Does Dartmouth Have Early Action? Requirements + Tips

Does Dartmouth have Early Action? No, it only offers Early Decision. This means you can apply early, but you must commit if accepted. Knowing the difference is important because your chosen application plan affects your chances of admission and when you’ll get your results.

In this blog, you’ll learn why Dartmouth does not have Early Action and instead uses Early Decision, how acceptance rates differ between the early and regular rounds, what requirements you’ll need to meet, and tips for deciding whether applying early is right for you.

• Dartmouth Does Not Have Early Action, Only Early Decision
• Dartmouth Early Decision Acceptance Rate
• Dartmouth Regular Decision Acceptance Rate
• Should You Apply Early Decision at Dartmouth?
• Dartmouth Admission Requirements
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

Dartmouth Does Not Have Early Action, Only Early Decision

First things first: Dartmouth College does not have an Early Action (EA) option. Instead, it offers Early Decision (ED), where you apply by November 1 and receive your decision in mid-December.

When you apply ED, you’re making a binding commitment. If Dartmouth accepts you, you have to attend. While you can still apply early to other colleges with non-binding programs, you must withdraw those applications once you’re accepted to Dartmouth.

This is why ED works best for students who already know Dartmouth is their top choice and are ready to commit. Choosing this path shows admissions that you’re serious about attending.

Students who apply ED often see a slightly higher acceptance rate than Regular Decision (RD), though most of the class is admitted in the regular round. If you’re prepared by November, ED lets you receive an answer months earlier than your peers.

You’ll also need to submit the Early Decision Agreement in the Common App. This form confirms that you understand the binding rules of ED. Without it, your application won’t be considered complete.

It’s also important to understand how financial aid works with Early Decision. Dartmouth guarantees to meet 100% of the demonstrated financial need for all admitted students. If you’re admitted through ED, you’ll also receive an estimated financial aid package with your acceptance.

If the award isn’t enough, families can reach out to the Financial Aid Office to review the offer. When an agreement can’t be reached, Dartmouth will release you from the Early Decision commitment.

Here’s the Early Decision timeline you’ll need to follow if you’re applying to Dartmouth:

Make sure to mark these dates on your calendar to stay on track and not miss a deadline.

Dartmouth Early Decision Acceptance Rate

For the Class of 2028, Dartmouth’s Early Decision acceptance rate was 17.1%. Out of 3,550 students, 606 were admitted. Here’s how ED rates have compared in recent years:

Dartmouth hasn’t released acceptance data yet for the Class of 2029. The college announced it would withhold numbers “during the active admissions cycle,” a policy also adopted by several peer schools to “de-emphasize the stress of Ivy League selectivity.”

However, as the table shows, Dartmouth’s Early Decision acceptance rate has declined in recent years. For the Class of 2024, it was 26.4%, but by the Class of 2028, it had dropped to 17.1%. This decline reflects the rise in applications and tougher competition for limited spots.

Even with this dip, applying Early Decision still gives you an advantage over Regular Decision, which we’ll explore next. If Dartmouth is your top choice, then the ED path is worth considering.

Dartmouth Regular Decision Acceptance Rate

If you’re not ready to commit through Early Decision, you can always apply Regular Decision (RD). Just know that the odds are much lower in this round.

For the Class of 2028, Dartmouth’s Regular Decision acceptance rate was a record-low 3.8%. That means only 1,005 were accepted out of more than 28,000 applicants. In short, RD is highly competitive.

Here’s a breakdown of Dartmouth’s Regular Decision acceptance rates over the past few years:

Now, Regular Decision follows a later timeline. The application deadline is January 2, and decisions come out in late March or early April. This gives you more time to prepare your materials, retake standardized tests, or add to your extracurricular record. It also allows you to compare offers from other schools before making a final choice.

If Dartmouth is one of several schools on your list, Regular Decision can be a good option. Just remember the acceptance rate is much lower, and you’ll be compared to a larger, more diverse group of applicants. Every part of your application, including your grades and essays, needs to stand out.

Should You Apply Early Decision at Dartmouth?

Choosing Early Decision at Dartmouth comes down to how sure you are about the school. If Dartmouth is where you want to spend the next four years and you know you’d attend if admitted, ED can be the right move.

One of the clearest advantages is the higher acceptance rate and earlier results. For the Class of 2028, the Early Decision acceptance rate was 17.1%, compared to just 3.8% in Regular Decision. That gap shows how much stronger your chances can be when you apply early.

However, you also need to think carefully about how you’ll pay for college. Applying ED means you won’t be able to compare aid offers from different schools. While Dartmouth does meet 100% of demonstrated need, your family should be confident that the offer would work. If finances are a major concern, Regular Decision may be a safer option.

Timing matters too. Some students are ready by November with strong grades, test scores, and activities, while others expect to strengthen their record later in senior year. If you think your profile will improve, Regular Decision gives you more time to prepare. But if your application is already solid, ED allows you to receive a decision months earlier.

Again, because Early Decision is binding, you should only apply this way if Dartmouth is your number-one choice. If you still want time to research colleges or weigh your options, Regular Decision might make more sense for you.

Dartmouth Admission Requirements

Now that we know that Dartmouth does not have Early Action, your options are Early Decision or Regular Decision. Before you start your application, it helps to understand what Dartmouth actually looks for in its students. Like other Ivy League schools, Dartmouth reviews applications carefully to find students who’ll bring something unique to the campus.

The admissions team uses a holistic review process, which means they don’t just add up your grades and test scores. They look at the whole picture, including your experiences, personal qualities, and perspective, to see how you might contribute to the Dartmouth community.

Application options

Dartmouth accepts the Common Application (it phased out the Coalition App back in 2019). You can track your application through the Common App, see which materials have been received, and make updates as needed. If you’re a QuestBridge finalist, you also have the option to apply using the QuestBridge Application.

