Ivy Applications:
Let the Elite College Admissions Process Begin

By Dave Berry

Ivy Babies Grow Up

This is where it all pays off. Parents: All the nurturing, observing, shepherding, and intuiting you've done for the past 17 years or so has not been in vain. High schoolers: Now you're going to shine. It's time to document your life and capture its essence within the confines of a college application. Do some serious reflection, planning, and strategizing. It's not going to be the easiest thing you've ever done but, if you follow this advice, it could turn out to be one of the most exhilarating and rewarding projects you've ever tackled.

Some families view the entire college process with dread, especially when students are applying to America's most competitive schools. Others look forward to the challenge, after years of anticipation and preparation. I hope that you're among the latter group. If, however, you find yourself thinking and feeling more in the dreading demographic, cheer up. After following this plan, you're going to wonder what all the fuss was about. It will challenge you, make you work hard, and show you some real-life examples that may intimidate you at first. Please remember, though: this is not intended to scare you; it is to inspire you.

Okay, then. Take a deep breath, fire up your computer and your imagination. If you don't have a computer, a sharp #2 pencil and some notebook paper will do. If you don't have an imagination, that's okay too. By the time the plan is done stoking your fires of creativity, you'll be a first-class Renaissance type, maybe the first one on your block. Get ready to write your own ticket.

>> Next: The Daunting Size of Ivy Applications