Intent on earning admission to an Ivy League school? We at Ivy Coach have some (not-so-surprising) news for you: the competition is fierce. Countless students with perfect grades and test scores apply each year, and countless of these academic powerhouses ultimately receive rejection letters. But most of these students aren’t doing what you’re doing: seeking out expert advice to steer them in the right direction.

The fact of the matter is that most of the so-called “advice” you’ll encounter regarding Ivy League admission is total nonsense. From schools that mislead applicants into thinking submitting test scores is optional to those from a previous generation insisting that you should apply as a well-rounded student, pitfalls mar your road to success.

But that’s where Ivy Coach comes in. Our Strategy Session for prospective Ivy League applicants will equip you with the tools you need to optimize your odds of admission. Let’s walk through each step you’ll take during this one-hour admissions war meeting to set you on the right path and (in some cases) completely turn around your approach to admission:

Strategy Session Step #1: Extracurricular Hook and Activities

During the one-hour Strategy Session with a former elite college admissions officer, which is chock full of insights that can optimize your child’s case for admission, we’ll brainstorm ways for your child to stand out in their activities throughout high school via a powerful singular hook. No, the Science Club and Donation Drive aren’t going to cut it. Instead, think of the highly specific way you can act locally and think globally by pursuing a specific cause, discipline, passion, or art form. Regardless if you sign up for a package with Ivy Coach after your session, you’ll certainly come away from the hour we spend together with a clearer sense of your singular hook.

Strategy Session Step #2: High School Course Roadmap

After pinpointing a hook, we map out the coursework a student should be taking throughout high school so that they’re in the most rigorous curriculum possible (and then some!). Just because a high school recommends certain courses doesn’t mean those are the courses a student should take to earn admission to the likes of Harvard or Yale. And we’ll correct curricular mistakes committed to date before they hurt a student’s case for admission. And just to get this out of the way (it comes up quite frequently), AP Statistics is no substitute for Algebra, Geometry, or Calculus!

Strategy Session Step #3: Testing Plan

We map out which tests a student should take throughout high school (or the remainder of high school), from the SAT or ACT to AP exams. While many elite colleges are test-optional, among the Ivies, only half are. And in any event, students with top scores will always enjoy an advantage over students who don’t submit scores, even if Ivy League admissions officers won’t admit to it.

Strategy Session Step #4: College List-Building

Not every student is destined for the Ivy League. By taking your academic record and the strength of your candidacy into account, we’ll help you or your child understand whether (and which) Ivy League schools are within reach. If you’re a parent, leave it to us to break the news to your child should they not be in a position to earn admission. We’ll also help you identify the safety schools that you can unequivocally count on earning admission to (with our help, of course!).

Strategy Session Step #5: Demonstrating Interest

Ivy League colleges seek to admit students whom they believe will enroll. As such, we teach our students how to effectively make each school believe it’s their first choice. Yes, it’s a game, a game our students can win by effectively demonstrating interest (think: attending campus tours, applying during the Early round, filling college essays with institutional specifics, etc.).

How to Set Up Ivy Coach’s Strategy Session

If you’re interested in Ivy Coach’s assistance with a Strategy Session, click on our orange button, complete our complimentary consultation form, and we’ll be in touch to answer any questions you have about our services. If you wish to proceed, we recommend contacting us sooner rather than later, as it is always better to start Ivy League admission planning sooner rather than later.