Do you dream of going to an Ivy League University? There are over 17,000,000 students applying to colleges and universities in the United States annually. 300,000 of these have academic records that would qualify them for one of the approximately 13,000 spots in the freshman classes of Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University and Yale University. Parents and students who are interested in how to get into an Ivy League school should read on, as this page outlines what you need to know.

• Although the Ivy League was formed as an athletic association, the eight schools that comprise it have come to represent the holy grail of liberal arts education in the United States. Some parents believe that an admissions letter from an Ivy League school guarantees their child's success in life. While that is not true, and there are many great schools in the U.S., if you are aiming for one of the few spots at a select institution, you need to beginning planning before you begin the first day of your freshman year of high school.

• If you're aiming for the Ivy League you need to select your high school carefully.

1. Select a school that offers a rigorous curriculum, a good selection of Advanced Placement courses, and a selection of extracurricular and athletic opportunities that match your interests.
2. You'll need to rank in the top 10-15% of your class to gain admission to an Ivy, so make sure you select a school that will enable you to excel.
3. Some prep schools have had consistent success placing their students in Ivy League schools, so if you are considering a private school, ask about their acceptance rate.
   1. Even going to the "right" school, however, doesn't guarantee admission.
   2. The acceptance rate at the schools in the country who have had the most success at having their students accepted by the Ivies ranges from 15-26%.
   3. Consequently, even at these schools, 74-85% of those who apply get rejected.

• Your academic performance in high school will form the basis for your college application.

1. Take the most demanding academic program offered by school, and do well in the courses.
   1. Most Ivy League applicants have taken three to five Advanced Placement (AP) courses.
   2. If your high school does not offer an AP or International Baccalaureate program, consider taking college courses at a local school to demonstrate that you can succeed at that level.
2. Prepare for the SATs and achieve a score of 700 on each section of the SAT Reasoning test.
3. Expand your academic achievement beyond the classroom in an area that interests you. Performing research, writing articles, participating in summer programs, or taking courses beyond what is offered at high school demonstrates to a school that you are serious and passionate about your potential field of study.

• Schools are looking for achievement, dept, and leadership in extracurricular activities. Select a few activities tat you love, and work hard at them. Demonstrated achievement in one or two activities will serve you better than spreading yourself thinly over several pursuits.

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