Tens of thousands of students from all over the world apply to Ivy League schools each year. Getting into a dream school can be difficult, but it is not impossible. To improve chances, a student must understand the admissions process and make a real commitment to academic and extracurricular activities. As with most things, knowledge is power. Here are some tips for students striving to get into the Ivy League college of their dreams:

1. Start early.
   College admissions is a process. One of the biggest downfalls of college applicants is starting too late. In all four years of high school, students need to get good grades, participate in extracurricular activities, and do community service. The earlier a student starts the process, the more information the student will have on their application, and the better the chance of acceptance. Many private school students start college prep in 8th or 9th grade. It is also better to do well in challenging classes than to ace an average one.

2. Choose the right high school classes.
   The majority of admissions officers give the strength of a student’s high school curriculum the most weight in the decision-making process. Students need to make sure they are meeting the high school requirements; taking a balanced set of classes; choosing a smart range of college prep courses like AP, Honors, IB and AICE; and showing colleges a positive pattern of success throughout high school.