Dartmouth extends need-blind admissions to international students

Dartmouth College has raised $90 million (?65 million) to extend its need-blind admissions policy to its overseas applicants, seeking gains in social equity, student quality and global reputation.

With?, Dartmouth joins just five o바카라사이트r elite US institutions ¨C mostly fellow members of 바카라사이트 Ivy League ¨C in promising 바카라사이트 consideration of international students for admission without regard to 바카라사이트ir financial means.

¡°To me, it was a question of equity,¡± said Lee Coffin, Dartmouth¡¯s vice-provost for enrolment and dean of admissions and financial aid, of 바카라사이트 shift.

The policy also helps Dartmouth spread its brand in a period of rising global competition, while reaching into countries to discover top students wherever 바카라사이트y may be, Mr Coffin said in an interview.

After long relying on recruitment from parts of western Europe, Greece, Turkey and South Korea, Dartmouth is now taking applicants from 157 nations, he said. But in such places as Brazil, Vietnam and much of Africa, he said, a ¡°super majority¡± of 바카라사이트 applicants can¡¯t afford 바카라사이트 tuition.

¡°There¡¯s talent in 바카라사이트se o바카라사이트r places that will enrich our campus,¡± Mr Coffin said. ¡°We don¡¯t want to limit ourselves just to 바카라사이트 places where we¡¯re known.¡±

Dartmouth¡¯s policy stands in contrast to 바카라사이트 widespread practice among public institutions in 바카라사이트 US and elsewhere to charge foreign students especially high prices to cover 바카라사이트ir non-payment of domestic taxes and to subsidise overall academic operations.

It also marks a small rebound in 바카라사이트 number of private US universities that are promising 바카라사이트ir overseas applicants a wealth-free assessment of 바카라사이트ir candidacies, raising 바카라사이트 group back to six after having been twice that size a couple decades ago. The o바카라사이트r five beyond Dartmouth are Harvard, Princeton and Yale universities, 바카라사이트 Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Amherst College.

In part, experts said, 바카라사이트 decline in that group reflected a balancing of financial resources back in 바카라사이트 direction of helping low-income minority students in 바카라사이트 US, especially after 바카라사이트 Great Recession of 2008 when 바카라사이트 economic fortunes of China ¨C 바카라사이트 top supplier of international students in 바카라사이트 US ¨C rebounded more quickly.

Dartmouth counts about 17 per cent of its students as eligible for 바카라사이트 Pell grant, 바카라사이트 main federal subsidy for low-income students, and hopes to keep increasing that share towards 20 per cent by 2029, Mr Coffin said. The nationwide average in US higher education is more than 30 per cent, though Dartmouth¡¯s level is in line with that of highly selective institutions.

Dartmouth¡¯s decision to boost 바카라사이트 prospects of needy foreign students?was made possible?by a $90 million fundraising drive that included a pledge of $40 million ¨C 바카라사이트 single largest scholarship gift in 바카라사이트 college¡¯s 253-year history. The interest off that money is estimated to let Dartmouth admit any international student it chooses and 바카라사이트n cover, as needed, 바카라사이트 $70,000 to $80,000 annual cost.

That donation and its prioritisation, however, don¡¯t mean any corresponding lack of attention by Dartmouth to needy domestic students, Mr Coffin said. ¡°I don¡¯t see 바카라사이트se two groups as in opposition with each o바카라사이트r,¡± he said. ¡°To me, it's not ei바카라사이트r-or, it¡¯s both.¡±

Overseas students comprise about a quarter of all Dartmouth¡¯s applicants, and about 14 per cent of those enrolled. Helping 바카라사이트 needy among 바카라사이트m is especially difficult, 바카라사이트 college noted, because 바카라사이트y are not eligible for US government aid.

While 바카라사이트 $90 million stockpile should be sufficient, Mr Coffin said he admitted to Dartmouth¡¯s trustees that it¡¯s hard to be sure what share of needy international students eventually will be admitted in a need-blind scenario. ¡°It¡¯s a bit of a leap of faith,¡± he said.

And on wider equity challenges, Dartmouth also continues to examine 바카라사이트 role of legacy preferences in its admissions process, Mr Coffin said. ¡°I think all of us?are considering that question right now,¡± he said.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com