Ivy League colleges are some of the best tertiary education institutions in the world.

They have long lists of incredibly impressive alumni, including John Legend, Anderson Cooper, and Barack Obama. There is, however, a 10% chance that you’ll get accepted.

Cue breathing into a brown paper bag.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try – it means you should try even harder to make your application stand out. Harvard, Princeton, and Yale are the three most well-known institutions, with Columbia ranking closely behind.

To help buff up your college application to one of the most prestigious schools, follow these five tips below:

  1. Improve Your Time Management

Apply early. That way you will boost your chances of getting into one of the country’s most elite colleges. You can only apply for early decision for one university, so choose wisely.

If you’re going to go one step further and apply in advance, take the time to ensure that it is to the university of your dreams, and preferably one that you stand a chance of getting into!

If you get accepted under early decision (ED), you will need to withdraw all of your other applications, so ensure that you are fully committed to that school.

  1. Adopt A Holistic Approach

While impressive scores, academic papers, and grades are essential, other things count as well – such as extracurricular activities. The reality is that you need to be able to show depth and passion in whatever it is you excel at to make the admissions teams take notice.

Map out a clear and holistic approach to your college admissions journey. You will need to have a winning combination of scores, grades, and skills to get into America’s finest colleges.

  1. Get Help

Some things aren’t worth leaving to internet articles alone.

Do your research and use Going Ivy College Admissions Consulting to help guide you through the process. There is so much to your application journey that your high school may not adequately convey.

Instead of being left in the dark, take the plunge and consult the professionals – this is your future we are talking about.

  1. Focus On Test Scores

If you want to get into a school of this caliber, you best have the grades and test scores to match some of the most qualified candidates. Grades and test scores are two of the most crucial factors for a student trying to enter a highly selective institution like an Ivy League college.

Students who lack scores based on Ivy League standards have no chance unless there is something else that significantly helps them to stand out.

  1. Relax

Lastly, when getting ready to start the college application process – remember to breathe.

Although college is a fantastic opportunity, there are thousands of other things you can do if you don’t get it. So, stay calm and remember that you can only control so many aspects of your life, some things are just best left to higher powers.

Stay calm during your interview and be friendly and concise. By following these tips, you are sure to get into the college that you’ve had your eye on.