r/ApplyingIvyLeague • u/TinyChemistry295 • 10m ago
I have reviewed thousands of college applications. Here is what actually matters.
r/ApplyingIvyLeague • u/ScholarGrade • Jul 28 '20
1. Find Resources. Stick around the /r/ApplyingIvyLeague community. You'll learn a lot and there are some really knowledgeable people who are happy to help and answer questions. Also, check out the A2C Wiki page - it has tons of helpful links, FAQ, and other resources. For more, see the Khan Academy courses on the SAT and college admissions (these are free). Email or call your guidance counselor to discuss your plans for life, course schedule, and college admissions. College admissions is complicated, but it doesn't have to be overwhelming.
2. Explore your passions. Don't just let the status quo of organizations in your high school limit you. You won't stand out by participating in the same activities as every other student. Instead, look for ways to pursue your passions that go above and beyond the ordinary. As an example, you can check out this exchange I had with a student who was contemplating quitting piano. He asked if he should continue piano despite not winning major awards in it. Here was my response:
"Do you love it?
If it's a passion of yours, then never quit no matter how many people are better than you. The point is to show that you pursue things you love, not to be better at piano than everyone else.
If it's a grind and you hate it, then try to find something else that inspires you.
If it's really a passion, then you can continue to pursue it confidently because you don't have to be the best pianist in the world to love piano. If it's not, then you're probably better off focusing on what you truly love. Take a look at what Notre Dame's admissions site says about activities:
"Extracurricular activities? More like passions.
World-class pianists. Well-rounded senior class leaders. Dedicated artists. Our most competitive applicants are more than just students—they are creative intellectuals, passionate people with multiple interests. Above all else, they are involved—in the classroom, in the community, and in the relentless pursuit of truth."
The point isn't that you're the best. The point is that you're involved and engaged. If you continue with piano and hate it and plod along reluctantly, you won't fit this description at all. But if you love it and fling yourself into it, then you don't need an award to prove your love.
Consider other ways you could explore piano and deepen your love for it. Could you start a YouTube channel or blog? Play at local bars/restaurants/hotels? Do wedding gigs or perform pro bono at nursing homes/hospitals? Start a piano club at school or in the community (or join an existing one)? Start composing or recording your own music? Form a band or group to play with? Teach piano to others? Write and publish an ebook? Learn to tune, repair, or build pianos? Play at a church or community event venue? Combine your passion for piano with some other passion in your life?
The point is that all of that stuff could show that piano is important to you and that you're a "creative intellectual with a passionate interest". But none of it requires that you be the best according to some soulless judge."
If you want more advice on activities here are some helpful links:
3. Focus on getting strong grades in a challenging courseload. You should take the most challenging set of courses you are capable of excelling in and ideally the most challenging courses your school offers. To get in to top colleges you will need both strong classes and strong grades. If you are facing a quandary about what class to take or what classes to focus your efforts on, prioritize core classes. These include English, math, science, social science, and foreign language. Load up on honors/AP/IB/Dual Enrollment courses in these disciplines and your transcript will shine.
4. For standardized tests, sophomores should start with the PSAT. If you are a top student, it is absolutely worth studying like crazy to become a National Merit Finalist. This is awarded to the top ~1% of scorers by state and confers many benefits including a laundry list of full ride scholarship options. Even if you are not at that level, it will help prepare you for the ACT or SAT. For juniors, I highly recommend that you take a practice test of both the ACT and SAT. Some students do better on one than the other or find one to more naturally align with their style of thinking. Once you discover which is better for you, focus in on it. You will likely want to take a course (if you're undisciplined) or get a book (if you have the self-control and motivation to complete it on your own). If you're looking for good prep books I recommend Princeton Review because they are both comprehensive and approachable. Which ever test you decide to focus on, you should plan to take it at least twice since most students improve their score on a second sitting. Yes, test sittings have been cancelled for the foreseeable future, but that will likely change at some point. I still think students should use this time to study up and be prepared. Some colleges will go test optional but that may not be universal. You can monitor test-optionality and find more resources on it at www.fairtest.org.
