Originally established as an intercollegiate athletics conference between eight universities in the Northeast USA, the Ivy League system has now come to be synonymous with pride, prestige and academic acumen.

Naturally, of course, these universities often make it to every aspirant’s college wish list and attract thousands of quality applicants from some of the most outstanding students in the world. So who are the eight members of the Ivy League? In no particular order, these are:

1. Harvard University
2. Yale University
3. Dartmouth College
4. Brown University
5. University of Pennsylvania
6. Cornell University
7. Princeton University
8. Columbia University

What’s the big deal about the Ivy League schools?

As we can see, this list doesn’t include some of the best universities in the US, such as Stanford, MIT, Caltech or Berkeley. While the Ivy League schools are now seen as the figureheads of excellence and prestige, they’re not the only place at which to get a top-tier education. So, what’s the fuss about the Ivy Leagues? While originally famed for their onus on athletics, the Ivy League colleges are now known for their generous endowments, excellence in R&D, state-of-the-art libraries and infrastructural facilities and a certain prestige that has now come to be associated with the colleges. While certainly, you can find these at many of the non-Ivies, what truly sets apart the Ivy League schools is, as a professor at Harvard pointed out, is the fact that the average student at, say, Harvard or Yale, will be usually more dedicated, ambitious and bright than the average student elsewhere. This kind of an atmosphere then automatically pushes you to work and perform better, and consequently, add to the academic caliber of the institution. Another aspect of the Ivy League is the focus on fostering diversity in the student body. By offering generous scholarships and endowments, the Ivy League colleges are dedicated to making high-quality secondary education accessible to people from historically disadvantaged strata of the society. A move that has been imitated by many other top-tier schools, this has helped the Ivy League colleges encourage and educate some of the best minds in the country (and the world).

What does it take to get into the Ivy League schools?

Taking into account the rich histories and legacies of these colleges, coupled with their repute for cutting-edge excellence in research and academics, it’s not difficult to see why so many higher studies aspirants would want to apply to these schools. A high number of applications, typically from outstanding students, means that the acceptance rates of these schools are usually quite low. Though the acceptance rates are invariably anywhere between 5-10%, it can be still lower for highly sought-after programs such as computer science. So, what can you, as an Ivy League aspirant, do to maximize your chances at an offer letter from Columbia or Penn? In other words, what are the admission requirements of these schools? Let’s take a look, shall we?

1. GPA: While these colleges aren’t looking for a perfect 10 GPA, it goes without saying that a high GPA is paramount to your Ivy League dreams. Additionally, your relative performance matters too: generally, you are required to be in the top 10-15% of your class.
2. GRE and TOEFL scores: Again, though Ivy League schools don’t necessarily have a GRE or TOEFL score cutoff, having a high score in these competitive exams can seriously help in improving your chances at an offer letter since it speaks of your technical and linguistic acumen.
3. Extracurricular activities: Remember, these schools are looking for all-rounders, and this isn’t restricted to just the classroom. Sports, music, fine art or dance, a strong extracurricular profile sets you apart as a force to be reckoned with. It especially helps if your extracurricular activity exhibits a synergy of your academic and non-academic passions: for instance, if you’re applying for an MS in CS, it helps if you were, say, the captain of the programming team in college.
4. Community service: After all, what good is a leader if he doesn’t give back to his community? Ivy League colleges are known for their thrust on community service and volunteering work, so any experiences working with the local pet shelter or teaching at the underprivileged girls’ school on weekends are likely to help bolster the quality of your application.
5. Strong, reflective essays: your SOP is crucial to your admissions, but even more so in the case of the Ivy Leagues, which use your essays as a tool to gauge your commitment to your discipline, your preparedness for graduate school, and your achievements within and beyond the classroom.
6. Prior research experience: Most fresh undergraduates have little to no research experience by the time they get out of college, so any and all such experience you may have had—be it a research internship or working as a research assistant with a faculty member—will set you apart from your similarly qualified peers.
7. Co-curricular activities: Sure, a high GPA is great, but that’s not the only thing it takes. Paper publications, participation in academic conferences and workshops, and internships will add invaluable weight to your application and portray you as a serious, committed candidate: something that is crucial to your Ivy League dreams.

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ÌýWhat are the Ivy League schools like?

Lush, sprawling campuses, rosters of reputed alumni, huge libraries and celebrated athletic teams are just a few things that separate the Ivy League schools from the rest. But what is special about each of the individual colleges? Moreover, what are the ranking, tuition fee and application deadline for these colleges? Let’s have a look.

1. Harvard University:

Harvard University – Ivy League Colleges

Established in 1636, Harvard is the US’s oldest institute of higher education and hardly requires any introduction. With an acceptance rate of 6%, the University has so far produced eight US Presidents, more than thirty foreign heads of state, 62 livingÌý, 359Ìý, and 242Ìý. Today, the University is synonymous with academic excellence, prestige, and honor.

