Overview of Dartmouth's 2025–26 Supplemental Essays

For the 2025–26 admissions cycle, Dartmouth College applicants face a very concise but strategically demanding writing load. The supplement requires two distinct essays [1]. The first asks you to write a 250-word response to one of several unique choice prompts. The second is a rapid-fire, 100-word "Why Dartmouth" question. These are the specific prompts we will cover in this guide to help you maximize your limited word count and build a compelling narrative.

Prompt 1: The Choice Essay

"Please respond in 250 words or fewer:" (250 words)

What the prompt is really asking: Dartmouth provides several distinct prompt options under this 250-word umbrella. Our analysis shows that whether you choose the prompt about embracing your nerdy side, letting your life speak, or describing an intellectual passion, the underlying goal is identical: the admissions committee wants to see a core part of your identity that hasn't been fully explored in your main Common App essay. They are looking for intellectual curiosity, community impact, or the personal values that will shape how you contribute to campus life.

A strong approach:

• Play to your unspoken strengths: Select the specific option that lets you highlight an extracurricular achievement, unique hobby, or academic obsession that your application currently lacks.
• Focus on the "why": Don't just narrate a story. Spend the majority of your 250 words reflecting on how this experience shapes your worldview and influences your thinking.
• Showcase intellectual vitality: Dartmouth values students who love learning for its own sake. If you choose an academic or "nerdy" prompt, demonstrate genuine enthusiasm rather than trying to sound artificially sophisticated.

Most common mistakes:

• Repeating your main essay: Do not rehash the story from your Common App personal statement. This is valuable real estate to add a new dimension to your profile.
• Over-explaining the context: With only 250 words, you don't have time for a lengthy introduction. Jump right into the action or the core realization.
• Choosing a prompt based on what sounds "impressive": Pick the prompt that genuinely resonates with you. Forced answers read as inauthentic.

Prompt 2: Why Dartmouth

"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?" (100 words)

What the prompt is really asking: This is a hyper-condensed "Why Us" essay. In a mere 100 words, Dartmouth wants proof that you have researched their unique offerings and understand their institutional culture. They are asking you to connect your specific academic or personal interests directly to what is available in Hanover, proving that your desire to attend goes beyond general prestige.

A strong approach:

• Identify hyper-specific resources: Our analysis of successful essays shows that strong applicants pinpoint exact programs, institutes, or traditions. Naming the Political Economy Project, the Dartmouth Center for Social Impact, or a specific modified major proves deep, authentic interest.
• Mention the D-Plan: Dartmouth’s unique year-round academic calendar (the D-Plan) is a defining feature. If it enables you to pursue a specific internship, study abroad program, or research opportunity, mention how you will leverage that flexibility.
• Connect resources to your goals: Don't just list a class or club. State exactly why that specific resource is the missing puzzle piece for your future academic trajectory.

Most common mistakes:

• Wasting words on flattery: At 100 words, you have zero room for generic praise about Dartmouth's "beautiful campus in the woods" or "tight-knit community." Cut the fluff completely.
• Name-dropping without connection: Listing three professors or five clubs without explaining how they relate to your specific interests reads like a brochure, not an essay.
• Vague academic interests: Saying you want to "explore the liberal arts" is too broad. Be highly specific about the intersection of disciplines you want to study.

Next Steps for Your Application

• Brainstorm your "missing pieces": Review your Common App essay and extracurricular list. Identify what core trait or passion hasn't been highlighted yet, and use the 250-word choice prompt to showcase it.
• Audit your 100-word essay: Read your "Why Dartmouth" response out loud. If you can swap the word "Dartmouth" with any other liberal arts college and the essay still makes sense, you need to rewrite it with more specific details.
• Revise for extreme economy: A 100-word limit leaves no room for filler. Delete adverbs, combine sentences, and ensure every single word earns its place on the page.