Who Gets Admitted to an Ivy League College, and How

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

You also need to know that anyone who has the credentials to be a legitimate applicant to an Ivy will almost certainly get into a great school and will be fine even if they don't go into the world with an Ivy League degree.

OK, so how do you position yourself for admission to an Ivy? Start by taking the most challenging courses your high school offers. If there aren't enough of them, think about enrolling in some courses at a college in your area.

Take the ACT and SAT early and often. Prepare rigorously, on your own, with a test prep program, and/or with a tutor.

Get involved in clubs, activities, and community service. Such involvement will help you grow, and make you a more interesting person. Don't just do it to strengthen your college application...pick a few things that matter and stay with them throughout high school. And, if you have it in you, aim for leadership roles.

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.

If an early decision option is available, consider it seriously. It can improve your odds.

Choose carefully the teachers you ask for recommendations. Be as certain as possible that they will recommend you with enthusiasm.

Take advantage of the personal growth opportunities available to you. And, spend some ongoing time helping others. You'll be a better person. And you might pick up some good kharma. You need every edge you can get, right?

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.

Article Source: http://mylilpeanut.com

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 , and adult education online.
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