Dartmouth / Interview
The Dartmouth interview
Optional interview, and it carries minor weight in the decision. Here is how it works and how to prepare.
Optional interview
Optional alumni interview, ~45-60 min, typically virtual or in your local area; conducted by Dartmouth Alumni Council volunteers
How to prepare for Dartmouth
- Dartmouth alumni interviewers often probe for genuine enthusiasm about the College's specific culture , the D-Plan, off-terms, and tight-knit residential community , so know what actually draws you there, not just the prestige.
- The interview is evaluative in tone but informational in weight; treat it as a conversation, not a test. Alumni report the best interviews feel mutual , come with real questions about their Dartmouth experience.
- Avoid vague answers about 'wanting a liberal arts education.' Dartmouth interviewers push back on generic responses , connect your interests to specific programs, Tuck, Thayer, DALI Lab, or undergraduate research.
- Not everyone is offered an interview; availability depends on alumni capacity in your area. If you do not receive one, it does not hurt your application.
Practice before the real thing
Rehearse real admissions-interview questions and get an honest read on your answers, what an interviewer hears, where you sound generic, and what to sharpen. We coach you; we never script you.
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