International Student: What You Need To Know When Applying for an Ivy League University

Uniting students from all over the world

Every year, upwards of 20,000 applicants apply to Ivy League schools. Their highly
selective process, however, results in a 6-12% admission rate.  During the admission
process, the Ivy League seeks diversity and aims to become a global learning institution.
What this means is that the student body of the Ivy League Schools is about 10-15%
international students.

To increase your chances of getting in, here are a few things that you should know before
applying as an international student:


Admission Process

International students who apply to Ivy League schools go through the same admission
process as American freshmen applicants. First-year students must have finished 12 to 13
years of primary and secondary education that would make them eligible to enter a
university. You should have strong academic records with high grades and test scores.

Though the application process is holistic, your scholastic record must show a strong GPA
on all subjects. Besides your school transcripts, letters of recommendation must be written


Required Standardized Tests

ALL standardized tests must be accomplished before the admission deadline. Ivy League
requires either SAT or ACT but there is no official cut off. However, the average ACT score
for the Ivy League is 29-35 while the average SAT score is 1980-2390.


English Language Proficiency

In addition to the required SAT or ACT, international students applying to the Ivy League
must also take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English
Language Testing System (IELTS) to gauge their proficiency in written and verbal English.
A minimum score of 100 on the TOEFL and 7 for IELTS is strongly recommended.
In addition to the TOEFL and IELTS, English language proficiency is also determined
through interviews. Though most Ivy League schools don’t require an interview, Harvard,
Columbia and Yale encourage international applicants to choose to interview. Not only will
it demonstrate your verbal communication skills, but it will also show the admissions
officers your dedication and interest.