Is Emory or Dartmouth harder to get into for a typical high-achieving applicant?

Dartmouth is typically harder to get into than Emory for a high-achieving applicant with strong grades, rigorous coursework, and solid activities. Its admissions process also places substantial weight on distinctive personal qualities, intellectual vitality, and the contribution a student may make to its close-knit residential community.

At Dartmouth, excellent grades and demanding courses are closer to a starting point than a differentiator. An applicant often needs a particularly compelling combination of academic interests, sustained involvement, recommendations, writing, and personal fit to stand out among peers with similarly strong records.

Emory is also highly selective and should not be treated as a likely admission for a strong applicant. It evaluates applicants holistically and values academic preparation, curiosity, leadership, service, and a clear sense of how a student would engage with the university.

For application planning, Dartmouth belongs firmly in the reach category even for an outstanding senior. Emory may also be a reach depending on the applicant’s academic context and program of interest.