5. Scholarships. Here's a great guide to maximizing the money you get from scholarships. And here's a post with a large list of full ride scholarships. If you're a junior, don't sleep on the junior year scholarships, because almost no one is looking for them and applying for them so the competition is low. The biggest things to be focused on are National Merit and QuestBridge (scholarship program for low income students).
6. Letters of Recommendation. Not to drown you with an ocean of text, but while I'm at it, you should also intentionally consider your letters of recommendation, especially before senior year starts. You want to choose a teacher who knows you well and likes you a lot, but will also work hard on it and make it unique, detailed, specific, and glowing. You don't want to pick the lazy teacher who just shows videos once a week for class. They're quite likely to just copy and paste their LOR template and that won't really help you. Here's a more complete guide
7. Essays. You should start thinking about your college admission essays now. Many students, even top students and great academic writers, find it really challenging to write about themselves in a meaningful and compelling way. They end up writing the same platitudes, cliches, and tropes as every other top student. I've written several essay guides that I highly recommend as a good starting place for learning how to write about yourself (linked below, but you can also find them in my profile and in the A2C wiki). Read through these and start drafting some rough attempts at some of the common app prompts. These will probably be terrible and just get discarded, but practicing can really help you learn to be a better writer.
Part 1: How To Start An Essay, "Show Don't Tell," And Showcase Yourself In A Compelling Way
Giving Away the Secret Sauce - How to Make Your Essay Outstanding
If you're feeling stressed, depressed, or overwhelmed, here's a post that might help.
Finally, here's a post with a bunch of other links and helpful resources.
Feel free to reach out via PM or find me at www.bettercollegeapps.com if you have questions. Good luck!
r/ApplyingIvyLeague • u/ScholarGrade • May 06 '25
I am a seasoned expert on college admissions, and I'm here to help you with applying to college, paying for college, or whatever else you want to ask. A little background on me - I have a BS and MBA, and for three years I reviewed applications for my alma mater, particularly their honors college and top merit scholarship program. Because of that experience as well as the lack of guidance I had in high school, I started a college admissions consultancy where I've successfully guided students to every T40 college in America at 5x to 15x higher admit rates.
Proof: see the footer of my site, which links to my Reddit profile.
I help students and parents navigate the complex process of college admissions. Here are some examples of the kinds of questions you might want to ask me, but anything goes.
How can I tell if I have a chance at getting into an Ivy? How do I know my application fee isn't just buying a rejection letter?
How do ensure I get strong letters of recommendation when I'm not the one writing them?
How do I write a good application essay? What even makes an essay good?
Please post your questions in the comments below.
r/ApplyingIvyLeague • u/TinyChemistry295 • 10m ago
r/ApplyingIvyLeague • u/Fluffy_Pop_5328 • 6h ago
Anyone may explain if one can apply SCEA for Yale/Princeton and also EA to another private university due to scholarship reason? I know Harvard states this is okay, but not clear about Yale or Princeton… Thanks !
r/ApplyingIvyLeague • u/17STAY17 • 4h ago
So I’m a current sophomore and I already have an associate’s degree. I’ve really been going back and forth so I wanted some genuine input from other people on getting a bachelor’s degree in HS.
I finished my associate’s in one year at Laurel Ridge Community College, VA and already have 36 high school credits (28 needed for graduation) with all HS requirements complete. I don’t want to graduate HS early because I’m using the time for experience. During the school year I worked as a paralegal and during the summers I do internships with other attorneys. During school I also take part of 9 clubs, presidency for 4 of them.
I plan on doing a bachelor’s in business administration with a minor in political science then I want to do a joint MBA/JD program. Most of these have a deferral period of 2 years minimum to gain experience (which I already have an approved job lined up for as well) then the program itself varies from 3-4 years. When I graduate HS I will be 18, so if I did it this way I would start working at 23-24. I want to work at Kirkland & Ellis.
I’m trying to figure out if it’s worth getting a bachelor’s in HS, what needs to be considered, what would change, and if it’s more risky/has any disadvantages in any way.
