The basics of getting into an Ivy league
The elusive Ivy League admission is a dream for many of us, however only a very few people get admitted into these esteemed institutions. And this is for obvious reasons. They are the very best in terms of education and training for life that the world has to offer.
Naturally, graduating from these world-renowned colleges can prove to be a huge steppingstone towards and successful career and thereby, financial stability. This can present itself in many forms like a well-paid job or a business opportunity vie your peer group or other contacts that you make along your way during college.
What do these institutions expect from a candidate to mark them as eligible for admission?
Now, if you ever attended a GMAT class whether online or offline or if you have come in contact with any reputable GMAT coaching centre, you might have been made aware of the basic things that seem obvious, like:
· GMAT/GRE Score
· Work Experience
· Extracurriculars
Let me explain each of these below.
GMAT/GRE Score
Almost every Ivy League and top tier university expects a GMAT score of 700–720+ and a GRE score of 320–324+, depending upon whether you are applying for a management or a science program. Now, for those of you who are aware of the comparative score between the GMAT and GRE will realize that a 324 on the GRE is a lot less than a 720 on the GMAT. In fact, a score of 326–328 is equivalent to a 700 on the GMAT. But this is relevant only for those who are trying to decide about which exam to take for the management admissions, as of late, a lot of universities are accepting the GRE even for management streams.
However, kindly note that the premier institutions have a preference towards the GMAT for the management programs.
Work Experience
This is a very subjective criterion. It greatly depends on the quality and relevance of your work experience with regard to the program AND the university that you are applying to. Generally speaking, a minimum of 2+ years of work ex is required to stand a chance at getting admitted into the Ivy League
Extracurriculars
Having a wide range of experiences apart from your work life is a very important aspect that top tier universities look in to when evaluating your application. They do not want book worms. They are looking for people who will make an impact on their peer group during the course and the world after completing it.
So, if you do not have any achievements or you do not at the least, have any hobbies that have added to your experiences and/or contributed to your growth, it is best to begin working on something ASAP.
If you are lost or have no clue what you should be doing, there are a few educational consultancies across the world that not only train you for the GMAT and GRE but also help with the admissions process and even have mentorship programs to get you on track for the Ivy League admit.
