Applying to the Ivy Leagues means signing up for a highly competitive journey that requires intense preparation and strategies. With acceptance rates averaging around 5 percent, having a great academic record is just the starting point; what really matters is showing the unique qualities that admissions officers are looking for. South counselor Jennifer Vick points out a unique trait that differentiated past admitted students.
“The two students that I can think of right now who have successfully been admitted had the grades for sure, they had beautiful resumes, but they also were people that were just really, really, engaged and kind of thirsty learners,” Vick said.
Such curiosity needs to be turned into a carefully made application that defines a student’s unique voice and goals. To achieve this, Emilia Koper ’26 made sure to come up with a strategy before ever writing a word of her own.
“I kid you not, I think I read over 30 Common App essays before I even began writing my own sample essays,” Koper said.
However, the application process goes further than just writing essays; it also requires students to look past rankings and build a school list based on specific programs or activities. For Koper, who is pursuing engineering, a particular extracurricular team—a student group at a university that designs, builds, and races a race car—was non-negotiable.
“Do they have a Formula SAE?” Koper said. “That was huge for me. That was a deal breaker.”
This strategy, instead of school rankings, is a direct response from the terrifying reality of the competition. This high level makes sure students look past the overall reputation of schools and focus on their individual academic needs. Liam O’Mara ’26, who is studying a specialized area of Ancient Near Eastern Studies, was completely influenced by which universities provided the specific program he needed.
“At some schools, they offer Ancient Near Eastern Studies,” O’Mara said. “Not every school does, so George Washington [University] in DC [is] one of my top choices. They have a dedicated program.”
In the end, this thorough planning and self-reflection allows students to see beyond the idea of just one “dream school.” By figuring out what they truly want from a college—whether it’s a unique program like O’Mara’s or a specific club like Koper’s—they find multiple paths to success. This understanding provides important comfort and a wider perspective when dealing with the reality of rejection.
“I firmly believe there’s no one right school or one place where you can be happy and successful,” Vick said. “Sometimes when you don’t get into your first choice, it’s a blessing in disguise.”
