Getting past UPenn’s low acceptance rate to join this list won’t be easy—but we’re here to help you take your best crack at it, with a comprehensive breakdown of UPenn’s Application Checklist for the 2023-2024 application cycle.

UPenn Statistics

How selective is UPenn?

UPenn is extremely selective, with a 7.4% acceptance rate for the Class of 2023. 

Rankings

Currently ranked the #7 best institution of higher education in the United States, UPenn provides its 10,412 undergraduates and 13,147 graduate students a cutting-edge education in business, law, and medicine. UPenn is also 10th nationwide in number of students currently studying abroad.

SAT and ACT

UPenn does not require the ACT or SAT to apply. For enrolled students who did report test scores, the middle 50% report SAT scores in the range of 770-800, SAT Evidence-based Reading and Writing of 730-780, and Composite ACT scores of 33-35.

GPA

The average admitted UPenn applicant has a weighted GPA of 3.9, meaning accepted applicants generally receive only A’s and A-’s in high school. For instance, 94% of the Class of 2026 scored in the top 10% of their classes.

Tuition and Financial Aid

The cost of attending UPenn is $63,452 per year. Financial aid scholarships at UPenn are need-based and mostly need-blind – meaning merit does not factor into your financial aid award, and UPenn doesn’t consider most students’ ability to pay tuition in the admissions process. However, if you aren’t a citizen or permanent resident of the US, Mexico, or Canada, your application won’t be need-blind. As an example, students who receive financial aid for the 2021-2022 academic term paid an average annual price of $17,888.

We’ll review your essay

Receive edits in as little as 24 hours

LEARN MORECONSULTANTS FROM

What Is UPenn Looking For?

High School Coursework

Your recommended focus in high school will change depending on which of UPenn’s four undergraduate schools you choose for your application—the College of Art and Sciences, Penn Engineering, the School of Nursing, or The Wharton School. However, UPenn recommends a strong foundation in the following core academic areas for all applicants:

• English
• Social studies
• Math
• Science
• Foreign language

Once you’ve slated a solid transcript in core academics, look for additional curricular and extracurricular opportunities related to your undergraduate school of choice. If you’re applying to the College of Art and Sciences, take additional courses in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. For Penn Engineering, prioritize calculus, alongside other physics and math classes. Wharton School applicants should also prioritize calculus and other math courses, though without the physics focus. Finally, if you’re a School of Nursing applicant, make sure you take the highest chemistry courses you can manage at your school, as well as other science classes. 

Admissions officials won’t penalize you for courses your school doesn’t offer, but this means they will check your transcript against the courses it does offer. With this in mind, try to take as many AB, IB, or otherwise advanced classes as you can manage—while balancing your time and GPA—to demonstrate your academic curiosity and willingness to challenge yourself. If your school doesn’t offer this kind of programming, consider enrolling in classes at your local community college, four-year college, or online—UPenn allows and encourages additional extracurricular or post-secondary work for students with fewer high school opportunities.

The Interview

Over 90% of UPenn applicants receive an optional interview with an alumni volunteer during the application process. We, and UPenn, strongly recommend you take this opportunity if it’s available. Though it likely won’t weigh heavily on your application, a one-on-one conversation with an alumn is a fantastic opportunity to learn more about UPenn from someone who actually went there, and show them who you are face-to-face, beyond your transcript and essays. Dress professionally but comfortably, respond promptly to any emails or texts you get in advance, and do your research about the school (but not the interviewer). Be prepared to answer basic questions about your interests, future plans, and the reasons you want to attend UPenn, as well as the classes and programming you have an eye on. Finally, bring a list of your own questions that demonstrate your interest in UPenn and your curiosity as a potential Quaker.

In 2022-23, UPenn offered interviews virtually. As mentioned above, interviews are based on the availability of interviewers, so don’t worry if you don’t get offered one—admissions officials won’t penalize you for not taking an opportunity that wasn’t available.

UPenn Application Requirements

Application Checklist

The Application

UPenn accepts both the Common App and Coalition Application, so try to choose the platform that works best for you. Both application processes are similar—teachers and counselors may be more familiar with the Common App, while the Coalition Application contains a built-in feature for requesting teacher, counselor, and family feedback. Keep these differences in mind while selecting the platform you’ll use to apply to UPenn.

Essays

In addition to a personal long-answer essay from your Common App or Coalition Application, you’ll need to complete the UPenn Supplemental Essays. Each year, UPenn requires responses to two or three short-answer prompts, ranging from 150-450 words. For reference, the Common App essay is 650 words.

Application Fee

You must submit a $75 application fee or fee waiver.

What You Need from Your School

Transcript

UPenn requires an official high school transcript as part of your application. Your counselor should submit this for you, but make sure to look over it beforehand in case of any typos or vague course titles that don’t reflect the actual rigor of your work. For example, if you’re applying to the School of Nursing, you’ll want to make sure admissions officials know you took AP Chemistry instead of just “Science.”

Secondary School Report

Your counselor will submit this alongside your transcript once you enter their information via the application portal.

Counselor Recommendation

The first of UPenn’s three required recommendation letters is the counselor recommendation. Admissions officials specifically value recommendations from those who know you personally, so try to meet with your counselor beforehand to help them learn more about you and craft a more personalized recommendation letter. As with any letter, make sure to request it well in advance—this will give your counselor the time they need to write your recommendation in effective detail.

Teacher Recommendation

Secondly, UPenn requires a letter of recommendation from a teacher, preferably one you’ve had within the past one or two years. Choose a teacher who knows you well and can speak to your unique strengths as a student, and if no one comes to mind, try to meet with them beforehand like with your counselor. Make sure to tell them any interests, passions, hobbies, or facts about your background you feel are crucial to who you are and communicate something admissions officials won’t find anywhere else on your application. 

Additionally, consider choosing a teacher who can speak to your academic strengths as they relate to your undergraduate school of choice. If you’re a Wharton School applicant, consider requesting a letter from your senior-year economics teacher. If you’re applying to Penn Engineering, consider your physics or calculus teacher. Above all, you should choose an instructor who truly believes in your ability to succeed at UPenn—so if you’re applying to the School of Nursing, but your history teacher is eager to champion your academic strengths and knows you way better than your chemistry teacher, go with the history teacher.

Other Recommendation

Lastly, you need to submit a third recommendation letter from another source. This can be another teacher—but for the sake of a well-rounded application, consider going with a different type of person in your life who can speak to your personality outside of school. Good examples include sports coaches, religious leaders, employers, or music instructors. If you do go with another teacher, make sure to choose an academic subject that differs significantly from your first teacher recommendation, thereby showcasing a different range of skills. Again, your top priority should be to present a multifaceted and detailed application as a whole, so always look for ways to bring in new interests, experiences, or personal qualities with every section of your application.

To this end, avoid submitting a recommendation from family members or family friends. While these people definitely know you well, they may not be able to speak to your specific strengths in the same way that a vocal coach or work supervisor could. Also keep in mind that most applicants have family and friends who would love to go to bat for them in a recommendation letter—so submitting a letter along these lines ultimately doesn’t tell admissions officials much about you that would distinguish you from other applicants.

Mid-Year Report

As soon as you receive your mid-year grades, make sure to ask your counselor to submit this report. Other than that, this section doesn’t require anything additional on your part.

Tests and Extracurriculars

SAT or ACT

Although UPenn doesn’t currently require the SAT or ACT, this may change in the future. Additionally, you still have the option to submit standardized test scores regardless. If you have a good SAT or ACT to report (i.e. within or exceeding the average score ranges listed above), submitting it can only help your application even if it’s test-optional.

If you do end up submitting an SAT or ACT, be aware that admissions officials will superscore your tests—that is to say, they’ll only consider your highest self-reported score. Importantly, if your scores fall outside the average range for admitted students, you won’t be penalized for trying again even if your second score is lower. With the caveat that other schools may not superscore your SAT or ACT, you should use your high school’s resources and your first experience to prepare and take the test again, if you’re able to do so. 

