Comments on: How to Get Into an Ivy League School http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/02/how-to-get-into-an-ivy-league-school/ Going From Good To Great Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:38:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Jasmine http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/02/how-to-get-into-an-ivy-league-school/#comment-27928 Jasmine Tue, 01 Nov 2011 02:23:38 +0000 http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/02/how-to-get-into-an-ivy-league-school/#comment-27928 I am a junior in high school with a like a 3.9 cumulative G.P.A. On my first quarter report card I got a 84 in AP English, 90 in AP Human Geography, 97in AP World History, and the rest A's in my regular classes. I haven't taken the SAT yet nor the ACT. I am the Drill Commander in J.R.O.T.C. and play softball. On some the weekends, I help out at Bladensburg Waterfront park. I'm also in the National Honors Society and has a talent in drawing buildings. What are my chances of getting into Princeton and how can I improve my chances? I am a junior in high school with a like a 3.9 cumulative G.P.A. On my first quarter report card I got a 84 in AP English, 90 in AP Human Geography, 97in AP World History, and the rest A’s in my regular classes. I haven’t taken the SAT yet nor the ACT. I am the Drill Commander in J.R.O.T.C. and play softball. On some the weekends, I help out at Bladensburg Waterfront park. I’m also in the National Honors Society and has a talent in drawing buildings. What are my chances of getting into Princeton and how can I improve my chances?

]]> By: Shelby http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/02/how-to-get-into-an-ivy-league-school/#comment-27754 Shelby Mon, 11 Jul 2011 06:13:38 +0000 http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/02/how-to-get-into-an-ivy-league-school/#comment-27754 Hi there! I'm Shelby, and I attend a public school in rural Georgia. I want to attend an Ivy League, but I worry about it a lot. Being at a small school, it only offers 4 AP Courses and one foreign language. I have maintained all A's throughout my high school career, though. Also, I managed to get enrolled in online classes and I'll take up to 4 more AP classes, and I've already taken two semesters of Latin online, coming out with high A's. I plan on taking Spanish my senior year, too. I've played soccer all of my years of high school and intend on playing through the rest of it. I've also done All-State choral programs and participate in the choral program at my school. I was on the AA State Championship One-Act Team my freshman year, and I also did a bunch of assorted clubs that I either cut out or were cut by the school. I was nominated for Governor's Honors in Lit but did not make it. I hope to make it next year. But I still worry, will this be even close to satisfactory? The few people I know who attended Princeton who came out of Georgia public schools did different things. One girl attended MIT summer programs, but attending pre-college programs is something I've looked into but cannot afford. Any advice? Thanks so much. Hi there! I’m Shelby, and I attend a public school in rural Georgia. I want to attend an Ivy League, but I worry about it a lot. Being at a small school, it only offers 4 AP Courses and one foreign language. I have maintained all A’s throughout my high school career, though. Also, I managed to get enrolled in online classes and I’ll take up to 4 more AP classes, and I’ve already taken two semesters of Latin online, coming out with high A’s. I plan on taking Spanish my senior year, too. I’ve played soccer all of my years of high school and intend on playing through the rest of it. I’ve also done All-State choral programs and participate in the choral program at my school. I was on the AA State Championship One-Act Team my freshman year, and I also did a bunch of assorted clubs that I either cut out or were cut by the school. I was nominated for Governor’s Honors in Lit but did not make it. I hope to make it next year. But I still worry, will this be even close to satisfactory? The few people I know who attended Princeton who came out of Georgia public schools did different things. One girl attended MIT summer programs, but attending pre-college programs is something I’ve looked into but cannot afford. Any advice? Thanks so much.

]]> By: Charlotte http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/02/how-to-get-into-an-ivy-league-school/#comment-27753 Charlotte Mon, 11 Jul 2011 06:01:45 +0000 http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/02/how-to-get-into-an-ivy-league-school/#comment-27753 I go to school in Georgia. Our school is sanitary and isn't made up of gangs, nothing but gangs. I go to school in Georgia. Our school is sanitary and isn’t made up of gangs, nothing but gangs.

