| Ivy League schools look for careers, not another "I | | | | 1) Connect with friends or people you've met that go |
| went to Sri Lanka to build homes" college essay | | | | to your target schools. You can talk about these |
| Very very important. Just because you went to | | | | conversations in your essays and college admissions |
| Africa for 2 months to promote AIDs awareness | | | | interviews, and you'll learn more about the university |
| does not make you a global citizen. It does not make | | | | during the process |
| you a committed public servant. You need to show | | | | 2) Ask the admissions office to speak with student |
| more than short stints like that to impress admissions | | | | ambassadors. Sometimes they'll refer you to current |
| offices. | | | | undergraduates who are willing to speak with |
| So just because you have one impressive highlight, I | | | | high-potential applicants |
| wouldn't focus too much on it. After all, that | | | | Ivy League schools look for a good fit |
| volunteer trip to Sri Lanka was 2 months. You've | | | | Culture matters. Every school is different - think |
| been in high school for 4 years - what else do you | | | | Princeton vs Yale, Columbia vs Cornell. Clearly they |
| have to show? | | | | have different student bodies, different histories, |
| It's much better to talk about commitments that | | | | different strengths, and so forth. Sometimes you |
| you've had for many years, where over time you've | | | | may just be a great fit for one school and not |
| gradually built up a record of achievements. It shows | | | | another - depending on your passions, your |
| schools like Yale that you really care about a | | | | accomplishments, where you're from, and the |
| particular topic, and you're not just resume-padding | | | | personality of your college essays. |
| for college admissions. | | | | A good fit is important - if you care enough, it's |
| Ivy League schools look for a balanced class, not | | | | important to tailor your college essays to each school. |
| perfectly balanced students | | | | As an example, if you apply to Wharton I would |
| I've said this again and again. Colleges may want a | | | | focus on your interest in global business. Princeton |
| well-rounded class, but they certainly don't need | | | | loves worldly people who have artistic and athletic |
| every student to be perfectly well-rounded | | | | strengths, so play to those in your Princeton app. |
| Renaissance men and women. | | | | Customize and stand apart in college admissions! |
| 99% of applicants do it wrong. Why? Because they | | | | Ivy League schools look for a lifelong record of |
| want to be good at everything. As a result, they | | | | achievement, not one lucky year |
| have no focus, no personality, no clear story of why | | | | This is extremely important. You can't expect to |
| they deserve to go to an Ivy League school. | | | | have a great freshman year and then slack off the |
| While it's important to do well in most areas (such as | | | | rest of high school. Simultaneously, you can't expect |
| academics, standardized tests, and high school | | | | to have a bad freshman year and think that by |
| extracurriculars), you need to focus on one or two | | | | working harder the next 3 years, you'll get into |
| areas where you're really passionate, whether | | | | Stanford. You need to always be working hard - |
| science or math, painting or calligraphy, wrestling or | | | | while you can make up for occasional lapses, you'll |
| waterboarding. Try to be the best in the world at | | | | need to DOUBLE your efforts. |
| that one thing! I guarantee your chances of getting | | | | My general advice is that you need to start early, |
| into Harvard will be much higher. | | | | and you need to show a consistent record of |
| Ivy League schools look for demonstrated interest | | | | success over the years in everything - from |
| Demonstrated interest is important - so visit the | | | | academics to extracurriculars, from athletics to |
| campus if you can. If you can't, here are a few | | | | community service. |
| things you can do: | | | | |