Adolescence is a complex, confusing, and ultimately overwhelming phase of life. Not only is it the phase in which we are first introduced to workloads that consume hours of our everyday lives, but it also is the first point in life when we begin thinking about the future. Additionally, at no point in life does an individual stand to benefit more from the guidance and wisdom of a one-on-one tutor. NYC parents have been picking up on that trend for years. All those years leading up to high school seem surprisingly inconsequential all of the sudden in comparison to the obstacles that lie ahead. That’s because high school is one step away from college. And while many may argue the contrary, most high schoolers see college as the determining factor of how the rest of their lives will unfold.
Of course, in reality, this is only as true a statement is you will it to be. Plenty of folks have found tremendous success later in life in professions that have practically no connection or relevance to what they studied in college. But others do in fact have their higher education to thank for their careers. This is most often the case for graduates of prestigious universities. So with that in mind, here is your guide for how to get into an Ivy league school. And before you read on, you should know that no, this is not a life hack. This is just a guide to get you started. There’s no shortcut when it comes to the elites.
Step 1: Put yourself in their shoes: Before anything, a healthy exercise is to just imagine what it is that universities are looking for. That is, what is it that motivates them? Most of the best universities are nonprofit organizations. That means they do not exist to produce profit for shareholders. What motivates them is what their students and employees can achieve. This then produces clout, which attracts more excellent people to want to work and study there, who can then do more impressive things. And presumably, if a university treats its people well and they make a fortune years later, they will want to give back to that university. So with that in mind, most universities are looking for excellent people who have the potential to do excellent things. What is excellent about you? That’s what you should focus on. No matter how lost you think you may be in life, you stand to gain much more from developing some sort of vision for the future. What can you provide that will one day make this university look good?
Step 2: Go above and beyond: Now it’s time to step back into your own shoes and get to work. What are your extracurriculars? Are you in any clubs? Have you traveled? Learned a foreign language. Think of how you can put yourself in a leadership position. If you were a team captain, that counts for something. Class president? Anything that shows that you have potential to do something great in the future.
Step 3: Study for the SAT way way way in advance. By the time you take that test there should be nothing new, especially now that the College Board restructured the exam to reflect high school curriculums. You’re going to want to play close attention to your endurance, and in what areas you struggle and in which you excel. This information can be gathered by constantly taking practice tests until it becomes a routine. Your standardized testing ability isn’t everything, but it’s certainly something. If you don’t get above a certain score, most of the top schools won’t even consider you, no matter your other achievements.
Step 4: Don’t ever give up, but don’t beat yourself up either. This is as good a time as any to learn the brutal and unfortunate yet sometimes beautiful lesson that life is completely and utterly unpredictable. Not everything is going to go your way, and you may do everything that is within your power and still not get into the school of your dreams. That doesn’t mean you won’t aspire to do great things. Keep your chin up and enjoy. Good luck!
For more information on how to maximize your chances of getting in your dream college with the help of an Ivy league graduate one-on-one tutor, NYC can provide you with the best of the best. Contact Big Apple tutoring today. We can be reached 212-479-0830.