English Proficiency Exams

UPenn requires English proficiency exams for non-native English speakers whose primary language of instruction wasn’t English during high school. You can submit any of the following tests:

• Duolingo English Test
• IELTS
• TOEFL

Unlike the SAT and ACT, UPenn requires you to report English proficiency exam scores through official testing agencies rather than self-reporting.

Extracurriculars

For a top-notch university like UPenn, you’ll need to make sure your Common App’s extracurricular section is also top-notch. You’re limited to ten, but don’t try to pad out your list to reach that number—admissions officials will be able to tell if you’re reaching for extra activities by listing hobbies or splitting one extracurricular into multiple. 

Instead, prioritize the quality of the extracurriculars you choose. Put your most impressive or important activities at the top, including leadership roles or anything you’ve put a lot of time and energy towards, and make sure to include a variety of academic, athletic, artistic, and volunteering activities. Listing previous employment is also another opportunity to show admissions officials your maturity and professional skills.

UPenn provides applicants a handy list of pointers for filling out their extracurricular section. Alongside varying your activities, you should be specific about the amount of time you spent on each extracurricular, and emphasize what the activity meant to you beyond describing the things you did. This can be tricky with a 150-word limit, but explaining the skills you learned is a good way to start. For example, if you’re describing a part-time retail job, you could say you worked on a team for 3 months to sell products—or you could say you learned customer service and teamwork skills through 3 months of product sales.

Finally, if you still have some time to build out your extracurricular list before you’re ready to apply, check out UPenn’s summer programs for reference!

Deadlines

Early decision applications are due November 1, and decisions are released in December. Regular decision applications are due January 5, and decisions are released by April.

As you’re preparing for UPenn’s next matriculation cycle, make sure to remember that you’re applying to one of the most competitive schools in the world. Even an outright rejection doesn’t mean you’re not a strong student, or that you won’t excel elsewhere—but the only way to guarantee you won’t be accepted is to not apply. Get started early, use any resources you have around you for help, and give it your best shot! We’ll be cheering for you the whole way.

The post How to Get into UPenn: Stats + Admissions Advice appeared first on College Admissions Blog.

Harvard is known far and wide for its selectivity and prestige, and the prospect of a Harvard application can be daunting. Never fear – this article will guide you through everything you need to know about the application process.

Harvard University Statistics

How Selective is Harvard University?

With a record-low acceptance rate of 3.19% for the Class of 2026, Harvard College is certainly one of the most selective institutions in the nation.

Rankings

Harvard University is currently tied with Stanford for the #3 spot in the lineup of United States higher education, according to the U.S. News. However, with a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio, an undergraduate student body of 7,103, and robust need-based financial aid programs, Harvard ranks #1 for best value schools. 

GPA

The average GPA for accepted students hovers around a 4.0 unweighted, meaning that those admitted pretty much achieved A’s and maybe a few A-’s throughout high school. 

SAT and ACT

The middle 50% of accepted applicants for Harvard either scored between 33-36 on the ACT or between 1480-1580 on the SAT. This means that over a quarter have a perfect or near-perfect score, but another quarter gained admission with scores below these ranges, too. 

Tuition and Financial Aid

The cost of an education at Harvard is $76,763 per year. However, it is important to consider that Harvard’s financial aid program meets 100% of demonstrated need, with 55% of undergraduate families receiving financial aid and an average parent contribution of only $13,000 per year. Financial aid is assessed for each applicant regardless of nationality or citizenship status, and the admissions process itself is need-blind. 

We’ll review your essay

Receive edits in as little as 24 hours

LEARN MORECONSULTANTS FROM

What is Harvard University Looking For?

The High School Experience: Expectations

Overall, admissions officers at Harvard expect to see that you’ve challenged yourself with your coursework throughout high school. Ideally, the strongest applicants will have taken classes in these subjects for the corresponding number of years:

• English – 4 years, with extensive practice in writing
• Math – 4 years
• Science – 4 years, including biology, chemistry, physics, and an advanced course in one of these subjects
• History – 3 years, including American and European history
• Non-English Language – 4 years of one language

While these recommendations outline the paths taken by some of the strongest applicants, Harvard College recognizes that there is no single academic path that is fitting for every student. Following a rigorous course schedule that aligns with your passions and goals is encouraged. 

Additionally, the courses you take will be considered in the context of your school – you will not be penalized for not taking courses unavailable to you. For example, if your school does not offer calculus, you will not be punished for not taking calculus.

If your school offers AP courses, IB programming, or other advanced academic opportunities, challenge yourself with them. Harvard looks for students who push their own boundaries and explore new areas of study, even beyond their primary interests. For instance, taking AP European History, even as a prospective pre-med student, demonstrates well-roundedness and motivated academic curiosity.  

Taking accredited coursework offered online or by local community colleges also demonstrates motivation and will bolster your application.

Extracurricular Activities and Leadership

There is no one ideal set of extracurricular activities that Harvard looks for in its applicants. Instead, admissions officers value students who have committed themselves to exploring their passions and developing skills and values like leadership, community building, and service. 

Some successful applicants are well-rounded students who have explored a variety of activities and responsibilities, whereas others have dedicated themselves wholeheartedly to one or two main extracurriculars. Developing a “spike” or two, as opposed to maintaining a well-rounded set of experiences, allows some students to stand out among their peers and demonstrate dedication and continuity that other applicants may not possess. 

Regardless of whether you have dedicated time to one or several activities, it is important to remember that you will be most motivated to invest in activities that you are passionate about. As you move through high school and beyond, feel free to try new things and explore – extracurriculars are a wonderful way to discover new joys. Don’t be afraid to be proactive, too: if you love to crochet, but your school doesn’t have a fiber arts club, try starting one yourself! Admissions officers love to see individuals actively pursuing their interests and taking initiative.  

Supplemental Materials

Harvard includes a Supplemental Materials section in their application, which gives applicants the opportunity to submit additional materials of their own creation that they feel will significantly improve their application. Supplemental Materials can include:

• Scholarly articles
• Creative writing
• Research
• Other documents authored by the applicant
• Videos (e.g. dance, choreography, theatrical performances)
• Audio recordings (e.g. music recordings)
• Images (e.g. artwork, visual arts)

Harvard notes that the standard application materials typically provide more than enough information to make an admissions decision, and supplemental materials are entirely optional. Choosing not to submit additional materials will not harm your application. However, some students may feel that the basic application does not fully encapsulate their achievements or talents, so they choose to share additional materials here. 

The submissions may be evaluated by Harvard faculty if the Admissions Committee deems appropriate, so be sure to put your best work forward if you decide to submit supplemental materials! 

The Interview

At the discretion of the Admissions Committee, applicants may be assigned an interview with a Harvard alumnus/a. These assignments are partially based on the availability of volunteer interviewers in your area. If an interviewer reaches out to you to schedule an interview, it is highly recommended you meet with them. Interviews are unlikely to be the deciding factor either way for your application, but a positive interaction with an interviewer reflects well on you as a prospective Harvard student. Prepare some thoughtful questions for your interviewer beforehand, and let your personality shine!

Harvard University Application Requirements

Application Checklist

The Application

Harvard College accepts both the Common Application and the Coalition Application, without a preference for either. Be sure to submit the application in a timely manner so it can be reviewed fully and completely. Harvard provides a helpful Application Tips page to guide you through the particulars of their Common Application. 

Essays

In addition to the standard personal statements included in the Common and Coalition Applications, Harvard has three supplemental essays: two short responses (one required, one optional) and one essay (optional). Check out this Next Admit blog post for more information about How to Write the Harvard Supplemental Essays. 

Application Fee

Harvard requires an $85 application fee or the submission of a fee waiver. 

What You Need from Your School

Midyear School Report

At the time of your application, your counselor will likely submit your transcript to Harvard without senior year grades. The Admissions Committee will require a Midyear School Report from one of your school officials to confirm that your grades are maintained at a high level halfway through your final year of secondary school. Be sure to request this report and check that it is submitted by your school counselors.

