The purpose of this webpage is to provide information to students who plan to apply to selective colleges. Planning ahead is particularly important if you want to gain admission to selective colleges, so the earlier you start, the better off you’ll be. Keep in mind that if you are thinking about selective colleges, you must be prepared to do considerable research on your own and that this web page is just a starting point for your search. It was inspired by Nolan Smith-Kaprosy (West ’06, Yale ’10) and created by Scott Warren (East ’09, Cornell ‘13), Deborah Wood (Southwest ’10), Ryan Tincher (SW ’08, Dartmouth ’12), Tanner Fliss (Preble ’12), Jill Harding (Supportive Resource Teacher), and Shirley Paulson (District Supervisor for Gifted and Talented).
Selective colleges are not for everyone. The investment in learning and time spent on rigorous courses is not appropriate for all students; however, if you would love to go to an Ivy, here is information that can help.
What is a selective college or university?
Although much of the information on this webpage is good advice for anyone who wants to gain admission to college, the focus is on highly selective colleges and universities. Highly selective colleges and universities are generally defined as those that admit one fourth or fewer of their applicants. Because many more students apply than the number of spots in a class, admissions officers can choose only the most excellent candidates, and many outstanding candidates will not be offered admission.
For a list of benefits of attending a selective college or university, here is an article on the subject written by an MIT grad. Also check Understanding College Selectivity.
Feel free to browse this site or click on a topic from the list below:
Getting started