What do you recommend I do to improve my chances? Hopeful IVY-er!!!

Applying to College
1

Hey guys! I am currently a junior and am wondering what you think I could add/do in order to be accepted at an Ivy League school. I haven’t decided which one I am going to apply ED to yet, but I’d love for feedback from the CC community. I am also interested in applying to Barnard, Wellesley, Williams, Hamilton and a few other LA schools.

Stats etc (very vague!)
-so far, I have been scoring 34-35s on practice ACTs. I took the real thing Saturday so I hope it went well!
-I grew up abroad (until I was 15) so I think that’s kind of a hook?
-I volunteer at a local refugee center and am very involved
-I am on the Math Team and in the MHS
-I am a founder of the Gender Equality Club at my school
-I am in a sexual and domestic violence prevention club at my school
-I work 8 hours a week at a boutique and have a fashion blog as well as an academic blog with all my notes etc for classmates to use
-I am also disabled (not sure if that’s a hook)
-I have a 4.0 and take all honors/AP classes (last year I took 1 AP, this year I am taking 4, and next year I’ll take 6)
-I got an 800 on the german sat2 and a 750 on the world history sat2 (plan on taking more this year and getting higher scores than the world)
-I got an AP world history award last year
-I am the student producer of the musical and on stage crew

Basically, I am hoping you could advise me on other activities I could do/things I could start to improve my chances! Thanks!

2

Not a hook, but may be essay fodder.

3

I don’t think there’s anything specific you can do other than continue to pursue the things you enjoy and keep those grades where they are. Agree with the other poster–living abroad and having a disability aren’t hooks but they ARE great fodder for essays/supplements where you can demonstrate unique qualities or experiences you might bring to a school. My chief advice would be to start working on your essays ASAP (Spring/Summer) so you’re ahead of the 8-ball on them. Great essays take time & lots of revision, and I’ve seen a lot of kids start rather late (in October right before ED apps, for example) put together sloppy essays and run out of time to revise them and/or start over if the first crack isn’t right. I also advise NOT just showing them to your parents/teachers because they often don’t have the best perspective on what will stand out at Ivies. (post ED deferrals/rejections I’ve read a few that I wish I’d gotten my hands on earlier!)

4

The best thing you can do for yourself is ask WHY you want to go to “an Ivy League school.” All the Ivies are very different. Where do you want to go? What is it offering you that you can’t find anywhere else? And why limit yourself to that one conference? All the other schools you mentioned are very good as well, and while they’re reaches for everyone, your stats will at least give you a shot at them. Pick an EA/ED school based on fit, not because it’s an Ivy.