Teacher Evaluations

Harvard requires two evaluations from teachers in different core academic subjects. Choose teachers with whom you have a connection – teachers who know you well will write much more memorable and impactful letters than those who only know you in passing. Consider which teachers can showcase your best qualities in their writing. If you haven’t built close relationships with any of your teachers, schedule a time to meet with some of them and discuss your goals, motivations, and any other personal qualities you feel are relevant to your application. Meetings like these can be helpful to set the tone for the letter of recommendation they will write, even for teachers you may know well. 

Final School Report and Transcripts

A Final School Report and transcript are required of all admitted applicants who choose to enroll. As soon as your final grades become available, your school counselor or official should submit your records to the College, no later than July 1. 

What’s the Deal with Test-Optional?

Harvard College applications have recently become test-optional. Applicants have the choice of whether to submit ACT or SAT scores, with or without the essay portion, along with the rest of their application materials. Choosing not to submit standardized test scores will not harm a student’s chances of admission, but a solid score has the potential to strengthen them. Thus, it is highly recommended to study and sit for the exams and try for a good score.

If taking either the SAT or the ACT is an option for you, we recommend trying your hand at the exam that is the best fit for you. If your scores are reflective of your achievement and comparable to the median scores for Harvard (or any other test-optional school you are considering), then submitting them will likely strengthen your application. 

Harvard recognizes that these numbers alone do not encapsulate a person’s potential, and regardless of whether an applicant submits test scores, their application will be reviewed holistically and thoroughly. 

Deadlines

The deadline for Harvard Restrictive Early Action applications is November 1. Decisions for this cycle of applicants are released mid-December.

The deadline for Harvard Regular Decision applications is January 1. However, financial aid applications for the Regular Decision cycle are not due until February 1. Scores from exams as late as the December SAT and the February ACT can be submitted, but earlier dates are recommended so the review of applications can begin in a timely manner. Decisions for the Regular Decision cycle will be released at the end of March, and admitted students must respond to the offer by early May (no deposit required). 

When applying to Harvard, bear in mind that each application cycle, thousands of well-qualified applicants are denied admission. Whether or not you are accepted into Harvard is not a reflection of your academic merit or personal promise – the admissions process is a difficult one that must sort through many bright applicants who are ready to excel. Wherever you end up, your education is what you make of it. Chase your goals, nurture your passions, and throw your hat in the ring: the only way to gain admission is to apply!

The post How to Get into Harvard: Stats + Admissions Advice appeared first on College Admissions Blog.

While you might feel intimidated by this impressive bio, and the low acceptance rate, this post will break down every element of MIT’s Application Checklist to help you submit your best possible application.

MIT Statistics

How selective is MIT?

MIT is extremely selective, with an acceptance rate just below 4% for the Class of 2026. 

Rankings

Currently ranked the #2 ranked institution of higher education in the United States, MIT offers its 4,638 undergraduates and 7,296 graduate students a plethora of opportunities with its $24.6 billion endowment and 3:1 student-to-faculty ratio. 

SAT and ACT

MIT currently requires the SAT or ACT. The middle 50% of admitted students report Math SAT scores in the range of 790-800, SAT Evidence-based Reading and Writing of 730-780, and Composite ACT scores of 35-36.

GPA

The average admitted MIT applicant has a weighted GPA of 4.17, meaning accepted applicants generally receive only A’s and A-’s in high school. For instance, in 2021, 97% of MIT students scored in the top 10% of their classes.

Tuition and Financial Aid

The cost of attending MIT is $79,850 per year. MIT awards financial aid scholarships on a need-blind and full-need basis—meaning your ability to pay tuition is not considered in the admissions process, even if you’re an international student, and MIT commits to meeting 100% of your demonstrated financial need. For example, students who receive financial aid pay an average annual price of $12,715.

We’ll review your essay

Receive edits in as little as 24 hours

LEARN MORECONSULTANTS FROM

What Is MIT Looking For?

High School Coursework

Admissions officials expect to see a rigorous course load reflected in your transcript, but will not penalize you for courses your high school doesn’t offer. MIT recommends that students take the following courses in high school:

• Calculus
• One year or more of physics
• One year or more of chemistry
• One year or more of biology
• Four years of English
• Two years of a foreign language
• Two years of history/social sciences

Candidates who are well-matched for MIT have a strong grasp of math, physics, chemistry, and biology so try to take courses that demonstrate your familiarity with these fields. 

Additionally, make sure to represent as diverse a range of interests as possible with your transcript—though MIT emphasizes math over art, humanities, and social sciences, a multi-faceted application will reflect your curiosity and show admissions officials you’re ready to take courses in those areas if accepted.

If your high school offers AP courses, IB courses, or any other advanced programming, you should take as many as you can manage to show admissions officials your willingness to challenge yourself. If your school doesn’t offer this kind of programming, consider enrolling in classes at your local community college, four-year college, or online—MIT allows you to report any courses you took outside of your high school.

The Interview

This part of the process is technically optional—but if MIT does offer you an interview with an alum, we strongly encourage you to take it. While it likely won’t make a huge difference in your admission chances, the interview is an opportunity for you to learn more about MIT from someone who actually went there, and for MIT to learn who you are beyond a set of grades and essays. Try to come prepared. Do your research about the school, be ready to answer basic questions about your future goals and specific interests, and bring a list of your own questions to show that you’re thoughtfully considering your application. 

Remember that MIT offers interviews based on the availability of interviewers, so don’t worry if you don’t get offered one. If you do, expect either a virtual or in-person interview.

MIT Application Requirements

The Application

Firstly, you should note that MIT uses its own online application process, not the Common Application. The application differs between first-year and transfer applicants, so make sure you’re using the right portal.

Essays

Unlike many schools, MIT asks you to respond to four short-response questions with no long essay response. (See this great Next Admit post on How to Write the MIT Supplemental Essays for a question-by-question breakdown of each prompt.)

Application Fee

You must submit a $75 application fee or fee waiver.

Transcript

MIT requires a transcript as part of your application. Though this section is mostly out of your hands, make sure you look over your transcript before your school sends it over to catch any typos or vague course titles (e.g. “Math” instead of “Honors Pre-Calculus”). For a university with as strong an emphasis on STEM courses as MIT, you want to make sure your transcript accurately reflects the rigor of your coursework.

Secondary School Report

Your counselor will submit this alongside your transcript once you enter their information via the application portal.

Counselor Recommendation

Though MIT won’t penalize you if your counselor cannot or does not submit letters of recommendation, you should request one if possible. Try to sit down with your counselor beforehand so they can get to know you, and submit a recommendation letter that truly reflects your strong qualities as a person and student. You can request letters of recommendation through the MIT application portal before you submit it, so make sure you do so as early as possible to give your counselor adequate time.

Teacher Recommendations

MIT requires two letters of recommendation from teachers, and encourages you to submit one from a math/science teacher and one from a humanities, social science, or language teacher. If possible, try to follow this recommendation to show admissions officials your academic strengths across a range of subjects. As with your counselor, you should request a recommendation as soon as you know who to ask, so your teachers have ample time to write a detailed letter.

Try to ask teachers who know you as a person as well as a student. Make sure they’re aware of as many of your academic interests, passions, and hobbies as possible, or sit down with them beforehand—just like with your guidance counselor—if you feel you don’t know each other that well. The best letter of recommendation will come from a teacher who truly believes in your ability to succeed at MIT, even beyond your excellence in their class.

February Updates & Notes Form

This midyear report doesn’t require anything additional on your part except asking your counselor to submit it, and noting anything important that has happened since you submitted your application. 

SAT or ACT

Again, note that unlike some other schools, MIT does require you to submit an SAT or ACT. You should self-report your scores on your application rather than submitting them officially—MIT will verify them independently if you are admitted.

If you take the SAT or ACT multiple times, admissions officials will only consider your highest score. If your scores fall outside the typical range for admitted students (listed above), and you’re able to take the test again, you should do so. Make use of any test prep resources available to you at your high school or online, and learn from your first experience before you take the test again—though if you end up scoring lower, this won’t work against your MIT application. However, bear in mind any other schools you’re applying to that might not superscore your standardized tests.

