This post wraps up the first half of a two-part discussion on Ivy League admissions. Many call the halls of higher education the “Ivory Tower.” This figure of speech portrays universities as ceremonial structures (towers). Those towers allow their inhabitants the intellectual elevation necessary to attain the highest, most valuable academic pursuit: acquiring knowledge for the sake of knowledge. If we lean into that metaphor, an Ivy League College would be the allegorical golden cathedrals towering over their ivory neighbors. Hence, these eight universities are among the most exclusive institutions in the world.
It’s no wonder many thousands of individuals apply to attend them each year. Tragically, of the sea of students who apply, few enter. Depending on how you look at it, the average student has a higher chance of getting struck by lightning than getting into an Ivy League college. Thus, getting into an Ivy League is a crowning achievement for those who somehow swing it. And many parents harbor hopes that their kids just might make the marks necessary to get in. They see their children fitting into those elite New England Campuses like a jewel on a crown.
Most who apply are promptly rejected, but those who are accepted follow a certain formula. That doesn’t mean that if a student follows said formula that they’re guaranteed admission. Contrastingly, not following that template works against you. So, in this series, we describe that formula.
As the title shows, this is part of an ongoing discussion. In this segment of our Ivy League deep dive, we explored the following Ivy League Admissions Topics:
How Do I Get Into the Ivy League?
Any student can apply to an Ivy League University. But, as we’ve already mentioned, few get in. Why is that? Sure, these schools utilize the most demoralizing and competitive admissions requirements in the world. And those requirements are staggering.
Consider former Standford admissions team member Rachel Collins’ words on the matter:
Overachievers are no longer the most coveted candidates. Even if they were, who among us wants to complete with 29,000 valedictorians, 29,000 salutatorians, 29,000 student body presidents, or 29,000 editors-in-chief of school newspapers.[1]
In our “How Do I Get Into the Ivy League Admissions Guide,” we attempt to learn who gets in. While you’d be better off reading the article, one of the ultimate lessons we learned from our analysis centers around student impact. By student impact, we mean just that: meaningfully influencing or progressing the world or a group of people.
For example, it’s one thing for a student to know how to code. It’s another to make an app that helps members of your community better predict the bus routes during rush hour. Do you like non-profit management? Good for you! However, it’s far more appealing to an Ivy League institution for you to have a website of your nonprofit with a blog that showcases the impact you’re making in your community.
However, it’s beyond challenging for students to start and methodically complete these projects strategically. So many of these projects involve students answering the crucial question of “How do I pick my college major?” To determine a student’s major, one must also answer the following questions and put in the work that answering them requires:
As you can tell, the Ivy League wants self-aware students and a smorgasbord of other redeeming qualities. As such, tens of thousands of applications get the “Return to Sender” stamp. Meanwhile, only a few make the cut.
But what is “the cut?” Or, in other words, what do Ivy League Schools look for in students or applicants? This article dissects what leading admissions experts and former Ivy League admissions officers have said while answering those same questions. Read the guide for a thorough breakdown of how you can use these methods.
How to Get Into Cornell: Ivy League Guide
What does Cornell want in their incoming Freshman? The same thing any Ivy League University wants. In our Guide to Getting into Cornell, we put it this way:
What do Colleges want the next generation of leaders and innovators? They want students who will change the world in ten or twenty years and have long, exhaustive Wikipedia pages detailing that impact. They want the brilliant and brightest, who think like geniuses and work like dutiful and diligent dogs. They want students with integrity, hearts boiling with goodwill, and a relentless devotion to ending suffering. Cornell wants this and more. Cornell wants students with a fusion of these qualities: the innovative philanthropist, the kind genius, the technological prodigy, and the ethical billionaire. In short, they want high school students who are living machines with the souls of saints.[2]
Pardon the hyperbole. However, that assessment approximates the truth. Even with the highest acceptance rate among the eight Ivy League Colleges, Cornell demands perfection from their applicants. Just look at the following average admissions stats:
- Acceptance Rate: 8%
- Average SAT Score: 1480–1550
- Average ACT Score: 33–35
This admissions data[3] illustrates the steep competition if you’re serious about applying. However, not all hope is lost. In our Cornell, we look at Cornell’s admissions trends, campus life, and other variables that allow you to determine if you could potentially attend this elite college.
How to Get Into Harvard: Ivy League Guide
Harvard comes to mind when you think of an Ivy League college. It houses one of the greatest Law Schools in the world, which also happens to be the oldest law school in the US.[4] Located in Boston, MA, Harvard possesses one of the lowest college acceptance rates in the world.
