How a Toothpaste Ingredient Opened the Door to Dartmouth for Shelby

Most students think college applications are about checking every box: grades, test scores, activities. Shelby Feikes proves otherwise. What set her apart was a self-driven research project sparked by a personal question: why did her dad’s illness have no cure? By following that curiosity, she built a story that tied her essays, activities, and supplements together into one coherent narrative. The kind admissions officers remember. If you’re wondering how to turn your own interests into a compelling application, Shelby’s path to Dartmouth shows exactly how powerful focus and originality can be.