

Of course, your school may not provide you with the opportunity to take many AP or IB classes. “It’s very important that we see a high level (or an improving degree) of rigor and success throughout your high school years.” This includes senior year, so don’t let up as the end of high school approaches. The best way to demonstrate this is to show that you’ve successfully tackled difficult courses in high school. Ivy League coursework is immensely challenging, and admissions officers want to know that you can handle it.The courses you take should be among the most rigorous available at your school. To really have a shot at the Ivy League, you need to challenge yourself. Here’s what you can actually do to enhance your application and increase your chances: Build a Rigorous Schedule Information about extracurricular activities and achievements.In general, you’ll need to include the following information with your application: What Will an Ivy League Application Include?Īll eight Ivy League colleges accept the Common Application, but they also require an additional supplement. If you can check all of these boxes, you’re the type of candidate Ivy League schools are looking for. What do others, like your teachers, think about your character?.How have you made a difference in your school or community?.You’ll also need to demonstrate passion for your particular set of interests (more on that later).Īnd as Fitzsimmons said, your application should reveal “strong personal qualities and character.” So you’ll want to show that you’ve challenged yourself and thrived, both with your GPA and your test scores. Well, the best predictor of future success is past success. We like to think that all of them have strong personal qualities and character, that they will educate and inspire their classmates over the four years of college, and that they will make a significant difference in the world after they leave Harvard.”īut how can you demonstrate your potential to “make a significant difference in the world” in your application? “Each year we admit about 2,100 applicants. Fitzsimmons, Harvard’s longtime dean of admissions, has to say: You’ll make positive contributions to their school and your fellow students.You’re likely to accomplish something great and maybe even change the world.So as admissions officers review your application, they’ll want to see that: They want graduating students to achieve great success and contribute something positive to society.

Ivy League colleges maintain their excellent reputations by producing successful alumni. Start by reading this guide! What Are Ivy Colleges Looking For? Click above to watch a video on how to get into Harvard.
