If your goal is admission to an Ivy League College, you've set the academic bar as high as possible. It's tougher now to get into Harvard, Yale, etc. now than ever in their histories.
Ninety-five percent of the incoming freshmen at Harvard last fall finished in the top ten percent of their high school classes. And, a fairly high percentage came from highly competitive high schools in which graduating at the top of the class is a noteworthy accomplishment.
As you might guess, their test scores were also pretty impressive, with the middle fifty percent of the class (25-75%) scoring in the top 1% of all students tested. To put that in perspective, the middle half of the class (excluding the top and bottom 25%) correctly answered about ninety percent (90%) of the ACT or SAT questions.
As you can see, to win a seat at an Ivy, you must successfully compete with some top students. And, you must compete with lots of them...nearly 23,000 at Harvard this year. Of that number, not even ten percent were admitted.
Is Harvard tougher to get a "yes" from than the other Ivy League schools? Perhaps, but not much. So, does anybody really have a decent chance to find himself or herself on an Ivy League campus? Sure, but their numbers are limited.
If you hope to attend an Ivy, know two things. First, no matter how big a star you are in high school, there are no guarantees. Even valedictorians and students with perfect ACT or SAT scores are sometimes denied admission.
Fact number two is that if you have any business considering an Ivy, you will be able to get into some great colleges. So, don't worry about what will happen if you don't get a "yes" from an Ivy...you'll be fine.
So, how do you maximize your chances for admission to an Ivy or other highly competitive college? First, take the most challenging high school courses available to you. And, if you can take a few college courses while concurrently enrolled in high school, you might want to do so, especially if you run out of genuinely difficult high school courses.
Take the ACT and SAT as early as possible; perhaps even as a high school freshman, to get the experience and receive a profile which lets you know how your scores stack up comparatively. Begin doing some test prep work (on your own or with a tutor or test prep organization) early in your junior year of high school.
Get involved in clubs, activities, and community service. Such involvement will help you grow, and make you a more interesting person. Don't just do it to strengthen your college application...pick a few things that matter and stay with them throughout high school. And, if you have it in you, aim for leadership roles.
Spend a lot of time on your essays...they are your "voice". Ask several trusted adults to review them and make suggestions.
Consider early decision or a similar program if it is available to you. Such options can improve your chances, but they may not make sense for everyone.
Choose carefully the teachers you ask for recommendations. Be as certain as possible that they will recommend you with enthusiasm.
Anything you can do to help others and/or accelerate your personal growth can only help you as a person, and make you at least a marginally more attractive applicant.
Remember that the Ivies want academically motivated, capable, high potential students; students who will do well in college and beyond. They also seek diversity, and students who can and will contribute to the college community because of their leadership skills, special interests, and/or talents.
