New challenges for Ivy League applicants

With the test-optional admissions process for Ivy League colleges continuing to apply to upcoming application cycles, Ivy League hopefuls are justifiably concerned about how to secure a place at such selective universities.

Despite disruptions from COVID-19, changes to conventional in-person learning, and fluctuating admissions rates, Ivy League colleges remain as competitive as ever.

Without the SAT and ACT requirement, perfecting each component of the application is harder than ever before. Today, BartyED’s Ivy League admissions consultants are here to answer the questions on every student’s mind.

Should I sit the SAT/ACT or not?

In short, yes.

While the ‘test-optional’ policy has generated significant confusion around whether the SAT and ACT are still important, BartyED consultants can say for certain that the standardized tests are actually even more important than they were before.

Although candidates will still be considered regardless of whether their scores are submitted, the overwhelming influx of applicants taking advantage of this test-optional policy means that stronger students should use the SAT/ACT to stand out from the pack. Additionally, SAT/ACT scores are still required for many scholarships.

These special circumstances also make early prep, SAT/ACT coaching, and individualised counselling crucial for successful admissions. With a good SAT/ACT tutor, you can maximise the benefits of opting to include your test score.

A good admissions consultant can help evaluate your chances based on the changing admissions standards and help you perfect each component of your application, which will look quite different depending on the college of your choice.

How do I navigate the different Ivy League application processes?

Navigating the different processes for Ivy League admissions has never been easy. There are different expectations to meet depending on whether you are going through the Common APP, shared systems application (for CalState, UC colleges), individual college applications, or the Coalition application.

Being able to apply to multiple Ivy League schools means that students can cast a wider net, but perfecting each application takes a substantial amount of time and research.

How important is the written component? Is there a right way to write for Ivy League schools?

The written component of the application is extremely important. However, as the prompts for these written elements are generally designed to be vague and adaptable, there are endless ‘right’ ways to produce them at a high standard.

The details will differ with each candidate, but a BartyED Ivy League counseling program will broadly involve our admission consultants discerning the strengths, weaknesses, interests, and talents of the student to establish a comprehensive academic profile.

Then, our consultants work with the student to structure and refine the written elements of the application: this might be the personal essay (for Common App), personal insight questions (for UC colleges), and so on.

How do Ivy League admissions consultants work?

At BartyED, admissions consultancy is done differently. The initial consultation session with the student (and parent) helps our admissions team identify what the applicant is looking for, in order to discern the best application strategy.

Our aim is to want to reconcile expectations of parents and children, and establish academic expectations. BartyED admissions tutors have close knowledge of the Ivy League admissions process, and we know from experience that our approach works.

We ensure each candidate perfects their application for any university of their choice, and have had successful placements in Ivy League colleges such as Brown, Dartmouth, and more.

Our multilingual consultancy services in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin ensure that we can tailor the right application for you. BartyED’s Ivy League consulting services are boutique, one-to-one sessions that can either be booked as a one-off or as a series designed to build the ideal application from the ground up.

For information about our admissions consultancy or SAT/ACT tutoring programmes, take a look at our website. If you are ready to work on your applications with an expert BartyED admissions consultant or SAT/ACT tutor, feel free to contact us today at (852) 2882 1017 or enquiries@bartyed.com.