Clubs

The statistics for the incoming class of 2007 are overwhelming: applications were up 16 percent for a total of 11,850 applicants; SAT score averages increased to 1,442 points; and students who chose Dartmouth once accepted increased by 2 percent.

Recently President Jim Wright stated that the best way for clubs to help the College is to continue to send excellent applicants. But how do clubs attract the best candidates and once they do, how do they manage the interview and recruiting process? We spoke to a few cuttingedge clubs around the country to give us their secret formula.

The Heart of America Club located in Kansas City, Missouri, had a record rate of both acceptances and matriculants this year—well above the Colleges average.

"For a small club such as ours, having a 72 percent ratio of matriculants is no small feat," says club president Mike Hufft '72. "It takes a lot of insight to be able to target the students who are the right fit with the College, and the dedication to then recruit them to apply and finally to accept. The credit goes to Amy Shortridge '93 and David Burke '89, who have done an outstanding job of recruiting and interviewing."

District enrollment director Amy Shortridge attributes this to "the local Dartmouth alumni who are very enthusiastic, speak at local college nights, interview applicants and organize functions catered to recruiting local talented students." Andrea Lordan '86 of the Dartmouth Club of Greater Boston also attributes their success to "enthusiastic, young alums who have time during grad school breaks and a great perspective having recently graduated."

The Dartmouth Club of the Midwest began the tradition of T-shirt drop-offs to accepted area high school students in 1998. Alums meet each year at a downtown pub to socialize and then apportion the accepted students, taking a gift bag containing a Dartmouth T-shirt purchased from Traditionally Trendy in downtown Hanover (Dartmouth Co-op also provides significant discounts to clubs). Participating alumni then drive to their assigned students' homes with the mission of congratulating the accepted and encouraging each of them to attend the College. In cases where students aren't at home, the visiting alums often speak to parents and answer some of their most pressing questions about Dartmouth.

"This is a great way for our alumni members to get together. It also demonstrates to newly accepted students and their parents that Dartmouth is different from other colleges and universities," says Rob Albright '89, Midwest club president. "Plus, it's just a lot of fun!" The T-shirt drop-off tradition was pioneered by former president Jim McFarland '86 and is now being emulated by clubs across the country. McFarland noted: "The clubs ratio of students accepted to those who matriculated went from 60 percent to 97 percent in just the first year!" It's been such a successful concept that they now hand out T-shirts with their annual book awards to high school juniors, with the idea that a top student promoting Dartmouth throughout their school for a year is worth quite a lot of marketing value.

Special thanks and congratulations go to Dennis Ryan '8l, Club Notes editor our first two years. Dennis, you have left big shoes to fill. Congratulations in your new role as VP!

Club officers: Don't forget to complete your annual report by September 15 (www. dartmouth.org/about/clubs/undergrad/officers/ annual_report.html).

dartmouth.org/about/clubs/undergrad/officers/annual_report.html

Moving? Going somewhere on business? Take a look at the Web sites of clubs across the world (www.dartmouth.org/about/clubs).

If you have any comments about the Club Notes section or would like to share news about your club or its members, please contact me.

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