I am in 9th grade and i would love to go to an Ivy League College one day. I am more than ready to work hard for it. How am i supposed to start preparing… what should i do?
What do Ivy League Colleges look for? What kinds of sports and volunteer work do they look for.
Thank you very much for your help!
The below is from MIT, but applies in this case as well. The question has been asked here about a bazillion times, and truly, the answers are always the same. Good luck.
http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/applying_sideways
It is way too early to think about specific colleges (especially the hyper-competitive ones). You don’t even have one full year’s GPA and you have no standardized testing. You also need to recognize that HS should be an experience in and of itself – a time of learning and growth and not just a 4 year college application prep experience.
It is good to take school seriously and know that college will be on your horizon, but it is too early to start planning for specific colleges. I would highly recommend that you get off of CC until your junior year.
For now you should focus on:
–Working hard, learning, and doing as well as you can in the most challenging curriculum you can manage.
–When the time comes study for standardized tests.
–Continue your involvement in activities you care about and work towards making meaningful contributions to those activities.
–Enjoying spending time with your family and friends.
When the time comes asses your academic stats (including GPA, standardized tests, course rigor) as well as your financial needs and apply to a wide range of reach, match, and safety schools that appear affordable (you will have to run a net price calculator for each school you consider) and that you would be happy to attend. Most Ivy schools have under a 10% acceptance rate. You need to expand your horizons and recognize that there are many wonderful schools out there where you can have a great 4 year experience and get where you want to go in life.
Hello
Don’t get your heart set on going to an Ivy league. There are plenty of other fantastic schools. In terms of advice, someone once told me something about top tier schools that I think makes a lot of sense. They aren’t looking for well-rounded students, they’re looking for a well-rounded class. Basically, they want students who are really good at a particular thing rather than students who are pretty good at a lot of things. Find your passionate and pursue it. Find extracurriculars/internships that demonstrate this interest. In addition to solid extracurriculars, you’re going to need really good stats. In terms of grades, don’t get too beat up if you don’t have a 4.0 unweighted. Try as hard as you can and remember that GPAs mean different things for different high schools. Take as many APs and honors as you can (especially for subjects you really love). Colleges prefer kids who take harder classes even if that means you sacrifice your GPA a bit. Do try and stay in the top 5% of your class. As for SAT/ACT, try both and once you find one you like, take plenty of practice tests. The goal should be probably a 1520/33. Once you get above a 1550/34, don’t bother to take any more tests, 1550 won’t keep you out of any school. Don’t stress too much about standardized testing though. Top schools will almost always take a person with lower scores and better extracurriculars over a person with a perfect score who did little outside of school. There are people with 1400s who get into Harvard. Test scores aren’t everything.
To sum it up, do what you love and don’t stress too much about grades and test scores. You’re only in high school once. Spend time with your family and friends because you’ll miss them when you’re at college.
This whole website is basically some variation of your post. Read this:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1878059-truthful-advice-about-getting-into-top-colleges-for-your-average-excellent-student-p1.html
can you recommend me some books to read that might help?
Read books YOU are interested in, that fuel YOUR interests and YOUR passions. There is no set path for admission to top tier schools.
Three kids in my daughter’s small HS class got into Ivy League schools. When I think of them, the word “enthusiastic” comes to mind. They just went full-tilt for the areas they were interested in. Took extra classes and also excelled in ECs - sports or music. I don’t think any of these kids, in 9th grade, said, “Hmm, what path do I need to take to get into an Ivy League school?” They were too busy excelling to worry about it!
yes i am doing that but are there any books you should read before attending an Ivy League College
No.
Not trying to sound horrid, but a kid destined for the Ivy League probably doesn’t need to ask this question.
@Lindagaf I don’t think so, this person sounds a lot like my daughter in 9th grade, albeit after visiting five Ivies and UChicago last summer she decided on UChicago as her first choice school where she’ll start this Fall…so no Ivy for her.
@CU123 So your daughter asked what books she should read and got into Chicago? Let the OP know what books she read then. He/she can follow her example.
The book to read: The Fiske Guide to Colleges. Lol.
And yes, the student needs to be well rounded. They don’t want a bunch of unilateral kids, each going in hs own direction. That’s another CC myth. Tippy tops can cherry pick kids with various accomplishments and a shown willingness to expand, try new things, develop new likes. Clinging to a “passion” doesn’t trump adding some wise other choices.
But no, I kinda agree with Lindagaf: the smart kids aren’t asking about a formula. They’re wiser, spend time trying to understand what the colleges say and show, then go from there.
@CU123 remember: No "dream"schools. Dreams aren’t what gets one in.
And believe us, kids change A LOT by spring of jr year, then to fall of senior, then to December 31.
@Lindagaf no, but as you said, you sound a little harsh on a 14 year old. Should someone have thought through all of this by the end of middle school??
@CU123 I am a realist. There was nothing harsh in either post. This student is a rising sophomore and I already provided a useful link.
And most of us are saying the same thing: There is no book that can help you. You have to follow your passion and REALLY excel at what you do. That’s just the way it is.
@CU123 I share @Lindagaf frustration that the OP persisted in asking the same question without reading the previous answers – that there is no formula for getting into an Ivy or equivalent school.
I would not recommend reading Fiske at this early state as a person can change academic interests, what he/she wants in a college etc. between 9th grade and when it is time to apply so IMO locking in on a group of colleges this early isn’t a great idea.
Looking for advice is what the OP was doing, not sarcasm. Any way, “On writing the college application essay” is a good book to read, along with how to be a “how to be a high school superstar”.