]]> By: Maria http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/02/how-to-get-into-an-ivy-league-school/#comment-12787 Maria Sun, 14 Dec 2008 19:40:35 +0000 http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/02/how-to-get-into-an-ivy-league-school/#comment-12787 I know that this is pretty late, but I was wondering about the admission process. I was pretty high in my ranks in the beginning, but I had problems in my home during my junior year- and that really threw my year off (rank 43 out of 630 students). Will it help to explain that in my essay? I am also a minority, and my parents make very little money in comparison to my peers- I have recently received a letter from Columbia University telling me that they saw my college profile, and were wondering if I would be interested in their colleges- Do you think I should be a little hopeful towards making it? I am applying to many colleges as I can just in case. Please let me know what you think. Thank you! I know that this is pretty late, but I was wondering about the admission process. I was pretty high in my ranks in the beginning, but I had problems in my home during my junior year- and that really threw my year off (rank 43 out of 630 students). Will it help to explain that in my essay? I am also a minority, and my parents make very little money in comparison to my peers-
I have recently received a letter from Columbia University telling me that they saw my college profile, and were wondering if I would be interested in their colleges- Do you think I should be a little hopeful towards making it? I am applying to many colleges as I can just in case. Please let me know what you think.
Thank you!

]]> By: James http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/02/how-to-get-into-an-ivy-league-school/#comment-12383 James Sun, 07 Dec 2008 01:49:00 +0000 http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/02/how-to-get-into-an-ivy-league-school/#comment-12383 wait, I have a 3.2 GPA OVERALL! wait, I have a 3.2 GPA OVERALL!

]]> By: James http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/02/how-to-get-into-an-ivy-league-school/#comment-12382 James Sun, 07 Dec 2008 01:45:36 +0000 http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/02/how-to-get-into-an-ivy-league-school/#comment-12382 Well I need some advice here. Ok, here is my case. I am a student at a magnet high school currently in my Junior year. I am Indian (India) but I was born in the US, but my family moved to a lot of countries and we came back to the US when I got to the 5th Grade. I struggled my elementary school years but then my middle school years I made all A's. Then came high school, unlike most kids I never had an opportunity to go to a nice Public High school (most public high schools in Georgia are extremely unsanitary and full of gangs and nothing but gangs) so my parents told me that it would be best if I went to a Magnet School. My magnet school in on the top 20 when it comes to best schools in America. Well my 9th grade I did not know how magnet schools worked, so I kept on missing the honor roll (mostly by C's and I even made some F's which were in Spanish, I already knew Hindi extremely well). By the end of the year I had a B average in every class (in my school all classes are honors or supposed to be hard). My sophomore year I missed the honor roll but avoided getting any F's. I made good progress and my teachers were proud of me but still I was required to take Spanish 2, which I only made C's and B's on. Finally I am in my junior year of high school. They have changed the format, so now you do not have a 6 week grading period but only a 9 week grading period. So only 4 report cards go out unlike 6 from the past two years. I made AB honor roll on my recent report cards and I am taking an AP class (AP European which I have an A in). I have YET to take the SAT but on the college board preparation courses I usually get around 2000s to 1900s on the practice tests. I plan on doing some sports my senior year of high school. My current GPA in my CORE classes is a 2.8, my GPA overall is a 3.2 (not counting core classes). I speak Hindi and English fluently. So is it too late for me to get into an Ivy League school? Should I not apply at all? What can I do the rest of my Junior year and Senior year to give myself a shot at the Ivy League schools (be realistic here)? Well I need some advice here.

Ok, here is my case.
I am a student at a magnet high school currently in my Junior year. I am Indian (India) but I was born in the US, but my family moved to a lot of countries and we came back to the US when I got to the 5th Grade. I struggled my elementary school years but then my middle school years I made all A’s.

Then came high school, unlike most kids I never had an opportunity to go to a nice Public High school (most public high schools in Georgia are extremely unsanitary and full of gangs and nothing but gangs) so my parents told me that it would be best if I went to a Magnet School. My magnet school in on the top 20 when it comes to best schools in America.

Well my 9th grade I did not know how magnet schools worked, so I kept on missing the honor roll (mostly by C’s and I even made some F’s which were in Spanish, I already knew Hindi extremely well). By the end of the year I had a B average in every class (in my school all classes are honors or supposed to be hard).

My sophomore year I missed the honor roll but avoided getting any F’s. I made good progress and my teachers were proud of me but still I was required to take Spanish 2, which I only made C’s and B’s on.

