Ivy League Application Consultant: Do You Need One?

How Hard is it to Get Into Ivy League Schools?

Here’s a brief overview of Ivy League undergraduate admissions statistics.

1. Harvard University

• Acceptance rate: 3.2%
• Number of applicants: 61,221
• Average GPA: 4.2
• Average SAT/ACT scores: 1460-1580 for SAT; 33-35 for ACT

2. Princeton University

• Acceptance rate: 3.9%
• Number of applicants: 38,000
• Average GPA: 3.9
• Average SAT/ACT scores: Math 760-800, Evidenced-based Reading and Writing 730-780 for SAT; 33-35 for ACT

3. Columbia University

• Acceptance rate: 3.9%
• Number of applicants: 60,551
• Average GPA: 4.12
• Average SAT/ACT scores: 1490-1560 for SAT; 34-35 for ACT

4. Yale University

• Acceptance rate: 6.3%
• Number of applicants: 50,000
• Average GPA: 4.14
• Average SAT/ACT scores: Math 750-800, Evidenced-based Reading and Writing 730-780 for SAT; 33-35 for ACT

5. University of Pennsylvania

• Acceptance rate: 8.4%
• Number of applicants: 54,588
• Average GPA: 3.9
• Average SAT/ACT scores: 1510-1560 for SAT; 34-36 for ACT

6. Brown University

• Acceptance rate: 5.0%
• Number of applicants: 50,649
• Average GPA: N/A
• Average SAT/ACT scores: 1500-1570 for SAT; 34-36 for ACT

7. Dartmouth College

• Acceptance rate: 6.4%
• Number of applicants: 28,336
• Average GPA: 4.11
• Average SAT/ACT scores: 1440-1560 SAT; 32-35 ACT

8. Cornell University

• Acceptance rate: 10.6%
• Number of applicants: 51,324
• Average GPA: 4.07
• Average SAT/ACT scores: 32-34 ACT

As we can see, Ivy League college admissions can be among the most competitive, if we’re just looking at the numbers. Even the easiest Ivy League school to get into has a very low acceptance rate and competitive academic applicant profile. So, how to get into Ivy League colleges? Many students and parents turn to an Ivy League application consultant to help them—or their child—navigate Ivy League college admissions.

An Ivy League application consultant is commonly sought after when applying to Ivy undergraduate programs, due to the highly competitive nature of applying. But, Ivy League graduate programs, can be just as competitive. For instance, Ivy League law schools such as Harvard law school, Columbia law, UPenn law school and Yale law school have acceptance rates under 15%.

What is an Ivy League Application Consultant?

An Ivy League application consultant offers similar services to a college admissions consulting service or grad school admissions consultant. Sometimes admissions consulting services will help students who are applying to Ivy League schools, either exclusively or not. Other times, applicants can find specialized application consultants who work only with Ivy League applicants. These Ivy League application consultants may be former admissions officers from Ivy League schools, Ivy League alumni or admissions experts who specialize in Ivy admissions.

The purpose of Ivy League application consultants and admissions experts is to help students navigate the application process, craft a stellar application and prepare for all aspects of the admissions process. They also serve as college advisors and an expert resource on all things post-secondary admissions.

In short, an Ivy League application consultant is an expert who helps you prepare for and put together your college or graduate school application. They can help you save time and money by walking you through the application process, show you how to create the strongest possible application and get into the program of your choice. While you can get accepted to Ivy League schools without the help of an application consultant and hiring one does not guarantee you will be admitted, getting the help of an expert can significantly increase your chances of getting an acceptance letter to an Ivy League school.

How exactly do Ivy League application consultants help students? We’ll look at the services and benefits they can provide in more detail next.

Do I Need an Ivy League Application Consultant?

Ivy League admissions consultants are a service many students and parents turn to in order to increase their chances of admissions. Ivy League admissions consultant can’t guarantee admission, but they can help you create a competitive application based on your own profile and accomplishments.

Since Ivy League admissions consultants help students get into elite schools and are more “specialized”, they can also tend to be more expensive. Or some students might not consider college admissions consulting is necessary for them if they have excellent grades and great extracurriculars for college. But, keep in mind that Ivy League schools still reject applicants with a 4.0 GPA and impressive application materials. This is simply because there is not enough room to admit the tens of thousands of applicants these top schools receive, and the admissions committees don’t just search for students with top grades.

Here are some of the top reasons why you should get an Ivy League application consultant:

A Note on Ivy League Graduate School Admissions

Applicants to the Ivy League graduate schools can face just as much fierce competition to get in as undergraduate students. Depending on the program or college you’re applying to, it can be extremely challenging to get accepted. For instance, acceptance rates at Ivy League medical schools such as Harvard medical school, Brown medical school, Cornell medical school and Columbia medical school are under 5%!

If you’re applying to an Ivy League graduate school, an Ivy League application consultant can help you tailor your application to a specific school and discipline, inform you on the admission requirements, provide feedback on your application and generally help you through the process of applying to a highly competitive program at an elite university.

How Does an Ivy League Application Consultant Help With Applications?

Most importantly, Ivy League application consultants can help with every part of your application to Ivy League colleges. If you want to know how to get into grad school and you’re applying to Ivy League graduate schools, Ivy League application consultants have you covered.

#1 Academic Profile

Undergraduate applicants

Wondering how to get into college with a low GPA? Debating between IB vs AP courses for college applications? Whether you’re a high school student, a mature applicant or you’re trying to improve your academic standing before applying to college, an Ivy League application consultant can advise you on your options and your best course of action.

