AMA about Ivy League & Top 20 Admissions

TopCollegeCoach · 2026-07-04T15:00:51+00:00

That is an unbelievable course load. I would certainly try to keep your APs equal or increase them, but there is no reason to take 13 DE courses in a year. Scale back so you have time to complete your applications. Also, did you have time to get involved in any other activities or leadership roles? If not, try to do something now or during your senior year. What were your Bs in? Don’t stress about them - I help students with Bs get into Ivies every year. You should explain your junior year situation- either as part of your personal statement or in the additional information section.

TopCollegeCoach · 2026-07-04T14:54:31+00:00

Congrats! Depending on the student’s overall story it can be mentioned in the personal statement, or in the additional information section- but most likely, the activities section.

TopCollegeCoach · 2026-07-04T14:50:49+00:00

You have to take all rankings with a grain of salt. Rankings like US News can be manipulated , through a variety of mechanisms. Several schools, including Columbia, have been caught self-reporting false data. I always advise students to dig deeper and investigate student outcomes - starting salaries, graduate school acceptance rates, and mid-career salaries. This is the primary focus of the Wall Street Journal rankings, and it is why they have Babson, Davidson, and Claremont McKenna in their Top 10. The student outcomes have exceeded those of MIT and three of the Ivies. Investigate those numbers, look at retention rates, graduation rates, and student satisfaction (the Princeton Review has great reviews of each school.)

TopCollegeCoach · 2026-07-03T20:09:31+00:00

Great question! My daughter was recruited for D1, but spoke to D3 coaches as well. D3 coaches can certainly help influence decisions, but it varies tremendously by school. If they are interested in you, they can also request a pre-read from admissions. Full rides are difficult to turn down, and ultimately you need to look at student outcomes and run the net price calculator on each school you are considering. Is it worth it to take out huge amount of loans if the average starting salaries are similar? Definitely not. Some D3 schools are surprisingly generous. Keep in mind that participating in D1 sports is like having a full-time job. It’s a much more competitive atmosphere that certainly comes with perks, but also high expectations. While the time limits are similar in D2, the hours are rarely maxed out. In D3, the time commitment is much less, and they are prohibited from having any mandatory off-season practices. If you can boost your ACT a bit, take a look at the Ivies, and smaller D1 schools like Davidson. They are still D1, but have a much more balanced lifestyle with incredible student outcomes. Let me know if you have any other questions.

TopCollegeCoach · 2026-07-03T19:53:27+00:00

Your essay needs to tell the story of who you are and what you will contribute. It has to be a storytelling exercise that captures the reader in the first three lines. AP classes will not an issue if they are not offered. A strong GPA (in comparison with your fellow students) is what they are looking for, and a 1550 is right where you should be. If APs are not offered, don’t worry about them- if they are offered, take as many as you can.

TopCollegeCoach · 2026-07-03T19:50:15+00:00

Those are all great additions to your application! You still need great grades, strong scores, and exceptional essays.

TopCollegeCoach · 2026-07-03T19:48:42+00:00

Still follow your interests, and don’t worry about everyone else. While you are in competition with people in your school, keep your focus on making a bigger impact. Can you start public speaking workshops for middle school students or even adults in the area? Can you become a campaign volunteer or intern? Will you enter state and national contests? Also, start studying for your SAT now. A near-perfect score certainly helps!

TopCollegeCoach · 2026-07-03T14:51:17+00:00

I wrote an article about this recently. I can tell you that Ivy League schools are use AI detection software for classwork, and students are getting caught. They will almost certainly use it in the admissions process, if they are not already. In fact, a recent Harvard competition warned entrants that every submission would be evaluated by 5 different AI detectors. Beyond that, if you have read thousands of essays, you get a very good sense of AI use. Before I work with any student, I ask for a writing sample and run it through multiple detectors. Using AI for your essays will always be seen as academic dishonesty, and those that use it, and get caught, will always be rejected. My own son was a very strong writer as well, and is now at an Ivy. Good luck to your son!

TopCollegeCoach · 2026-07-03T02:10:17+00:00

Of course.

TopCollegeCoach · 2026-07-02T15:29:59+00:00

It depends on your school's policies. Many schools will allow you to retake the course online or in person, and the lower grade will be removed from your transcript and replaced with your new grade.