English Proficiency Exams

MIT strongly recommends English proficiency exams for non-native English speakers who have been using English for less than five years or don’t speak English at home or school. You can submit any of the following tests:

• Cambridge English Qualifications (C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency)
• Duolingo English Test
• IELTS
• Pearson Test of English Academic
• TOEFL

Note that unlike SAT and ACT scores, MIT has minimum and recommended requirements for English language exams. 

Extracurriculars

Firstly, be aware going into this section that you’ll only be able to put down four extracurriculars. You should prioritize activities that show admissions officials what you’re passionate about, and select a range of activity types rather than, say, four separate math camps. MIT also values leadership, so make sure to describe any leadership positions you’ve held. 

If you still have some time before you apply to shop for extracurriculars, or you want to cross-reference your activities list with extracurriculars MIT students have taken in the past, these lists of enrichment opportunities and summer programs are a great place to look. Try to report at least one activity that meant a lot to you and matches well with previous MIT students—and if you can report multiple relevant activities across a range of subjects, all the better to show admissions officials you’re a good fit for their school. 

Finally, MIT encourages you to report home responsibilities if you can’t fill out this section with formal extracurriculars. Even if you don’t have room for them here, you should mention them in your essay section to paint a fuller picture of what matters to you and how you spend your time.

Job Experience

MIT’s application includes a section for reporting job experience separate from its extracurricular section. Here, you should describe any paying job you’ve held in the past, with a particular emphasis on skills you gained and why the work was meaningful to you. When describing your first job, for instance, you might explain what you learned about the workforce in general to demonstrate your maturity, independence, and work ethic.

Deadlines

The deadline to apply Early Action to MIT’s is November 1, with decisions released online mid-December. Out of 11,924 applicants, 685 were accepted.

The Regular Decision deadline to apply to MIT is January 5. The deadline to take the required ACT or SAT is December 31, though MIT will still accept English proficiency exam scores through their January testing dates. The financial aid deadline for RA applicants is February 15, and RA applicants will receive decisions in mid-March.

Remember that MIT is one of the most competitive schools in the world, and try to bear in mind that even a stellar application doesn’t guarantee admission. Even an outright rejection doesn’t mean you’re not a strong student, or that you won’t excel elsewhere. Though MIT’s acceptance rate is low, the only way to guarantee you won’t get in is to not apply—so take note of the information above and give it your best shot!

The post How to Get into MIT: Stats + Admissions Advice appeared first on College Admissions Blog.

This post will break down Columbia’s application requirements to help you perfect your Columbia application. 

Columbia University Statistics

Rankings & Enrollment

With a 3.73% acceptance rate, it is clear that the Columbia University experience is one of the most sought after. U.S. News and World Report ranked Columbia at #18 in 2023 after placing Columbia in the #2 spot in 2022. This change in rankings casts doubt on both Columbia’s honesty to the U.S. News and World Report and the methods U.S. News and World Report uses to calculate rankings.

Columbia enrolls roughly 10,000 undergraduates and 25,000 graduate students. Columbia’s undergraduate program consists of Columbia College, the Fu Foundation School, and General Studies. Columbia College (4,955 students), also known as CC, is a liberal arts college. The Fu Foundation School is the School of Engineering and Applied Science, also known as SEAS (1,843 students). General Studies is Columbia’s liberal arts school for non-traditional students (2,941 students).

SAT and ACT

For first-year and transfer applicants to CC and SEAS, Columbia is maintaining a test-optional policy. Previously, Columbia has required scores from either the SAT or the ACT, but no requirement for the writing section. For both the SAT and the ACT, Columbia superscores. This means that they consider only your best score on an individual section—even if your best scores occurred in different sections over multiple test-taking sessions. 

Among admitted applicants to Columbia, SAT Math scores average 770, SAT Reading and Writing average 735, and the composite scores average 1505. ACT scores average 34. As a result, you should submit scores even though they are still optional, as long as your scores are near, equivalent to, or above the average of admitted applicants.

GPA

The average Columbia admit has a weighted GPA of 4.13 and a 3.91 unweighted GPA. You need to demonstrate a strong high school academic record to achieve acceptance to Columbia, ideally taking multiple advanced courses to weight your GPA.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Columbia University fees add up to $85,967 per year. But 49% of students receive financial aid, with the average financial aid offer being $63,971. Columbia is need-blind for non-international students and need-aware for international students. That said, Columbia is committed to meeting the demonstrated financial need of admitted international students who have applied for financial aid.

We’ll review your essay

Receive edits in as little as 24 hours

LEARN MORECONSULTANTS FROM

What Is Columbia University Looking For?

The High School Experience: Expectations

To apply to CC or SEAS, Columbia requires that high school students meet their high school’s graduation requirements. This holds up even if you are a junior (in which case you you must specify that they are applying for early admission in the additional information section of the application). Otherwise, Columbia applicants are expected to be high school seniors or the equivalent.

Columbia admissions officers review applications holistically, considering applicants’ contexts and academic achievement together in their committee-based reviewing sessions.

Academic Preparation

Columbia admissions officers expect coursework across all disciplines, with particular emphasis on courses in your intended area of study. Columbia also expects advanced coursework, assuming your secondary school offers it. This coursework may include as AP, IB, A levels, or National School curricula. If your school does not offer advanced coursework beyond Honors, you might want to look into courses at local or community colleges open to high school students.

In addition to breadth and depth of coursework, Columbia expects demonstration of rigor. You can demonstrate your rigor through your choice of advanced courses, an unweighted GPA above 3.8, and/or your well-composed discussion of academics in your essays. 

Columbia applicants are not required to take any specific courses. However, applicants to Columbia Engineering are expected to have Physics and Calculus courses under their belts.

Curiosity

Curiosity is a core principle Columbia University looks for in applicants. You can demonstrate curiosity through a variety of avenues, especially in your essays. You can present complex, but specific questions whose answers you seek. You can describe your interdisciplinary interests. And you can provide insight to the personal growth you have experienced and hope to continue experiencing.

Engagement with others

Columbia University is a community of like-minded people—and many people with completely different minds. Admissions officers consider your personal character and how you interact with others. By the time you graduate secondary school, you have likely filled at least one leadership role, been a member of a team, collaborated on academic work, lived with other people (this includes family), and possibly held employment. Describing these experiences in your various communities in your essays will help you demonstrate how you engage with others.

Individual Voice

As much as your participation in communities matters, so does your individual voice. This value refers to your unique qualities as a person, including your cultural background and life experiences. These qualities are important to admissions officers because they may differentiate you and display your maturity and self-confidence. What drives you, and what are your values? Expressing your values in your application will not only help you stand out as an applicant but will also demonstrate your character.

Knowledge of Columbia

Although it may seem obvious to you why you would like to attend Columbia University, admissions officers favor specificity and clarity. Every student’s reasons for seeking admission to the school are different, but students often provide vague and unmemorable answers to their “Why Columbia?” essay.

By researching Columbia’s offerings, you prove to admissions officers that your decision to apply to Columbia is based on a thoughtful assessment of the University’s academics, extracurriculars, and community. You can mention courses by name, professors whose research interests you, clubs or other student groups you hope to join, and what draws you to the Columbia community. Demonstrating your knowledge of Columbia is respectful to admissions officers. It also indicates maturity and rigor, which are integral to fulfilling admissions officers’ standards.

Columbia University Application Requirements

The Application

Columbia University accepts the Common Application, the Coalition Application, or the Questbridge Application (assuming that you qualify and have reached finalist status). 

Columbia-Specific Application Questions

In addition to the essays required in the application types listed above, Columbia also requires applicants to complete Columbia-specific application questions, which you can learn how to write in this blog post. By providing thoughtful, comprehensive, and specific answers to these questions, you can demonstrate your interest in the school, writing skills, and unique personality.

Secondary School Report

As seen on the Columbia admissions website, this element of your application includes an official high school transcript from all high schools you have attended, your high school counselor’s recommendation letter, a school profile, and your completed Mid-Year Report. All of these application elements should come from your school, not from you as a student. That said, it’s in your interest to verify that your school is taking care of these materials. Moreover, if you are provided the opportunity to review your reports, take the time to proofread them and confirm their accuracy.

