It seems impossible to get into an ivy nowadays.
People say you need
4.3 GPA
2300+ SAT
20 Activities
I don’t even know anymore. I’m losing hope. What can i even do to get into an Ivy? Even with all these things, chances are still low. How can i get in?!
There are many people with much lower quantitative stats that get in. A GPA of over 3.9 should be okay already.
Anything above a 2200 is pretty much the same tbh.
Now I would say, 20 activities would really look just like fluff. You just need to show that you put a lot of effort into them. Having just three activities that you are passionate about is better than 20 activities of fluff.
You need to show that you are special. That they would want you in their school. Unique leadership positions/extracurriculars, awards, and stellar essays are what set people apart.
However, there is nothing that can really guarantee acceptance into an ivy. Just try your best and dont stress over it.
3.90> GPA, 2250> SAT or 34>ACT. But even good grades don’t guarantee you to be admitted. Each thing of your app is important like EC’s, essays, recommendation letters. If they don’t like or see something that they don’t like, you will be rejected. Try your best, There is no easy way to know if you are going to be admitted. It that were be true, then most of the student would be admitted.
After a certain threshold, academics aren’t as important and ECs will determine your fate. These colleges want smart, motivated people (if you’re coming from a public school). To shoot it straight, the most important thing outside of academics are things like leadership positions, awards/special talents- but if you have solid academics + leadership, you should get in somewhere.
Some people pay 20 thousand dollars to get this information are we are supposed to give it for free? You will have to buy my ebook ‘How to get into an Ivy League’ guide, only 1,000,
Haha, BP, so many of these “what’s the formula?” questions, eh?
OP, go research what the competitive colleges are looking for.
Posts like this are always amusing. Apparently there is no distinction between attending college in a small town small school environment like Dartmouth, a huge rural school like Cornell, an urban school like Columbia, etc. Just gotta have that Ivy sticker! Brand worship starts early it seems…
@mikemac you may have a point but at the end of the day, job recruiters brand worship too
@dblazer: but these top colleges don’t worship students so willing to prostitute themselves solely for the branding either…
@dblazer exactly why I am a brand worshiper
I already got a B- so far in my freshman year of HS.
Should i just give up everything now? Even people with 4.0 GPAs (unweighted) don’t get into ivies. My life is ruined.
MY LIFE IS RUINED. I AM A FAILURE. D:
You will not lose anything trying. There is always a slightly possible to get in. Best of luck!
What are your stats?
You need to seriously focus on questioning your assumptions about how life revolves solely around attending the Ivies.
Maybe you should formulate a workable plan to get a good undergraduate education and go for an Ivy graduate school.
From my experience:
To get into an Ivy League, aim for as SAT score of 2100 or higher. Maintain a 4.0 GPA. Stay committed to one or two activities rather than a few hundred. Excel in school and in your extracurriculars and try to stand out. Oh, and write a killer personal statement.
@Rigid123 yes, give up
@Jr12317 I’m only a freshman in HS lol I’m not applying just yet. My grades so far are all A’s except for a full-year B in english which is complete unacceptable when it comes to Ivy League standards, which is why I am losing hope.
@JustOneDad I’m only a freshman in HS so I still may have a chance to do some actual work and get a chance at the Ivies. And about the life revolution thing, MY LIFE IS REVOLVES AROUND THE IVIES. I MUST GET IN. OTHERWISE THERE IS NO POINT OF LIFE.
Is that really an option? Would you be willing to give up this absurd obsession? Then yes, wholeheartedly yes . . . give this up and focus on what’s right in front of you: school, family, friends, sports - there’s a lot more to life than Ivies!
@Rigid123 you need help. Go to counseling. This sounds suicidal. Imagine if you don’t get into one (which is likely). What will you do then. GET HELP.
Here are your options to be guaranteed Ivy League admission:
A ) Cure cancer
B ) Compete in the Olympics and place with at least the silver medal
C ) Convince parents to donate an amount of money that would make Warren Buffet cringe
D ) Realize that there’s no formula for admission and just try your best with the confidence that you will do great wherever you go
I personally prefer option D.
Are you sure about that?
Life doesn’t stop there. Just try your best.
@pinkwhitered 4.0 Unweighted or weighted? I already got a B so it’s now impossible for me to get 4.0 unweighted.
@dodgersmom It’s not an absurd obsession lol. It’s important that one gets a good education otherwise life is pointless. You only get one shot at highschool and I want to make sure I don’t miss that chance. Family, friends, and leisure activities can wait, i have about 50 years for that 
@dblazer I am not giving up despite the low chances i have. Might as well try and do better than if I did not try.