So You Want To Go
To a Good or Ivy
League University?
The information you need to step ahead of the
crowd.
Ms. Devon Stafford; University Counselor
Agenda
• The future world
• Rankings
• What is the Ivy League?
• Highly selective admissions
• The Holistic review process
• How to stand out from other applicants
• Other considerations in admissions
• Six case studies
• How not to get in
• Advice
The Future World
Rankings
How Does Ranking Work?
 Categorized by their mission,
 The Carnegie classification, used extensively by
higher education researchers.
 organize their data and to determine colleges'
eligibility for grant money.
•
http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2014/09/08/how-us-news-calculated-the2015-best-colleges-rankings?page=2
National Universities,
• National Universities offer a full range of undergraduate majors, plus master's
and doctoral programs, and emphasize faculty research.
National Liberal Arts Colleges,
• National Liberal Arts Colleges focus almost exclusively on undergraduate
education. They award at least 50 percent of their degrees in the arts and
sciences.
Regional Universities
• Regional Universities offer a broad scope of undergraduate degrees and some
master's degree programs but few, if any, doctoral programs.
Regional Colleges
• Regional Colleges focus on undergraduate education but grant fewer than 50
percent of their degrees in liberal arts disciplines; this category also includes
schools that have small bachelor's degree programs but primarily grant twoyear associate degrees.
Regional Universities and Regional Colleges are further divided and ranked in four
geographical groups: North, South, Midwest and West.
The breakdown:
• Undergraduate academic reputation (22.5 percent):
• Retention (22.5 percent):
• Faculty resources (20 percent):
• Student selectivity (12.5 percent):
• Financial resources (10 percent):
• Graduation rate performance (7.5 percent):
• Alumni giving rate (5 percent):
What is the Ivy League?
Athletic league comprised of highly selective universities
• Brown University
• Harvard University
• Columbia University
• Princeton University
• Cornell University
• University of Pennsylvania
• Dartmouth College
• Yale University
Ivy Peers
Peer institutions listed by Harvard University:
Princeton
Stanford
Yale
The Ivy League’s elite crew (institutions the Ivies listed as their
peers, excluding other Ivies):
Amherst
Duke
Johns Hopkins
Northwestern
Stanford
Wash U
Chicago
Georgetown
MIT
Rice
Rochester
Williams
The Top Ranked colleges and universities by
peer selection:
1. Carleton College
2. Princeton University
3. Oberlin College
4. Stanford University
5. Yale University
6. Cornell University
7. Bowdoin College
8. Amherst College
9. Williams College
10. Swarthmore College
11. Middlebury College
12. University of
Michigan, Ann Arbor
13. Pomona College
14. The University of
Pennsylvania
15. Brown University
16. Harvard University
17. Wesleyan University
18. Columbia University
19. Massachusetts
Institute of Technology
(MIT)
20. University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign
21. University of
Wisconsin, Madison
22. Haverford College
23. Dartmouth College
24. Davidson College
25. Hamilton College
26. The University of
Chicago
27. Grinnell College
28. Ohio State University
29. Kenyon College
30. University of
California, Los Angeles
(UCLA)
Highly Selective Admissions
• Grades & rigor of curriculum
• Less than 20% admittance rate
• Essays & standardized tests
• Unique, interesting, likable
• Extracurricular activities & leadership
• Letters of Recommendation
• Usually there is a Holistic reading
Examples of Selective Schools:
• Vassar 8000 aps for 650 spaces admit rate of 20%1300 outside of
us apps
• Vanderbilt : 30000 for 1600 spaces *4 different admission
processes because they are in the colleges; 300 international
• 86000 apps for UCLA 5700 freshman 1600 are from outside of
state one app for all the UC scores so superscore SAT just highest
sitting score read apps twice and they are ranked
Academics is #1
• Key point is that being a strong academic is most important
• Strong Grades of mostly 7’s in IB for sure
• Robust overall GPA (grade Point Average) over 3 -3.5 years of HS
• Strong SAT or ACT scores
• Possible AP’s
• Majority of apps fall into the border zone
• Usually this is not what gets you into top selective schools
Comparisons to Look at:
SAT Scores
Reading
Math
Writing
25%
75%
25%
75%
25%
75%
Carnegie Mellon
630
730
680
780
640
740
Duke
660
750
690
780
670
770
Emory
640
740
670
760
650
750
Georgetown
640
750
650
750
-
-
Johns Hopkins
630
730
670
770
650
750
Northwestern
680
750
700
780
680
770
Notre Dame
660
750
680
770
-
-
Rice
650
750
680
780
650
760
Stanford
670
770
690
780
680
780
University of Chicago
700
790
700
780
-
-
Vanderbilt
680
770
700
780
670
760
Washington University
690
760
710
780
-
-
What are they Looking for?
