Students who hope to attend an Ivy League college face a major challenge. In fact, admission to the Ivies appears to be more competitive than ever before. Only five percent of the students admitted to Harvard this year were not in the top 10% of their high school graduating classes. And, many came from very rigorous independent and public high schools...schools with standards well above average. These students also scored highly on standardized tests, with the middle 50% earning SAT scores of 2080-2370 and/or ACT scores of 31-34. To earn a composite score of 31 on the ACT, by the way, you must answer about 90% of the questions correctly. But, not only must a student hoping to be admitted to an Ivy compete against incredibly capable students, he/she must compete against lots of them. There were 22,754 applicants to Harvard's most recent incoming class. Just 2,124 were admitted. You do the math. Are the other Ivies easier to get into than Harvard? Maybe, but not much. Is it impossible to be admitted to an Ivy? Not impossible. But, awfully difficult. Start by knowing two realities. One is that are no guarantees you will be admitted no matter how high your grades and test scores are. Ivy League admissions officers will be the first to tell you the sheer number of good applicants force them to turn away thousands of students who would be successful on their campuses. Fact number two is that if you have any business considering an Ivy, you will be able to get into some great colleges. So, don't worry about what will happen if you don't get a "yes" from an Ivy...you'll be fine. What can you do to improve your chances at the Ivies? You must demonstrate your interest in learning and your intellectual ability with not just good grades, but good grades in the most difficult courses available to you. If the possibilities at your high school are limited, consider enrolling in a few courses at a local college. Take the ACT and SAT as early as possible; perhaps even as a high school freshman, to get the experience and receive a profile which lets you know how your scores stack up comparatively. Begin doing some test prep work (on your own or with a tutor or test prep organization) early in your junior year of high school. Become engaged in clubs, activities, and at least one important public or community service organization or project. Lots of great, worthy organizations will welcome your participation. Three or four co-curricular areas in which you are a difference maker or leader are better than a dozen in which you are passively involved. As difficult and stressful as essays may be, they give you a chance to be viewed as a whole person, not just another faceless high-achiever. You need to do your best thinking and best writing. And, ask at least two adults in whom you have great trust (perhaps a teacher or counselor among them) to review your final draft. Consider early decision or a similar program if it is available to you. Such options can improve your chances, but they may not make sense for everyone. Choose carefully the teachers you ask for recommendations. Be as certain as possible that they will recommend you with enthusiasm. Anything in which you are involved that contributes to your personal growth and/or is charitable will make you a better person, and may help separate you from other applicants. The Ivies, and other highly selective colleges, are after bright, motivated, high-achievers. In addition, they seek diversity and students whose backround, accomplishment, and talents indicate their potential to be significant contributors to the campus community.
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Students who hope to attend an Ivy League college face a major challenge. In fact, admission to the Ivies appears to be more competitive than ever before.
Daniel Z. Kane has had a long career in education. His many educational websites deal with subjects such as online degrees , online and distance education , financial aid, and scholarships. Click here for other unique Ivy League colleges articles.
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