- Acceptance Rate: 3%
- Average SAT Score: 1470
- Average ACT Score: 34 (31-36)
As you can tell, test scores matter. Don’t think about applying test-optional for Harvard. With a 3% acceptance rate, most students have a chance, but a small one. Read our Guide on how to Get Into Harvard to learn more.
How to Get Into UPenn: Ivy League Guide
UPenn houses one of the most celebrated business colleges in the world. The Wharton School of Business alone has produced 17 billionaires[5] (not too shabby). And that’s just one of their programs. Speaking of College, UPenn has four colleges:
- The College of Arts and Sciences
- The School of Nursing
- Penn Engineering
- The Wharton School
If you’re interested in strategizing how to get into UPenn. Read the UPenn Admissions Ivy League Guide or the UPenn SAT/ACT Requirements Post.
Read UPenn SAT/ACT Requirements Guide
What are Dartmouth’s SAT Requirements
Having coached students accepted to Dartmouth, please denote my bias: I love this college. It’s a wonderful university. A smaller Ivy League based in Hannover, New Hampshire, higher education knows Dartmouth for its “D Plan” education program.
What’s the D Plan, you ask? It’s Dartmouth’s quarter calendar terms that last ten weeks. Consequently, that plan empowers the college’s small class size with a surplus of flexibility, which is probably why more than 75% of Dartmouth’s students study abroad.[6]
Unsurprisingly, Dartmouth demands nothing less than near perfection from its applicants. Recently, Dartmouth completed a rigorous study involving the utility of ACT/SAT scores. From that study, Dartmouth dismissed its test-optional policy, which now requires test scores. In our guide on Dartmouth’s SAT requirements, we read the following based on their assessment of its class of 2028 profile.[7]
- Lowest 25%: Below 1440
- 26th–74th Percentile (Mid-50%): 1440–1560
- Highest 25%: Above 1560
Additionally, you’ll also find the answers to these Dartmouth Admissions questions.
- What is the Average SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Score at Dartmouth?
- What is the Average SAT Math Score at Dartmouth?
- What’s a Good SAT Score to Get Into Dartmouth?
- Will Dartmouth Superscore My SAT Scores?
- What’s Dartmouth’s SAT Code?
Read Dartmouth Admissions Guide
What are Cornell’s SAT/ACT Requirements?
What are Cornell’s SAT/ACT Requirements?Our Cornell SAT/ACT guide thoroughly examines Cornell’s standardized testing requirements. Not long ago, Cornell even possessed certain programs that used Test-Blind Admissions. Ironically, even though Cornell was the first Ivy League to adopt Test-Optional practices, it’s now done away with them and requires test scores. To learn more about Cornell’s ACT/SAT requirements, read the article linked below:
Conclusion
For most students, getting into an Ivy League is improbable, but not impossible. If you’re interested in being coached on how to get into one of these esteemed colleges, schedule a free consultation with me or one of my consultants. To get started with our services, simply contact us or learn more by clicking one of the buttons below.
Contact Us Admissions Consulting
If not, you can also join the College Admissions email list for more tips on college admissions.
In the meantime, happy testing!
-Marc
References
[1] Collins, Rachel. Stand Out Get into a Dream School: Seven Steps to Help Your Child Get into a Top College. Morgan James Publishing, 2020.
[2] Gray, Marcus. “How To Get Into Cornell University: An Ivy League Guide.” Odyssey College Prep, 4 Mar. 2024, /how-to-get-into-cornell/. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.
[3] “Cornell University Admissions.” BigFuture, College Board, https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/colleges/cornell-university/admissions. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.
[4] “Harvard Law School (HLS).” fund it, https://fundit.fr/en/institutions/harvard-law-school-hls. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.
[5] Yang, Greg. “This School Has The Most Billionaire Alumni.” Poets&Quants For Undergrads, 23 Oct. 2022, https://poetsandquantsforundergrads.com/news/this-school-has-the-most-billionaire-alumni/. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.
[6] Cobon, Debby. “Many Students Take Advantage of College’s Study Abroad Options.” The Dartmouth, 7 Feb. 2020, https://www.thedartmouth.com/article/2020/02/many-students-take-advantage-of-colleges-study-abroad-options/. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.
[7] Dartmouth College Admissions. “Class Profile.” Dartmouth Admissions, https://admissions.dartmouth.edu/apply/class-profile-testing. Accessed 24 January 2025.
