Dreaming of Ivy League Admission?

Dreaming of Ivy League admission? Curious about what it takes? Our recommendations won’t leave you wondering – or wandering through endless, sometimes confusing advice.

P.S. This post is helpful for admission to any college, so keep reading!

Academics

First and foremost is your academic record, the most important factor in college admissions. The Ivies expect strong academic results throughout your entire high school career – think mostly A’s. The course level you select also matters. They also expect you to challenge yourself in honors and AP (or equivalent) classes and take classes in the academic core all four years. This means enrolling in English, math, science, social science, and world language courses every high school year. Yes, four years of another language is strongly recommended (hint: that means required!). 

Successful Ivy League applicants exceed the minimum diploma credit requirements and seek academic opportunities beyond what their high schools offer, such as finding challenging classes at local colleges or online institutions. Your keen interest in intellectual pursuits should be immediately evident from a quick review of your transcript.

After a brief foray into the test-optional world, in part due to pandemic restrictions, elite colleges are returning to their standardized testing requirements for admission. Competitive scores will fall in the highest percentile (1500+ for the SAT or 34+ for the ACT). Don’t forget AP exams, another area to shine. Even SAT/ACT “test-free” schools like the University of California will consider those results. Aim for scores of 4 or 5, and be sure to self-report these on your application!

Extracurriculars

You’ve likely heard that it’s important to “get involved” as a high school student, and, indeed, opportunities for engagement abound, both in school and in local communities. But what are the best ways to develop your extracurricular interests? Join every club your school offers? Volunteer for every park clean-up? While these might be nice ways to meet new friends and accrue community service hours, applicants considering highly selective colleges are making more focused, deliberate choices when it comes to activities. 

What do they look like? Taking on leadership positions in school clubs, creating an organization to better your community, finding research opportunities in your intended major field, or competing in academic challenges to earn national recognition. You’ll want to think in terms of depth, not breadth, choosing involvement reflecting your academic and personal commitments.

Essays

Essays written for colleges will allow you to share information not found elsewhere in your applications, as well as let you further elucidate your intellectual and extracurricular interests in your unique voice. Ivies, peer colleges, and others, often require multiple essays: the personal essay shared with all schools (telling a story from your life), and those supplemental prompts specific to each institution. Your responses are crucial to prompts that invite you to describe why that particular school is a good fit or why you wish to study a certain major. Through these essays, students must demonstrate that they’ve done their research that reveals that they have a good understanding of what makes that university a great match. 

Responses to a Why This College? prompt must go beyond superficialities (“stunning campus” or “respected faculty” or “great study abroad opportunities”). Applicants must be thoughtful in crafting these essays, typically by taking the time to tour a college either in-person or virtually, and spending time getting to know the school through its website, social media presence, and other sources. In fact, admissions officers from these universities note that these supplemental essays may carry more weight than personal essays, as they allow students to prove that they are a good fit and will become contributing members of those institutions.

Letters of Recommendation

Rounding out our list are the “unsung heroes” of the college application: your teacher (and counselor) letters of recommendation. Why are these so critical when applying to highly selective universities? They allow schools to envision the type of student you are in the classroom, going beyond your capabilities to handle the subject matter. Colleges can glean important information, like your ability to collaborate and your positive contributions to your community. 

The best time to begin asking your counselors and teachers for recommendations is just before your final exams in your junior year. While recommendations won’t be due for months, requesting them soon gives your recommenders plenty of time over the summer to craft their letters. Asking early shows courtesy to the recommenders and ensures that your request doesn’t coincide with an especially busy time for them. It also gives you additional time to identify other recommenders, if needed.

Case studies

Curious what an admitted Ivy (or peer school) student looks like? Check out these three profiles:

• Ivy Admit: #1 in class; 36 ACT, 1570 SAT; 4.0 unweighted GPA; founder of a far-reaching global leadership program, significant high school leadership, internship, substantial community service, and athletic involvement (including starting a sports-related club)
  

• Peer School Admit: 35 ACT; 3.97 unweighted GPA; 14 AP courses; substantial extracurricular commitments, including 6 major research projects (both independent and working with professionals), 3 research publications, and 7 STEM-related activities, all reflecting collaboration, most with a leadership role
  

• Peer School Admit: 95.5 unweighted GPA; 1540 SAT; 15 AP courses; focused outside involvement: significant solo accomplishments in computer science throughout high school, FIRST Robotics with minor leadership since middle school, 4-year commitments to two community service projects, work experience in information technology and photography

Let’s get started!

So, where to begin? First, request a copy of your transcript or complete academic record. Review it thoughtfully: what do your grades look like? Are there any “dips” in grades? Are you challenging yourself when it comes to course level? Are you exceeding your graduation requirements?

Next, review your extracurricular experience, looking for longevity, leadership, and impact. How do your commitments distinguish you from another student who may look like you on paper? And, of course, start your college research now, considering aspects like location, size, and major. It’s never too early to begin.

A final word: balance is the key to a successful college application plan. Ivy League schools and their peers have exceedingly low admit rates, and while they remain an appealing option, you’ll need to keep balance in mind as you build your college list. There are hundreds and hundreds of stellar schools to choose from that provide an equally impressive collegiate experience. Keep an open mind, and you may be surprised at what you discover!

Interested in learning more? We work with students from start to finish on all aspects of the college application process. Give us a call today!