Academic requirements at Ivy League schools can be high, although most of the Ivy League schools have no minimum GPA requirement or cut-off grade, just stress having an excellent academic record. An admissions consultant can give you some insight into academic profiles at the various Ivy League schools, how competitive your scores are and what you can do to improve your GPA or academic profile. Maybe you can retake courses you did poorly in, or you can enroll in summer courses. Or perhaps there were extenuating circumstances, such as a personal injury, which caused your grades to fall. An application consultant will know how to explain these circumstances to your advantage.

Graduate applicants

To get into an Ivy League grad school with a low GPA, you’ll need a two-pronged approach. You’ll need to compensate with a strong overall application, and you’ll need to provide an explanation or some context for your low GPA to satisfy the admissions committee. Depending on the program, there might be strict GPA requirements, too.

It’s a good idea to check Ivy League graduate school GPA requirements before you start applying to see if you make the cut!

#2 Standardized Test Prep

Many Ivy League schools have adopted a test-optional policy in recent years. This means that the Ivies are among the colleges that do not require the SAT and ACT. Although standardized test scores are not required by all Ivy League colleges, and not submitting scores will not take away from your application, you might still ask yourself “Should I take the SAT?”

The short answers is that, while you are not required to submit scores, taking the SAT or ACT and submitting scores can give you an advantage when applying to Ivy League schools. If you score very well, it shows the admissions committee that you are well-prepared for their academic curriculum and it may give you an edge over another candidate. An Ivy League application consultant can help you prepare to take the SAT and work with you to achieve a competitive score at your desired Ivy League school.

#3 Admissions Essays

Undergraduate applicants

College essays are one of the biggest parts of your entire college application and it’s important that they stand out, especially when applying to Ivy League schools. Since you’ll be one of thousands of essays the admissions committee will read, your college essay really needs to showcase your diversity, your uniqueness and your personality. You want to be memorable.

Ivy League application consultants can serve as essay advisors and give you feedback on your drafts, help you brainstorm ideas and guide you on college essay guidelines. Since your essay is the qualitative side of your application and showcases who you are, not just what your grades, it’s worth having an expert’s review to make sure your writing is having an impact on your reader: the admissions committee.

If you’re not sure how to start a college essay for maximum impact, check out some college essay introduction examples!

Graduate applicants

Graduate school applicants to Ivy League schools will typically need to write a graduate school statement of purpose or personal statement. An Ivy League application consultant can be a huge help in drafting this essay, since it will be more specific and focused on the graduate program you’re applying to. An admissions consultant can work with you to craft a grad school personal statement or statement of purpose that is tailored to the particular program and school that you’re targeting.

Need some writing inspiration? Check out a few Ivy league statement of purpose examples:

• Yale graduate school personal statement
• Harvard grad school personal statement examples

Here are some college essay examples to help you write your own!

#4 Supplemental Applications

Like most colleges, Ivy League schools will have supplemental applications. These include your supplemental college essays. And just like college admissions essays, an application consultant can coach you on writing these secondary essays for specific Ivy League colleges, since each school may have different college essay topics or supplemental essay prompts.

Make sure to review the supplemental essay prompts and some essay examples from your chosen Ivy League college:

• Dartmouth supplemental essay examples
• UPenn essays
• Princeton essay examples
• Yale supplemental essay examples
• Cornell essays
• Harvard supplemental essay examples
• Brown essay examples
• Columbia essay examples

#5 Admission Interviews

Ivy League interview questions might look a bit different from college interview questions, as interviews at Ivy League schools are conducted by alumni, not the admissions committee. Interviews at Ivy Leagues are more informational than evaluative, but you can still expect some commonly asked questions such as “tell me about yourself” and “what would your contribute to your future college community?”

Although your interview is not scored in any way, it’s still important to prepare for an Ivy League college interview. You should come prepared with questions to ask your interviewer, and some prepared responses of your own. Practice your interview skills with an Ivy League application consultant to get comfortable with being interviewed and learn how to deliver a strong interview answer. Interviewing skills will come in handy once you’ve graduated!

Just like supplemental essay prompts, each Ivy League school might have distinct interview questions to ask you, designed to determine whether you’re a fit at that particular school. Make sure to review common Columbia interview questions, UPenn interview questions, Dartmouth interview questions, Princeton interview questions, Yale interview questions and Harvard interview questions to prepare!

And check out some Ivy League graduate school interview questions for your chosen program so you can adequately prepare for a strong interview performance.

Check out our top college interview prep strategies!

#6 Financial Aid

One final but overlooked part of your application that an Ivy League application consultant can help with is financial aid and scholarship applications. Ivy League school tuition, fees and costs can add up quickly, especially for international students.

An admissions consultant can help you navigate the application for financial aid programs, loans, and scholarships, all of which are separate from your actual college application and can be just as long, confusing and involved!

An application consultant may be familiar with unique scholarships that you’re eligible for, act as an international student scholarship consultant or help you get in touch with a school’s financial aid office and determine your eligibility for aid.

How to Find the Best Ivy League Application Consultant

As when searching for any college application help service, finding the best Ivy League application consultant that suits your needs and budget can be a challenge. Here are 5 things to look for when searching for the right application consultant for you:

Conclusion

Ivy League application consultants are a sort of specialized service within undergraduate and graduate admissions consulting. While they might not be right for every student, they can certainly help applicants navigate the complex Ivy League admissions process and create a stronger, more competitive application. With how competitive it is to get into Ivy League schools, hiring an Ivy League application consultant can make a huge difference between acceptance and rejection, saving you time, money and stress.

FAQs

To your success,

Your friends at BeMo

BeMo Academic Consulting

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Disclaimer: Please note although we have made every effort to provide the most accurate information, admissions information changes frequently. Therefore, we encourage you to verify these details with the official university admissions office. You are responsible for your own results. BeMo does not endorse nor affiliate with any official universities, colleges, or test administrators and vice versa.