Dartmouth College

Dartmouth College Supplemental Essay Outlines

Here is our suggested essay outlines for every prompt.

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Essay outlines

Every Dartmouth prompt, outlined

Required Essay

Academic and Community Fit

100 words

As you seek admission to Dartmouth’s Class of 2031, what aspects of the college’s academic program, community, and/or campus environment attract your interest? How is Dartmouth a good fit for you?

Paragraph 1: Academic Fit and Focus

  • Focus on a specific program, upper-level elective course, or professor to establish deep intellectual compatibility.
  • State your dream or academic aspiration directly in the first sentence.
  • You should connect your past trajectory with specific classes or resources at Dartmouth.
  • Avoid listing introductory classes, using general flattery, or referencing basic rankings.

Paragraph 2: Community and Environment Fit

  • Detail how you will engage with Dartmouth's unique culture, such as the D-Plan calendar, the Outing Club, or Sanborn Library tea.
  • Show how your past experiences fit into these spaces.
  • Do not name generic school features or repeat brochure-level language.
  • Conclude with a punchy sentence that shows your creative, human side.
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Required: Choose One (Environment/Introduction)

Quaker Saying (Environment)

250 words

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.

Paragraph 1: Early Environment Hook

Paragraph 2: The Core Upbringing Detail

Paragraph 3: Personal Action and Values

Paragraph 4: The Internal Shift and Reflection

Paragraph 5: Future Campus Contribution

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Oscar Wilde (Introduce Yourself)

250 words

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

Paragraph 1: The Unexpected Personal Hook

Paragraph 2: Intellectual Passion Outside Grades

Paragraph 3: Living Habits and Mutual Respect

Paragraph 4: Future Activities with Classmates

Paragraph 5: Sincere Sign-Off

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Required: Choose One (Diverse Perspectives)

What excites you?

250 words

What excites you?

Paragraph 1: The Active Discovery Hook

Paragraph 2: Practical Details and Action

Paragraph 3: Overcoming a Challenge or Setback

Paragraph 4: Core Personal Values and Connections

Paragraph 5: Future Growth and World Benefit

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Dolores Huerta (Impact)

250 words

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?

Paragraph 1: The Impact Spark Hook

Paragraph 2: The Local Challenge and Problem

Paragraph 3: Collaborative Action with Others

Paragraph 4: Measured Impact and Lessons

Paragraph 5: Future Campus Application

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Matt Haig (Reading Impact)

250 words

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?

Paragraph 1: The Book and Personal Connection

Paragraph 2: The Core Concept and Character Reflection

Paragraph 3: The Internal Shift in Outlook

Paragraph 4: Impact on Real-World Decisions

Paragraph 5: Future Application to Learning

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Jane Goodall (Dialogue)

250 words

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?

Paragraph 1: The Initial Collision

Paragraph 2: The Other Person's Fair Argument

Paragraph 3: The Moment of Self-Doubt

Paragraph 4: Deep Reflection and Learning

Paragraph 5: Direct Path to Campus Life

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Celebrate your nerdy side

250 words

Celebrate your nerdy side.

Paragraph 1: The Specific Spark

Paragraph 2: The Practical Details

Paragraph 3: The Internal Feeling

Paragraph 4: Connecting with the World

Paragraph 5: Campus Integration

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Kermit the Frog (Difference)

250 words

"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?

Paragraph 1: The Lived Experience

Paragraph 2: The Personal Challenge

Paragraph 3: Embracing Your Identity

Paragraph 4: Broadening Conversations

Paragraph 5: Classroom and Community Fit

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