What Exactly are 'Ivy League Scores'?

Here's a newb question from yours truly. I keep hearing about 'Ivy League Scores', but can't pin down what they exactly are. Are they the usual GPA/SAT/ACT scores, or are we talking about something else?

When people refer to 'Ivy League Scores', they are typically referring to the average GPA and standardized test scores that Ivy League universities (which include eight private, highly prestigious universities) tend to accept. Consistently strong academic performance and high test scores, while not the only factors considered during the admissions process, can play a significant role in determining whether your academic profile fits within the range of students these universities typically admit.

When it comes to GPA, many Ivy Leagues have an average unweighted GPA of around 3.9 and above. But remember, these schools use a process called the Academic Index, which factors in your grades and, if available, class rank.

For test scores, each school has its range, often called their middle 50% range. As of the 2024 application cycle, the standardized testing policy varies among the Ivies. For instance, Dartmouth, Harvard, Brown and Yale all require SAT or ACT scores from applicants, while Columbia, Cornell, Penn, and Princeton have maintained a test-optional policy.

However, among schools that do require standardized test scores, it's not uncommon to find the middle 50% SAT score range among admitted students fall between 1470 and 1580. Likewise, the middle 50% ACT range might be between 33 and 36. Keep in mind, these numbers can look different year to year and may fluctuate slightly between each university.

In summary, 'Ivy League Scores' refers to the high GPAs and standardized test scores (if required) that tend to be common among students admitted to this group of prestigious schools. Nonetheless, academics are just one part of the holistic review process that Ivy League admissions officers undertake – they value proactive students who have exhibited leadership and shown a commitment to their communities as much as they do great GPAs and high test scores.