Dartmouth essay prompts

In an Instagram post, best-selling British author Matt Haig cheered the impact of reading. [Full prompt text not captured — see official source URL for complete text.]

250 words max · Required

"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?

250 words max · Required

"Be yourself," Oscar Wilde advised. "Everyone else is taken." Introduce yourself.

250 words max · Required

As you seek admission to Dartmouth's Class of 2030, 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 max · Required

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.

250 words max · Required

Celebrate your nerdy side.

250 words max · Required

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?

250 words max · Required

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?

250 words max · Required

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.

250 words max · Required

Be yourself. Tell us about an aspect of your identity or a life experience that has shaped you.

250 words max · Required

As you seek admission to the Class of 2030, what academic areas, educational paths, or life experiences draw you to pursue your chosen field(s) of study at Dartmouth?

100 words max · Required

Dartmouth fosters a vibrant and inclusive community. Tell us about a community you belong to or a community that has shaped you. How has your experience within that community influenced your perspective?

250 words max · Required

Curiosity is a hallmark of the Dartmouth experience. Describe an academic experience—inside or outside the classroom—that sparked your curiosity. What did you learn from that experience, and how did it shape your approach to learning?

250 words max · Required

Option A: There is a Quaker saying: “Let your life speak.” Describe the environment in which you were raised—for example, your family, home, neighborhood, or community—and how it influenced the person you are today. Option B: “Be yourself,” Oscar Wilde advised, “everyone else is taken.” Introduce yourself.

250 words max · Required