Pier 5 Condo

Take care of your high school GPA from freshman year

This is obvious but should be said regardless. Some students like to slack-off after middle school – it’s a new school, you may not have a solid group of friends, you’re still getting use to the teachers and lockers. But a poor freshman year GPA can kill you.

You think that a few C’s or 70′s can be made up by strong AP and Honors inflated grades, but Harvard pays attention to your COMPLETE 4 YEAR TRANSCRIPT. A few C’s and 70′s in easy courses like Biology I will make Ivy League schools think that you can’t handle basic academic material. Your high school class grades matter – all 4 years.

Prepare for and take the SAT early

In an earlier post on SAT scores for college admissions, I discuss the “minimum” score for Ivy League admissions.

My overall advice is that you should shoot for a perfect score but be happy with a “good score” (anything above 2100). Don’t take the test too many times – anything more than 2 or 3 without huge 100+ strides each time just makes you look desperate and incapable.

You should also take the test as early as possible – take the Duke University TIP in 7th grade, take the PSAT in freshman year at least once. It won’t go on your permanent score transcript and Harvard won’t be mad that you got a 1800 as a freshman high school student.

It’s a great chance for some practice that is completely risk-free. Why wouldn’t you??

Get involved in activities now

Notice my advice here – an early start is necessary for Ivy League admissions. By joining different clubs early in high school, you show Harvard that you are committed to specific interests/passions.

Ideally, you’d stay involved in those same clubs over at least a few years. However, if you find that the French Club is really not where you’d prefer spending Tuesday afternoon, that’s ok too – just make sure you’re not using the time watch reruns of the Simpsons.

Diversify a little bit

I usually say it’s more about stories than it is about being well-rounded. After all, college admissions offices want well-rounded student bodies but don’t need everyone to be a perfect microcosm.

Build a core passion

By having a coherent theme – for instance, a passion for inner city issues or a love of music (as shown through participation in things like the String Orchestra and involvement in music-related nonprofits) is a great way to build a CLEAR AND UNIQUE IDENTITY that, if strong enough, is your best shot at getting into Ivy League schools.

Visit campuses

By visiting campus, you show a clear interest in that school. Plus, you’ll meet people along the way that will help you understand whether you’re a better fit for Harvard or Princeton, Penn or Brown.

Prepare for college interviews

IMPORTANT – don’t forget to start doing this early. If you’re a strong candidate, this isn’t something that you wait until the last minute to get ready for.

The best way to get ready for alumni interviews is to practice interviews with family and older people – not your twin brother. Have them ask questions about your accomplishments, your life story, your reasons for wanting to go to Stanford.