If your goal is admission to an Ivy League College, you've set the academic bar as high as possible. It's tougher now to get into Harvard, Yale, etc. now than ever in their histories.
Ninety-five percent of the students admitted to Harvard graduated in the top ten percent of their classes. And, remember that a significant number of those students come from academically competitive schools public and private schools.
As you might guess, their test scores were also pretty impressive, with the middle fifty percent of the class (25-75%) scoring in the top 1% of all students tested. To put that in perspective, the middle half of the class (excluding the top and bottom 25%) correctly answered about ninety percent (90%) of the ACT or SAT questions.
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.
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.
If you hope to attend an Ivy, know two things. First, no matter how big a star you are in high school, there are no guarantees. Even valedictorians and students with perfect ACT or SAT scores are sometimes denied admission.
The second reality is that if you are anywhere near the statistical profile of a student with a chance of admission to an Ivy, you have no reason to feel sorry for yourself. You may not get into an Ivy, but you should have great college choices.
So, how do you maximize your chances for admission to an Ivy or other highly competitive college? First, take the most challenging high school courses available to you. And, if you can take a few college courses while concurrently enrolled in high school, you might want to do so, especially if you run out of genuinely difficult high school courses.
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.
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.
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.
Ninety-five percent of the students admitted to Harvard graduated in the top ten percent of their classes. And, remember that a significant number of those students come from academically competitive schools public and private schools.
As you might guess, their test scores were also pretty impressive, with the middle fifty percent of the class (25-75%) scoring in the top 1% of all students tested. To put that in perspective, the middle half of the class (excluding the top and bottom 25%) correctly answered about ninety percent (90%) of the ACT or SAT questions.
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.
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.
If you hope to attend an Ivy, know two things. First, no matter how big a star you are in high school, there are no guarantees. Even valedictorians and students with perfect ACT or SAT scores are sometimes denied admission.
The second reality is that if you are anywhere near the statistical profile of a student with a chance of admission to an Ivy, you have no reason to feel sorry for yourself. You may not get into an Ivy, but you should have great college choices.
So, how do you maximize your chances for admission to an Ivy or other highly competitive college? First, take the most challenging high school courses available to you. And, if you can take a few college courses while concurrently enrolled in high school, you might want to do so, especially if you run out of genuinely difficult high school courses.
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.
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.
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.
About the Author:
Daniel Z. Kane has had a long career in education. His many educational websites deal with subjects such as online college degrees , online and distance education , financial aid, and scholarships.
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