This multi-day program for rising high school seniors takes place in July and offers students insight into the application process and a preview of college life. The 2021 Dartmouth Bound Program will be held virtually and is free for participating students.
We are no longer accepting applications for the 2021 Dartmouth Bound Program.
Dartmouth Bound takes place in July and is designed to provide high school seniors from historically underrepresented backgrounds and communities with an opportunity to preview college. Participants will attend workshops on the admissions and financial aid processes and interact with our faculty. Also, there will be ample time to enjoy meaningful conversations with current students and staff on how to weave academics, social engagement, and leadership into your college experience.
Program Highlights
Admissions officers will walk you through our individualized review process and provide tips for completing college applications. You will have the chance to review real applications to the College as part of a mock admissions committee exercise. Admissions officers will be available to you throughout the program to address individuals' questions about the college application process.
You will attend sessions led by our featured faculty members. These offer a chance for you to hear a faculty member speak about how his or her work contributes to the themes of academics, social engagement, and leadership. Additionally, faculty will show the relevance of undergraduate classes and research to the great issues facing us in the world today.
You'll have the opportunity to take a live virtual tour of the campus, led by currently enrolled students, which will help you gain a general orientation of the Dartmouth campus and facilities, as well as specific areas of interest.
Need-based financial aid makes a Dartmouth education affordable for students. Our financial aid officers will provide an overview of the financial aid application process and address how special circumstances are taken into consideration. Admissions and financial aid staff will help you decipher the vocabulary of "full need," "Early Decision," "Regular Decision" and other terms that will empower you to make a smart financial choice while navigating the college process.
Throughout your engagement with the Dartmouth Bound Program, you will connect with current Dartmouth students who will tell you about their college experience and provide answers to your questions about what campus life is really like.
Hear from past participants about their experiences with Dartmouth Bound:
Dartmouth Bound was, and I am not joking, the best few days of my life. After my experience I'd always jokingly tell my mother that if I didn't get accepted into Dartmouth I wouldn't attend college...it seems to have worked out! My favorite thing about Bound is that it was just another way for me to foster community at Dartmouth. The other participants I met were from all across the world and that was my first time getting to know more about other US states and even other countries. It is also awesome to now be a student and having maintained friendships with those who I met while at Bound. Not to mention, the professors I met were awesome and it was very clear that they too were very genuine. There was a genuine care for one another that I felt while participating in Dartmouth Bound, but there was also the genuine care for academics present. I loved that there was a perfect balance and from that point forward, I knew these were the types of people I wanted to spend four years of my life with. Here I am two almost three years years in and Dartmouth Bound made me feel a comfort I still feel today! —Amanda '22
It didn't matter that I didn't get to feel the Hanover breeze, but what did matter was that even through this nightmare of a pandemic, I was still able to feel the love and community that Dartmouth beautifully creates through my Zoom screen. Through Dartmouth Bound, I built a community full of thoughtful and talented individuals, who in the short time that I knew them, became my "quarantine best friends." This program allowed for me to get a true taste of the Dartmouth spirit, and gave me the amazing opportunity to attend compelling class sessions, tour Dartmouth virtually (WHICH WAS THE COOLEST THING EVER!!!), and regroup with our designated Dartmouth Bound Leaders for some honest and open Q&A sessions and debriefs. Honestly speaking, after Dartmouth Bound, I never felt more sure that Dartmouth had to be my next home. — Anell '25
Dartmouth Bound was truly an incredible experience for me in exploring colleges and eventually choosing to apply to Dartmouth. As a rising senior in the middle of the college application process, I was so glad I got the chance to dive into the Dartmouth experience and feel the welcoming community of Hanover. Even in a virtual environment, I was able to connect with my Dartmouth Bound Leaders and others students just like me. I especially loved the opportunity to participate in a mock class, led by a Dartmouth professor, and actually get to experience firsthand what classes are like at Dartmouth. I got to hear about all that Dartmouth had to offer from the perspective of real Dartmouth students and really see how important community is at Dartmouth and for me. I would be lying if I said that Dartmouth Bound did not prompt me to apply, and ultimately choose Dartmouth as my home for the next four years! — Emil '25