Standardized Tests

As described in the SAT/ACT section of this guide, Columbia no longer has a standardized test requirement. However, taking the SAT and/or the ACT is still highly recommended, as well as whatever other standardized tests are available to you. Note that an English proficiency exam is also required for some applicants.

Teacher Recommendations

Columbia only maintains two requirements for your teacher recommendations. Firstly, your recommendations must come from teachers in “academic disciplines.” This terminology may seem vague. But it simply means that recommendations should be sourced from teachers of the following subject areas: math, science, English, foreign language, and history/social studies. The second requirement is that if you are applying to Columbia engineering, one of your letters must come from a STEM teacher.

It is not recommended to ask for letters from two teachers in the same subject area. For instance, don’t ask for a letter from your ninth grade biology teacher and your eleventh grade chemistry teacher. Instead, request letters from teachers in different subject areas who know you well and have potentially taught you for multiple years. 

If possible, request letters from teachers who have written letters for successful college applicants in the past. Some teachers may be less familiar with the college recommendation letter format. Teachers from your junior year/eleventh grade (or the equivalent) are ideal candidates for recommendation letters. They have taught you recently and for a full year, so their knowledge of you is representative and thorough.

Application Fee or Fee Waiver

To apply to Columbia University, you must submit an $85 non-refundable application fee or a fee waiver (if the application fee presents a financial burden). 

Interview

Interviews are a non-essential component of a Columbia University application. Because Columbia has many applicants, interviews are not conducted by admissions officers and instead by alumni and current students. Even still, the quantity of interviewees is so vast that not every applicant can receive an interview. As a result, receiving or not receiving the opportunity to interview will not impact your application in and of itself. 

That said, if you are granted an interview, it’s highly recommended that you to participate in the interview. You can maximize this additional opportunity to demonstrate your personality! The interview is also a chance to ask questions of a real Columbia student or graduate. Come prepared with Columbia-specific research and genuine, thoughtful questions.

Supplementary Materials

Supplementary materials are a non-essential component of a Columbia University application. These materials must not be mailed or otherwise delivered to the admissions office. The admissions office also does not guarantee that supplementary materials will be reviewed, given their supplementary status.

There are a few ways to submit supplementary materials along with a Columbia application. If you are submitting the Common App, you can utilize the Additional Information section of the application. If you are submitting the Coalition App, you can take advantage of the Uploads section. If you are submitting academic research, you may upload an abstract in the Columbia-specific questions section. See this page on the admissions website for further instructions, including how to submit a recommendation letter from your research mentor.

If you would like to submit a Creative Portfolio, you may do so here. The Creative Portfolio provides students of Architecture, Creative Writing, Dance, Drama and Theatre Arts, Film, Maker, Music, and Visual Arts to demonstrate their talents and body of work. Do not submit a Creative Portfolio simply because it is an option; instead, submit only your best work and work which reflects your values, interests, and dedication to your artistic craft. 

Note that arts supplements incur additional fees and require the contact information of a reference. This reference must be someone with knowledge of your creative field and who knows your creative work and yourself well. See this page for further detail on the requirements for each unique Creative Portfolio discipline.

Deadlines

The early decision deadline is November 1. The regular decision deadline is January 1. Creative Portfolios must arrive by the same dates.

Columbia permits recommendation letters and transcripts to be submitted after the deadline. Still, this practice is not recommended. Email ugrad-ask@columbia.edu if there is any legitimate and exceptional reason for a late submission of your application.

Final Thoughts

The college admissions process is difficult no matter your circumstances, and gaining admittance to Columbia University requires students to beat extraordinary odds. That said, those unique students who join the Columbia community often do not expect admission, and some qualified students likely avoid applying due to the steep odds. Besides the application fee, which can be waived if it presents a financial burden, you have no downside to submitting an application to Columbia even if it feels out of reach. By demonstrating ambition and shooting for the stars, you leave the door open for future successes, academic and otherwise.

The post How to Get into Columbia: Stats + Admissions Advice appeared first on College Admissions Blog.

With an acceptance rate in the single digits, Yale is a difficult school to get admitted to, but this post will make your journey easier by explaining every building block that leads to a great application.

Yale University Statistics

How Selective is Yale University?

In March 2022, the Yale Daily News reported that Yale’s admission rate for the class of 2026 was 4.46 percent, compared to 4.62 percent for the class of 2025 and 6.54 percent for the class of 2024.

Rankings

Yale is the third ranked university in the United States according to US News. As of fall 2021, Yale College (the undergraduate school) had about 6500 students, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 6:1, and an endowment of $42 billion, the second highest of any university. 

SAT and ACT

Though as the Yale admissions website mentions, “there are no score cutoffs for standardized tests,” recent years’ ranges in the 25th to 75th percentiles have been:

• SAT-Evidence-Based Reading and Writing: 720-770
• SAT-Math: 740-790
• ACT Composite: 33-35

GPA

The average GPA of accepted applicants is 4.14. That said, like test scores, there is no GPA cutoff required for admission, and Yale’s admissions officers are aware that there are differences across schools. However, you definitely want to be toward the top of your class, taking as many rigorous classes as you can (and that your school offers).

Tuition and Financial Aid

Yale tuition is $62,250, with room and board costing an additional $10,500 and $7,950 respectively. However, Yale follows a need-blind policy in admissions, meaning that they do not take household income into account when making admissions decisions. Yale also has a robust financial aid program (meeting almost all of demonstrated need), with the average financial aid award totaling $52,743.

We’ll review your essay

Receive edits in as little as 24 hours

LEARN MORECONSULTANTS FROM

What is Yale University Looking For?

The High School Experience: Expectations

Every high school program is different, but Yale expects that you have taken advantage of the educational opportunities at your school. Admissions officers want to see four years of study in core subjects (English, science, math, social sciences, and foreign language), with an apt level of challenge balanced with subjects you’re especially interested in.

While you should strive to take on the most challenging courseload you can handle, admissions officers are aware that certain schools do not offer programs such as AP or IB classes, so you’ll only be held to the standard of academic opportunities that were available to you. If that means seeking out online courses, summer programs, or taking a class at a nearby community college, that counts too!

The Yale Admissions website stresses that choosing one class over another will rarely be the deciding factor in someone’s acceptance or rejection. What’s important to remember is that they emphasize seeing you as a whole student, thus you should consider shaping your academic trajectory in the way that makes most sense to you (and still meets Yale’s high standards).

The Art Supplement

You also have the option to submit an additional (optional) supplement in the arts with your application. You can submit your work in the visual arts, music, film, or dance, and it’s recommended to only submit if you feel strongly that your art would add color to your application in a way that the existing materials do not. 

Though most applicants do not submit an arts supplement, it can help tip you over the scale should the arts faculty that review it find it to be worthwhile. 

Yale’s guidelines about the art supplement can be found here.

The Interview

Most (but not all) students, especially those from whom the admissions committee requires more information, are asked to sit for an interview with a Yale College alumnus or current senior. The interview is optional, but strongly recommended if you’re invited to one, as the admissions committee reviews the interviewer’s report as part of your application, and it can give you another chance to showcase your personality or passion. Interviews are generally conducted where there is a Yale alumni presence, so if you’re not invited to one, don’t take it personally! It won’t harm your application.

The interview can be an important factor in your application if you’re prepared to make a good impression, and that means answering questions candidly, showing an earnest interest in Yale and its community, and being genuine. This is also your chance to ask a Yale graduate any questions about academics, student life, or life after Yale.

Yale University Application Requirements

Application Checklist

The Application

Yale accepts the Common Application, the Coalition Application, and the QuestBridge Application (if you qualify). No application platform carries any particular advantage; you’re free to choose whichever you’re most comfortable with.

Essays

The essays are a crucial component of your application to Yale. See this Next Admit blog post about how to approach Yale’s essays, as well as their own advice page. 

Application Fee

The fee to apply to Yale is $80, although Yale also accepts fee waivers.

What You Need From Your School

School Report with Transcript

Your school report/transcript is arguably the most important puzzle piece in your application. Most schools have sent transcripts to colleges before and are familiar with the process, but if possible, we recommend checking it over before your school submits to make sure your coursework and grades are accurate. Note that as Yale is an academic institution, it seeks academic excellence from its students above all.

