Some of history’s brightest minds have graduated from Ivy League universities in the span of a hundred years. Academic programs and extracurricular activities vary by school. With undergraduate acceptance rates as low as 7 to 9%, it is difficult to get into ivy League colleges even for people with the best grades.
This blog will give you insights about things that the Ivy Leagues are not looking for in an applicant:
1. Straight As with no passion
You should be aware that getting consecutive As does not guarantee admission to an Ivy League college. In fact, that is something that they don’t even look for in an applicant. Having good grades is certainly a plus point, but make sure that you work on other aspects of your transcript and application too. Do not hesitate to apply if you do not have straight As.
2. Students that have not contributed to the community
While community service and ethics are valued by Ivy League institutions, the way an applicant goes about doing their service truly matters a lot. The Ivy League universities value students who contribute to the community in a true and consistent manner.
3. A long list of extracurriculars that are not related
While taking a break from reading for a bit, extracurricular activities allow you to explore your interests and find topics you might be inclined towards outside of school. Rather than having a long list of extracurriculars, focus on a few and try to be good at them. Having awards and certificates for fewer activities is better than superficially trying more activities.
4. Perfect SAT scores
Ivy League colleges give a significant amount of weight to your SAT scores. While most applicants who get in have scored in the top 20 percentile, many who score perfect scores are also rejected. Do not hesitate to apply to Ivy Leagues if you do not have a perfect SAT score.
5. Only students who can pay up
Attending Ivy League schools can be financially taxing. While Ivy League schools do not give merit-based scholarships, they provide aid for need blind students. Applying for grants and need-based scholarships will not weigh your application down. Do not refrain from applying by just looking at the tag price of attending an Ivy.
How can Rostrum Education help?
Experts and counsellors at rostrum value your academic brilliance, but it takes more to get accepted to your dream Ivy League college. Students get thorough attention throughout their high school career to help them timely prepare for competitive exams while building a holistic transcript. We recommend profile builders such as internships, debates, and community service activities that you can take up during high school. Contact us for a free consultation!