Finally I am in my junior year of high school. They have changed the format, so now you do not have a 6 week grading period but only a 9 week grading period. So only 4 report cards go out unlike 6 from the past two years. I made AB honor roll on my recent report cards and I am taking an AP class (AP European which I have an A in). I have YET to take the SAT but on the college board preparation courses I usually get around 2000s to 1900s on the practice tests. I plan on doing some sports my senior year of high school.

My current GPA in my CORE classes is a 2.8, my GPA overall is a 3.2 (not counting core classes). I speak Hindi and English fluently.

So is it too late for me to get into an Ivy League school?
Should I not apply at all?
What can I do the rest of my Junior year and Senior year to give myself a shot at the Ivy League schools (be realistic here)?

]]> By: terrence http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/02/how-to-get-into-an-ivy-league-school/#comment-11715 terrence Thu, 20 Nov 2008 05:43:52 +0000 http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/02/how-to-get-into-an-ivy-league-school/#comment-11715 As I stated in my post, it is impossible to know if your involvement or lack of involvement is "good" or "bad". The most important thing to consider is depth, not breadth. Most colleges want you to show passion in something, not show that you can attend a different meeting every day of the week, but do no actual work. At this point, I'm not sure you can do anything given that you are a senior and your have or about to submit your application. So don't stress about it. If you worked hard, got good grades, and generally are a good person, you will get in somewhere. As I stated in my post, it is impossible to know if your involvement or lack of involvement is “good” or “bad”.

The most important thing to consider is depth, not breadth. Most colleges want you to show passion in something, not show that you can attend a different meeting every day of the week, but do no actual work.

At this point, I’m not sure you can do anything given that you are a senior and your have or about to submit your application. So don’t stress about it. If you worked hard, got good grades, and generally are a good person, you will get in somewhere.

]]> By: ceci http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/02/how-to-get-into-an-ivy-league-school/#comment-11669 ceci Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:10:27 +0000 http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/02/how-to-get-into-an-ivy-league-school/#comment-11669 Hi im a senior in a queens hs and I just finished sending out my secondary reports to 5 privates and cuny honors. I applied to columbia, upenn, nyu, brown, and cornell. Im not the brightest of the bunch and im asian too which worries me since as u mentioned before, they usually want a diverse amount of racial group and im sure plenty of asians are in ivys. I also know many are applyin for columbia and nyu as of fall 08. I took 4-5 aps, but as of scoring I only have 2 since I am taking 3 this year. Im worried that my extra curricular activies are also not enough because I don't do any inside of school. I only do things in church (but in church I participate in everything - pianist, group leader, music director, piano teacher, worship team member etc) and outside of church, I work a a piano teacher. Yet im in no clubs or teams as a result. Is it bad? Hi im a senior in a queens hs and I just finished sending out my secondary reports to 5 privates and cuny honors. I applied to columbia, upenn, nyu, brown, and cornell. Im not the brightest of the bunch and im asian too which worries me since as u mentioned before, they usually want a diverse amount of racial group and im sure plenty of asians are in ivys. I also know many are applyin for columbia and nyu as of fall 08. I took 4-5 aps, but as of scoring I only have 2 since I am taking 3 this year. Im worried that my extra curricular activies are also not enough because I don’t do any inside of school. I only do things in church (but in church I participate in everything – pianist, group leader, music director, piano teacher, worship team member etc) and outside of church, I work a a piano teacher. Yet im in no clubs or teams as a result. Is it bad?

]]> By: terrence http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/02/how-to-get-into-an-ivy-league-school/#comment-11592 terrence Sun, 16 Nov 2008 05:32:54 +0000 http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/02/how-to-get-into-an-ivy-league-school/#comment-11592 First off, I don't want to pretend I'm an expert on how to get into a top-tier Medical or Law program. I never tried to get into one, so you need to take anything I say with a grain of salt. I can only speak in generalities on this one, and not on your specific situation. I know several people who did get into Harvard Med or Harvard Law. They were all extremely smart people who took some of the hardest course AND got the best grades in those courses. You really can't trade one for the other. These schools are extremely competitive, even more so than the undergraduate programs, and only the best of the best are going to make it. You can't be the best if you don't do the best in the toughest of situations. Not to discourage you, but I also know people who went to school with me who had great grades in hard courses, and still didn't get in. There is really no secret formula here. As a baseline, you have to be extremely smart and talented, but there is nothing I can tell you that will allow to to stand out. In general, it is always best to aim high. The worse thing that can happen is that you don't get in. Believe me, it won't be the end of the world. There are many good medical and law schools, and if you are aiming for the best and fall just short, you should be a shoe in at any number of other schools which will also offer you a bright future. First off, I don’t want to pretend I’m an expert on how to get into a top-tier Medical or Law program. I never tried to get into one, so you need to take anything I say with a grain of salt.