Counselor Recommendation

Yale requests one counselor recommendation as part of your application materials. Your guidance counselor should be able to provide additional context about you as a student, even if they do not know you well. If your counselor doesn’t know you personally, you can set up a meeting with them to go over the most important parts of your academics, extracurriculars, or personality that you’d like them to showcase in their letter.

Teacher Recommendations

Also requested are two teacher recommendations from teachers you’ve had for core subjects (English, math, science, social studies, or foreign language) in classes where you’ve done well. Ideally, these teachers know you as an engaged, passionate student, and have taught you in your junior or senior years of high school.

Similarly, it’s helpful to set up a meeting with the teachers you’d like to write recommendations for you well ahead of the deadline, so that you can share anything you’d like them to include in your letter, whether it’s academic or beyond.

Midyear Report

As soon as the final grades from your first marking period of your application year (if you haven’t already graduated from high school) are available, they should be sent along to Yale by a counselor or administrator from your school. Keep your grades up throughout senior year — you don’t want admissions officers to think you might be slacking off during your last year of high school. 

What’s the Deal with Test-Optional?

As a continued response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Yale is not requiring standardized test scores from applicants for fall 2023. However, it can never hurt to send in a good test score, or even to take the SAT or ACT to see if you might make the cut.

Sharing your standardized test scores can also give admissions officers a fuller picture of who you are as a student. Supposedly, Yale’s research has shown that test scores can correlate with academic performance, which explains why they are considered. However, if you choose not to share them, more weight will be placed on the other academic components of your application. 

One last thing to remember — perfect test scores are less likely to make up for middling grades than perfect grades are to make up for suboptimal test scores.

Currently, Yale is still following a test-optional policy, but that may change as public health conditions improve.

Extracurriculars and Yale: The Insider Info

Balancing Your Activities

Yale seeks students who have a rich extracurricular life, but the meaning of that can vary vastly from student to student. Involving yourself in a few different activities, whether in the arts, sports, activism, or academics, greatly boosts the strength of your application, especially if you’ve achieved something significant (state-level or higher) within those fields. While a high level of achievement is not necessarily required, what helps is showing motivation, improvement, and self-reflection within the clubs/sports you’ve pursued.

It’s also not necessary (and can even be detrimental!) to do everything that exists in your high school environment. You should choose a few (but a good mix of) activities that you’re passionate about to focus on, and build your narrative as a person who knows how to choose their battles wisely.

Special Circumstances

There are also non-standard activities that can give admissions officers a fuller idea of who you are, whether those are family/care responsibilities or a part-time job. Admissions officers understand that some students cannot keep up with a challenging academic course load and extensive extracurriculars if, for example, they have to care for a sibling or grandparent, or if they have to financially contribute to their household. 

If that’s you, don’t hesitate to mention these experiences either in your essays or in your extracurriculars section. These types of life experiences tend to demonstrate maturity, responsibility, and dedication and shouldn’t be overlooked simply because they’re not conventional.

Deadlines

Yale’s Single Choice Early Action deadline is November 1. The regular decision application deadline is January 2. Decisions are released in mid-December and at the end of March respectively.

Recommended deadlines for financial aid applications are November 10 (early action) and March 15 (regular decision). 

The post How to Get into Yale: Stats + Admissions Advice appeared first on College Admissions Blog.

Stanford is one of the most challenging Universities to gain acceptance to. This post will break down Stanford’s application requirements so you can optimize your application for Stanford. 

Stanford University Statistics

Rankings & Enrollment

Around 4% of applicants gained admittance to Stanford in the 2021-2022 academic year. Stanford University is ranked #3 among U.S. universities according to the U.S. News and World Report. 7,645 undergraduate students are currently enrolled in Stanford, along with 10,035 graduate students.

SAT and ACT

Stanford University is currently test-optional, and there is no minimum SAT or ACT score required to get into Stanford. That said, of admitted students who submitted scores in the 2021-2022 admissions cycle, the middle 50% of admitted applicants have SAT Math scores in the range of 740-800, SAT Evidenced-based Reading and Writing in the range of 735-770, and/or Composite ACT scores in the range of 32-35.

GPA

Successful applicants to Stanford have an unweighted average GPA of 3.96. That means that successful applicants maintained near-perfect grades in high school. 

Tuition and Financial Aid

Attending Stanford costs $78,898 per year, but due to Stanford’s financial aid policy, the average student attending Stanford pays $17,898. However, Stanford is only need-blind for domestic applicants, which includes U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, and an undocumented students. If you are an international student, gain admittance to Stanford, and requested financial aid in your application, then Stanford promises to meet 100% of your demonstrated financial need. Otherwise, international students who do not initially request financial aid are not eligible for financial aid at any point in their Stanford career unless their citizenship changes from international to domestic.

We’ll review your essay

Receive edits in as little as 24 hours

LEARN MORECONSULTANTS FROM

What Is Stanford University Looking For?

The High School Experience: Expectations

Stanford University requires that all applicants have a high school diploma or the equivalent in order to enroll.

Stanford takes a holistic admissions approach. This approach takes into account the full picture of your high school experience. Stanford expects to see that you have maximized the opportunities available to you, within reason. The four main tenets of the Stanford admissions department are academic excellence, intellectual vitality, extracurricular activities, and context.

Academic Excellence

Academic excellence in a Stanford applicant means a high-achieving high school record. Challenge yourself with courses outside your comfort zone, including taking at least five courses per semester. If your school only permits you to take fewer than five courses, Stanford admissions would not penalize you for this. But, assuming that you can take five or more courses, the expectation is that you do so during all four years of high school.

Stanford considers these five areas of study to be the five core liberal arts and sciences:

• English—emphasizing writing and literature.
• Math—including algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and ideally calculus and/or statistics.
• History/Social studies—involving essay-writing.
• Science—ideally including biology, chemistry, and physics.
• Foreign language—a non-English language, or a non-native language in the case of students for whom English is a non-native language.

Engaging deeply with and achieving in all five of these areas of study is essential to a Stanford application. Stanford looks for the well-rounded applicant. Maybe you’ve written multiple A+ English essays, participated in the AMC, engaged in your civic community, attended science camp, and joined French Honors Club. Or, if none of these opportunities were available to you, you received uniquely high commendation from all of your teachers in these areas of study. 

Stanford expects that you have completed four years of coursework in English and math as well as three or more years in history/social studies, science, and the same foreign language. However, no specific courses are required for any applicants, regardless of major.

Intellectual Vitality

Stanford looks for applicants who will enrich their already vibrant intellectual community. Displaying intellectual curiosity in your essays, extracurricular activities, and the classroom will help you appear authentically engaged to Stanford admissions officers. Taking initiative, exploring your interests, and exhibiting passion toward your areas of interest will all strengthen your Stanford application.

Stanford expects that, if such courses are available, you select Honors, AP, and/or IB courses. It is not necessary for you to take every accelerated or advanced course your school offers. But it is important that you choose the most challenging courses in your professed area of interest, as well as at least one course in a different area of study. For instance, if you apply as a biology major, you should take the AP Biology course your school offers, and the AP US History course that excites you. Even if you’ve taken ten AP courses, if you don’t take AP Biology, Stanford may not see your dedication to the subject matter.

If you have scores from your AP, IB, or GCSE exams/courses, you should submit these scores. As for AP scores, you are not required to submit them, but it’s recommended, unless you score below a 3. If you are enrolled in an IB system or the British education system, you are required to submit your (predicted, if applicable) results. This includes, in the case of British applicants, predicted or actual A-level marks for at least three full A-level courses. 

Extracurricular Activities

A great way to clarify your intellectual vitality is through your extracurricular activities. Explore your interests outside of the classroom. Also, don’t be afraid to explore areas you might not be as interested in, or topics outside of your comfort zone. If you want to major in English, then working hard at your school literary magazine will show your dedication and growing experience.

