There are few things in the civilized world today that evoke more awe and wonder than saying that you graduated from an Ivy League school. Most may see it as a bragging right, but it’s not just some footnote in your curriculum vitae that you have to explain out loud.
One look at it is all that’s needed before you get that familiar slow nod that shows they realized that you mean business. Having the reputation and prestige of an Ivy League school behind you is quite a powerful thing, and many would fight tooth and nail for it.
Getting into an Ivy League school is obviously no small feat, which is why people go high and low to find better and easier ways to do so. Obviously, staying in an Ivy League school is an even tougher task, but that’s a problem most people who are motivated enough would welcome anyway.
In order to have that problem, you have to get in one first, and here are a few ways to do so:
Do very well in high school
This isn’t really a tip, but more of a pre-requisite. If you didn’t do well in high school, then getting into an Ivy League school isn’t really a cause of concern for you anyway.
If it does cross your mind and you just happen to be still starting out in high school, then the best advice for you is to block out all distractions and do really well there, even at the expense of social life that you won’t even remember anyway after going to college and becoming an adult.
Your GPA is the benchmark for measuring how close you can be to being admitted in an Ivy League school. Being in the top 10% of your class is essential, and being higher up the rankings gives you greater chances at it.
Performing well in extracurricular activities also helps as it shows that you are a proactive student who strives for excellence at every turn.
Become familiar with how admission works
Once you’re at your senior year in high school, you should start looking into how admission works for one of these Ivy League schools. They would certainly be stricter compared to other schools, so learn the requirements and other crucial details by heart so that you won’t have to feel unsure once you undergo the process.
Many paths lead to Ivy, as a lot of professionals who have been in them would say. Know that there are three major aspects of the college process ? timeline, standardized testing, and essay writing.
There are a lot of things going on in them, like taking SATs, submitting applications, and so on. Once you’ve decided that you’re going to an Ivy League school, you must get to action as soon as possible.
Admissions essay writing tips
One of the big things when it comes to getting into an Ivy League school is writing an essay that explains why you want to get in there and why they should let you. You must exude passion and enthusiasm while remaining respectful of the institution and towards anyone tasked to read your essay.
The golden rule here is to remain absolutely positive throughout the whole essay; show confidence at all times and now deprecate yourself at any part of it while not sounding too full of yourself at the same time.
It’s a balancing act that you must maintain through careful, insightful, and honest writing, as well as deliberate proofreading and revision before you do send it in.
After a brief introduction, you must then enumerate your personal achievements thus far and show just how devoted you are to academic and nonacademic pursuits. The most important thing in this part is to exude genuine love for learning.
Your GPA is the baseline for this, and showing that you’ve attended vocational classes and other supplementary activities helps a great deal.
You then get into your expectations and aspirations as a prospect in that Ivy League school, looking forward to a future as a student and representative of that institution.
Aside from a good command of the English language, what they look for in an essay is your “voice”, which is how honestly and comfortably you express your thoughts without being too off-the-cuff.
Remember that being an Ivy League student is an experience, not just a bragging right
People battle their way in there to be upstanding citizens with intelligence and ability when they get out of an Ivy League school, but many of them don’t get it right. They see it as a bumper sticker on their car or a highlight on their resume.
While those are the side benefits of having attended in an Ivy League school, they’re not the main reason why you should go to one. It’s the learning experience and the challenges you take that shape your Ivy League tenure; it’s an education, not a commercial product.
Of course, an Ivy League school is not the only path to success in life, but it certainly isn’t irrelevant either. It’s not even a shortcut since graduating from one is an intellectually herculean feat that is nothing to scoff at.
Most importantly, you have to remember that the journey is just as important as the destination, if not more.
