Admissions officers at highly selective colleges only admit students who have taken the most rigorous high school coursework (and then some!). There are some exceptions to this rule (like the child of a major donor who is admitted based on their last name), but in 2024, a student who hasn’t challenged themselves academically will not be admitted to a school like Yale or Harvard. That’s the harsh reality of an admissions landscape where most incredibly qualified applicants get turned down by the schools of their dreams each year.

Don’t believe us? Check out The Common Data Sets of elite schools, which are comprehensive reports published by colleges and universities that provide detailed information about the institution’s student body, including admissions statistics and academic profiles. 94.4% of Harvard’s Class of 2027 graduated in the top tenth of their high school class. 74% graduated high school with a 4.0. These students were not phoning it in with their school’s easiest courses to secure an inflated GPA. They’re the students who were doubling, tripling up on AP or IB-level core subject classes (i.e., math, science, English, social science, foreign language) in the place of electives like cooking or film studies. As we’ll discuss, the students filling up highly selective college campuses in the modern world of elite college admissions also go above and beyond what their high schools offer by seeking out courses from their local university or an online learning center.

Not Everyone Can Pull Off a Challenging Course Load

It’s important to remember that highly selective colleges are not for everyone. They admit students who thrive in an academically rigorous environment, where high-level math or science classes are seen as stimulating intellectual challenges. If this doesn’t sound like you, don’t freak out. It’s not a reflection of your abilities but a recognition that these colleges have a specific academic environment for which only some are suited.

And that’s okay! Suppose you’re reading this and feeling daunted by the prospect of enrolling in as many AP courses as possible. In that case, you’re probably not a candidate for admission to a highly selective college. There’s no shame in it — elite college acceptance rates are incredibly low for a reason. Not everyone can meet their standards. We at Ivy Coach would advise that you curb your expectations of admission to a school like Princeton early on and strategically pivot to schools that are more within reach.

How Do Colleges Evaluate Rigor?

Each college evaluates high schools differently, but certain factors are universally considered. The presence or absence of AP and IB courses is, first and foremost, a crucial indication of a high school’s academic rigor. These courses not only enhance your academic skills but also significantly boost your chances of college admission. Even if your school only offers IB courses, you can (and should!) still take the initiative to sit for the equivalent AP exams so admissions officers can benchmark you against applicants from around the world. Find the schools and testing centers offering these exams, and see how to enroll. The power is in your hands!

Each applicant’s transcript is accompanied by a school profile that details such things as mean SAT/ACT scores at your school, previous college matriculations, graduation rate, etc. This school profile plays a significant role in the admissions process, providing admissions officers with a comprehensive understanding of your school’s academic environment. Admissions officers take this data and their own preconceived notions about your school into consideration when making an admissions decision. Sometimes, if they admitted students from your school who didn’t enroll in past cycles, they’ll hold a grudge against your school that significantly alters your chance of admission.

In 2024, More than Just Your High School Offers a Rigorous Curriculum

Sometimes, we at Ivy Coach encounter a student who laments that their high school doesn’t offer rigorous courses that look good on applications. Fortunately, students are no longer bound by the limits of their high school’s offerings. In this brave new digital age, online courses, cross-registered courses at local universities, and private accredited educational programs can allow you to supplement the college-level courses that your high school lacks. There’s now no excuse for a transcript full of standard-level courses. But how does one take advantage of these out-of-the-classroom opportunities?

At Ivy Coach, our team of former elite college admissions officers helps our clients identify the academic opportunities outside their schools that allow them to round out any gaps in their high school offerings. We understand that sometimes, otherwise great schools have a paltry collection of courses. It’s our job to fix these mistakes by setting your child up with a robust schedule of supplementary classes outside of the traditional classroom (and even if a high school has a fantastic selection of courses, students can always go beyond that curriculum to stand out from other applicants from their high school). We’re familiar with the highly competitive academic opportunities across the nation, and we’ve made it our mission to ensure students and families know how to take advantage of them. 

If you want to ensure that your child takes full advantage of the most rigorous curriculum possible to optimize their odds of admission to a highly selective college, fill out our complimentary consultation form and we’ll be in touch.