How to get into a top university

Cambridge University.  One of the oldest in the world.

If you are hoping to get into a top university in September 2012, you should start preparing now.  The world’s top colleges, such as Yale, Harvard, Oxford and Cambridge, receive thousands and thousands of applications every year for only a limited number of places, so how can you rise to the top of the application pile and get offered a place? 

The first thing of course is to study, as the top institutions are able to choose only the very brightest students.  However, universities like Oxford receive thousands of applications from students who are predicted to get A* grades, so how do they decide which students to offer a place to?  For example, if there are ten students with top grades, and only one place, how do they decide which student gets the place?  How can you set yourself apart from the crowd?

1.   Know your subject.  Study beyond the curriculum at school and show that you are passionate about the subject.  Read as much as you can about it, as well as related subject areas.

2.   Know the university.  Know why you want to study there.  For example, just saying, ‘I want to go to Princeton because it’s an Ivy League school’ is not enough.  Know who the professors are who teach the subject you want to study and what their specialist areas of research are.  Read some of the professors’ books and be prepared to talk about them.  Research the university as much as possible.  If you can, attend an open day, as this will give you the chance to get to know the university and meet some of the lecturers and students.

3.   Get involved in extra-curricular activities.  Show the university that you are a rounded person by getting involved in several activities outside the classroom.  For example, take part in a school play, be a member of a sport’s team, play a musical instrument, do voluntary work, join a debating society, join local community organisations.  Also, try to take on positions of responsibility, such as Student Council, Head Boy/Girl, or High School President.  All of these activities will give you a well-rounded application form, improve your chances of getting excellent school references and will make your application stand out from the others.

4.   Stay up-to-date with world news.  Show that you have an understanding of the greater world that you live in by staying informed about what is happening in the world and why.  Read a quality newspaper regularly, including the opinion columns, and form your own opinions about recent current affairs.

5.   Speak to other university students.  Try to meet students who have studied, or are studying at the university you want to go to.  Ask them what they think the university is looking for and what studying there is like.  

6.   Study another language.  Many subjects benefit from students knowing another language.  If your first language is not English, spend as much time as possible getting your English up to an advanced level.

7.   Practise doing entrance tests.  Become familiar with entrance tests, such as SAT, ACT, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT and practise doing them.  If you need to take an English test, decide whether you will take IELTS or TOEFL and prepare for the test. 

      Last of all, if you don't get in the first time, consider waiting a year and trying again. Some students succeed a second time round.