On Wednesday, March 28th, the Ivies notified high school seniors of their admissions decisions. Thousands of students were disappointed.
Here is a list of the acceptance rates, number of students admitted, total number of applicants and rejection rates:
- Brown: 7.2%; admitted 2,566 of 35,438 Rejection: 92.8%
- Columbia: 5.5%; admitted 2,214 of 40,203 Rejection: 94.5%
- Cornell: 10.3%; admitted 5,288 out of 51,328 Rejection: 89.7%
- Dartmouth: 8.7%; admitted 1,925 of 22,033 Rejection: 91.3%
- Harvard: 4.6%; admitted 1,962 of 42,749 Rejection: 95.4%
- Penn: 8.4%; admitted 3,731 of 44,491 Rejection: 91.6%
- Princeton: 5.5%; admitted 1,941 of 35,370 Rejection: 94.5%
- Yale: 6.3%; admitted 2,229 of 35,306 Rejection: 93.7%
Many of the applicants “looked” perfect on paper. Princeton reported that more than 14,200 of the 35,370 applicants had a 4.0 grade point average. Brown reported that 96% of its admitted students are in the top 10% of their high school classes, while at Dartmouth that rate hit 97%.
So why were so many qualified and paper perfect applicants rejected? They sounded unique just like all the other applicants who were rejected – High SAT’s, high GPA, top class rank, outstanding volunteer, skilled musician and/or athlete, leader in extracirricular activities, “amazing” letters of recommendations, perceived “unique” application essays and the “perfect” connections.
In my firm, I emphasize your “Personal WOW-Factor“, your character and being different (based on your personal characteristics, accomplishments and achievements). I spend countless hours with my team analyzing how to spotlight my client. This arduous process works because, this year, 98% of our clients who applied to the Ivies were accepted. My associates and I must be doing something right!
“Admissions is a competitive sport! Why gamble with uncertainty?” – Dr. Paul Lowe
Dr. Paul Reginald Lowe, founder and managing director of Pinnacle Educational Center Admissions Advisors Group, provides comprehensive counseling advice, exclusively for admissions to top private schools; Ivy League and highly-selective colleges/universities; BS/MD programs; graduate and medical schools and top visual and performing arts programs. The admissions affiliate: Ivy League Admissions Advisors specializes in admissions to Ivy League and highly selective colleges. Dr. Lowe also specializes in helping students who have been wait-listed, deferred or rejected gain admission into their top-choice schools: College Application Rejected. and student who wish to transfer to another college: College Transfer Admissions Advisors. Summer camp: Ivy League Application Boot Camp.