року, клас 2029) |
| Probability of employment after training | the median salary 6 years after graduation is $82,541; 164 Dartmouth alumni are current members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives |
| Scholarships | Need-blind admission for all students, including international students — 100% of confirmed need is covered without loans |
| Directions | over 40 undergraduate majors plus professional schools of business (Tuck), medicine (Geisel), and engineering (Thayer) |
| Type | private research university |
| Size of the student campus | about 6,800 students (4,570 bachelors, more than 2,000 in master's and doctoral programs) |
| % of international students | about 14-15% (class 2029) |
| Student town | a campus in Hanover surrounded by New England nature — mountains, forests, and ski trails within walking distance |
Bachelor’s degree: $71,265 per year (tuition + mandatory fees, 2026-2027)
Master’s degree: depends on the program – Tuck School of Business (MBA) about $82,050 per year, Thayer School of Engineering about $63,480 per year, Geisel School of Medicine about $68,000 per year
Doctoral: Most PhD programs are fully funded – the scholarship covers tuition and living expenses through a research/teaching assistantship
The full estimated cost of attendance for the 2026-2027 academic year is about $98,946 per year, including tuition ($71,265), living expenses (about $12,579), food (about $8,091), study materials, and personal expenses.
Dartmouth offers more than 40 undergraduate majors and a wide range of graduate and doctoral programs through four main academic units:
One of the few professional engineering schools in the Ivy League. Offers BE (Bachelor of Engineering), MEM (Master of Engineering Management), ME (Master of Engineering), and PhD degrees in engineering. The MEM program is one of the best in its field in the United States.
One of the best business schools in the world, specializing exclusively in the MBA program. In the Financial Times 2026 ranking, Tuck MBA ranks 26th in the world. It only accepts students for master’s programs; there are no undergraduate programs.
The fourth oldest medical school in the United States (founded in 1797). Offers an MD degree, as well as master’s and doctoral programs in biomedical sciences, public health, and healthcare administration.
The Dartmouth campus is located in Hanover, New Hampshire, and is considered one of the most picturesque universities in the United States. The natural beauty of New England is an integral part of student life, with an organic farm on campus, hiking and biking trails, and the Dartmouth Skiway within walking distance. This is particularly appealing to students who want to combine their academic pursuits with an active lifestyle.
Most first-year students and many upperclassmen live on campus, as Dartmouth provides housing options for all four years. The student community is organized around the House Communities system, which are residential associations with their own culture and programs.
Dartmouth’s acceptance rate is 6.03% for the class of 2029 (1,702 accepted out of 28,230 applications), one of the most competitive rates among Ivy League universities. Applications are accepted through the Common App.
Important: Dartmouth became the first Ivy League university to reinstate the mandatory SAT or ACT in 2024. The test-optional policy is no longer in effect.
At Dartmouth, a student enrolls in the university as a whole, rather than in a specific department. Specialization is chosen later, which provides flexibility for those who have not yet decided on a field.
A transcript with grades is a key element of the application. Dartmouth evaluates the difficulty of courses, academic performance, and academic consistency. The average SAT score of accepted students in the class of 2029 is 1490-1560, and the average ACT score is 33-35.
In addition to the main essay, Dartmouth asks its own questions, which are designed to gain insight into the candidate’s personality, interests, and how they will fit into the university’s community. The admissions committee seeks specificity and sincerity.
The standard set includes two letters from teachers and one from a school counselor.
Dartmouth values depth of engagement and real contributions to specific projects, rather than a long, formal list.
It is held by Dartmouth graduates in the applicant’s region, and it is worth participating as soon as possible.
Early Decision tour — until November 1 (binding). The main tour (Regular Decision) runs until January 3rd. Early Decision provides a statistically significant advantage: the historical ED index is about 17-19% versus 3-4% for RD.
For international applicants, the set of requirements is similar to that for U.S. citizens, with a mandatory confirmation of the English language level through TOEFL or IELTS results.
Dartmouth is one of the eight universities in the United States that apply need-blind admission for all students, including international students, where the financial situation of the family does not influence the admission decision. This is officially confirmed on the admissions.dartmouth.edu website.
The application is enhanced by high grades in specialized subjects, participation in scientific projects and research, victories in Olympiads and competitions, leadership experience, and clear academic motivation. A portfolio may be required for certain creative fields.
Dartmouth covers 100% of the confirmed financial need of all admitted students, both U.S. citizens and international applicants. This is a university policy that applies without exceptions and without loans in the financial package.
Key parameters of financial aid:
All financial aid at Dartmouth is targeted and based on need. The university does not offer scholarships based on academic merit.
The median salary for Dartmouth graduates six years after graduation is $82,541 per year. Notable employers of graduates include Google, McKinsey, Goldman Sachs, major medical centers, and government agencies.
Dartmouth’s alumni network spans over 85,000 living alumni in more than 90 countries. 164 members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are Dartmouth graduates, and many of them hold key positions in government, which is particularly valuable for students in political science and law.
The D-Plan system creates a strong career advantage even during studies: students use off-term periods for real internships and work in large companies, rather than looking for positions already after the diploma.
Dartmouth College was founded in 1769 and was the first university to accept Native American students as part of its founding mission. The university continues this tradition, with Native American Studies being one of its historically strong areas of focus.
Dartmouth is the first and only Ivy League university with a quarter system (D-Plan) instead of the traditional semester system, which provides unique flexibility in the academic calendar.
The Tuck School of Business only accepts graduate students and does not offer undergraduate programs, making it one of the most focused business schools in the world.
Dartmouth was the first Ivy League university to make the SAT/ACT mandatory again in 2024, arguing that the tests help identify strong students from low-income schools who are harder to assess based on their grades.
Notable alumni and faculty include Dr. Seuss author Theodore Geisel, poet Robert Frost, actress and screenwriter Mindy Kaling, creator of The Scandal series Shonda Rhimes, and former U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.
The campus in Hanover is surrounded by more than 150 miles of hiking trails, ski slopes, and natural parks, and Dartmouth regularly ranks highly for student quality of life on campus.
Applying to Dartmouth involves detailed work on every aspect of the application, from essays to interview preparation. At SelfStartGlobal, we help candidates:
If you want to apply to Dartmouth College with a strong application and maximum financial support, come for a free consultation. We will tell you how it works in your specific case.
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