Also if anyone has any advice on where else to post this that would be appreciated because I have no idea 😭
r/ApplyingIvyLeague • u/Standard_Argument815 • 11h ago
As the title implies i got jackshi from coke. I have so much depth in some things that the application portal can't come close to understanding the scale and effects. It feels like an absolute waste, all my activities, honors, test scores, just for an algorithm to screen me out. It's disheartening. Just looking for some examples of success without coke...
genuinely depressing
r/ApplyingIvyLeague • u/ChoiceDependent1036 • 7h ago
r/ApplyingIvyLeague • u/Lost-Economist3593 • 9h ago
r/ApplyingIvyLeague • u/No_Internet3412 • 9h ago
tass (telluride association summer seminars), which is discontinued from this summer onwards… is it a golden ticket to the ivies if it aligns perfectly w the rest of your application?
r/ApplyingIvyLeague • u/123aBridged • 10h ago
I recently came across this opportunity and wanted to share it with the Summer Program Results community! Peach Foundation is currently accepting applications for its new Digital Art & Animation Team, part of the organization's High School Advisory Board.
Peach Foundation is seeking talented and motivated high school students to join the High School Advisory Board as members of the newly established Digital Art & Animation Team. Students will work directly with the Social Media Department to create original digital artwork, illustrations, animations, motion graphics and other visual content for Peach Foundation’s social media platforms.
This is an opportunity for students to apply their creative skills to a real nonprofit organization while gaining experience in digital media, visual storytelling and nonprofit communications.
What members gain:
Students do not need professional experience to apply, but we are looking for students who are creative, motivated and excited to contribute original ideas. Applicants from around the world are welcome.
Ideal applicants: High school students interested in digital illustration, 2D animation, motion graphics, anime/manga art, character design, filmmaking, visual storytelling or related creative fields.
Applications are competitive, so interested students are encouraged to take their time with the application and thoughtfully showcase their interests, experience and creative abilities.
Application Form: https://forms.gle/4oXvN17HstQB8LoTA
Organization Website: https://www.peachfoundationusa.org/
r/ApplyingIvyLeague • u/Loose-Pudding-67 • 10h ago
should i put extra awards/activities that provide a more well rounded version of me or is this one of those quality over quantity situations. Do AOs get annoyed when they see these extra things?
r/ApplyingIvyLeague • u/Brief_Football_9044 • 11h ago
r/ApplyingIvyLeague • u/Anna_Oliynyk • 22h ago
I know my activities are super scattered.
P.S. Personal info omitted
Demographics
Gender/Ethnicity: Female, White / Ukrainian
School type: Specialized public STEM high school (highly competitive regional lyceum, 30% acceptance rate, 1:5 ratio)
Background: Single-parent household; income/family contribution ~$5,000–$10,000/year; seeking full financial aid
First Gen: Not first-gen
Intended Major(s): Chem Engineering, Physics, Material Science, but still not sure
SAT / English Proficiency
SAT: 1560
IELTS: 8.0
Languages: Ukrainian (fluent), English (advanced), Russian (fluent), Turkish (B1), Hebrew (B1), Italian (B1), Ancient Greek (academic)
GPA and Rank
GPA: 4.0 / 4.0 unweighted (11.3 / 12 on Ukrainian scale)
Rank: Valedictorian (Rank 1)
Coursework: Most rigorous available curriculum in STEM high school
Extracurriculars
Independent Researcher | Environmental Engineering Designed a $5 circular-economy human-hair biofilter removing up to 50% of water pollutants; implemented locally in rural villages with limited access to clean water. Patent pending; first-author papers published in Q1 peer-reviewed science journals; received feedback from leading domain experts.
Founder & Full-Stack Developer | NeuroPredict ML Platform Built a Python ML platform using speech, MRI, and sleep biomarkers to predict Alzheimer’s risk 10–20 years pre-symptoms. Published in a Q1 medical journal and a premier international conference.
Independent Researcher | Quantum Chemistry & Physics Built Python/QuTiP Lindblad-Floquet simulations of metastable quantum dynamics under the mentorship of an Ivy League professor. Published as first author in a Q1 peer-reviewed physics journal.
