Instructions
Application Materials for Ivy League Graduate Applicants
1. Undergraduates applying to Ivy League graduate programs need to gather the right materials before admission. Every graduate applicant has to submit a formal application as well as an application fee to every program. The application features basic information like past schools attended, phone numbers and work experiences. The application fee can range depending on the date of application. Princeton University, for example, increases the fee from $65 to $105 after December 1st to encourage early applications.
Ivy League schools require several documents from graduate school applicants to demonstrate academic aptitude. The personal statement that is common for all universities is scrutinized to determine an applicant's maturity and academic progress. Ivy League admission officials look at recommendation letters, transcripts and mid-year grades from undergraduates to find candidates who will increase the profile of a graduate department.
As the economy fluctuates, Ivy League schools are reviewing financial statements to find exceptional applicants with real financial needs. The typical financial statement asks an applicant for income, investment and savings information to determine financial aid and grant needs. While Ivy League schools are cutting back on grants to save endowments, this statement can be a ticket to the Ivy League for truly needy students.
Ivy League Schools Search for the Exceptional
2. Ivy League schools like Princeton, Harvard and Yale scour through GRE scores, applications and transcripts to find exceptional students. Graduate admissions officials look for qualified students in underserved populations like Native Americans, Muslims and Pacific Islanders to demonstrate diversity. While demographic information has to be voluntarily given to avoid discrimination, promising students from these groups can benefit by explaining their background in personal statements.
While liberal arts and humanities programs fill up quickly, Ivy League graduate programs search for exceptional students in high-demand fields. The dearth of general practitioners and engineers staying in the United States means that Ivy League schools want to recruit students who will stay at home. Graduate applicants who focus on these programs stand a better chance of gaining admission than the thousands of applicants denied in crowded graduate programs.
Personal Contact with Ivy League Graduate Applicants
3. After applications have been reviewed by Ivy League schools, admissions officials use several tools to learn more about qualified students. In design, engineering and music programs, students submit a portfolio or art piece that is representative of potential at the graduate level. These portfolios also show department heads that undergraduates have areas of interest that will be pursued actively if admitted to graduate school.
Most Ivy League schools require personal interviews from graduate applicants before admissions decisions are completed. These interviews are often conducted through national alumni networks with alumni determining the character and composure of applicants on behalf of an Ivy League school. The interview helps confirm information submitted in the application and helps Ivy League schools ensure consistency in its admissions practices.
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