If you can, aim to participate in multiple, varied extracurriculars, or to participate in only one or two but with a great depth of engagement. Admissions officers would like to see you trying new things and displaying curiosity. Still, surface-level engagement with seven different clubs is not as impressive as full and authentic commitment to one extracurricular which means a great deal to you.

Don’t be afraid to take initiative. If you take on too many activities, you can always let some go. Similarly, if you find yourself wanting to pursue an extracurricular which doesn’t appear to exist yet in your community, and it’s possible for you to start it, then do so. Maybe you think your school should have a photography club, or your town needs a group to pick up the trash. Whatever drives you, lean into it and pursue it as far as you can.

Context

Extracurriculars don’t have to pertain to academics. They can be athletic pursuits, religious commitments, gainful employment, or even familial obligations. Stanford’s holistic admissions approach will take into account all of these varied kinds of extracurriculars, as well as what kinds of opportunities were available to you.

Context matters to your Stanford application. Be sure to explain somewhere in your application if you devote a significant portion of your time to childcare, elder care, household management, or other personal matters that may have prevented you from engaging in other extracurriculars. Likewise, if your school offered a wide range of clubs but none possessed enough funding to provide meaningful experiences, then clarify why you were more or less engaged with those opportunities.

Lastly, if there were/are any extenuating circumstances which may have affected your GPA, test scores, high school transcript, or other aspects of your application which will not be clarified in your application by default or by your counselor, be sure to elaborate on these circumstances in the additional information section of the Common App.

Stanford University Application Requirements

The Application

Stanford accepts the Common Application, and only the Common App, unless you qualify for the QuestBridge program, so be sure to complete the appropriate application. 

Application Fee

You must submit a $90 non-refundable application fee or fee waiver in order to apply to Stanford.

ACT/SAT Scores

Taking the ACT and/or the SAT is always recommended for students interested in applying to Stanford but not required. You will maximize your chances of acceptance if your scores fall above the 50th percentile of accepted applicants. If your scores fall below the 25th percentile of accepted applicants and you have time before the deadline to retake one or both of these standardized tests, then you should do so, but if not, then you may want to take advantage of Stanford’s current test-optional status.

Official Transcript(s) or Academic Results

Your transcript paints a picture of your high school experience, from the classes you’ve taken to the grades you’ve achieved, and more, depending on what your school offers. Although your school sends in your transcripts and/or academic results to Stanford, not you as the student, if you can, take a look at the documents your guidance counselor is planning to send. Make sure that all of your classes are listed, even electives, with their Honors, AP, IB, or other status noted. If you have received any academic honors from your school, these should also be included. 

School Report Form and Counselor Letter of Recommendation

Your school will handle these application items, but you can still take responsibility for them. Always confirm that these materials have been submitted on your behalf. In addition, you can build a relationship with your counselor in order to better facilitate their writing of your recommendation letter. Your counselor may have many students to worry about and write letters for, so if you can differentiate yourself and give your counselor a chance to understand you as a person, the letter will benefit. Even if your counselor already has a high opinion of you, if they know you personally, their letter will be much more authentic, specific, and memorable to the college admissions officers.

Letters of Recommendation From Two Teachers

Like your counselor, your two teacher recommendations provide an opportunity for college admissions officers to see another side of who you are from the perspective of an adult who, ideally, knows you well. 

Your teachers may receive many requests for letters of recommendation, so it’s important for you to establish relationships with your teachers throughout the school year and request these letters early, at least one month before the deadline. You may still get a letter if you request one last minute, but it will necessarily be more rushed and less thoughtful. Regardless, speak to your counselor early on to make sure you know your school’s specific guidelines for requesting recommendation letters from teachers.

If you have another person in your life who knows you well and can provide insight into who you are that the teacher and counselor recommendations cannot, then you may submit a third letter of recommendation. This letter is submitted under “Other Recommender” and does not necessarily have to be written by a teacher.

Midyear Transcript (by February 15)

This is another material your school will handle. Be sure to keep your first and second semester grades on par with or better than your grades in the first three years of high school. Even if your grades were not perfect when you were an underclassman, showing consistent effort and ideally improvement will put you in a better position for success.

Essays

In addition to the writing required by the Common App, Stanford asks all applicants to submit supplemental essays specific to the Stanford application. For a more detailed breakdown of how to write the Stanford Supplemental Essays, see this post.

Interview

Stanford University considers interviews an optional application supplement. Interviews are conducted locally with Stanford alumni. Therefore, if there are no available and willing Stanford alumni in your local area, you may not be offered an interview. If you are offered an interview, you are not required to proceed with it. 

Regardless, it is recommended to participate in an interview if you are offered one. The interview is less of an opportunity for Stanford to learn more about you and more for you to learn more about Stanford. Although it is important for you to be polite and speak positively, but not arrogantly, about yourself in the interview, it is even more important that you come prepared to ask the interviewer 3-5 questions. These questions should be specific to Stanford and their answers should not be available to you on the internet already.

Arts Portfolio

Stanford admissions officers value artistic talent, creation, and engagement highly. Although the arts portfolio is optional, applicants who are high-achieving artists are encouraged to share a portfolio of their best work in one of the following areas:

• Art Practice
• Dance
• Music
• Theater and Performance Studies

To learn more about the specific requirements for each artistic areas’ portfolio, see the arts portfolio page on the Stanford admissions website linked here.

Deadlines

Stanford offers both Restrictive Early Action and Regular Decision application timelines. 

The deadline to submit a restrictive early action application with an arts portfolio is October 15. The material for the arts portfolio is October 20. The deadline to submit a restrictive early action application without an arts portfolio is November 1. Decisions for restrictive early action were released in mid-December, and accepted students must reply with their decision to enroll or not enroll by May 1.

The deadline to submit a regular decision application with an arts portfolio is December 5. The material for the arts portfolio is due December 10. The deadline to submit a regular decision application without an arts portfolio is January 5. Decisions for regular decision will be released in early April, and accepted students must reply with their decision to enroll or not enroll by May 1.

Although Stanford is one of the toughest schools to gain admittance to, it is also one of the most esteemed institutions of higher education in the world. Even if you are not among the lucky 4% in this admissions cycle, bear in mind that just by applying to Stanford you have exhibited ambition, effort, and bravery. Try your best, and best of luck.

The post How to Get into Stanford: Stats + Admissions Advice appeared first on College Admissions Blog.

Princeton is one of the toughest schools to gain admittance to in the United States, but this post will break down every element of the Princeton Application Checklist to explain how you can maximize your opportunities.

Princeton University Statistics

How Selective Is Princeton University?

For the Class of 2026 going forward, Princeton will not be releasing admissions statistics, but you can guarantee it’s a low percentage, after it dipped below 4% in 2021.

Rankings

Princeton University is currently the #1 ranked institution of higher education in the United States, boasting a 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio and a $35.8 billion endowment shared by 5,548 undergraduate students and 3,157 graduate students.

SAT and ACT

The middle 50% of admitted applicants have SAT Math scores in the range of 760-800, SAT Evidenced-based Reading and Writing in the range of 730-780, and/or Composite ACT scores in the range of 33-35.

GPA

The average admitted applicant to Princeton has an unweighted GPA of 3.92, which means that accepted applicants generally receive only A’s and A-‘s in high school. More than half of admitted students have a perfect 4.0 GPA.

Tuition and Financial Aid

The cost of attending Princeton is $79,540 per year. Note that if you are lucky enough to be accepted into this prestigious university but cannot afford to pay the tuition, Princeton is also considered the #1 private university in the U.S. in terms of financial aid, with most students receiving some form of financial aid and 83% of seniors graduating debt-free. Princeton is need-blind, even for international students. Due to Princeton’s policy of meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need, the average cost of attending Princeton works out to $9,836 per year.

We’ll review your essay

Receive edits in as little as 24 hours

LEARN MORECONSULTANTS FROM

What Is Princeton University Looking For?

The High School Experience: Expectations

When admissions officers review your transcript, they’re looking to see that you’ve challenged yourself. Princeton expects four years of instruction in the following subjects:

• English
• Math
• A non-English language
• Science
• History
• Arts, ideally

Admissions officers will not penalize you for not taking courses your school didn’t offer. For instance, if your school only offers three years worth of history classes, you won’t be penalized for not taking a fourth year of history senior year. 

