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Do you dream of applying to an Ivy League School? Studying in these prestigious schools is the ultimate dream for many students, and while getting accepted is not impossible, these colleges do ask for a lot. They look for the best of the best, which means your application has to be super-impressive in all respects. Many applications to these schools get rejected on the basis on one small, almost imperceptible error.
Here are the basics of what you’ll need to apply to an Ivy League:
Academic Ability – An outstanding school transcript is the single most critical document when applying to any Ivy League school. These schools want to know that you have what it takes to handle the rigors of their rigorous curriculum. This will include above-average GPA, ACT/SAT scores, and likely more than a few AP classes.
Compelling Personal Essay – Your personal essay tells the school all of those things about you that your transcript doesn’t. What makes you tick? What is your driving motivation? What are your goals and ambitions? Why do you want to apply to their school and what will you contribute to their establishment? Will you make the most of the facilities and resources that will be available to you? They want to know the student, not just the grades and scores.
Your Extracurricular Activities – Your extracurricular activities will give the school insight into your overall development and your contribution to society. If you are planning on applying to an Ivy League school, you must plan your extracurriculars carefully. Participating in activities that demonstrate your leadership qualities, volunteering with aid organizations, working towards the betterment of underserved communities and other similar activities will give your application a huge boost. But don’t just undertake these activities because you think they’ll impress; admissions officers want to see dedication in your activities—so a few long-term things (maybe four years of volleyball, track, and volunteer work) are better than many short-term things.
See How You Stack Up — Wondering how your grades and scores match up with other Ivy League and elite schools? Check out our following articles:
- Harvard ACT and SAT Scores: What You Need to Get In
- Boston College SAT and ACT Scores: What You Need to Get In
- Duke ACT and SAT Scores: What You Need to Get In
- Villanova University ACT and SAT Scores: What You Need to Get In
- Vanderbilt University ACT and SAT Scores: What You Need to Get In
- MIT ACT and SAT Scores: What You Need to Get In
- USC ACT and SAT Scores: What You Need to Get In
Want to know your odds of being accepted into an Ivy League school? Check out College Raptor’s free match tool!
