Elite colleges will expect your SAT scores for Math in the region of 700. Examples include MIT where 50% of the students scored between 740 and 800 on their SAT II, Princeton saw 50% of their students score between 710 and 790 on their SAT II and UCLA had 75% of their students score between 700 and 800.
While SAT scores are important it’s not all that Ivy League Schools look for. A 2400 SAT and a 4.0 grade average are exceptionally helpful, but they also look for strong academic record, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation and strong application essays.
Application Process
Once you have chosen your schools it’s time for the application process to start. Ensure you don’t miss the application deadline as every college is different. Take special care to not mention the wrong college in your application essay, which is a common error when applying to more than one school. Tell your guidance counselor which colleges you are applying to and ensure you have extracurricular activities such as volunteer work, community outreach programs, hobbies and sports to show your involvement.
The Application Essay
Writing a great essay is important; a lot of colleges take special note of the application essay as character and personality are high on the application list. Don’t write about all your accomplishments and activities, there is a section on the application form for this. Double check your essay and check there are no spelling, grammatical or punctuation errors. Don’t write about any heroic acts, travel or religion, these aren’t going to help your application.
Recommendation Letters
Recommendation letters do not have to be from influential people. Approach your teachers, coaches and mentors that know you well for a recommendation letter. Be sure to ask in advance so you don’t end up not having them by the time your application is due.
The Interview
If your application is great, you will be asked to come in for an interview. Ensure you dress smart casual and don’t take your parents with you, show you are independent. Don’t ever be late for your interview; this is a good reason for them to reject your application. Don’t make a prepared speech, answer questions politely and ensure you have read all there is to know about the college, so you don’t ask obvious questions which could have been found on their website.
Once that is completed, you watch for the post to arrive and see where you will be obtaining your financial degree.