Best Practices for getting into the so-called Private) "New Ivies"? Beyond high GPA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Private New Ivies
INSTITUTION STATE UNDERGRAD ENROLLMENT ACCEPTANCE RATE 50th PERC. SAT 50th PERC. ACT
Carnegie Mellon University Pennsylvania 7,497 11% 1540 35
Emory University Georgia 7,606 11% 1520 33
Georgetown University District of Columbia 8,670 13% 1500 33
Johns Hopkins University Maryland 8,654 8% 1550 35
Northwestern University Illinois 10,210 7% 1530 34
Rice University Texas 4,712 8% 1550 35
Tufts University Massachusetts 7,631 10% 1510 34
University of Notre Dame Indiana 9,157 12% 1500 34
Vanderbilt University Tennessee 7,284 6% 1540 35
Washington University in St Louis Missouri 8,821 12% 1540 34

Sources: National Center For Education Statistics, college websites.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/emmawhitford/2025/03/26/the-new-ivies-2025-20-great-colleges-employers-love/

Which schools on this list are known to have collaborative, less cutthroat academic cultures. My DS is bright and intellectually curious, just not a fan of very intense, competitive enviros.

Northwestern

False. NU is cutthroat and striver-y. DCUM will tell you otherwise but that’s because posters’ kids come from wealthy suburbs and attend the NU sports games/drink. Most don’t.

Speaking of drinking…

Probably best to ignore the NU basher (who pops up on every thread that mentions to school). Talk to current students. Most will tell you its challenging but collaborative.

[Anonymous]

I'm scrolling this thread looking for the best practices.

What specifically do you think helped with your kid's admission to these schools?

[Anonymous]

Best practices- look at the stats/profiles of other kids from your kids’ school who matriculated at the New Ivies. Spend quality time on the schools’ applications (don’t treat them like an Ivy after-thought). Know enough about the schools to respond to “why us” essays. Don’t shotgun.

[Anonymous]

The New Ivies are unfairly treated like the person who doesn’t get asked to prom until the last minute, after being rejected by everyone else. I have a kid at one of the New Ivies. A lot of them unfortunately had their era as an Ivy backup (Northwestern early 90’s). Some still have that reputation (Emory).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The New Ivies are unfairly treated like the person who doesn’t get asked to prom until the last minute, after being rejected by everyone else. I have a kid at one of the New Ivies. A lot of them unfortunately had their era as an Ivy backup (Northwestern early 90’s). Some still have that reputation (Emory).

You earned the wrath of Emory Mom ... lurking here

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Private New Ivies
INSTITUTION STATE UNDERGRAD ENROLLMENT ACCEPTANCE RATE 50th PERC. SAT 50th PERC. ACT
Carnegie Mellon University Pennsylvania 7,497 11% 1540 35
Emory University Georgia 7,606 11% 1520 33
Georgetown University District of Columbia 8,670 13% 1500 33
Johns Hopkins University Maryland 8,654 8% 1550 35
Northwestern University Illinois 10,210 7% 1530 34
Rice University Texas 4,712 8% 1550 35
Tufts University Massachusetts 7,631 10% 1510 34
University of Notre Dame Indiana 9,157 12% 1500 34
Vanderbilt University Tennessee 7,284 6% 1540 35
Washington University in St Louis Missouri 8,821 12% 1540 34

Sources: National Center For Education Statistics, college websites.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/emmawhitford/2025/03/26/the-new-ivies-2025-20-great-colleges-employers-love/

Which schools on this list are known to have collaborative, less cutthroat academic cultures. My DS is bright and intellectually curious, just not a fan of very intense, competitive enviros.

Northwestern

False. NU is cutthroat and striver-y. DCUM will tell you otherwise but that’s because posters’ kids come from wealthy suburbs and attend the NU sports games/drink. Most don’t.

Speaking of drinking…

Probably best to ignore the NU basher (who pops up on every thread that mentions to school). Talk to current students. Most will tell you its challenging but collaborative.

+1

There is some poster that calls ivies and the rest of the T15 privates cutthroat and strivery every chance they get. It is odd. Nobody is sabotaging anyone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm scrolling this thread looking for the best practices.

What specifically do you think helped with your kid's admission to these schools?

Honestly, just start the application in June and spend months researching each university. Figure out what values you want to convey and then figure out what the schools value individually. There’s a strategy involved with creating the right topic for Why essays. Hire good essay editors…

Do not underestimate the essays. I’m hearing way too many people using AI this year who had subpar results.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well…it’s easier to be a recruited athlete at the D3 schools…not easy, but easier than the Ivy D1 schools.

Not true. Decent recruits can get into ivies with similar stats as the d3s on that list.

Either way the acceptance rates in the OP are incorrect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The New Ivies are unfairly treated like the person who doesn’t get asked to prom until the last minute, after being rejected by everyone else. I have a kid at one of the New Ivies. A lot of them unfortunately had their era as an Ivy backup (Northwestern early 90’s). Some still have that reputation (Emory).

You earned the wrath of Emory Mom ... lurking here

I thought Emory mom would be happy the op said Emory has an 11% acceptance rate. Last year it was around 15%, but now I’ve triggered the Oxford wrath. Ha!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Best practices- look at the stats/profiles of other kids from your kids’ school who matriculated at the New Ivies. Spend quality time on the schools’ applications (don’t treat them like an Ivy after-thought). Know enough about the schools to respond to “why us” essays. Don’t shotgun.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Private New Ivies
INSTITUTION STATE UNDERGRAD ENROLLMENT ACCEPTANCE RATE 50th PERC. SAT 50th PERC. ACT
Carnegie Mellon University Pennsylvania 7,497 11% 1540 35
Emory University Georgia 7,606 11% 1520 33
Georgetown University District of Columbia 8,670 13% 1500 33
Johns Hopkins University Maryland 8,654 8% 1550 35
Northwestern University Illinois 10,210 7% 1530 34
Rice University Texas 4,712 8% 1550 35
Tufts University Massachusetts 7,631 10% 1510 34
University of Notre Dame Indiana 9,157 12% 1500 34
Vanderbilt University Tennessee 7,284 6% 1540 35
Washington University in St Louis Missouri 8,821 12% 1540 34

Sources: National Center For Education Statistics, college websites.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/emmawhitford/2025/03/26/the-new-ivies-2025-20-great-colleges-employers-love/

I'm unfamiliar with this term "new ivies" but many (5+) of these schools are high on my DC's list for next year! Keep the best practices coming please, I'm taking notes ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Private New Ivies
INSTITUTION STATE UNDERGRAD ENROLLMENT ACCEPTANCE RATE 50th PERC. SAT 50th PERC. ACT
Carnegie Mellon University Pennsylvania 7,497 11% 1540 35
Emory University Georgia 7,606 11% 1520 33
Georgetown University District of Columbia 8,670 13% 1500 33
Johns Hopkins University Maryland 8,654 8% 1550 35
Northwestern University Illinois 10,210 7% 1530 34
Rice University Texas 4,712 8% 1550 35
Tufts University Massachusetts 7,631 10% 1510 34
University of Notre Dame Indiana 9,157 12% 1500 34
Vanderbilt University Tennessee 7,284 6% 1540 35
Washington University in St Louis Missouri 8,821 12% 1540 34

Sources: National Center For Education Statistics, college websites.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/emmawhitford/2025/03/26/the-new-ivies-2025-20-great-colleges-employers-love/

following

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tip #1: Start preparing for SAT or ACT. While most on this list are technically test optional, they really behave as test preferred.

Good luck!

facts

Can 1580 move the needle if applying RD to these or must it be ED?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can the first step pretty please be not calling them new ivies.

"New ivies". Is this a new category like "public ivy" or "little ivy"? Better to say top 10 publics and top 20 privates in reference to US News ranking, which most people know about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tip #1: Start preparing for SAT or ACT. While most on this list are technically test optional, they really behave as test preferred.

Good luck!

facts

Can 1580 move the needle if applying RD to these or must it be ED?

My DC got into Tufts RD with a 1520! He just attended "Jumbo Day" for admitted students and enrolled. Everyone said he should not apply if he didn't do ED, and we ignored that thankfully. He wanted to see all his choices through and pick the one he wanted the most and have more time for more research.

1580 is an amazing score. Don't let people pressure your DC into ED. Your DC will have plenty of choices, as did ours in RD!