Over the past four years, the Ivy League has faced some heavy blows — from bombshell revelations of bias during affirmative action hearings to allegations of widespread anti-Semitism and violations of free speech.
Although these schools remain some of the most prestigious and competitive in the country, the Ivy League’s luster has tarnished for many, and some have given up on their Ivy League dreams altogether. But as these schools face reputational challenges, a new group of elite, private universities is growing increasingly more competitive – and more desirable.
The new “Ivies”—which include Notre Dame, New York University, Duke, Emory, Rice, Vanderbilt, Northwestern, and Washington University in St. Louis—boast the rigor, selectivity, and prestige of the traditional Ivies. Over the past decade, these schools have seen an increase in interest from students from around the world, and their admission rates have declined as a result.
For example, in 2013, NYU’s acceptance rate was 35%. That number drops to 8% in 2024. Similarly, the applicant pool at Rice University has more than doubled over the past ten years, from 15,408 in 2013 to 32,473 in the 2023–24 cycle.
The growing desirability of these schools is reflected not only in their admissions statistics, but also in their rankings – this year, Duke passed UPenn, Cornell, and Brown for #6 (tied with Caltech) in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Like beat the ivies. College Ranking. With the lowest acceptance rates, first-class facilities, and renowned professors, these schools are no longer a backup option to the Ivy League – students and parents now view them as top-tier institutions in their own right.
Despite the intense competition, parents and students routinely underestimate how difficult it is to get into the new Ivies. I have witnessed firsthand students who received acceptance letters from Princeton but were rejected by Vanderbilt, or gained admission to Yale only after being rejected by Washington University St. Louis – and this is a common one. An incident is in the making. Students who want to attend one of these competitive institutions need to start earlier than ever to build an exceptional admissions profile.
As a college admissions consultant who has worked privately with families for over a decade, I have helped countless students change their perspective and earn coveted offers of admission to new Ivy League schools. I have become one of the few students. Based on my extensive work with applicants, there are three primary mistakes that cause top students to face rejection at new Ivies. If you wish to enroll in one of these elite schools, be sure to avoid these three pitfalls:
Settle for an “Easy A” on Your Transcript
A 4.0 GPA alone won’t impress admissions officers at top schools – students should take the most challenging courses available at their high school, especially in subjects related to their intended major. It’s important to note that colleges evaluate students in the context of what their school has to offer. This means that whether their school offers AP, IB, or a unique Honors curriculum, students are sure to have the most rigorous curriculum offered to tell a cohesive narrative about their academic skills and core disciplinary interests through their transcript. must comply. Students applying to top schools are competing against a pool of applicants with 4.0 GPAs – while top grades remain fundamental to success, the rigorous curriculum will set them apart from the crowd in a sea of straight-A students.
Adopting a generalized approach to extra-curricular activities
One of the most common mistakes I see students fail to take into account is the significant differences between institutions – many believe that if they build a generally impressive profile and apply to all the New Ivies, then One of them will definitely say yes. But the approach of “casting a wide net” and assuming that every school on your list will evaluate your application the same way does not increase your chances of getting into one of these schools – in fact, it may actually hurt your chances of admission. Could reduce the odds on any of them. Instead of just applying to all the new Ivies, do your research to evaluate which school will be the best fit based on your personality, academic profile, and personal and professional goals. Seniors should carefully highlight how their extracurricular involvement, extracurriculars, and summer plans align with the values of the schools to which they are applying. Young students should approach extracurricular activities in accordance with the values of the schools to which they hope to apply in the future.
For example, Notre Dame, given its religious values, wants to see students engaged in meaningful service work. Students who hope to participate should be intentional about looking for ways to contribute to their local community throughout high school and be diligent in highlighting these activities in their applications. Meanwhile, because Rice offers a more traditional academic environment, the admissions committee will look for evidence of students’ high-level engagement with their academic discipline outside of the classroom. Students considering Rice should particularly focus on activities such as Science Olympiad or STEM projects that demonstrate their practical experience in their field.
Once you’ve identified a top school that will be a perfect fit for you, intentionally craft an applicant profile early in your high school career that reflects your unique candidacy for that institution. When it comes time to apply, increase your chances of admission by applying Early Decision or Early Action.
Failing to demonstrate demonstrated interest in your supplemental essays
Ultimately, admissions officers at top schools want to see students’ demonstrated interest. Successful applications demonstrate that students have researched institutions extensively and understand their unique cultures and programs. The supplemental essay is an important opportunity for students to demonstrate this depth of understanding. For example, a student may ask his “Why Duke?” You run the risk of weakening your application by focusing on. Essay on their desire to attend a school with a strong sports culture or writing your NYU essay about your desire to live in New York City. These are surface level qualities, and highlighting them shows that a student cares more about the “vibe” or superficial reputation of the school than about its unique programs and strengths.
Although schools like Duke and Emory are not state schools and therefore do not have to meet certain admissions requirements for the same number of in-state applicants, based on my experience with students, they offer opportunities to raise the profile of academics in their fields. Give priority to. Based on my work with students, those who are based in the Southeast get a slight edge in the admissions process, while students from California or Montana have to be more intentional about showing that they have done the research and are interested in the school’s unique culture. understand. ,
These new Ivies should be treated with the same prestige as traditional Ivy League schools – this means that students should begin strategizing as early as their high school years to produce excellent applicant profiles that will appeal to admissions committees like Vanderbilt. Will attract attention. , Northwestern, and Duke. Avoiding these common mistakes is the first step to creating effective and targeted applications for students at these schools.
Christopher Rimm is the founder and CEO of Command Education, a New York City-based elite college admissions consulting company.,
