Where and When to Start: Forging a Path to the Ivy League
Becoming the kind of applicant that elite universities want to admit is not something that happens overnight. It depends on groundwork that you have laid throughout high school and even before. For a lot of students (and their parents), it can be difficult to know where and when to start. The best advice is to think backwards. Students generally apply to college during their senior fall of high school, so consider who you want to be at that point, and what you need to do to get there. Keep in mind that most elite universities strive to admit a diverse pool of students, so they are not just looking for one specific type of applicant. However, most highly successful applicants share a few general traits, and keeping those traits in mind will help you figure out what you need to do to become one.
They have high GPAs: Your grades are the most important part of your application, and you should be aware that colleges will look at your grades from all four years of high school. Although a low grade in your freshman year might not hurt much because you can show improvement, it is better to do well throughout your high school career. This means that you should do everything possible to ensure that you have the best possible grades, even as a freshman. In fact, grades in middle school matter too, even though colleges don’t see them, because they can influence your placement in high school and are a good predictor for future success.
The have high test scores: Recently, there has been some talk in the news about schools making standardized college entrance exams like the SAT optional. However, the truth is that most schools still require these tests, and even at the schools that don’t, a high score on the SAT (or ACT) can be a major boost to your application. We usually advise our students to take the SAT for the first time near the end of 10th grade. However, to ensure an optimal score, students should begin preparing for these tests a year or two in advance. Moreover, it is important to realize that tests like the SAT build on standard verbal and math skills that you have been learning since grade-school, so a strong foundation is helpful.
They take advanced classes, especially in areas of interest: It’s not just your grades, but which courses you take that colleges are looking at. Ideally, you should be taking several AP or equivalent courses. (It is particularly important to take advanced courses in your areas of academic interest, but we’ll talk more about that in the next point.) Although these advanced courses will mostly be taken during your junior or senior years, in order to place into them, you need to be taking the right pre-requisite courses. For instance, if you plan on taking AP Calculus in 11th grade, you might be required to have completed Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Geometry, Trig, and Pre-Calc before then. If you are not on the right trajectory by middle school, it can be hard or impossible to catch up.
They have a clear sense of purpose and established academic interests: Many college applications ask applicants about their intended major and future goals. Although they don’t expect you to have your whole life figured out, it helps to demonstrate a clear sense of purpose. If you don’t know why you want to go to college, why should they admit you? Moreover, it is important to have the experience and credentials to show them that you are serious about your goals. For example, if you tell them that you are planning to study engineering, they will want to see that you have taken the highest level courses available in STEM subjects and made an effort to pursue this interest outside the classroom with relevant activities such as engineering competitions or robotics club. To cultivate a credible sense of purpose, you should start early, preferably by freshman year of high school or before.
They are passionate and accomplished in their extracurricular lives: Elite universities want applicants who are interested in more than just academics, so extracurriculars matter. To show that you have a vibrant extracurricular life, you need to demonstrate commitment and a high level of accomplishment, and that takes time. For example, if you want to be the first violin in your school orchestra as a senior, it would be advisable to join as a freshman. And to accomplish that, you will have already needed to reach a level of proficiency on your instrument, so ideally you would have started playing the violin in elementary school. It’s never too late to develop new extracurricular interests, but the earlier you start, the better.
They think beyond themselves: Admissions committees are selfish. They aren’t simply looking for the smartest or most accomplished students. Rather, they want students who will improve their school communities and boost their school reputations. To convince them that you are this kind of person, you should be able to demonstrate that you have been working to improve communities in which you are already a member, whether at the local or global level. Volunteer work is a great way to do this, though it is not the only way. As with your other extra-curricular activities, it is advisable to start this by freshman year or earlier to demonstrate continued interest and commitment. If you are volunteering, try to pick an organization that connects to your academic or extracurricular interests. Not only will you have more fun that way, but it will be easier to integrate the experience into your applications.
Keep in mind that every student’s situation is different, so don’t worry if you do not possess all of these traits. Think of them as a rough target, and feel free to deviate. The main point to remember is that while college may seem far off, it’s not too early to start thinking about your future. Ivy League Mentors can work with you one-on-one to build a plan tailored to your specific goals and needs, and ensure that you don’t miss out on important opportunities.
Ivy League Mentors 