Ivy League Applications Were Hard Until I Understood These 3 Things

Elise Pham April 7, 2025
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Elise Pham

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Harvard Pre-Med & 5-Star College Admissions Counselor Founder of Ultimate Ivy League Guide Instagram: @ultimateivyleagueguide Apply to get mentored by me and my team: www.ultimatementor.com

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Ivy League Applications Were Hard Until I Understood These 3 Things Download my Full Written Course on How to Get Into An Ivy League for FREE: https://www.ultimateivyleagueguide.com Apply for 1-1 coaching with me if you want the best chance of getting into your dream universities: https://ultimatementor.com/yt In this video, I break down the 3 things that helped me and 100s of students transform their Ivy League applications. These are the same strategies that helped me get into Harvard, and they’re probably not what you expect. From showing real intellectual curiosity to building a focused narrative, I’ll walk you through exactly what top colleges are really looking for—and how to apply it all to your own story. Follow my Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ultimateivyleagueguide/ 00:00 – What Separates Accepted vs. Rejected Students 00:17 – The 3 Crucial Areas You Must Understand 00:30 – Why “Being Unfinished” Is a Strength 00:45 – Intellectual Curiosity: What It Really Means 01:38 – Admissions Officers Look for Growth, Not Perfection 02:31 – How to Show Curiosity in Your Application 03:15 – Connecting Different Interests for a Stronger Story 04:02 – Evolution of Interests Over Time 05:00 – Why Being Open-Minded Sets You Apart 05:34 – Curiosity Drives Your Entire Application 05:54 – The Power of Framing Your Story 06:33 – Prestige vs. Personal Impact 07:39 – How Colleges Evaluate Activities (It’s Not What You Think) 08:28 – Context Over Impressiveness 09:15 – Demonstrating Progress and Commitment 09:46 – Real Example: Low-Income Student Who Stood Out 10:45 – Biggest Mistake: Trying to Show Everything 11:13 – Why One Standout Quality Is More Powerful 12:09 – Finding Your Core Theme 13:22 – Threading Your Standout Quality Across Your App 14:09 – Reflecting on Values and Patterns of Involvement 15:16 – How to Weave Your Theme Through the Whole Application 16:25 – Make Sure Recommenders Reinforce Your Standout Trait 17:07 – How Admissions Officers Actually Review Applications 17:33 – Final Thoughts + How to Get Help With Your App

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