Dickinson College is a highly selective private liberal arts college that accepts less than half of all applicants. Students who get in typically have SAT/ACT scores and high school grades that are well above average (note that Dickinson does not require SAT or ACT scores, but the college does recommend them). In the graph above, the blue and green dots represent accepted students. The data show that the majority of successful applicants had high school grades of "A-" or better, combined SAT scores of 1800 or higher, and ACT composite scores of 27 or better. Your chances are best if you have a solid "A" average and an SAT score of 2000 or better.
But an acceptance letter is never guaranteed at Dickinson. You'll notice quite a few red dots (rejected students) and yellow dots (waitlisted students) mixed in with the green and blue throughout the graph. Quite a few students with grades and test scores that were on target for Dickinson did not get in. At the same time, note that a few students were accepted with test scores and grades that were a bit below the norm. This is because Dickinson's admissions process is about more than numbers. The college uses the Common Application and has holistic admissions. The admissions folks will want to see that you have taken rigorous high school courses, not courses that get you an easy "A." Also, they will be looking for a winning essay, interesting extracurricular activities, an engaging short answer, and strong letters of recommendation. Other factors include the Dickinson supplemental essay, your demonstrated interest, and for some students, music auditions and art portfolios.
To learn more about Dickinson College, high school GPAs, SAT scores and ACT scores, these articles can help:
- Dickinson College Admissions Profile
- What's a Good SAT Score?
- What's a Good ACT Score?
- What's Considered a Good Academic Record?
- What is a Weighted GPA?
- Articles Featuring Dickinson College:
