Maximizing your child’s chances at the Ivy League and the top 20 colleges requires strategic planning that begins years before applications are due. According to veteran college admissions expert Jamie Berger, success comes from combining academic excellence with authentic, deep extracurricular engagement—becoming “well-lopsided” rather than superficially well-rounded.
This comprehensive guide draws on proprietary insights from Great College Advice to help ambitious families navigate every critical decision, from course selection and activity prioritization to Early Decision strategy and letters of recommendation.
How Should My Student Balance Extracurricular Activities and Academics for Top College Admissions?
The answer, according to Jamie, is that you need both—but the balance depends on your target schools. For the top 20 universities, students must pursue maximum academic acceleration from an early age while simultaneously developing depth in extracurricular activities.
Elite colleges like MIT receive applicants with the highest grades and test scores, so activities become the primary differentiator among academically qualified candidates. The key is becoming “well-lopsided” rather than well-rounded—demonstrating superior talent in one or two areas rather than surface-level participation across many.
“They get the pick of the litter of kids with the highest achievements, grades, and scores. And the only way they distinguish them from each other is those activities.”
— Jamie Berger, Veteran College Admissions Expert
The Common App provides only 10 activity spaces, making depth of commitment more valuable than breadth. One student admitted to Michigan Business School’s main activity was working at McDonald’s, where he rose to manager and attended national conferences—demonstrating that authentic commitment matters more than prestigious-sounding programs.
Which Is More Important for College Admissions: Grades or Extracurriculars?
Students should drop activities as soon as they realize the activity isn’t genuinely meaningful to them, even after significant time investment. Jamie advises families to encourage their students to “dive deeply into the things that interest them most and to do them more and more.”
Starting in 8th and 9th grade, students should explore their genuine interests while still allowing themselves to have a childhood. If an activity isn’t resonating after a reasonable trial period, dropping it is the right choice—even if the student has invested two years. The alternative is worse: forcing continued participation in something that doesn’t fit, which leads to shallow engagement that admissions officers can detect.
Jamie Berger cautions against activities that don’t align with a student’s intended direction. Remember, elite colleges prefer “well-lopsided” students with superior achievements in focused areas over students who spread themselves thin across numerous superficial commitments.
Which Is More Important for College Admissions: High Grades or Challenging Classes?
According to Jamie Berger, there is no universal answer—it depends on what you’re applying to and your academic strengths. The ideal path is to “take the hard course and get a good grade,” but reality requires strategic thinking.
If a student is barely maintaining an A- in AP Calculus AB and doesn’t plan to pursue a STEM major, it may make sense to skip Calculus BC. Context matters tremendously: your intended major, your overall academic profile, and where your genuine strengths lie.
One B in a challenging course generally won’t derail an otherwise stellar application, especially for students with otherwise straight A’s. Getting a C is not ideal, but it won’t automatically disqualify you if other elements are strong.
“It’s all a matter of balance. You have to make a decision based on your abilities and interests, and challenge yourself as much as you can. The trick is to lean into your strengths. If you’re good at science, then push there. More of a writer? Then write. You are an individual human being, not a formula.”
— Great College Advice
What Is the Ideal Demonstrated Interest Strategy for Hyper-Competitive Colleges?
The importance of demonstrated interest varies dramatically by institution. Most elite colleges, including the Ivy League, don’t consider demonstrated interest in admissions decisions because their yield rates are already exceptionally high. However, many other selective schools track it carefully to predict which admitted students will actually enroll.
According to the Great College Advice Family Handbook, “While some colleges take demonstrated interest very seriously, not all of them do. Many of the country’s most selective colleges do not consider demonstrated interest in the process.”
For schools that do track it, the most effective strategies include:
- To continue to demonstrate interest after you apply by following your college portal.
- Making an official campus visit and registering for a tour, engaging with every opportunity that shows up in your inbox after registering your email with a school’s admission office ( information sessions, local college fairs)
- Writing a brief, genuine email to your regional admissions representative
- And most importantly, applying Early Decision if the school is your clear first choice.
“Signing that ED agreement is the ultimate demonstration of interest.”
— Jamie Berger
However, there’s a crucial boundary: “There is a very fine line between showing genuine interest and harassing admissions staff.” Quality of engagement matters more than quantity.
How Do You Effectively Show Demonstrated Interest to Colleges?
Demonstrated interest should feel authentic rather than performative. The most impactful methods include visiting campus and taking an official tour (when feasible), attending regional information sessions or college fairs, engaging with all opportunities offered through your applicant portal, and sending a thoughtful email to your admissions representative with specific questions about the school.
Following up after campus visits or interviews with thank-you notes shows professionalism. For students who cannot visit—particularly international applicants—writing a letter explaining genuine interest and why circumstances prevented an in-person visit can compensate effectively. But, for those students, it is important to sign up for virtual tours and other informational sessions so colleges know you are doing your research and are genuinely interested in them.
The Great College Advice Family Handbook emphasizes: “Sometimes the best demonstrated interest is through conversations that show the student is truly engaged in the process and wants to learn more about the school.”
Focus on genuine engagement that demonstrates you understand what makes the school distinctive and how you would contribute to their community.
Should My Student Choose IB or AP? Which Does Ivy League Admissions Prefer?
Ivy League schools have no preference between IB and AP curricula—excelling in either program demonstrates academic rigor. Jamie Berger states clearly: “The answer is either. Excelling at either will be great.”
The decision should be based on practical factors rather than perceived admissions advantages. Consider which program is stronger at your local schools, whether your student prefers the project-based learning approach of IB or the more standardized AP format, and your student’s individual learning style.
IB involves significant project work, while AP courses are more familiar to admissions committees simply due to their prevalence. For students considering UK universities, note that specific requirements exist: typically, three AP scores of 5 or IB scores of 6+ in required subjects are expected.
The bottom line: choose the program that allows your student to demonstrate their best academic work rather than chasing a perceived admissions preference that doesn’t exist.
What Are the Most Common Interview Questions for Ivy League Applicants and How Should Students Prepare?
According to Jamie Berger, interviews “matter very little in admissions” and don’t rank among the top 10 factors at any college. Most Ivy League interviews are conducted by alumni volunteers rather than admissions staff, serving dual purposes: providing information to prospective students and maintaining alumni engagement.
Typical questions include: “Tell me about yourself,” follow-ups about activities listed on your application (“I see you play hockey, tell me about that”), and questions about your interest in the school. These are NOT trick questions—they’re conversation starters.
“Go in as the customer of a product worth more than $100,000. Have sincere questions about what matters to you at this school.”
— Jamie Berger, Veteran College Admissions Expert
Preparation should include presenting yourself professionally (nice background for video calls, appropriate attire), being genuinely curious about the school, and staying open-minded. The best interviews often become natural conversations. One student’s entire Imperial College London interview consisted of discussing rugby with an admissions officer who shared his interest. Authenticity trumps rehearsed answers.
What Are Legacy Admissions and How Do They Work?
Legacy status refers to having a parent who attended the undergraduate program at a specific college—this is the most valuable form of legacy connection. Graduate school attendance by a parent provides less admissions benefit.
Legacy status can provide an advantage, but its impact varies significantly by institution and is becoming increasingly controversial. As Jamie Berger notes: “Yes, some of them are dropping legacy slowly.”
The admissions boost from legacy status is strongest when combined with significant donation capacity—families who can “put their name on a building.” However, legacy alone doesn’t guarantee admission. One case involved a student applying to Stanford’s engineering program as a legacy applicant who was rejected in early admission despite having legacy status. Fortunately, this student was accepted to many highly selective universities that were better fits and is thoroughly enjoying their experience at the college they enrolled in.
Research individual schools’ policies, as some now claim legacy status no longer influences decisions. We advise you to check each college’s specific approach to legacy admissions as part of your application strategy.
Is It Easier to Get Into Top 20 Colleges as a Legacy Student?
Legacy status can improve admission chances at schools that consider it, but the advantage is neither uniform nor guaranteed. The strength of legacy preference varies widely by institution and has been declining at many schools in response to criticism about fairness and access.
Several important factors determine how much legacy status helps: whether the school actively considers legacy in admissions, whether the legacy connection is undergraduate (more valuable) or graduate, the family’s history of engagement and giving, and most critically, whether the applicant meets the academic and extracurricular qualifications independent of legacy status.
The reality is that legacy admission remains controversial, and many view it as unfair. Some highly selective institutions have publicly moved away from considering legacy status. Before banking on legacy as a strategy, research your target schools’ current policies and remember that a compelling application matters more than family connections.
What Is the Real Impact of Applying Early Decision vs. Regular Decision on Admission Chances for Top Schools?
Early Decision provides a genuine statistical advantage at many selective colleges. According to Great College Advice’s research, many selective colleges accept 30-50% of their entire freshman class during the Early Decision round, even though the ED applicant pool is smaller than the Regular Decision pool. This makes ED statistically easier for qualified candidates.
However, Jamie Berger offers a crucial caveat: “Admission is not randomized statistics.” You must meet the minimum academic and extracurricular qualifications—ED won’t help an uncompetitive applicant.
Three requirements must be met before applying ED: the school must be your clear first choice, you must have a reasonable chance of admission based on your profile, and if you need financial aid, the school must meet 100% of demonstrated financial need.
ED does favor full-pay applicants because binding commitments help colleges with budgeting. If financial aid is insufficient, you can be released from the binding agreement. Students deferred or denied ED can consider ED2 options at other schools if there is a clear #2 choice. Jamie Berger recommends beginning this strategic planning in junior year to develop a sound ED approach.
Should I Apply Regular Decision, Early Action, or Early Decision?
Each application type serves different strategic purposes. Early Decision (ED) is binding and signals ultimate commitment—use it only when a school is definitively your first choice, you’re academically competitive, and financial aid concerns are manageable.
Early Action (EA) is non-binding and demonstrates interest while preserving options. According to Jamie: “Almost everyone should apply Early Action if it’s available.” The only reason to skip EA is if your junior year grades were weak and you need senior year performance to strengthen your application.
Regular Decision provides the most time to polish applications but faces the highest competition for remaining spots since many classes are substantially filled during early rounds.
One parent in the Great College Advice community shared: “We went through this process blind the first time and made mistakes we couldn’t undo. Working with a counselor from the start on application timing would have changed everything.”
Strategic timing requires honest self-assessment: Are you competitive for your top choice? Do you have a clear first choice? Can you afford the school if accepted ED? Start these conversations early—by the end of sophomore year—to make informed decisions about your application strategy.
How Do I Get a Good Letter of Recommendation for College Applications?
Earning strong letters of recommendation requires intentional relationship-building, not last-minute requests. Jamie advises: “Pick the ones [teachers] who know you best, who seem to like you best, and where you’re getting your best grades.”
The foundation is being an engaged, active, committed student—particularly during junior year, when most recommendation relationships are established. Arrive early and stay late to chat with teachers about genuine interests beyond class material. Come with questions that show intellectual curiosity.
Most colleges require two teacher recommendations—typically one from a STEM course and one from humanities or social sciences. Request recommendations in person during spring of junior year to give teachers ample time. At large schools where teachers handle many requests, prepare a “brag sheet” summarizing your achievements, goals, and memorable moments from their class.
The counselor’s letter provides a different perspective—offering admissions officers a picture of the student within the entire school environment. If your counselor doesn’t know you well, make efforts to connect and provide written information to support their letter.
Finally, always send thank-you notes after letters are submitted. This professional courtesy reflects well on the student and maintains positive relationships.
How Do Colleges Actually Use Letters of Recommendation in Admissions Decisions?
Letters of recommendation carry significant weight at selective colleges, as much as essays or interviews in many cases. The intensity of review varies by institution type.
Smaller selective colleges read recommendations carefully as part of a holistic review, while large state universities focus more on quantitative data like grades and test scores. However, even at larger schools, a negative letter will be noticed and can derail an otherwise strong application.
Recommendations contain two components: a narrative account of the student from the teacher’s perspective (ideally with specific examples) and a series of checkbox ratings comparing the student to their peer group and to all students the teacher has ever taught. Carefully written recommendations provide a clear picture of academic performance and potential that grades alone cannot convey.
The counselor recommendation serves a different purpose—giving admissions officers insight into the student’s role within the broader school community, including involvement, awards, and leadership. In large public high schools with high counselor caseloads, counselors may indicate they have “no basis to judge” the student. Admissions officers understand this systemic limitation and won’t hold it against applicants from under-resourced schools.
Which Top-Tier College Is Easiest for International Students to Get Into?
Jamie Berger is refreshingly honest on this question: “I don’t know.” No single top-tier U.S. college is definitively easier for international students, and any company guaranteeing admission to top schools should be viewed with extreme skepticism.
International applicants face unique challenges, including visa considerations, financial aid limitations (most aid at U.S. schools is reserved for domestic students), and the inability to demonstrate interest through campus visits.
For international students, UK universities offer a different pathway worth considering. Unlike the holistic U.S. approach, UK admissions focus primarily on academics: courses, grades, test scores, one letter of recommendation, and a personal statement. Specific requirements typically include three AP scores of 5 minimum or IB scores of 6+ in required subjects. Foundation year programs exist for students who don’t quite meet score thresholds.
For international families set on U.S. institutions, focus on building the strongest possible application rather than searching for “easier” targets. Identify schools where your student’s profile genuinely fits and recognize that standardized test scores and compelling essays will likely take on more importance for international applicants.
Related Topics:
- Complete Guide to Extracurricular Activities for College Admissions
- Early Decision vs. Early Action: Making the Right Choice
- How to Secure Outstanding Letters of Recommendation
- Demonstrated Interest: What Works and What Doesn’t
- Legacy Admissions: What Families Need to Know
- Academic Rigor: Balancing Challenge and Performance
- Ivy League Interview Preparation Guide