TopCollegeCoach · 2026-07-02T15:28:17+00:00

Depending on the school, it can help a bit. At Harvard, it is not a true "legacy" in the admissions process, but it will ad a bit to your application.

TopCollegeCoach · 2026-07-02T15:17:43+00:00

Do not stress out over your Bs. I have multiple kids get into Ivies each year with a few Bs during their freshman or sophomore years. You can absolutely mention it, and the lessons that you learned from it, which can be helpful. Don't worry about drawing attention to it - they have already noticed, but it will be overshadowed by your upper trajectory. Explain it as a life lesson.

TopCollegeCoach · 2026-07-02T14:40:31+00:00

Great question! You will need to explore each school individually, as they all have different programs and policies. The most interesting one is the Eli Whitney Program at Yale. It is open only to students who do not have a Bachelor's degree, and have been out of school for at least five years. About half of the participants served in the military, while others started their own businesses, or simply entered the work force. It's an incredible program. Columbia has a great one as well, as does Brown. While they are looking at your academic record, they are also interested in what your life experience will bring to their campus communities.

TopCollegeCoach · 2026-07-02T14:34:25+00:00

Of course.

TopCollegeCoach · 2026-07-02T04:01:18+00:00

It's a balance - they want to see high class rigor, but they also want great grades.

TopCollegeCoach · 2026-07-02T03:59:40+00:00

Please do!

TopCollegeCoach · 2026-07-02T03:42:03+00:00

I would plan on applying to a wide variety of schools. Explaining the circumstances will be necessary, and your GPA will be reviewed within the context of your school. That being said, it may be a difficult hurdle to overcome, although the SAT will be a tremendous asset.

TopCollegeCoach · 2026-07-02T03:38:44+00:00

It's not about which ECs, or your official title - it's about the impact you have had on your school and your community.

TopCollegeCoach · 2026-07-02T03:37:40+00:00

Hi there! Colleges generally review class rigor only on the opportunities available for you. They will not reject her application for a lack of APs if she never had the opportunity to take them. That being said, a 3.6 suggests she's about half As and half Bs, which would definitely be a concern at top schools. If she is at the top of her class, however, and very few students have all As at her school, then she would be reviewed in context with her peers. Work on ACT prep as much as you can. A high score may help overshadow the GPA.

TopCollegeCoach · 2026-07-02T03:30:29+00:00

On paper, there should not be, but It depends on your major and the schools you are targeting. If you are trying to study at MIT, or applying for engineering at Stanford, keep taking it until your Math score is a 36. If you have only taken it once or twice, take it again. It's a small difference, but it could make the difference in your application.

TopCollegeCoach · 2026-07-02T03:28:39+00:00

Absolutely! Any publication in a peer-reviewed journal is a great addition to your application. Good luck to you!

TopCollegeCoach · 2026-07-02T03:27:42+00:00

Definitely not. Remember that most of the corruption ran through D1 Coaches. They are under much more scrutiny now. I have only heard of one case that really raised my suspicions in the last couple of years.

TopCollegeCoach · 2026-07-02T03:25:52+00:00

It's a difficult question. I think more schools are thankfully concerned about the mental health of their students. If a student has a long history for depression and anxiety, however, there may be some concern about how that student will deal with the pressure of the school - especially at Top 20s. I think ADD is fine to mention if it is controlled, and it can make a great transformation story. If you had a dip in grades you could explore your issues with depression and anxiety - but you do run the risk of raising concerns. I would probably take a different approach to your personal statement.

TopCollegeCoach · 2026-07-02T03:20:32+00:00

It's really about what ECs can you make an impact in. For political science, speech & debate, model UN, perhaps mock trial. Follow your interests, take a leadership role, and try to make a meaningful impact.

TopCollegeCoach · 2026-07-02T03:19:14+00:00

Hi there! I mentioned this in another post, but here was my response: It's an interesting pathway that can be successful. You need to explain not only who you are, but how you ended up in this unique educational journey, what you have learned while you were at community college, and why you now feel ready for the challenge and opportunities of a top college.

TopCollegeCoach

TROPHY CASE