What is an Ivy League school?

To the uninitiated, the Ivy League is a set of elite universities in the United States of America that are renowned for their excellent programs, distinguished faculty, long-standing legacy, and rigorous selection processes. In fact, the Ivy League admission criteria is one of the most mysterious part of the whole process. Here’s a full list of the member universities of the Ivy League:

• Brown University
• Columbia University
• Cornell University
• Dartmouth College
• Harvard University
• University of Pennsylvania
• Princeton University
• Yale University 

What do Ivy League schools look for?

If you are an ambitious student who wants to study abroad for your undergraduate course, you may have wondered how to get into an Ivy League school. Here’s an overview of Ivy League application requirements and the Ivy League Admission Criteria:

• Academic performance, which includes GPA
• Standardised test scores of the  SAT or ACT
• Essays and SOPs
• Letters of recommendation 
• Relevant coursework 
• Experience with sports, academic clubs, arts and community service
• Activities that show innovation and leadership

A high GPA, a stellar SAT/ACT score and impressive extracurriculars form the foundation of your Ivy League candidature. At Onwardo, we specialise in curating a perfect student profile for you from the get-go. From career mapping to post-admission support, we offer premium global admissions solutions to students who want to excel in their professional lives. 

Read Also: How to Get Into Ivy League From India: Step-by-Step Guide for 2025

Ivy League GPA Requirements

Your GPA is among the most important factors for Ivy League admissions. To put a number on it, Ivy League GPA requirements are 3.8 or higher on the 4-point scale. 

Top colleges often recalibrate the GPA calculation according to their own system of measurement. The Ivy League places weightage on a high unweighted GPA, in addition to the difficulty of your courses. They use their specialised system to reevaluate your academic transcripts, creating a level playing field among candidates. 

You will be awarded points for taking challenging courses, such as Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses, in addition to your regular subjects.

In short, your scores matter, but the difficulty level of your course also matters.

Consistency is another crucial factor for the Ivy League. They check if a student has been consistently bettering themselves at their studies. They expect to see improvement in the student’s academic graph at every grade. 

This sums up what the best GPA for the Ivy League is. 

Ivy League SAT Requirements

Some schools don’t consider scores of standardised tests like the SAT and ACT for admissions, but a great SAT or ACT score can open doors to the Ivy League for many students.\

Good SAT and ACT scores tell the admissions consulting team that you are academically sound to undertake rigorous studies required for their UG programs.

Any score above 1500 is considered competitive for top colleges. The typical middle 50% (between 25th and 75th percentile) for SAT is 1470-1570. If you want to get into the Ivy League, you should aim for a score beyond 75th percentile.

As far as your SAT performance goes, the Ivy Leagues look for a balanced score where you do well in Math, Reading and Writing sections. Any imbalance in the score can work against your candidacy. 

This is the long and short of the Ivy League SAT requirements. 

Read Also: Ivy League Application Timeline: Grade 9 to 12 Guide

Best Extracurricular Activities for Ivy League Schools

Are you a state-level athlete? Did you win a prize for a major science project? Were you a debate team captain? Time to put those achievements on paper, because the Ivy Leagues love candidates who have a life beyond studies. 

But there’s a catch. Your activities should be related to your academic interests. For instance, if you are interested in Environmental Engineering, your extracurricular activities should reflect proactive, real-world experience in promoting sustainability as part of Ivy League application requirements.

Here’s a list of the best extracurricular activities for Ivy League schools:

• Activities like research and advanced studies that show intellectual curiosity
• Participation in Science or Math Olympiads
• Entrepreneurship experience that signals your ability to find solutions to real-world problems
• Leadership roles as head of the student body, founder of clubs, organiser of big events or campaigns
• Activities that show community impact. Volunteering activities and participating in charities
• Athletics at the state or national level
• Unique hobbies or skills that show originality
• Niche projects that showcase innovation and your enterprising attitude

Ivy League Admission Criteria

To sum up, Ivy Leagues check for multiple things or a “holistic review” right from SAT score to GPA to your overall student profile. In that sense, it adopts a complete approach while admitting candidates.  

While your GPA and SAT scores can get you noticed, you will have to present a compelling student profile to have them consider you. 

In short, they need students who have a well-rounded profile that reflects curiosity, resilience, ethics and a hard-working mindset. 

The Onwardo Effect 

Earning admission to the Ivy League is a remarkable achievement, but the process can be intimidating for students new to the global admissions process. That’s why having a study abroad partner like Onwardo can be of great help. 

Onwardo is a global study abroad solutions provider that curates your entry into the world’s top campuses. Through a five-step process, Onwardo builds your profile, prepares you for the SAT and ACT, identifies the right program for you, and assists you with admissions, scholarships, and visa interviews. It’s a constant companion in your study abroad journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to get into Ivy League colleges from India?

To get into the Ivy League from India, you should have competitive standardised test scores (1500+ for SAT and 32+ for ACT). You need a GPA of 3.8. Enrolling in AP and IB programs can also be highly beneficial. Students from India should also score 100 or higher on the TOEFL and a Band 7 or higher on the IELTS. Above all, they should have a well-rounded profile that reflects academic and extracurricular excellence. 

How to stand out to the Ivy Leagues?

To stand out to the Ivy League, maintain top grades in studies (CGPA of 3.8), enrol in AP and IB classes, achieve competitive SAT (1500+) and ACT  (32+) scores, engage in extracurricular activities, and write a strong, compelling narrative that showcases your intent and passion to pursue the degree of your choice. You also need powerful letters of recommendation from authoritative figures, such as mentors and professors.

Is 1440 a good SAT score for the Ivy League?

A SAT score of 1440 is a strong score, but not enough for the Ivy League. To get into one of the top Ivy League colleges, your SAT score should be in the top 99th percentile, which is between 1530 and 1600. 

What is the easiest Ivy League to get into?

Cornell University is considered to be the easiest Ivy League school to get into. For its 2029 batch, Cornell admitted 8.41% of the applicants, compared to Harvard’s 3%. However, despite its reputation, Cornell remains a highly competitive university to gain admission to. 

What are some of the best Ivy League admission consultants in India?

Some of the best Ivy League admissions consults in India include IMS’s Onwardo, Yocket, The Red Pen, The ReachIvy Group, Ivy Summit and Athena Education.