Unlocking Ivy League Admissions: Expert Shares Key Application Strategies

A Forbes-recognized college admissions counselor, Elise Pham, recently shared insights into the Ivy League application process. According to Pham, many elite universities employ an initial screening process that evaluates applications beyond just grades and test scores, focusing instead on readability, integrity, and intellectual curiosity. She highlighted the importance of essays, extracurricular activities, and letters of recommendation in the subsequent scoring phase. Pham also emphasized that 'passion projects' are crucial for boosting an applicant's 'personal character' score, which is a highly subjective but significant category. She noted that Ivy League schools seek focused, memorable applications centered around a standout quality, rather than attempts to impress in every category.