In this article, we will approach a question many middle and high school students and their parents have and dive briefly into the three pillars that might answer this question.

Why do ambitious teens struggle to get into a top-tier school? 

Discussion topics: 

1. The challenge for ambitious middle & high school students 
2. Why focussing on core values and purpose works so well in Ivy League (selective) admissions 

1. The challenge for ambitious middle & high school students.

Whether they are hoping for an Ivy League school (the eight Ivy League Schools: Yale, Harvard, Brown, Princeton, Dartmouth, Cornell, Colombia, and UPenn are not grouped together because they are the hardest to get into, or because they are the highest ranked– they are actually only grouped together as an athletic conference) or any of several other highly selective colleges, many teens (and their parents) know that the odds of admittance to schools like these are slim for even the best students. 

As a result, many wonder if what they are doing will be impressive enough, and most have self-doubt and are stressed or confused. 

The core challenge, simply put: 

This self-doubt & confusion is common, but causes a lot of challenges.

When ambitious teens don’t take the time to discover what matters most to them (their core values), they will burn out from trying to copy others’ success.

In their effort to get ahead, students get so busy that they don’t have time to build a personalized strategy that works. 

Combine these two issues– a lack of awareness of core values, and fear that they are not doing enough to be competitive for future college admissions– and you can quickly see how the downward spiral of self-doubt and endless stress begins.

2. Why focussing on core values and purpose works so well in Ivy League (selective) admissions 

While many teens try to look around at what everyone else is doing in order to determine if they are doing “enough,” you can be smarter. When all the rest of the ambitious teens are copying each other, they all end up looking the same. 

Something remarkable happens when a middle or high-school student builds a personalized strategy that works for them. 

Instead of doing things you don’t want to do because you think they are ‘impressive’, which drains your willpower and self-discipline, you can engage in activities that recharge your internal batteries, so you have plenty of self-discipline left over to get great grades. 

This personal strategy is based on three pillars:

Pillar one: Find your core values 

Values are not only essential for leading a meaningful life; your core values are the key to healthy and effective college prep.

They give us a sense of direction and help us stay focused on what matters most. Values can also help us stay connected to our purpose and ensure we live our life in alignment with our values. 

 
When a teen aligns their daily choices with those core values, they build tremendous confidence and self-efficacy. 

They are also better equipped to explain who they are and how they would contribute to the future freshman class at their favorite Ivy League college. 

Pillar two: Community Impact 

When you are clear about what matters most to you, the next step is to begin paying attention to issues in your community that violate your core values. The most competitive college applicants did not join more clubs than everyone else, they showed initiative better than anyone else.

Whichever issue in your community breaks your heart, or makes you angry, or just makes you say “that's just not right”, is a good place to start. While other teens are busy preparing for college, you are beginning to build the kind of resume that makes colleges feel like they need to recruit you. 

The other thing you are doing is clarifying that your core values are more than lip service. When you commit time and energy to solving this problem in your community, it shows that you truly do value what you say you do. 

Pillar three: Communicate your self-awareness & community impact with a clear admissions strategy 

While other teens use their essays to try to impress admissions officers, you should have already have a relationship with your admissions officers through your previous communication– which was all highly meaningful. 

So you can use your essays to impress your admissions officer with how thoughtful and insightful you are. 

Your letters of recommendation need to clarify that you really do live your core values– so be sure to build a relationship with the teachers who will write those letters and guide your teacher to write about your values and your community impact. 

There are too many other important elements to an effective application to cover them all in this short article. Be sure to subscribe to my podcast and read future articles to make sure you’ve got everything covered.