What Will And Won’t Help You Get Into An Ivy League School

Getting accepted into an Ivy League school often requires more than straight A’s and a polished personal statement.

Most schools are looking for students that stand for authenticity, drive, and depth. Admissions officers are often expertly trained to spot fluff, filler, and résumé padding. If your extracurriculars resemble a generic checklist rather than a cohesive narrative, you may be undermining your candidacy. Christopher Rim, CEO of Command Education, recently  outlined in Forbes which activities elevate an ivy-league application and which ones detract from an application.

Three Things That Won’t Help You:

1. Flashy Volunteer Programs Abroad: Paid volunteer experiences often come with privilege and performative altruism. Unless you have a genuine connection to the region, Rim advocates that you skip putting it on your resume because these experiences can backfire and possibly convey superficial engagement.

2. A Club You Joined Right Before Graduation: Joining a club in the eleventh hour can often scream résumé filler. Admissions teams want to see sustained involvement and leadership, so instead of doing this, Rim suggests doubling down on a passion project or deepening your role in an existing activity. CollegeVine says that Tier 4 activities like club membership carry the least weight.

3. Listing Many Sports: Listing every sport you’ve ever tried and quit can be a waste of precious application real estate, says Rim. Admissions officers value commitment over dabbling so if you didn’t stick with it, don’t spotlight it.

Five Things That Will Make You Stand Out:

1. Showing Intrinsic Motivation: What do you do when no one’s watching? Regardless if it’s coding generative art or publishing satirical essays, self-driven projects will show authentic passion. They reveal curiosity and initiative to admissions which are two traits Ivy League schools look for.

2. Activities with Real Outcomes: Deliverables matter, and it’s great to have published work, organized fundraisers, or a social media campaign that has gained traction. These outcomes prove you’re producing something meaningful and not just participating. In a 2024 article by Eric Eng, CEO of AdmissionSight, he observes that real-world impact can really set applicants apart. He points to activities like environmental cleanups and mentoring programs as avenues for candidates to differentiate themselves.

3. Long-Term Involvements: Four years committed in orchestra or a STEM organisation? To admissions, commitment like this is gold. Sustained engagement shows genuine interest and adds dimension to your application especially if it contrasts with your intended major. Many schools want diversity in their classrooms.

4. Competitive Summer Programs That Show Third-Party Recognition: Ivy league schools love to see students with prestigious summer programs that have single-digit acceptance rates. These experiences validate your talent and show you’ve thrived in rigorous, merit-based environments.

5. Fieldwork in The Real-World Internships, canvassing, or launching a small business shows you’ve stepped outside the classroom and into the world. Ivy League schools love this because they want students who’ve already tested their interests in professional settings.

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