Whatever advanced programming your school may allow you to take, challenge yourself by pursuing it, even in subject areas that are not your primary interests: Princeton expects well-rounded applicants.

If your school offers AP or IB classes, take as many of them as you can handle and submit your strongest AP or IB scores. Even if you want to major in math, an Honors English course and a strong IB grade in History will boost your application significantly.

Enrolling in courses at your local community college or in well-regarded online courses, and/or attending academically rigorous summer programs will also benefit your application to Princeton.

Extracurriculars and Princeton: The Truth

Balancing Your Activities

Princeton University not only expects applicants to have been involved in extracurriculars in high school, but also that students’ extracurricular involvement goes beyond the surface-level. That might mean starting your own club or striving for success in Science Olympiad. “Well-rounded” on a Princeton application usually involves some mix of the following elements: academic, artistic, activist, administrative, and athletic.

You definitely don’t need all of these elements, but having 2-3 different types of extracurriculars which you’ve devoted yourself to will really make your application stand out. For instance, you might be an artist who also runs track. Maybe you campaign for local politicians, serve as treasurer for the book club, and write for your high school newspaper. Or maybe you compete in the AIME and volunteer at your church.

Special Circumstances

It’s also important to bear in mind that responsibilities in your home can potentially fall into the extracurricular category, not least because they take up as much or more time than any “standard” extracurricular. In your essays, bring up your home responsibilities if you have any, in order to paint a more complete picture of who you are.

Note that Princeton University favors applicants who have worked a paying job, whether delivering pizza or tutoring AP Calculus BC. Discuss your experiences in gainful employment somewhere in your application if you have any. Working any kind of job not only demonstrates skill at that job, but it also shows the admissions officers your maturity and work ethic.

Princeton University Application Requirements

Application Checklist

The Application

The most important thing to consider when applying to Princeton are its application requirements. Princeton accepts the Common Application, and only the Common App, unless you qualify for the QuestBridge program, so be sure to complete the appropriate application.

Essays

You must complete the Princeton Supplemental Essays (see this great Next Admit post to learn How to Write the Princeton Supplemental Essays in greater detail).

Application Fee

You must submit a $70 application fee or fee waiver.

Graded Written Paper

You must submit a graded written paper, preferably in the subject of English or History, although other subjects are also permissible. This element of your application is unique to Princeton, indicating that, maybe more than other colleges and universities, Princeton cares deeply about your standard of academic writing. Be sure to select a paper you received an A or A+ grade on, ideally from junior or senior year of high school, and not from freshman year.

Also, it’s even better if your teacher can provide some comments on the essay in addition to a letter grade. If your school doesn’t offer standard grades like A-F, don’t sweat it, just be sure to request that your English, History, or other teacher provides a letter grade on whichever paper you elect to submit, and written comments as well if possible.

It’s recommended that you select a longer essay if you have one (over 4 pages) in order to provide more insight into your quality of writing, but if you only have 1 or 2 page papers, that’s still acceptable. Note that this isn’t an opportunity to demonstrate your creative writing skills, but instead your ability to write an academic paper. This requirement is a substitution for the requirement of your SAT or ACT Essay score, which Princeton no longer requires. That said, if you had the opportunity to take the Essay section of the SAT or the ACT, and you received a strong score, it’s highly recommended that you submit it.

The Art Supplement

If you are artistically skilled, then Princeton has an art application supplement just for you. Applicants can provide supplements in the following areas:

• Architecture
• Creative writing
• Dance
• Music
• Musical theater
• Theater
• Visual arts

If your artistic skills are not covered by these categories, you are still able to provide links to your work in the additional information section of your Common App. Bear in mind, though, that Princeton’s admissions office notes that they might not have faculty qualified to evaluate art outside those categories, or the time to evaluate it. 

You read that right: if you submit to any of the arts categories listed above, a Princeton faculty member will take time out of their day to review it. The faculty member will then notify the admissions office whether they believe that the supplement’s level of artistic skill is on par with that of current Princeton students. If so, this is obviously a boost to your application. If not, then the admissions office will disregard the supplement entirely.

In other words, you won’t be penalized for a poor artistic supplement. That said, it’s not advisable to submit just anything as your art supplement: take this section as seriously as your essays and other application elements, and it will no doubt serve you well.

The Interview

The other optional, but highly recommended action you can take is to interview with an alumnus/a. Do alumni interviews make or break your application? Probably not, but the interview is a great way to show your interest in the school and to ask questions from someone who really went to Princeton. If you have the option, then go for it. Just be sure to prepare beforehand with some well-researched questions, and be yourself.

What You Need from Your School

Transcript

A transcript is a required submission material. Your school has probably submitted many transcripts for its students before, but if you can, look over your transcript before your school submits it. Many students view their transcripts only after the fact and discover typos, vague course titles (for instance, “Math” instead of “Honors Pre-Calculus”), and errors that could have been fixed with a quick once-over before submission.

School Report

A School Report must be completed by a school administrator or school official—lucky for you, apart from making sure this gets done, you have no responsibilities here.

Counselor Recommendation

A Counselor Recommendation is a requirement for applying to Princeton. If you haven’t already, be sure to sit down with your guidance counselor or whomever will be writing this letter on your behalf and get to know each other. Are there parts of who you are that you would like your counselor to bring up, or a certain tone you would like your counselor to avoid? One challenge many students face when applying to college is an impersonal counselor recommendation—the student might be the top of their school and a thoughtful classmate and friend, but if your counselor doesn’t know this about you, only working with surface-level impressions, it will probably show in their letter.

Teacher Recommendations

Two Teacher Recommendations are required for applying to Princeton. Again, it’s important that you build relationships with your teachers throughout high school. These teachers writing for you must teach you in core classes, and it’s crucial that they know you well enough to write for you. If you don’t feel that you know your teachers very well, then see if you can schedule a time for you to talk outside of class, just like with your guidance counselor. Tell your teachers about your academic interests and passions, personal interests, and anything about yourself that you feel demonstrates your unique personality and would benefit your college application.

Midyear Report

Your grades, specifically your midyear school report. Like your School Report, apart from making sure this gets done and you keep your grades up, this is out of your hands.

What’s the Deal with Test-Optional?

The SAT and the ACT are not requirements to apply to Princeton, but they are highly recommended. Unless your scores are well below Princeton’s middle 50%, then you should definitely submit them; at minimum, it’s recommended that you study and sit for the exams to see if you have a shot at a strong score.

You might be wondering why you should care about these scores when Princeton is test-optional. The reality is that Princeton still cares about these standardized tests, as evidenced from their display of admitted students’ average scores on their admissions information page. These scores help boost the University’s U.S. News and World Report rankings, and they demonstrate some metric of college-level capability among applicants.

Of course, standardized test scores are closely correlated with family income, and at a school like Princeton, which has such a strong financial aid policy, it doesn’t seem fair that these scores still hold weight. But even if there’s debate as to whether not submitting a score holds a negative impact or a neutral one, it is undeniable that submitting a good score has a positive impact. So, if you can, submit.

If English is not a native language for you and you haven’t spent at least three years at a secondary school where English is the primary language of instruction, then Princeton requires that you submit TOEFL, IELTS or PTE Academic scores.

Deadlines

The deadline to apply for Princeton Early Action is November 1. The decisions for the Early Action round are released mid-December.

The Regular Decision deadline to apply to Princeton University is January 1, although the optional arts supplement is not due until January 9, and the financial aid application is not due until February 1. Admissions decisions for the Regular Decision round are released on April 1. Admitted applicants must accept or reject their offer to attend Princeton by May 1.

When you’re applying to Princeton, bear in mind how low the acceptance rate is and how many fully qualified applicants are rejected every year. Even if you’re rejected outright, it’s probably nothing to do with you. Whatever you do, try your best and reach for your dreams: the only way to be sure you have a chance of being admitted to Princeton is to apply.

The post How to Get into Princeton: Stats + Admissions Advice appeared first on College Admissions Blog.