A few days ago
Anonymous

College help and info?

Im a freshman and my dream is to get into an ivy league school. i am on the debate team, captain of the jv tennis team, i write for the school newspaper and i am taking as many advanced classes as i can. i am in an advanced math, science and technology program and my GPA is currently 4.5. But i have heard that this is still not enough. can someone give me some tips on what to do to get in? plz??

Top 4 Answers
A few days ago
Wendy

Favorite Answer

You are certainly on the right track. Ivies and other schools look first at high school transcripts to see if you are qualified: that is, the classes you took and your grades. Just keep working hard in your classes.

Your extracurriculars are already impressive- good luck in debate. I did speech and debate for four years in high school.

Make sure to study hard for your SATs or ACTs- these are very important as well.

Still, don’t get too overwhelmed by college- you have 4 years to go!

Make sure not to limit your options college-wise- there are tons of great schools that are not part of the Ivy League. Choose the school that fits you best, not just the name more people will recognize.

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A few days ago
Anonymous
Take on an unusual actitivity. Something that will stand out on your college transcript and people will say – hey this applicant does x! (ie I have a friend who is a deaf swimmer and got into Harvard. I got into MIT and Annapolis because my folks were missionaries and I was homeschooled and have been to something like 50+ countries. Just strange things that make you stand out in addition to the grades.) The grades are important, as are your SAT/ACT scores, but what will throw you over will be unusual activities. Also, look back for any family legacy. Sometimes that helps.
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A few days ago
Anonymous
It is hard. This year Harvard turned away 1,100 students with PERFECT SAT scores.

You need family connections.

Disadvantages (minority, disabled, dis-enfranchised, homeschooled, rural student, farmer).

Letters of recomendation

Religious connections and letters or recomendation (most Ivy League schools are religious founded, guided or oriented, Duke is Methodist, Notre Dame Catholic).

Or things that might otherwise impress the school

For example I was published in Sky and Telescope at age 16.

Short of that all you can do is apply and hope.

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A few days ago
Buying is Voting
Do as many things as you are able to do exceptionally well. Keep doing what you’re doing.

Extra tip: Ivy League schools don’t typically look for students who just dream of attending the school. They look for students who dream of winning a Nobel, Pulitzer, Fields Medal, Rhodes Scholarship, etc, or who will otherwise be leaders in the field for which they are passionate… and who look like they can do it.

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