<p>My heart breaks for all the kids with Ivy dreams that fell through - you truly never know from one year to the next what any given school is looking for - trombone players? Lacrosse?Crew? It’s elusive what the magic combination will be. Sympathies aside, anyone who only applies to only Ivies without safeties doesn’t belong in an Ivy -these schools want intellect and talent, not hubris. Secondly, there’s more to college than Ivy Leagues - there’s an endless list of top tier schools and amazing state universities. Thirdly, what is your intended major? Did you apply to the best schools for that? Last, if you get waitlisted - TAKE IT! Then, go to your guidance counselor and have them find the name of the recruiter for your area and have him/her update the recruiter on your stellar credentials. Then contact friends or aquaintances who are alumni of that school and have them write letters to that recruiter on your behalf. Contact the person who did your alumni interview and see if they will do the same. Finally, you, the applicant, should write to that recruiter to tell them that you are ardently interested in being accepted into your dream school. My son had some great choices but got accepted off the waitlist for UPenn - so I speak from experience. </p>
<p>Some of the kids from my daughter’s school who were “shut out” are starting to get wait list spots. Vanderbilt let in one who had gone 0-for-Ivies. </p>