The Nation’s Most Prestigious Colleges and Universities

What is the Ivy League?

For many students, gaining admission to an “Ivy League” school is the pinnacle of academic accomplishment.  With some of the lowest acceptance rates in the country (ranging from 5% – 13%), Ivy League schools maintain the ability to select and educate the most talented students across the globe. The Ivies have a proven track record of producing the world’s most prestigious graduates in a variety of fields, including business, politics, entertainment, sports, medicine, art and law.  In fact, most of the recent US presidents attended an Ivy League school (George HW Bush: Yale, Bill Clinton: Yale, George W. Bush: Harvard, Barrack Obama: Columbia & Harvard, Donald Trump: University of Pennsylvania). While members of the Ivy League are committed to meeting full demonstrated financial need, they offer no athletic or merit scholarships. 

Despite being revered for academic excellence, admissions selectivity and rich traditions, the term “Ivy League” actually refers to an athletic conference that includes 8 private universities, most of which were founded during the Colonial Period.  Cornell is the exception on both accounts: it was founded in 1865, just after the Civil War, and is a land grant college that receives state funding for three of its seven undergraduate colleges.  The other members of the Ivy League are Brown, Columbia, Dartmouth, Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton, and Yale.  Although not formally designated as part of the Ivy League (or members of the athletic conference), Stanford and MIT are often discussed in the same group.

What Do Ivy League Schools Look For in Applicants?

As a graduate of not one, but two, Ivy League schools and an interviewer of many successful Ivy League applicants, Stef is very familiar with what these elite schools look for when making admissions decisions. It really comes down to one thing: they want students who will change the world in a positive way. That’s it. They want to educate people who will leave a lasting impact. So, how do they predict who these changemakers will be? Here are top 10 things that Ivy League schools look at to assess applicants:

  • Academics: How much have you challenged yourself academically and how have you performed
  • Contribution: What type of an impact have you made in your school or community?
  • Initiative: Have you demonstrated leadership in solving problems, creating opportunities or impacting organizations?
  • Curiosity: Have you found opportunities to pursue your interests outside of what has been handed to you?
  • Growth: How have you developed intellectually, emotionally and/or in your level of maturity?
  • Character: Are you someone I want as a roommate?
  • Passion: Do you care about something – anything — profoundly?
  • Opportunity: Will you take advantage of the resources, experiences, and people at my institution?
  • Teachability: Will you be open to learning and continuing your journey of growth?
  • The X Factor: What makes you stand out from all of the other smart, talented students who are applying?
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The Oracle of Oliver

You can prepare all you want, but if you never roll the dice you'll never be successful.
Shia Labeouf

Acceptance Rates for Class of 2022

School Acceptance Rate Acceptance Rate ED/EA Acceptance Rate RD Undergraduate Enrollment
Brown 9% 21.0% 7.1% 6,926
Columbia 6% 14.4% 4.7% 6,113
Cornell 13% 25.8% 11.0% 14,566
Dartmouth 10% 28.3% 8.5% 4,314
Harvard 5% 14.3% 3.4% 6,700
University of Pennsylvania 9% 22.0% 7.0% 10,019
Princeton 6% 15.4% 4.7% 5,400
Yale 7% 14.7% 4.7% 5,472
Stanford 5% 9.5% 3.5% 7,034
MIT 7% 7.8% 6.7% 4,524

Acceptance Rates for Class of 2022

Brown
Acceptance Rate
9%
Acceptance Rate ED/EA
21.0%
Acceptance Rate RD
7.1%
Undergraduate Enrollment
6,926

 

Columbia
Acceptance Rate
6%
Acceptance Rate ED/EA
14.4%
Acceptance Rate RD
4.7%
Undergraduate Enrollment
6,113

 

Cornell
Acceptance Rate
13%
Acceptance Rate ED/EA
25.8%
Acceptance Rate RD
11.0%
Undergraduate Enrollment
14,566

 

Dartmouth
Acceptance Rate
10%
Acceptance Rate ED/EA
28.3%
Acceptance Rate RD
8.5%
Undergraduate Enrollment
4,314

 

Harvard
Acceptance Rate
5%
Acceptance Rate ED/EA
14.3%
Acceptance Rate RD
3.4%
Undergraduate Enrollment
6,700

 

Princeton
Acceptance Rate
6%
Acceptance Rate ED/EA
15.4%
Acceptance Rate RD
4.7%
Undergraduate Enrollment
5,400

 

University of Pennsylvania
Acceptance Rate
9%
Acceptance Rate ED/EA
22.0%
Acceptance Rate RD
7%
Undergraduate Enrollment
10,019

 

Yale
Acceptance Rate
7%
Acceptance Rate ED/EA
14.7%
Acceptance Rate RD
4.7%
Undergraduate Enrollment
5,472

 

Stanford
Acceptance Rate
5%
Acceptance Rate ED/EA
9.5%
Acceptance Rate RD
3.5%
Undergraduate Enrollment
7,034

 

MIT
Acceptance Rate
7%
Acceptance Rate ED/EA
7.8%
Acceptance Rate RD
6.7%
Undergraduate Enrollment
4,524

Learn More About Our Coaching

We offer one-on-one coaching sessions for students in 8th through 12th grade, workshops for rising and current seniors as well as the self-paced program, The Complete Candidate™. Whether you’re preparing for the application process or you’re ready to begin, we can create a strategy to fit your needs. To get started today, call us at 469-751-7122 or schedule an appointment.

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