The U.S. is full of many prestigious colleges. According to the 2024-2025 Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News, out of 2250 top Universities in 100 countries, 38 U.S. universities feature in the top 100. Keep reading to discover some essential aspects of the college admissions process vital to being admitted to the top-ranked universities in the U.S.
Students who are successful in gaining admission to Ivy League or Ivy-like schools have a few characteristics in common, according to Solomon Admissions Consulting.
– A natural curiosity: An innate desire to learn more
– Drive and determination: The drive to go that extra mile
– Passion: Love for a subject or subjects
– Problem-solving skills: The capability to develop innovative solutions
– Independent Thought: The ability to think critically about a topic or issue and form an informed opinion
Parents must help their children develop these skills, nurture their curiosity, and develop good habits as early as possible.
The fact is that the percentage of applicants admitted into top U.S. schools could be much higher. Here is a chart showing the national acceptance rate for Ivy League colleges for the year 2022-2023:
| College | National Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|
| Brown University | 5.2 % |
| Columbia University | 4.0 % |
| Cornell University | 7.9 % |
| Dartmouth College | 6.2 % |
| Harvard University | 3.5 % |
| Princeton University | 4.5% |
| University of Pennsylvania | 5.9% |
| Yale University | 4.5% |
Luckily, there are some distinct steps that parents can take to set their children up for success. First, top academic credentials in high school are among the undisputed selection criteria for all the top-ranked U.S. universities. Thus, while strong high school GPAs are vital, middle school grades must also be addressed because many middle school classes prepare students for future honors and advanced placement classes. As Ivy League prep admission strategy and consulting services suggests, “A rigorous course load is one of the most important components of a successful academic record. Helping your child get on track academically is important because the courses they take in middle school will determine their course load in high school.” This includes taking a world language course and developing strong study habits.
Second, parents must ensure their children have developed excellent reading comprehension and writing skills. Taking AP language or literature classes is recommended. Personal statements and supplemental essays carry a lot of weight in the admission process, so exceptional language and writing skills will certainly help in writing the personal statement and supplemental essay.
Third, an excellent performance on standardized tests like the SAT or ACT will boost their chances of getting into an excellent college significantly, for it shows the child has the foundational knowledge to succeed in college, as suggested by Mary Banks, a former admission committee member of Columbia University. Advanced math courses in middle school and AP Calculus AB and/or BC in high school will help students excel on these standardized tests.
Finally, in addition to a high GPA, strong reading comprehension and writing skills, and excellent performance on SAT or ACT tests, participation in extracurricular activities is also essential as it shows that the child is well-rounded in other areas.
In your child’s academic journey, Afficient Academy can play a significant role in preparing them for their dream college. Afficient’s AI-driven math and English programs help build solid foundations after thoroughly identifying skill gaps and weaker areas. They help master the fundamental concepts and ensure the students reach a very high progress goal measured by accuracy and speed (often above 95% accuracy) before moving on to the next grade.
Afficient’s programs can be self-learned at one’s own time and convenience. In addition, its live coaches are available to monitor a student’s work, provide insights, and assist students when they hit roadblocks. The coaches provide guidance, support, and feedback to ensure the students stay on track and reach their academic goals.
90% of Afficient students can complete a grade in 3-4 months with an A or A+, and as a result, they can efficiently study one, two, or more grades above their current grade level in school.
This helps students successfully qualify in middle school math placement tests to pursue advanced math classes. The advanced materials learned in Afficient’s programs assist students in excelling in advanced math classes in middle school and preparing them for AP classes in high school. It gives them an edge over other students competing in college admissions.
Afficient’s English Language and Arts program helps students master vocabulary, grammar, comprehension, and language skills. It also promotes a love for reading and critical thinking, essential for getting into their dream college. Furthermore, Afficient’s math and English programs are designed to improve students’ GPAs in these subjects.
Besides enhancing academic ability and high GPA scores, Afficient’s programs also help students develop essential life skills such as discipline, self-learning, love for learning, and goal setting. All these skills are given a high weightage during the selection process.
If you want to learn more about Afficient Academy, visit our website. If you are interested in taking Afficient’s free diagnostic test and/ or consultation, please sign up here.
