Ninety-five percent of the incoming freshmen at Harvard last fall finished in the top ten percent of their high school classes. And, a fairly high percentage came from highly competitive high schools in which graduating at the top of the class is a noteworthy accomplishment.
They were no slouches on the SAT or ACT either, with the middle 50% of the incoming Harvard class scoring in the top 1% of national test takers.
Clearly, students who want to wind up at an Ivy must beat out some very talented competitors. But...here's some worse news for applicants...they have to beat out lots of them. Harvard received 22,754 applications this year. Only 2,124 received the letter they wanted from the Office of Admissions.
Is Harvard tougher to get a "yes" from than the other Ivy League schools? Perhaps, but not much. So, does anybody really have a decent chance to find himself or herself on an Ivy League campus? Sure, but their numbers are limited.
There are two things students applying to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, etc. need to know. First, some Ivies, in some years, will admit fewer than 10% of their applicants. Nobody, however bright or accomplished, should count on being admitted to an Ivy. Nobody.
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 both the ACT and SAT early. Analyze the results and determine where you need to improve. Then, get to work. Do it in a test prep course, by yourself (with professionally prepared materials) or with a tutor...preferably one with test prep experience.
Make yourself what used to be called a "well rounded" person; it's good for you and good for your candidacy. Join clubs or organizations in which you have genuine interest. I repeat, genuine interest. Accept positions of leadership if they are available.
A good or bad essay can be an important "tip" factor for you. And, it's your best opportunity to tell the admissions committee who you are. Don't waste it.
Early decision may improve your chances. Consider it carefully.
Choose carefully the teachers you ask for recommendations. Be as certain as possible that they will recommend you with enthusiasm.
Anything you can do to help others and/or accelerate your personal growth can only help you as a person, and make you at least a marginally more attractive applicant.
Remember that the Ivies want academically motivated, capable, high potential students; students who will do well in college and beyond. They also seek diversity, and students who can and will contribute to the college community because of their leadership skills, special interests, and/or talents.
There are various ways to prepare for the college admissions process, some of which start well before the junior year of high school. Participating in extracurricular activities is a very good way of preparing for college, especially given the fact that admissions committees are usually interested in more than just the student's academic performance and achievements; when reviewing an applicant, they are interested in the whole student. Furthermore, participation in community life can have a positive impact not just on the committee's decision, but also on the student's life. However, failure to engage in such activities prior to high school years does not mean that the college admission process is compromised. Still, in the junior year of high school, you should choose your courses wisely as required for admission to college. Deciding on what college to go to as early as the junior year of college is rather difficult. However, a student who wants to continue his or her education should make sure that he or she opts for advanced courses providing solid college preparation.
Preparing for admission to college is a complex process, as it encompasses many aspects. The most important of these are the standardized tests and the admissions essay. There are many colleges that have low admission scores and give more importance to essays, letters of recommendation or other specific requirements. However, if you aim at being admitted to one of the top colleges, such as the Ivy League colleges, you must do very well on your standardized tests.
The reputation of the Ivy League colleges precedes them, and for good reason. The benefits of an Ivy League education are undeniable, but they do come at a certain cost. The tuition you pay is rather high, and so is the competitiveness of admissions. But admission, education and graduation from an Ivy League college means a very strong point in your resume, access to prestigious alumni networks, prestigious awards, and competitive graduate programs. However, given the high tuition fees, the high test scores, the anxiety over admissions and the low acceptance rate, it wouldn't be a bad idea to broaden your research and find a top admissions counselor.
Admission to one of the Ivy League colleges or to other top colleges must be carefully planned and prepared. It is highly advisable that all students who want to be admitted to one of the top colleges be well prepared for the standardized test, write a persuasive essay and prepare for a possible interview with the college admissions committee. The best way to achieve all these is to seek the help of highly trained admissions staff.
With the admissions process becoming more and more competitive each year, there is no guarantee that you will be admitted to one of the top colleges, even if your score is higher than the average. But a team of trained and experienced professionals can help you achieve your goal. You can attend SAT prep boot camps, benefit from assistance in writing your essay, and have a committee of trained staff review your application, highlight your weak points and assist you in making your application more competitive ? all with the purpose of giving you confidence, raising your scores, making you more competitive, and maximizing your career earning potential.
Both Daniel Z. Kane & Groshan Fabiola are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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