Road to a top college: With Ivies fading, here are the new elite schools

By Christopher Rim | December 13, 2024, 7:45 a.m. ET

Over the last four years, the Ivy League has weathered some heavy blows — from bombshell revelations of bias during the affirmative action hearings to allegations of widespread antisemitism and infringements on free speech.

Though these schools remain the most prestigious and competitive in the nation, the Ivy League sheen has worn off for many, and some have abandoned their Ivy League dreams altogether. But as these schools face reputational challenges, a new group of elite, private universities have been growing steadily more competitive — and more desirable.

The new “Ivies” — including Notre Dame, New York University, Duke, Emory, Rice, Vanderbilt, Northwestern, and Washington University in St. Louis — boast the rigor, selectivity, and prestige of traditional Ivies. In the last decade, these schools have seen a surge in interest from students around the world, and their admissions rates have plummeted as a result.

For instance, in 2013, NYU’s acceptance rate was 35%. That number dropped to 8% in 2024. Likewise, the applicant pool at Rice University has more than doubled in the last ten years, from 15,408 in 2013 to 32,473 in the 2023–24 cycle.

These schools’ growing desirability is reflected not only in their admissions stats, but also in their rankings — this year, Duke beat Ivies such as UPenn, Cornell, and Brown for #6 (tied with Caltech) in the U.S. News & World Report’s Best College Rankings. With miniscule acceptance rates, first-rate facilities, and renowned professors, these schools are no longer backup options for the Ivy League — students and parents now view them as top-tier institutions in their own right.

Despite the fierce competition, parents and students routinely underestimate how difficult it is to earn admission to the new Ivies. I’ve seen firsthand students who have received an acceptance letter from Princeton only to be rejected by Vanderbilt, or gained admission to Yale only to be rejected by Washington University St. Louis — and this is becoming an increasingly common occurrence. Students who want to attend one of these competitive institutions need to start earlier than ever before to build a standout admissions profile.

As a college admissions consultant who has worked privately with families for almost over a decade, I have helped countless students shift their sights and become one of the few students to earn coveted offers of admission to the new Ivy League schools. Based on my extensive work with applicants, there are three primary mistakes that lead top students to face rejection at the new Ivies. If you aspire to attend one of these elite schools, be sure to avoid these three pitfalls:

Settling for the “Easy A” on Your Transcript

A 4.0 GPA alone won’t impress admissions officers at top schools — students should take the most challenging courses available at their high school, especially in subjects related to their intended major. It is important to note that colleges evaluate students in the context of their school’s offerings. This means that whether their school offers AP, IB, or unique Honors courses, students should pursue the most rigorous coursework offered, seeking to convey a cohesive narrative about their academic skillset and core disciplinary interests through their transcript. Students applying to top schools are competing against a pool of applicants with 4.0 GPAs — while top grades remain foundational for success, rigorous coursework will distinguish them from the crowd in a sea of straight-A students.

Taking A Generalized Approach to Extracurriculars

One of the most common mistakes I see students make is failing to account for the significant differences between institutions — many assume that if they build a generally impressive profile and apply to all of the New Ivies, one of them is bound to say yes. But the approach of “casting a wide net” and assuming every school on your list will evaluate your application in the same way doesn’t increase your chances of admission at one of these schools — in fact, it may actually decrease your odds of admission at any of them. Rather than simply applying to all of the New Ivies, do your research to evaluate which school would be the best fit based on your personality, academic profile, and personal and professional goals. Seniors should carefully highlight the ways their extracurricular involvements, coursework, and summer plans align with the values of the schools to which they are applying. Younger students should pursue extracurricular involvements in accordance with the values of the schools to which they hope to apply in the future.

For example, Notre Dame, given its religious values, wants to see that students have engaged in meaningful service work. Students who hope to attend should be intentional about seeking out ways to contribute to their local community throughout high school and should be diligent in highlighting these activities in their applications. Meanwhile, because Rice offers a more traditional academic environment, the admissions committee will look for evidence of students’ high-level engagement with their academic discipline outside of the classroom. Students considering Rice should focus particularly on activities like Science Olympiad or STEM projects that showcase their hands-on experience in their field.

Once you identify a top school that would be a strong fit, be intentional early in your high school career to craft an applicant profile that reflects your unique candidacy for that institution. When it comes time to apply, boost your odds of admission by applying Early Decision or Early Action.

Failing to Show Demonstrated Interest in Your Supplemental Essays

Finally, admissions officers at top schools want to see students’ demonstrated interest. Successful applications show that students have extensively researched the institutions and understand their unique cultures and programs. The supplemental essays are a critical opportunity for students to showcase this depth of understanding. For instance, a student risks undermining their application by focusing their “Why Duke?” essay on their desire to attend a school with a strong sports culture or writing their NYU essay about wanting to live in New York City. These are surface-level qualities, and highlighting them indicates that a student cares more about the “vibes” or superficial reputation of a school than its unique programs and strengths.

Although schools like Duke and Emory are not state schools and therefore do not have to meet certain admissions requirements for yield of in-state applicants, based on my experience with students, they tend to prioritize opportunities to raise the profile of academics in their regions. Based on my work with students, those who are located in the Southeast tend to have a slight edge in the admissions process, whereas students from California or Montana will have to be more intentional about showing they have done the research and understand the school’s unique culture.

These new Ivies should be regarded with the same prestige as the traditional Ivy League schools—this means that students should start strategizing from the beginning of their high school years to craft standout applicant profiles that will catch the eye of admissions committees at the likes of Vanderbilt, Northwestern, and Duke. Avoiding these common mistakes is the first step for students to craft impressive and targeted applications to these schools.

Christopher Rim is the founder and CEO of Command Education, a New York City-based elite college admissions consultancy.

Originally published on the New York Post on December 13, 2024