How to Get Into Ivy League Schools

The Eight Ivy League Schools

The Ivy League is a group of eight private colleges and universities in the East Coast known for providing high-quality education and exceptional learning experience. These universities were among the earliest academic institutions founded in the United States and have contributed significantly throughout history.

The prestigious colleges and universities that make up the Ivy League are Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth University, Harvard University, Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University. Although the term Ivy League was originally associated with an athletic conference in which the sports teams of the eight colleges competed, it has developed to connote academic excellence, high standard admission process, and social elitism.


Ivy League Admissions Process

Every year, a myriad of outstanding and average applicants knock at the admission doors of the eight
schools belonging to the Ivy League. However, with the exceedingly competitive nature of each college, getting into an Ivy League school can be very tough. All eight universities are highly selective and set the bar extremely high, as acceptance rates are normally below 10. Moreover, getting into and attending an Ivy League school can be very expensive, costing an average of $35,000 a year.

Different colleges have different admission processes and look for different types of candidates.

• Princeton University looks for students with intellectual curiosity, academic excellence, and strong personal and extracurricular accomplishments. In addition to exceptional academic records and exam scores, Princeton will ask you to write two to three essays as part of the application process. 

• At Harvard University, the factors that are weighted the most are academic accomplishments, strong personal qualities, special talents, and unique personal circumstances. Prerequisites for Harvard college admission include the application and supplemental essays, SAT or ACT scores, high school transcripts, teacher evaluations, and application fees. 

• Similarly, Yale University prioritizes an applicant’s academic strength, which can be derived from grades, standardized test scores, and evaluations from teachers and counselors. In addition, the school’s admissions committee evaluates the motivation, leadership skills, and distinctive talents of each applicant. 

How to Get into a Good College

Having a good education can significantly help you achieve your personal and professional goals in life. If you are ambitious about your future and want a job that you love and that pays well, there is no better preparation than getting a high-quality education from a good college. Getting into a good college starts by showcasing your skills and talents, fulfilling the school’s requirements, and completing the college admissions process.

Some Tips for International Students Applying to US Colleges

With the prestige they bring and quality education they offer, US colleges and universities attract not
only local students, but international applicants, as well. In fact, US colleges strongly encourage
everyone – no matter which country they come from – to apply to any of the programs they offer and
experience the academic culture they are known for.

US colleges and universities ensure that interested applicants from foreign countries are given equal
opportunities as local students. Moreover, some universities even provide special considerations to
international applicants in terms of application deadlines, admissions requirements, and financial aid.


College Application Process for International Applicants

Most US colleges and universities require their candidates to apply using the Common Application,
including international applicants. This means that the application process for American students is the same as that of international applicants – no easier approach and no short cuts. The college admissions requirements are mostly the same, including GPA, standardized test results (SAT, SAT II, and ACT), college application essay, and letters of recommendation, except for the interview process and required the proof of english proficiency test.

While most universities offer an optional college interview to local applicants (and others do not offer at all), they recommend international candidates to still schedule a Skype interview with the admissions office in order to know and evaluate whether the student would be a good fit to the school. For international students, it is important to opt in to these interviews to show off their English and prove to the admissions office that they can succeed in an American college.



Proof of English Proficiency

To ensure that international applicants can keep up with the mode and language of teaching in US
college and universities, a proof of English proficiency test is required, specifically for students whose first language is not English or those who haven’t received at least two years of secondary education in an English-medium curriculum. This can be reflected through the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).