Application Bootcamp College Admissions Blog

How to Crack the Ivy Code

For high school seniors and their parents all around the country, spring is a time to fret, watch the mail nervously, and wonder endlessly about the future. Waiting to see if the mail will bring a thick envelope or a thin one from their desired college is an all-consuming pastime for these hopefuls.

For the cream-of-the-crop student who is desperately hoping for a spot at an Ivy League school, these weeks feel interminable. It’s not only the waiting that causes nervousness, though: it is wondering whether all of their preparations were enough to impress the admissions board.

Sadly, the vast majority of these hopefuls will not be accepted at their choice Ivy League college. Almost every Ivy League school experienced record-breaking low acceptance rates for the 2008 school year, with the Harvard acceptance rate being just 7.1 percent of applicants. Yale and Stanford also reported single-digit acceptance rates.

Part of the reason for this shockingly low acceptance rate is the record-breaking number of students graduating high school in 2008. Contrary to what many Americans believe, larger numbers of students are making it through high school than ever before, and a great many of those decide to attend college.

Competition for spots at highly respected schools is getting fiercer every year. Students are desperately seeking the secrets that will make them stand out amid the scores of other applicants. What does it take to make a student the one out of 10 who will get past the grueling Ivy League admissions process?

Several simple techniques have been successfully used by countless high school students to give them an edge over the competition. While this list is certainly not exhaustive, it does give an idea of what type of items a college admissions board will look for when reviewing a student’s application.

1. Grades. This is one of the first areas a college admissions board will consider. Even if a student’s SAT scores are sky-high, high school grades are extremely important. A student who starts off strong but lets their grades lag in their final year, or vice versa, will have a worse shot at being offered a position than a student who exhibits consistently good grades.

2. Test scores. The SAT score is perhaps the biggest part of the admissions picture. A high SAT score can make even a student with average grades seem exemplary. The industry of coaching high school students to raise their SAT scores has become a big business in recent years.

3. Extracurricular activities. Don’t trust the lists of suggested extras that some college preparation sites offer. The admissions board will be much more impressed if the student does the activities that he or she enjoys most.

4. Awards. Students who are talented, driven and dedicated will be seen favorably by college admissions boards. State, district or national awards in an area of expertise will set a student far apart from their competition.

5. Learn what sets applicants apart. Special consultants and application preparation courses are cropping up every year. Their job is to help prospective students and their parents get to know what it takes to get through the Ivy League admissions process.

While the Harvard acceptance rate and other Ivy League admissions rates are surprisingly low, it is by no means impossible to win a spot at one of these schools. For the exceptional student who works hard and prepares for college applications well in advance, an Ivy League education is still within reach.

Posted in Ivy Admissions 2 Comments »

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