Ivy League applicants

Despite disruptions to the Ivy League admissions process due to COVID-19 pandemic, the application process for the majority of institutions have returned to normal. With all of the changes that have taken place in the world of U.S. admissions in the last few years, it’s understandable that students have some questions. Today, BartyED’s Ivy League admissions consultants are here to answer the questions on every student’s mind.

Q&A: Is the SAT/ACT still optional?

In short, no.

While U.S. colleges implemented a test-optional policy during the pandemic, this decision has been, by and large, reversed. Standardised test scores, be it the SAT or the ACT, are once again required for admittance.

This may seems like a setback for many, but the SAT and ACT can be of great benefit to students. U.S. college admissions is highly competitive, so a high score in either of these exams will do well to set students apart from the crowd in a positive way. This is especially important for international students. Moreover, the a highly marked SAT or ACT can open students up to scholarships that would, otherwise, be unattainable.

Early preparation, SAT/ACT coaching, and individualised counselling are crucial for successful admissions. With a good SAT/ACT tutor, students can maximise their scores and get one step closer to their dream U.S. college.

Q&A: How do I navigate the different 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.

Q&A: How important is the written component?

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 counselling programme 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.

Q&A: 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 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 and 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.