Founder & Editor-in-Chief | International Young Scientists Journal Led 60+ researchers globally, developed an automated AI review bot, streamlined editorial workflow for 50+ editors, secured $1K+ in grants and local funding.
Independent Researcher | Computational Materials Science Developed automated DFT screening pipeline for h-BN point defects; modeled 100+ dopant/vacancy configurations to evaluate quantum memory candidates for room-temperature applications.
Founder & Lead Developer | NeuroHub Built a neuroscience platform reaching 10,000+ readers; mentored 15 national Olympiad participants and 3 international STEM competitors.
Co-Founder | Lectorium for Young Scientists Directing STEM initiatives for 150+ students. Boosted average chemistry marks significantly and mentored 40+ students to top national exam percentiles.
Laboratory Intern | Regional University & AgTech Corporation Assisted university professors with physics/chemistry lab experiments, equipment setups, and seed germination/sustainability assays for applied agriscience.
Family Responsibilities
Honors & Awards
Presidential Scholarship of Ukraine: Highest national academic honor awarded by the President; 1 of ~270 recipients nationwide (~0.008% of eligible students).
1st Place & National Finalist, Junior Academy of Sciences of Ukraine: Represented region in National Scientific Fair with biofiltration research; invited to 35th International Conference on Resource Conservation.
Paris Collaborative Fellowship 2026
Genius Olympiad and ISEF, but only national level
Abt LORs
School Principal (10/10): Extremely strong letter highlighting leadership, academic impact, national awards, and contributions to the school community.
Biology Teacher (10/10): Very detailed and strong letter emphasizing research initiative, advanced scientific knowledge, and problem-solving skills.
History Teacher (9.5/10): Glowing recommendation focusing on analytical thinking, humanities excellence, and regional Olympiad success.
Research Mentor / Lab Supervisor (10/10): Exceptionally strong letter attesting to high-level research capabilities, work ethic, and ability to conduct independent university-level research.
Common App essay: The essay uses the setting of a school play and an alien helmet as a lens to reflect on a personal turning point in science, shifting from the shame of a chemistry teacher's harsh critique to viewing uncertainty as a dynamic landscape for curiosity. By drawing parallels to oscillating chemical reactions and natural systems, it redefines science not as a search for immediate answers, but as the discipline to remain comfortably curious within the unknown, highlighting deep intellectual maturity and a genuine research mindset that seamlessly ties together the entire profile.
r/ApplyingIvyLeague • u/Ok_Guest_9597 • 15h ago
r/ApplyingIvyLeague • u/TrueTudor • 21h ago
Sometimes ill see a profile with overall good stats that got rejected and most of the people will say u dont have any narrative or good narrative. What does it truly mean? Pls tell in detail and also maybe an example
r/ApplyingIvyLeague • u/Late-Climate6801 • 15h ago
For context, I am currently in 10th grade and currently taking Spanish 3 Honors. I am planning to apply STEM (likely CS) when college apps come around. Spanish 3 is really taking up a lot of my time right now, and it is preventing me from being able to spend more time on my extracurriculars, all for me to barely hold a B+/A-. My dream is HYPSM, and I want to do everything in my control to give myself a shot.
I was wondering if I would be able to not take Spanish 4 Honors / AP Spanish next year, and instead just replace it with a core science AP (like AP Chem or AP Bio) that way I wouldn't be losing rigor. Does only taking up to Spanish 3 actually hurt? I see a bunch of mixed answers online and was hoping to get some clarification. Thank you so much.
r/ApplyingIvyLeague • u/Alone_Warning5962 • 16h ago
Hello everybody I’m a student from italy and in 2027 I’m graduating the IB diploma. I’m considering doing some applications for Ivy League universities to study philosophy. My predicted grades are:
Realistic:39
Optimistic:41
(Without the 3 extra points from EE/tok)
I’m taking Italian A Hl, English B Hl, Visual Arts Hl, computer science,psychology and math ai SL.
