Attending and graduating from an Ivy League university carries a cachet that few things can on a resume.
Instructions
1. If you have a lot of money or your family has political connections or you are royalty, you may be able to skip the remaining steps.
2. Start in 8th grade, before you attend high school, visualizing your success strategy. If you wait until your junior or senior year of high school it may be too late.
3. Pick your path to excellence. Ivy League schools are looking for individuals that excel in one or more areas. If you have the brains to be the valedictorian of your high school class, then you should focus on academic excellence. If you are bright, but you have more talent in sports, then you may want to focus your efforts on becoming one of the top athletes in your state. But you don't have to be an academic or sports hero. For example, if you are able to write a symphony, start a wildly successful business, paint beautiful pictures then you may attract the eyes of an admissions officer.
4. Once you have picked your path to excellence, focus on it during your entire high school career, but don't neglect becoming a well-rounded individual. Schools can be turned off by people who are singularly focused.
5. Study like crazy for the SAT. The higher your score, the better your chances of being accepted. Start studying early, like your freshman or sophomore year. You can practice math problems or memorize vocabulary words. Take practice tests early and often.
6. Make sure to wildly impress a few people with clout. They will be the ones who write your recommendations. If they know an admissions officer personally, even better. If they are famous or have an outstanding position in the community it will carry more impact.
7. Think of why you are unique and what you have to contribute to the world. That will be important in developing your essays.
8. Apply to as many schools as you can (there are 8 Ivy League schools). You might get rejected by 7, but get accepted by 1.
9. Cross your fingers, pray, or do whatever else you can think of. Sometimes life isn't fair but other times it gives you a lucky break.
Tags: high school, admissions officer, League schools, path excellence, your path, your path excellence