I can only speak in generalities on this one, and not on your specific situation. I know several people who did get into Harvard Med or Harvard Law. They were all extremely smart people who took some of the hardest course AND got the best grades in those courses. You really can’t trade one for the other. These schools are extremely competitive, even more so than the undergraduate programs, and only the best of the best are going to make it. You can’t be the best if you don’t do the best in the toughest of situations.

Not to discourage you, but I also know people who went to school with me who had great grades in hard courses, and still didn’t get in. There is really no secret formula here. As a baseline, you have to be extremely smart and talented, but there is nothing I can tell you that will allow to to stand out.

In general, it is always best to aim high. The worse thing that can happen is that you don’t get in. Believe me, it won’t be the end of the world. There are many good medical and law schools, and if you are aiming for the best and fall just short, you should be a shoe in at any number of other schools which will also offer you a bright future.

]]> By: WESTCOAST http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/02/how-to-get-into-an-ivy-league-school/#comment-11550 WESTCOAST Sat, 15 Nov 2008 06:24:55 +0000 http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/02/how-to-get-into-an-ivy-league-school/#comment-11550 Okay, I'm a freshman at Baylor University and I'm stressing out a little about my grades. I was never a straight-A-student, as a matter of fact I got here by sher luck. My GPA all through high school was a 3.2, and my SATs were horrible but I was still very involved around campus, I was a class officer, a member of the National Art Society and some other stuff. I also took a fair amount of AP and honors classes in my junior and senior years. So here's my problem: I am a freshman, with a Biology major and Economics minor. I am also enrolled in Baylor's Interdisciplinary Core program within the Honors College. My classes are already really rigorous (especially in the honors college), hence my grades aren't even close to A's at the moment. I like the challenge posed by the interdisciplinary core program and it fits my learning styles too but, don't you think it might be better to take regular classes and try to make A's in those rather than remaining in this program? I've never made a 4.0 in my life, but I've set that as a goal for myself in college and another goal is to attend Harvard Medical or Harvard Law. Almost everyone else I know in the honors college is used to having perfect grades and are currently maintaining that standard. So now I wonder how I'll come close to that 4.0 benchmark with the kind of workload I have. I'm also involved in medical organizations around campus and I'm currently waiting to be appointed and confirmed to the Baylor Student Court. Obviously I have more to worry about than grades and it actually gets worse because I have to take much more difficult classes in the spring. I need help and advice. Let me know if you need clarification Okay, I’m a freshman at Baylor University and I’m stressing out a little about my grades. I was never a straight-A-student, as a matter of fact I got here by sher luck. My GPA all through high school was a 3.2, and my SATs were horrible but I was still very involved around campus, I was a class officer, a member of the National Art Society and some other stuff. I also took a fair amount of AP and honors classes in my junior and senior years.

So here’s my problem: I am a freshman, with a Biology major and Economics minor. I am also enrolled in Baylor’s Interdisciplinary Core program within the Honors College. My classes are already really rigorous (especially in the honors college), hence my grades aren’t even close to A’s at the moment. I like the challenge posed by the interdisciplinary core program and it fits my learning styles too but, don’t you think it might be better to take regular classes and try to make A’s in those rather than remaining in this program?

I’ve never made a 4.0 in my life, but I’ve set that as a goal for myself in college and another goal is to attend Harvard Medical or Harvard Law. Almost everyone else I know in the honors college is used to having perfect grades and are currently maintaining that standard. So now I wonder how I’ll come close to that 4.0 benchmark with the kind of workload I have. I’m also involved in medical organizations around campus and I’m currently waiting to be appointed and confirmed to the Baylor Student Court. Obviously I have more to worry about than grades and it actually gets worse because I have to take much more difficult classes in the spring.

I need help and advice. Let me know if you need clarification

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