Applications to the Guarini Institute's off-campus programs are open to all Dartmouth undergraduates who:
Acceptance. Acceptance to an off-campus program is based on fully completing the program application. No applicants are guaranteed acceptance.
Apply to Multiple Programs! Due to varying enrollment limits and the competitiveness of certain programs, applicants are encouraged to apply for more than one program even if it is during the same term. Applying to multiple programs will not affect your chances of acceptance since Faculty Directors only review applications for their own program. However, if you are accepted to two programs within the same term, you may only commit to one program per term.
Application Open Date. Applications for off-campus programs in the following academic year open on October 1st and close on February 1st
Check out the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page to answer your basic questions and if you don't find an answer, contact Guarini.Institute@Dartmouth.edu
Use the Guarini Institute's program keyword and filters search feature to find and select a program page. Each program has a web page with general program information, as well as academic and financial information.
If a recommendation is required (only for a select few programs--see below--and indicated in the application), ask well before the application deadline
When you are ready to apply for a program, click the "APPLY TO THIS PROGRAM" button in the left column of a program's page. You will be redirected to the Guarini Institute's application software which may require you to login with your NetID. Once you are in the application software, select an available term and click 'Apply'.
The Application Deadline is the final day on which students can submit an application to a program. Once the application deadline has passed, all applications will be locked. Applicants will only be allowed to view the application and will receive a message indicating that the deadline has passed and their application is under review.
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1. In the Guarini Institute's application software, you can access your applications by going to your Applicant Home via the left-hand sidebar.
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2. Once in your Applicant Home, you will see a list of the program(s) you have chosen to apply to, along with an indicator of your progress on the application(s). Clicking on a program will take you to its Program Application Page.
3. In the corresponding Program Application Page, you will find the materials that must be completed before the application deadline such as
A) application questionnaires (Here is an example of questions you may find on the application),
B) signature documents (consent forms),
C) academic transcript (unofficial transcripts are okay)
D) passport upload (important note: you do not need to have a passport to apply. If you do not have a passport, indicate this in the form. Your chances of acceptance will not be affected by not having a passport. Upon your commitment to a program you will be asked to upload passport information again.), and
E) recommendations if applicable (see the list of programs that require recommendations below). More information about recommendations can be found in the "Pre-" and "Post-Decision Phase Instructions" in the program application. Students accepted to these exchange programs will be responsible for providing the exchange partner with any materials they require in order to be eligible for admission by their deadlines.
1. Prior to requesting an online recommendation, undergraduate students must contact each potential recommender directly to ask if they are willing to serve as recommenders. Recommendations cannot come from anyone with a "student" status and should not be the faculty director of the program.
2. After receiving approval from the faculty member(s), students will need to identify their recommenders in the application system.
3. Each recommender will then receive an e-mail message requesting that a recommendation be completed on the student's behalf along with information about how to complete the recommendation online.
4. For faculty-directed programs, The Guarini Institute will then send the recommendations to the program's university partner on your behalf.
Who knows you well in the academic setting, regardless of their title?
The most important recommender you can ask is someone who knows you well and can speak to your character, attributes, and abilities in a positive light. Think about the audience of the letter--the faculty director and institution. What are their values in applicants for the program? What do they want to see most in their group cohort? It may help to speak with the faculty director to find out.
The professional title and accolades the recommender has don't matter as much as hearing from someone who knows you. Teachers' assistants are fabulous recommenders as well since they spend the most time with you. And it's even better if the recommender has several years of experience as well; their statements can carry more weight.
Do remember that the recommendation should still be academically focused. If you're unsure of where you stand with a recommender, ask and tell them you appreciate their honesty. It's hard to hear but it's better to weed out any recommenders that won't write a glowing recommendation for you.
Who will be most reliable and actually take the time to write a recommendation?
If you're trying to pick between your high school Spanish teacher whom you worked with for many years or the Senator you worked under for a summer internship, both may be valuable but think about what you're applying for when selecting the right person. That said, you also want to choose someone who not only is a good writer but will take the time to write you a good recommendation. That Senator may be a better fit for your program, but they may not have the time to write one for you, whereas the Spanish teacher might. One letter is better than no letter at all.
Other Considerations
Some additional considerations are to find someone who can write a letter to complement your application and provide a variety of information that shows how well-rounded you are and how much experience you have in the area you're applying to.
When all of the application elements are checked, your application is considered complete and will be listed as "Pending" until the decision date.
If an applicant has not completed all requirements, the application will be tagged incomplete and will not be considered.
In some cases, an application reviewer may request an interview with a student in order to make a determination. Interviews are either conducted on campus or via web conference. All interviews are scheduled and completed prior to the decision date.
The decision date is when applicants will be permitted to learn if they have been accepted, waitlisted, or not accepted. On the decision date, all applicants will be notified via email that their application status changed and to access the application site for decision results. Decision dates are normally about a month after the application deadline.
Accepted: Congratulations! Accepted applicants will receive an email and log in to the Guarini Institute Application System to confirm their acceptance status. After confirming their accepted status, applicants must choose whether or not to commit to the program by the commitment deadline stated in the email. Once accepted students confirm their status, they move to the committed stage or withdraw their application from consideration.
Not Accepted: A status of 'Not Accepted' means that the application was not accepted. The applicant is notified of the decision once the decision date is reached.
Pending: Most new applications automatically begin in the 'Pending' status. Applications remain in the pending status until an admin changes the status and the decision date is reached.
Waitlisted: Applicants will receive an email if they are waitlisted for a program. Since waitlisted students are preliminarily accepted, it is expected that all waitlisted applicants be ready to participate in the program in the event that a space becomes available; students on the waitlist who have completed all the participation requirements will be accepted into the program. Keep in mind that this happens in some cases on very short notice and that it is impossible for the Guarini Institute to predict whether a waitlisted applicant will be accepted into a program as waitlist rankings are not available.
Beyond completing the materials, no action is necessary to remain on a program's waitlist. There is no financial commitment, and applicants may remain on the waitlist for as long as they wish or withdraw from the waitlist at any time without penalty