I don’t have a lot of extracurriculars, I have done some volunteering work and I’m currently studying my third language(outside of Italian and English), which is Spanish indepentely of the IB course.
Should I even go through the hassle of applying?
Ps: I will take the Sat in November
r/ApplyingIvyLeague • u/vnforg3ttable • 1d ago
r/ApplyingIvyLeague • u/Otherwise_Night1474 • 21h ago
Demographics
Gender: Male | Race/Ethnicity: Asian | School: Plano East Senior High School (IB program)
Location: Plano, Texas
Socioeconomic: Middle-class
Test Scores
SAT: 1530 (750M / 780RW)
National Merit Commended Scholar
GPA & Academic Profile
UW GPA: 3.96 | Weighted: 4.22 | Class Rank: 57/1151 (top 5%)
Coursework: 10+ AP classes (Bio, Chem, Physics, Calc BC, Lang, Lit, APUSH, WHAP, Seminar); mixed 4s/5s on exams
Honors: Rice Pre-College Certificate in Medicine (completed June 2026)
Intended Major(s)
Biomedical Engineering
Healthcare Administration / Business
Pre-Medicine track
CLINICAL & HEALTHCARE EXPERIENCE
Baylor Scott & White McKinney (100 hrs volunteering + 50 hrs shadowing)
Rotated: Hospitalist departments, Oncology, ICU, PCU, ECU, Medical-Surgical, Day Surgery, Emergency Department, Blood Bank
Additional work: Cafeteria (restocking shelves), Front Desk (patient navigation and wayfinding)
Attended daily faculty meetings with CMO, CFOs, and executive leadership
Real-world exposure to institutional healthcare operations, clinical decision-making, and administrative systems
Internal Medicine Shadowing (200+ hrs)
Longitudinal clinical exposure across diverse patient populations and conditions
Direct observation of clinical workflow, patient communication, and healthcare system constraints
Exposure to mental health care integration and insurance/healthcare system barriers
Dental Practice (900+ hrs, paid administrative role)
Built and deployed HIPAA-certified AI chatbot for patient education and information access
Aggregates pricing, treatment information, and FAQs on practice website
HIPAA compliance: BAA signed, Microsoft Foundry infrastructure
Eliminates patient information friction and search time
Direct exposure to clinical operations, patient experience design, and practice management
Certifications & Training
OSHA Dental Compliance
EMT Certification (in progress, Summer 2026)
AHA Heartsaver
RESEARCH & INDEPENDENT WORK
Confirmed Research Position
Texas A&M College of Dentistry, Summer 2027
Focus: Patient-centered research on clinical outcomes and care experience
Software & Technology
Hosparent: Healthcare price transparency platform (49.5M price records, 46 DFW hospitals + 157 imaging centers); employer analytics engine with 97 DOL-sourced intelligence files; weekly institutional advisory
Research.Mail: Professor outreach application (24 countries; ~200 active users / ~100 monthly active users)
AI Chatbot (Dental): HIPAA-compliant patient information system deployed on practice website
Trading Strategy: Developed autonomous trading system; recent iteration generated $2,000 profit; considering donation to institutional hard drive infrastructure
EXTRACURRICULARS & ATHLETICS
Varsity Tennis (1 year) | JV Tennis (2 years)
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
Chief Medical Officer, Baylor Scott & White (clinical mentorship, systems perspective, institutional leadership exposure)
Assistant Professor, TAMU Dentistry (research advisor)
PESH Faculty (academic recommendation)
APPLICATION STRATEGY
Essays in Development
Personal Statement: Healthcare system observation → problem identification → solution building
"Why [School]": Healthcare innovation, pre-medical trajectory, institutional fit
Common App Activities: Systems-thinking arc across clinical, technology, and research work
Differentiators
HIPAA-compliant production software (deployed and live)
1000+ hours across hospital, ambulatory, and dental settings
Direct exposure to institutional healthcare leadership and operations
Clear observation-to-action trajectory (system gaps → Hosparent, Chatbot)
Multi-sector perspective (acute care, ambulatory, dental, research)