• It is a zero sum and only so many spaces
• Wanting a broad diverse demographic
• Students have to clear the academic hurdle
• fit: for the school and what they are offering
• fit for the student: (including retention)
• Strong Extracurricular Engagement
• Most institutions are need aware for International students
• Are characteristics portrayed well in the full application profile?
• Families want the formula but there is no formula
IN BUILDING THE FRESHMAN CLASS:
• a balance of interests, talents, backgrounds, experiences, perspectives
and institutional priorities
• what does the applicant have that we want?
• rating system for each school these question frame the way they look
at the student
IN INDIVIDUALS:
• talent and motivation
• Engagement / Committment
• impact
• creativity
• leadership
Holistic Review
• Unis needs multiple sources of information to determine if the
student has the ability and character to be considered
• goes beyond the academics, rigor and scores and place them
in context
• Extra Curricular Activities- How engagement and meaningful
was the experience and the longevity of the experience beyond
CAS
• Teachers Recommendations
• Essay is so important
3 BEST QUALITIES ACTIVITY
• Write down three of your (or your child’s) best qualities on the
sticky notes
Either:
• Now Circle one that is unique
• Star one where you show leadership / initiative
Share
Essay:
Common App Questions:
•
Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their
application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
•
Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons
did you learn?
•
Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you
make the same decision again?
•
Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience
there, and why is it meaningful to you?
•
Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to
adulthood within your culture, community, or family.
SCHOOL QUESTIONS:
•
NYU is global, urban, inspired, smart, connected, and bold. What can NYU offer you, and what can
you offer NYU? (200-400 words)
•
Essay is so important: If you have two minutes to explain yourself to a stranger, how would you do it?
Teacher Recommendations
• Positive Behaviors and Attitudes shape the letters written
• Create a relationship with your teachers/ coaches
• Share what you are doing in your life
• Be a student teachers want to write a reference for
So What Now?
How to stand out from other
applicants
• Grades & standardized test scores – that is what they are looking for
• Geography
– Atlanta, GA vs. Princeton, NJ
• Unique academic interests or undersubscribed majors, demonstrated
interest
• Major
• Regional, state, or national competitions & awards
• Unique extracurricular activities
• Essays
• Strong Extended Essay in generated topics
Other considerations in admissions
• Legacy & 1st Generation
• Gender
• Ethnic diversity
• Internationalism
• Athletics recruitment
• Musical or artistic talent
Case study 1 - Harvard University
• Ranked top 1% at a middle-tier public suburban HS
• AP Calculus BC 5, World History 5, US History 5, European History 5,
Geography 5, Economics 5, Spanish 4, Chemistry 4, Government 4
• SAT: MA 770, CR 790, WR 800;
– SUBJECT TESTS: World History 750, European History 800, Math 800, Literature 740
• Interested in government & politics
• Accepted at Stanford, Columbia, U Chicago, Duke, Rice, UNC Chapel
Hill
• Rejected from Yale
Case Study 2 - Yale University
• 4.00 GPA at an International School
• All A’s in his A-level courses, continuing a second year in A-levels in 5
academic subjects
• SAT: MA 760, CR 760, WR 770;
• SAT Subject Tests: Math 800, Physics 800
• Interested in interdisciplinary studies between science, technology,
history
• Accepted at Notre Dame, UC Berkeley
• Waitlisted at Penn
• Rejected from Harvard, Princeton, MIT, Stanford, Dartmouth
How NOT to get in
• Do not visit colleges & demonstrate interest (interview)
• Do not treat others well in HS (recommendation letters)
• Do not come across as interesting or likable
• Do not take initiative
• Do not show academic focus
• Do not become a leader and show leadership potential
Advice from the Pros at Accept U
•
Start a personal file with activities
–
Include the number of hours per week & weeks per year, positions held
•
Get to know your school counselor & teachers
•
Do not be afraid to try & drop activities and look at sustaining activities
•
Start early in the process – 9 & 10
•
Work hard in classes & grades
•
Write strong & interesting essays
•
Take initiative & create a club or organization
•
Prepare for interviews
•
Demonstrate interest
•
Study for & complete testing requirements early, meet deadlines
Questions?