Harvard University – Admissions details

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2. Yale University:

Yale University – Ivy League Colleges

Yale University – Admission Details

The third-oldest university in the US, Yale counts notable personalities such as George W. Bush, Meryl Streep, James Franco and Bill Clinton among its impressive list of alumni. Other than the well-documented rivalry with Harvard, Yale is also known for its football team, the Yale Bulldogs, and the Yale Whiffenpoofs, an a cappella group.

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3. Dartmouth College:

Dartmouth College – Ivy League Colleges

Dartmouth College Known for being the smallest Ivy League with a student enrolment of about 6,400, Dartmouth is renowned for its excellence in liberal arts, medicine and international relations. With an acceptance rate of 11%, Dartmouth is relatively an easier school to get into, although the university is reputed for its undergraduate courses, and not so much for its graduate programmes.

Dartmouth College – Admission Details

Ìý4. Brown University:

Brown University – Ivy League Colleges

Brown University – Admission Details

Located in Providence, Rhode Island, Brown University is coveted for its track record in R&D excellence, its onus on cultural values, and an active campus life. Boasting of stalwart alumni such as John D. Rockefeller, John F. Kennedy and Emma Watson, the university has thus far produced 54 members of theÌý, 56Ìý, 52Ìý,Ìý49Ìý,Ìý14ÌýÌýFellows andÌý21ÌýÌýwinners.

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Ìý5. University of Pennsylvania:

University of Pennsylvania – Ivy League Colleges

University of Pennsylvania – Admissions Details

Founded by Benjamin Franklin, UPenn is the US’s sixth-oldest university, and is home to the reputed Wharton School of Business. Penn alumni include current US president Donald J. Trump, singer-songwriter John Legend, tech entrepreneur Elon Musk and legendary sociolinguist Noam Chomsky. With an acceptance rate of 10%, it is one of the less selective Ivy League schools.

6. Cornell University:

Cornell University – Ivy League College

Cornell University – Admissions Details

Established in 1865, Cornell is the youngest Ivy League school, but that hasn’t stopped the university from contributing 58 Nobel laureates, 4 Turing Award winners, 55 Olympic medallists and 30 Rhodes scholars to the world, among others. The school is known for Cornelliana, its distinctive campus culture and tradition, its focus on cutting-edge research, and its rich history of working at the nexus of engineering and management.

7. Princeton University:

Princeton University – Ivy League College

Princeton University – Admissions Details

The fourth-oldest university in the US, Princeton boasts of a top-notch school of Engineering, an exciting campus life, and notable alumni including former First Lady, Michelle Obama, and US Supreme Court Justice Susan Sotomayor. Other claims to fame include the university’s dedication to community service and its generous endowments.

8. Columbia University:

Columbia University – Ivy League Colleges

Columbia University – Admissions Details

Last but not the least, Columbia University in the city of New York is the dream destination for scientists and researchers alike and has helped pioneer groundbreaking discoveries in the fields of genetics, earth sciences, nuclear engineering, and machine learning. Its first president was none other than the literary stalwart Samuel Johnson, and the university is also responsible for administering the prestigious Pulitzer Prize which recognizes excellence in music, literature and journalism.

(Note: All rankings are taken from the latest QS university rankings. Fees mentioned include tuition, room and board before aid, and may differ from programme to programme.)

While the Ivy League schools may certainly seem daunting and out of your league (pun intended!), it is actually possible for just about anyone to make it to their dream Ivy League college, provided they are armed with a good academic profile and a high GRE score. Like the best things in life, an offer letter to an Ivy League just takes a little more effort and preparation.

Dreaming of an Ivy League education? Why not take the first steps today to make your dreams a reality? If you’re eager to start applying but aren’t sure of how you could go about it, you can drop a comment below and an expert from »ÆÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ will reach out to you in no time. We wish you warmly on your grad school journey ahead!

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With 6 backlogs at the end of the second year, an Ivy League admit seemed like a distant dream.

How did Shantanu Kumar turn his life around?

We were curious too, so we decided to ask him.

»ÆÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ:ÌýWhen were you bit by the proverbial GRE-bug?

Shantanu:ÌýMy roommates were giving GRE when we were in the 3rd year. I did not have a passport back then so I did not start along with them. I was focused on getting into NICMAR in Hyderabad. But fortunately, I did not get in. [grins] So, I started looking at options abroad.
I enrolled with »ÆÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ in February in my last semester. But it wasn’t until June that I actually sat down to seriously prepare for GRE. July and August was the period of core GRE preparation for me.

»ÆÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ: Could you describe your preparation strategy for GRE?

Shantanu: After 4 years in engineering, I was pretty confident about Quant. Perhaps, a little overconfident, because I was expecting a 170 and I ended up scoring only 161. But since I wasn’t applying for an MS in streams like CSE, I guess I got away with it!
But, I had made constant efforts to practice Verbal. I learned almost 2000 GRE words. I also practiced reading daily. It was like a medicine course. I used to read 2 articles daily, one in the morning and one in the evening. [chuckles]
I gave my exam in mid-September and the rest, as they say, is history.

»ÆÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ: Talking about history, you had 6 backlogs at the end of second year.

How did you get back in the game so strongly?

Shantanu: [laughs] My graph has been a parabola. It slumped during college but I managed to bring it back up at the end. I did an internship at ESSAR Projects in Odisha where a thermal plant was being constructed at that time. It was an eye-opening experience for me. I was inspired and that’s where I cultivated my interest in construction management, which is my Master’s specialization also now.

So, chin up soldier, all is not over, you got miles to go and much to conquer.

Join the 32000+ success stories and take your first step towards your dream University. Schedule a call with our Admission Experts now! .

»ÆÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ: Wow, it’s one thing to be inspired, but you have managed to turn the tables, so to speak.

Did having backlogs affect your admits?

Shantanu: I’m not sure how the admission acceptance works because initially I was rejected twice based on my CGPA. My CGPA was 7.77 which roughly translates to around 3. But with the same CGPA and GRE score, I got through Cornell, Purdue, University of Texas and Colorado State University.
Maybe it’s luck! [chuckles]

»ÆÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ:. Is it luck or the strength of your admission profile?

Shantanu: It could be. I cannot pinpoint the exact reason based on which I was admitted. My application to Cornell was a long shot. I did not even imagine I would receive an admit.
But, I would say this, that the Letter of Recommendation (LORs) I received from my teachers and employer was definitely a differentiating factor.
I got one from a professor under whom I completed my undergraduate thesis. I worked with him closely for about 1.5 years and he knew me personally. He portrayed me as a stellar student and he praised me for my work in construction planning and scheduling. I’m pursuing something similar in Colorado State University (CSU) now.

»ÆÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ:ÌýWait, CSU? You aren’t accepting the admit from Cornell University?

Shantanu: [laughs] Yes, I know. I rejected an Ivy league Admit. I can’t believe it myself. It’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. I had applied for Engineering Management at Cornell University and I was almost certain of taking it up, until I heard back from CSU. At CSU, I will be pursuing Masters in Construction Management – something I am very passionate about. They also offered me a Teaching Assistantship! I would be teaching undergraduate lab classes on scheduling!

What other reasons do I need to make the switch?

»ÆÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ:ÌýI agree, it sounds like you got your dream.

Shantanu: Yes! It does sound too good to be true. Initially, I was entirely sure they sent the acceptance letter from Cornell by mistake. I mean, something similar happened with CSE applicants last year, as in 2014, with CMU where they sent acceptance letters to rejected applicants also because of some server issue.
I was expecting a rejection letter soon afterward apologizing for the mixup.
But, thankfully, it never came!

»ÆÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ:ÌýWould you say your experience was a smooth ride?

Shantanu: Oh no! Definitely not. It was a very tense period in my life! I wasn’t even sure that I would be going abroad, even after receiving such great admits because I wasn’t sure if my loan application would be sanctioned. I finally heard back from them in April, approving my loan.
It has been an interesting experience but I am so tired with all the admission formalities.
But, I’m excited to say, that as of July 1st, my Visa got approved and I’m flying on 8th August!

»ÆÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ:ÌýCan you talk us through your SOP? How did you tackle that challenge?

Shantanu: I had edited SOPs for my friends who were going abroad back in 2014 and I knew how precise I had to be. I was particular about getting the details right. I was adamant about not making a common SOP and that paid off. I modified my SOP for each university depending on what course I was applying for.
For example, at Cornell University, I knew I was applying to Engineering Management, which is a professional course. So I emphasized what I had learned during the 1 year period when I was working, which was related to planning also. I also talked about my aspiration to open my own firm someday.

But when I applied for CSU, I was applying for an MS course, so I focused on talking about my research projects. Our college was focused on project-based learning and so I also talked about my project experiences in great detail.

At CSU, apart from the SOP and LOR, they had also asked for a research agenda where I had to mention particular topics of research I was interested in. If that aligns with what the faculty there is working on, you have higher chances of being admitted.

»ÆÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ:ÌýHow does it feel to be flying abroad for higher studies?

Shantanu: Honestly, I’m excited but also extremely nervous. I have been told that first-year students in the US have more knowledge than we do in our final years.

So, the TA is surely going to be a challenge. But, I am looking forward to it.

»ÆÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ:ÌýBefore we let you go Shantanu, what advice would you give to future GRE aspirants?

Shantanu: [laughs] I am not really good at giving advice, but I would surely say in terms of preparation, I think, 2 hours every day for 2 months is surely enough if you have a decent hold on verbal and quant.

Also, please don’t take the admission process lightly. .

Everything that can go wrong, will go wrong in the last minute only. I remember, when I was applying to Virginia Tech, it was the last day and my credit card refused to work! I didn’t receive a receipt of a successful transaction and I called people around the world trying to find out what happened.

So, yes, time management, planning ahead and total focus is absolutely necessary if you want to have a smooth admission experience.

Thank you so much for sharing your GRE Journey with us.
»ÆÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ congratulates you on your success and wishes you the very best for the future!

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