How likely is it to get an interview with Dartmouth?

Dartmouth offers alumni interviews to as many applicants as possible, but it's not guaranteed for everyone. The likelihood of getting an interview is strongly tied to geographic location—specifically, the number of available alumni volunteers in your area. Applicants who live in or near cities, or in communities where Dartmouth alumni are plentiful, tend to have a higher chance of being offered an interview. Since you’re in a suburb outside a major city, you’re actually in a good spot and will have a decent likelihood of getting invited for an alumni interview.

Nationwide, most years Dartmouth is able to offer interviews to a large portion of applicants, but not all. According to prior data, usually about 75-85% of applicants are offered an interview. The process isn’t competitive or ‘selective’—it's more logistical. If there’s an alum nearby who’s available, you get invited. If not, they simply can’t pair you. For example, a student in New York City almost always gets offered an interview, while someone in a rural area without any Dartmouth alumni might not.

Not receiving an interview won’t hurt your application at all. Dartmouth explicitly says that interviews are not required, and not being offered one will not put you at a disadvantage in the process. The admissions office is well aware that many students can only be interviewed if there’s an available alum nearby. If you are offered one, however, it's a great chance to show your interest in Dartmouth and share more about yourself—so take it if it’s available!

Several recent applicants have shared that after submitting their applications, they received an email from a Dartmouth alumnus reaching out. Sometimes it can take a few weeks after applying, depending on volunteer schedules and applicant volume. If you don’t hear anything, that’s normal too—don’t worry.