Application Form

The online form of your application deserves as much attention to detail as your essays, resume, and additional information. Remember that your entire application is considered as a “package” so that while each part is important for itself, the way that your carefully present the whole portfolio says a lot about you as a candidate.

Make sure that you carefully read and fill out the questions just as they are asked on the on-line forms. Make sure you read the instructions regarding word count and number of essays required.  Are your test scores up to date and recorded correctly? Did you remember to have the scores sent to your school of choice?  Once you press send, most schools are very hesitant to allow you to go back and make changes! Common mistakes include program misspellings, employer misspellings, forgetting to upload entire essays, and uploading the wrong school essays! While these mistakes may seem easy to avoid, in the chaos of the deadlines, many students have done just that! Unfortunately, due to volume, these are not mistakes that can be rectified easily, and you certainly do not want school x to have received an essay intended for school y. Admissions officers will certainly take note!

While using spell check can certainly be helpful, it is not always the best way to check spelling and grammar (it can inadvertently use the same mistake repeatedly!)  You will want to work closely with your IVY coach to make sure that all of the spelling and grammar makes sense in context.

You will also want to ensure that you are consistent with any details that are repeated throughout your application, such as job title, description, or academic background. Schools will be checking for inconsistencies; and as small a detail as it may seem, once you explain what your job entails, (or your academic major) you will want to use that exact same wording for subsequent discussions.

In addition to checking the documents yourself, we recommend that you have a member of the Ivy team read your application thoroughly once it is completed before submission. We recommend that you finish your application a few days before the deadline to allow for a complete review.  A “new perspective” can help to avoid unnecessary mistakes. In a competitive applicant pool, having invested so much time and energy in the content of your application file, you certainly do not want a small mistake to overshadow the rest of your application!