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Grades and test scores aren't the only things colleges are looking at anymore. Schools are much more concerned with students being well rounded in order to offer diverity into the school.
Many Ivy League Colleges will take a person who has a Minimum test score of 1300 or 1400 on the SAT and and that has held an officer position in a club, played sport, and volunteered over someone that didn't have any outside influences but amazing test scores and grades.
Now, don't get me wrong. If you going to take shot at the big time Ivy League colleges and hoping for lots of financial aid you better have practically a 4.0 as well as showing you can be a president or v.p. of a club, volunteer, and play sports.
Being able to handle all these factors early is life shows that when you are in college you're going be able to handle the life stressors.
My best advice? Starting from the first day of your freshman year in high school, turn off the t.v. and concentrate on your studies. Join two or three clubs that you enjoy as well as a sport (a school team or a club). As you get older, work your way up in the clubs, gaining an officer position, and use the sport as a stress reliever.
Don't stress yourself out though, Ivy League colleges aren't always the best choice for everyone. Don't disregard state private schools.
Choose subjects and activities that you are passionate about! I can't stress this enough. Also, don't be afraid to go out of your comfort zone: try new experiences, expose yourself to different cultures. And if there isn't a certain club or programme in your community, don't sit around complaining about it, start your own! If you see a need for something in your community, then find a way to fulfill that need. And I would say don't focus too much on getting into an Ivy League college. Try to enjoy your time in high school.
Grades and test scores only reveal part of yourself, and I've seen people with 4.0 GPAs and 2400 SAT scores get rejected from the top colleges, simply because they have nothing else to show on their application.
You want to show that you are dedicated and really want to study at the university. Joining clubs and sports helps, but the "stereotypical" student seems to join a few clubs without any sort of commitment or leadership, even though he/she has high grades and test scores. I personally know people who have been accepted to schools like Caltech, Harvard, and MIT because they hold national or international titles (ISEF, IMO winners) or have published original research while in high school.
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JudySAT score of a minimum of 1400, the closer you are to 1500 the better chance you have.
Good ACT scores, and straight A's in high school obviously. Most ivy league colleges make it important to have an extremely good entrance essay or extra curricular activities, depending on what you want to go to college for.
There is no one thing that you can do to ensure admittance to one of these top-tier schools. Because there are so many more qualified applicants than places available, thousands of valedictorians with perfect SAT scores get turned down each year.
The best thing that you can do is to cultivate your own interests and passions. Many people only look at their high school years in terms of what they can do in order to get into an Ivy League school, but in doing so, exhibit no real passion. That passion is what the Ivy Leagues are after, because passion is what breeds invention and change. The admissions committees are looking for people who will make a difference in their field, and will contribute something to the university.
So ask yourself - what is it that I LOVE? What would I love to spend the rest of my life doing? Beyond that, what are the hobbies I truly enjoy, the causes I feel strongly about? Get as involved as possible in your 'thing.' Don't be afraid to be non-traditional - do a foreign-exchange program, or graduate a year early to spend a year immersing yourself in something you love.
In the meantime, learn how to write a KILLER essay. Start looking at your life in terms of short, concise stories, and keep a writing journal so that when the time comes, you'll be able to punch out truly memorable essays. Study hard, even though it's not terribly fun. Read a lot. But don't stress out too much - the beautiful thing about figuring out what you love, and thus, who you are, is that Ivy League designation becomes MUCH less important. Volunteer in an orphanage in Myanmar and you'll realize that whether you go to Princeton or Long Island University, it doesn't matter. It's all about what you do with the resources you have around you.
Good luck! :)
Getting into an Ivy League school is not easy. If it were, no one would actually want to go! But there are many people out there who think they can't get in unless they have a perfect SAT/ACT score and a perfect GPA. And that is just not the case. Especially in recent years.
Ivy League schools are looking for 3 things:
- Intelligence
- Distinction
- A Unique Point of View
Intelligence: Solid grades and excellent test scores are important, of course. BUT THAT IS JUST THE START OF IT. The schools need to see proof of hard work. And that means that taking a bunch of easy classes just to get a perfect GPA is NOT going to get you into an Ivy League school. The other way to show your intelligence? A creative, thoughtful application. And I'll get into that more in a second :)
Distinction: This is the real SIZZLE of your application. What makes you exceptional? Grades and test scores are not enough - the Ivy League rejects thousands of Valedictorians every year! You gotta have something else to show for yourself. A unique skill or talent: musical ability, athletic skill, original research, a special expertise in something. Really, ANYTHING that makes you stand out!
A Unique Point of View: How do you see the world differently than others? What has that taught you? How has this view of the world informed you as a person? Has it made you more mature? Wiser? Able to see the world in a unique way? THAT is what the admissions committees want to see.
Why are these 3 things important? What are the Ivy League schools looking for above all else?
STUDENTS WHO WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR UNIVERSITY.
Ivy League Admissions committees are looking for students who will become campus leaders, further scientific research, be a great roommate (yes, this is REALLY something they think about!), be future leaders in the world, and become WILDLY successful after they graduate...so they can give back to the school in some way.
So when you apply and show them the 3 things above, they're using your PAST to determine your FUTURE POTENTIAL.
Of course, that is a tall order. You need to take eeeeverything you've done in your life and present it in the most compelling and attractive way. And that's not easy. Being awesome is one thing. Showing someone ELSE you're awesome is another (and this is where a lot of people get stuck!)
So here are a few things to think about as you prepare for your Ivy League Applications:
1. Scores: You don't need a perfect score to get into the Ivy League. If you get above a 2100 or a 1400, you're good. Move on!
2. Grades: Keep 'em as high as you can. And if they weren't the best in your freshman year, that's ok. Get 'em up, keep 'em up, and show the school IMPROVEMENT. And make sure you CHALLENGE yourself. You're going to look a LOT better with a B+ in an AP class than you will with an A+ in some easy class.
3. Extracurriculars: It's all about quality, not quantity. Don't join 100 clubs just to join. Get involved in the things you love, really DIVE into 'em, and show your commitment to 'em. That's your chance to show distinction and a unique point of view.
4. Teacher Recommendations: Go with someone who knows you WELL and can speak passionately and in great detail about you. These are a very important part of the application - the school's chance to hear from someone who is not you - so choose wisely!
5. Personal Statement/Essays: This is your chance to show the school who you are as a person vs. on paper. (Even though, yes, the essays are on paper!) You gotta be CREATIVE here. Take RISKS! Don't use the essays as a way to list off your accomplishments. That stuff is going to show up elsewhere in your app. These essays should be personal, introspective, and a window into who YOU are. Don't underestimate their importance!
As you can see, there is a LOT that goes into Ivy League admissions. It's not easy, but it is 100% worth fighting for. And knowing that grades/scores aren't the ONLY things that matter... hopefully that inspires you to give it a shot. You will NEVER get admitted if you don't try. But if you do? Well, you never know what can happen.
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