To get started, create an account on the Common App website and add Dartmouth to the “My Colleges” list. The application opens each year on August 1.

Application fee or fee waiver

Applying to Dartmouth isn’t free. The first-year application fee is $85, and you’ll pay it through the Common App when you submit your application. Payment is done online by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express) or by electronic check. Just keep in mind that personal checks and money orders aren’t accepted, and the fee is non-refundable.

If the fee feels like too much of a stretch for your family, don’t worry! You can request a fee waiver right in the Common App. Dartmouth makes it clear that asking for a waiver won’t hurt your chances of admission. If paying the fee would cause financial hardship, take advantage of this option so cost doesn’t get in the way of applying.

Dartmouth writing supplement

In addition to the Common App essay, Dartmouth requires a short writing supplement. These Dartmouth-specific essays are your chance to go beyond grades and test scores and show the admissions committee who you are, what you care about, and why Dartmouth feels like the right fit. Think of them as the part of your application where your personality gets to shine.

For students applying to the Class of 2030, here’s what you need to answer:

1. Required of all applicants. Please respond in 100 words or fewer:

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?

2. Required of all applicants, please respond to one of the following prompts in 250 words or fewer:

• 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.

3. Required of all applicants, please respond to one of the following prompts in 250 words or fewer:

• What excites you?
• 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?
• 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?
• 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?
• Celebrate your nerdy side.
• “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?
• 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.

Here are some tips for answering these questions:

• Be yourself. Admissions officers want to hear your authentic voice. Write honestly about your experiences instead of trying to sound like the “perfect applicant.”
• Show, don’t tell. Back up your points with anecdotes, examples, or details to make your answers more vivid and memorable.
• Make every word count. You only have limited space per answer, so get to the point. Every sentence should add value or provide extra context to your answer.
• Be specific. Mention Dartmouth programs or opportunities that genuinely excite you and explain why. If your answers can apply to any school, it’s probably too generic.
• Add something new. Your essays aren’t meant to be a rehash of your resume. Use the essays to share something unique about your personality, background, or interests.

Struggling with your Dartmouth essays? Our essay editing program can help you craft authentic, compelling responses that stand out to admissions.

Secondary School Report

As part of your application, Dartmouth requires a Secondary School Report. This form is completed by your school counselor and gives the admissions office an overview of your academic record.

Along with it, your counselor will also send a recommendation letter, your high school transcript, and a school profile if your school provides one. These pieces together give Dartmouth important context about your achievements and the environment where you’ve studied.

Recommendation letters

Dartmouth requires three recommendations for first-year applicants and strongly encourages a fourth:

• Counselor evaluation (required). This should be written by your school counselor (or another school official) and cover your academic performance, extracurriculars, and personal character. This evaluation is included in your Secondary School Report.
• Two teacher evaluations (required). This should be written by instructors from your academic courses. These letters address your performance in class, engagement with the subject, interactions with classmates, and character.
• Peer recommendation (strongly encouraged). This should be written by someone you consider a peer, such as a classmate, teammate, sibling, cousin, co-worker, or camp friend. It should not come from anyone in a supervisory role.

You may also submit optional additional recommendations:

• Arts instructor. If you’re submitting an art supplement, you can invite your instructor to write a recommendation through the Common App or your applicant portal.
• Other recommendation. You may also submit an additional letter through the “Other Recommender” section of the Common App or via your applicant portal.

SAT or ACT

Dartmouth is no longer test-optional starting with the Class of 2029, which means you must submit SAT or ACT scores as part of your application.

You can self-report your scores when you apply, and Dartmouth will review them. But if you’re admitted, you’ll need to send official scores before you enroll. The fastest way is to have the testing agency send them directly to Dartmouth, but your school counselor can also include them with your transcript.

Dartmouth uses superscoring, which can work to your advantage. For the SAT, they’ll take your highest section scores across different test dates. For the ACT, they’ll also combine your best section scores, but note that the science and writing sections aren’t included in the superscore.

Here’s a quick look at the average SAT and ACT scores for admitted Dartmouth students:

To make your application as competitive as possible, aim for scores above the 75th percentile—around a 1560 on the SAT or a 35 on the ACT.

But remember, Dartmouth reviews applications holistically. Strong test scores can improve your chances, but they’re only one part of the process. What matters most is how your academics, activities, essays, and recommendations come together to show who you are and how you might contribute as a Dartmouth student.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does Dartmouth have an Early Action plan?

No, Dartmouth does not have an Early Action plan. The college only offers Early Decision, which is a binding option for students who know Dartmouth is their first choice. If you want more flexibility, you’ll need to apply through Regular Decision.

2. When is the Dartmouth Early Decision deadline?

Dartmouth’s Early Decision deadline is November 1. Your college application, including essays and required documents, must be submitted by this date. Meeting the deadline means you’ll receive your admission results in December.

3. When is the Dartmouth Early Decision date?

Dartmouth’s Early Decision date is usually in mid-December. This is when applicants find out if they’re admitted, denied, or deferred to the Regular Decision pool. If admitted, you’re expected to enroll at Dartmouth and withdraw your other applications.

Takeaways

• Dartmouth does not have Early Action. The only early option available is binding Early Decision.
• The Early Decision deadline is November 1, and applicants receive their admission results in mid-December.
• Applying through Early Decision can increase your chances of admission, but you should only choose this route if you are fully committed to attending Dartmouth.
• Dartmouth’s admissions process is highly selective, and the committee carefully reviews your grades, essays, recommendations, and extracurricular activities.
• Planning to apply to Dartmouth? Work with an admissions expert who can give you one-on-one guidance and help make your application stand out.