JUST THE FACTS ADMISSION TO THE IVIES AND OTHER HIGHLY SELECTIVE SCHOOLS. Agenda

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1 ADMISSION TO THE IVIES AND OTHER HIGHLY SELECTIVE SCHOOLS Agenda Who Is College Coach Just the Facts The Science and Art of Highly Selective Admissions Planning Ahead JUST THE FACTS 1

2 2016 Statistics Northwestern 10.7% Harvard 5.2% Princeton 6.5% Yale 6.3% Columbia 6.0% MIT 7.8% Stanford 4.7% At Harvard in 2016: 13,600 applicants scored 700+ on SAT Critical Reading 15,700 scored 700+ on SAT Math 13,600 scored 700+ on SAT Writing 3,300 ranked first in their high school classes They only admitted 2,106 of 39,041 applicants What is a Good Score? Averages Middle 50% Dartmouth 717 CR 722 M 32 ACT Penn CR M ACT Amherst 722 CR 726 M 32 ACT Princeton CR M ACT Wellesley 701 CR 691 M 31 ACT Yale CR M ACT What s True and What s Not? Ivy League = Guaranteed future success Only rich boarding schools kids are admitted You must be a recruited athlete or a legacy or a minority student to be admitted Colleges want geographic diversity so we should move to North Dakota Schools are recruiting for very specific unusual MYTHS interests like playing the tuba or archery Schools want students who are completely well-rounded Receiving an Ivy League brochure in the mail means they WANT me You must apply Early Decision to get in Quotas, quotas, quotas 2

3 THE SCIENCE OF HIGHLY SELECTIVE ADMISSIONS Decision Makers Readers Stakeholders Subjectivity Quantitative Factors Curriculum Grades Rank School group Test Scores 3

4 Academic Review Curriculum Choices Transcript Grades 10 School Setting School Group Know your context within the pool Rank matters, but #10 can be more compelling than #1 There are more than 18,000 high schools in the US alone High School Context Student first, school second Standardized Testing Very high scores: required, not sufficient SAT and SAT Subject Tests 730 and above ACT with writing Mid 30s composite AP Submit 5s Consider test prep 4

5 THE ART OF HIGHLY SELECTIVE ADMISSIONS Qualitative Factors Extracurricular achievements Essays Letters of Recommendation Interviews Hooks Distinguishing Excellence Extracurricular Achievements No magic bullet Depth and commitment > breadth Well-rounded versus well-lopsided The importance of leadership roles Significant and relevant summer opportunities 5

6 Essays What works Strong, engaging writing Unique topic Authenticity What doesn t Standard topics Inappropriate topics Borrowed sorrow Formal, stiff writing Shock value Supplemental Essays Your Interests The College s Interests Letters of Recommendation What is effective in a recommendation letter Who is effective as a recommendation writer? When is an extra letter appropriate? 6

7 Interviews MIT: Interviews are strongly recommended we admitted 10.8% of those who had an interview (or who had their interview waived) but only 1% of those who chose not to interview. Tufts: While not required, the Alumni interview enables students to highlight their interests and achievements and prospective students are encouraged to participate. Penn: Although not required for admissions, the Alumni interview can be a valuable source of learning about the University. Olin: Required for admissions. Interview Preparation Prepare a list of questions Be able to articulate why you and College X are a good fit Highlight what distinguishes you, excites you, engages you Be yourself Practice Hooks Distinguishing Excellence Legacy Underrepresented Students Development 7

8 Distinguishing Excellence The answer to these questions: How is this applicant unique? How will this applicant contribute? Why should I admit this applicant? Significant achievement in an academic or extracurricular area Continuous and demonstrable success at regional, national, or international level Developing a Distinguishing Excellence Pinpoint passion or talent Expand involvement in related activities Consider scope and impact Create an opportunity in this area Select an appropriate recommender PLANNING AHEAD 8

9 Start Now to Stand Out Later Make strong, challenging curricular choices Pursue significant summer activities Develop a distinguishing excellence Make a standardized testing plan, including test prep if needed Stay Engaged facebook.com/collegecoach getintocollege.com/getting-in news.getintocollege.com brighthorizons.com/ familymatters pinterest.com/collegecoachbh coll.coach/ collegecoachyoutube twitter.com/collegecoachbh linkedin.com/company/ college-coach Take advantage of your College Coach benefit at passport.getintocollege.com THANK YOU! 9