A Step-by-Step Guide to Ivy League Admissions

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• 31 January

Are you dreaming of attending an Ivy League school? These elite institutions are known for their rigorous academics, distinguished faculty, and influential alumni. But with such a competitive admissions process, how do you stand out from the rest? Don't worry, we've got you covered. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you navigate the Ivy League admissions process and increase your chances of acceptance. So, let's get started on making your Ivy League dreams a reality!

What is an Ivy League School?

Ivy League schools are considered to be the most prestigious of all colleges in the United States. Primarily located in the Northeastern part of the country, there are eight total universities that are considered to be Ivy League. These consist of Brown, Harvard, Cornell, Princeton, Dartmouth, Yale, and Columbia universities and the University of Pennsylvania. Of all institutions of tertiary education, these elite schools are considered to provide exceptionally high levels of education and other opportunities, hence becoming some of the most sought-after in terms of acceptance and graduation.

The term “Ivy League” was coined in 1954 when the NCAA athletic conference placed all the schools mentioned above in Division 1, starting a rich legacy of sporting activity that continues today. 

Why Do They Exist?

As non-profit institutions, Ivy leagues aim primarily to create as much value as they can in the world, hence furthering their respective legacies. They do this through a variety of methods, may it be through supporting research, publishing books, or even just educating students that go on to do great things in the world. 

For example, a research team from Stanford recently made a significant advancement in the field of cancer treatment, further boosting the university's reputation. However, with such high demand and low admission rates, getting into an Ivy League school can be a challenging process.

What Type of Students Do They Admit and Why?

These primary goals of Ivy Leagues mean they look for very specific kinds of students to admit. Essentially, they are looking for those who will contribute the most to their universities’ legacy, may it be through accomplishing world-changing achievements themselves, contributing positively to their communities in college, and helping their peers accomplish world-changing achievements or both!

This means that as a student targeting one of these world-class institutions, your aim should be convincing the admissions officers that you possess the aforementioned qualities and will go on to achieve big things. Most times, in the eyes of these admissions officers, the best predictor of future achievement is a past achievement. This means impactful achievements as a high school student, indicate to the colleges that you will go on to achieve great things in the future.

While this might seem obvious to most, the mistake students often make is in how they try to show top-class schools that they are capable of going on to accomplish great things, or more particularly how they go about achieving honors to display to colleges.

How Do I Prepare?

Should I be well-rounded or target a spike?

Most students aiming for Ivy Leagues make the mistake of aiming to be well-rounded, which refers to essentially being good at everything they pursue. This can serve as a critical error. As discussed earlier, top schools are looking to admit leaders, not followers, and are hence looking to scout a “king” as opposed to a “jack of all trades” that risks being “master of none”. A well-rounded application often winds up being interpreted as merely mediocre by admissions officers. What admissions officers are really looking for is a spike – or a set of achievements in one field that proves to them that you can be the master of your respective interest and go on to accomplish great things in your field, and maybe even change the world. Hence, as a student targeting world-class universities, it is important to keep your head in the game, focus, and work on developing a spike that is unique, difficult to achieve, proves your commitment to your field of interest, and ultimately, sets you apart from the large pool of other applicants you are competing against.

Grades and GPA necessary

Although some Ivy Leagues choose not to publish annual data on the average GPAs of the students they admit, the average unweighted GPA of those that do was 3.46 as of 2019, which implies most admits would’ve received mostly A’s in high school, with perhaps a little wiggle room for occasional A-‘s or B+’s (if in the American schooling system). 

While just getting high grades such as these won’t be enough to secure your place in a top university, owing to the high volume of academically-gifted students applying from around the globe with similar grades, it is a necessary first step to putting you on a level playing field as other applicants and solidifying your application in admissions officers’ eyes. 

Test scores necessary

Although most of the Ivy Leagues have gone test-optional for the years 2020 through 2023, owing to the coronavirus pandemic and also in an effort to level the playing field for students from across diverse socio-economic backgrounds, a good SAT or ACT score only adds to your application. It is a way of proving your academic abilities as well as setting yourself apart from other applicants.

SAT subject tests, as of 2021, have been discontinued by College Board. They used to constitute a useful way to show colleges you excel in the fields you are interested in even on a standardized platform and hence if you have already taken them, it is a good idea to display your scores on your college application.

The table below shows the average standardized testing scores of Ivy League admits. If you get a score that falls between the 25th and 75th percentile, consider yourself a competitive applicant, but if you can exceed the 75th percentile mark, consider your admission chances as increased drastically.

 

Extracurriculars required

In order to position yourself as an “outstanding” applicant, it is important to have your extracurricular activities stand out as well. As discussed prior, a well-rounded application just doesn’t stand out anymore, so it is essential to show a spike through immense dedication or uniqueness in your extracurriculars.

When exploring extracurriculars you could explore, it is important to ask yourself the following questions:

• What activities feel the most personally rewarding to you?
•  How can you make an impact, show leadership qualities, or achieve something novel or unique that shows your dedication and ability in your field of interest?
•  What activities will allow you to take risks, make mistakes and learn from them and take on challenging issues?

When brainstorming potential extracurriculars, it’s okay to take inspiration from other exceptional students or Ivy League acceptees, but at the end of the day, it is important to show your uniqueness and forge your own path.

Letters of recommendation

The letters of recommendation you submit to your hopeful Ivy League colleges reveal how you relate to and impress the adults in your life. They show what opinions your teachers, counselor, advisors, etc. have about your character and potential, so positive recommendation letters can play a huge role in showing your target universities you are the type of student they want in their communities.

Letters of recommendation should be deeply personal and exude genuineness, so it is critical you ask for them from people who have seen you grow and seen your personality and achievements extensively.

To exude the most impact in admissions officers’ eyes, it is significant your letters are written in clear and powerful language rather than vague or weak statements and exude enthusiasm about your potential. They could also incorporate detailed stories of your interactions, as they contain much more impact and reveal real insight into your character inside and outside the classroom than generic statements.

College supplementary essays

Through your college essays, you essentially want to highlight the absolute best qualities, that will help them be successful as an Ivy League student. These include academic curiosity, passion, creativity, initiative, leadership, and the unique spike that you’ve developed through their extracurriculars.

An effective college essay reveals how interesting and memorable you are. It should, hence, inspire the admissions officer to instantly put you on their accepted radar.

To apply to the Ivy Leagues, you will have to write a 650-word Common App essay as well as their individual essay prompts, which often range from quirky and unexpected to straightforward and direct. These essay topics are typically difficult to tackle and require loads of thought and planning, so it would be well-advised to start planning these out well in advance.

Impactful supplementary essays can be written on a wide range of topics, perhaps a memorable afternoon, an unexpected family outing, a particularly memorable experience with friends, or even a passion for your favorite food. But no matter what the content of the essay constitutes, it should connect with the larger picture of who you are, and should connect to the spike that you are trying to display in your application.

A few tips that could help your essay have a greater impact include:

• Opening your essay with a memorable or eye-catching hook
• Establishing a unique tone or voice
• Using specific detail that keeps the readers engaged and add life to your anecdote or essay
• Showing instances of personal growth, reflection, and development
• Writing in a self-assured yet humble tone of voice

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