Succeeding in High-school
1. Start Early
Aim to be a well-rounded achiever. A slacker who decides to start making good grades late in highschool probably won’t be
admitted. You should have a consistent history of high scholastic achievements.
2. Challenge Yourself
Seek out the most demanding and rigorous opportunities at your school, especially in the academic arena. It’s often preferable to do well in a challenging program than to be exceptional in an average one. Look for classes that will be recognized as difficult, but preferably without overly difficult grading.
3. Have an Excellent GPA
Having a GPA in the top 10% of your class is essential, and being ranked among the top few students dramatically betters
your chances. Keep in mind you’re applying to institutions where many of the other applicants are valedictorians at their school.
4. Have Excellent Standardized Test
Scores
Aim for at least 700 points on each section of the SAT, or a composite of 30 on the ACT for a reasonable chance of being
admitted. Bringing these scores up to 750+ on each SAT, or a 33+ composite ACT, will give you solid scores that need not be improved.
Do not repeat the test more than three times! According to Chuck Hughes, a former senior admissions officer at Harvard, the admission panel will notice this and your repeated attempts may come off in
a negative light. Take test-preparation classes or a few practice books to start preparing early and keep at it diligently!
5. Get involved in extracurricular
activities
Ivy Leagues want to see a well-rounded applicant who didn’t lock themselves away for four years to get good grades. Join a
sports team, a club or two and get involved with the theater department.
6. Volunteer
Think on a national or international scale; don’t just limit yourself to the opportunities in your hometown. Spending a
summer helping raise funds to build a school in peru will mean more to them than raising funds for your local church.
7. Lead in the areas where you
excel
Look for opportunities to take on additional recognition and responsibility as a leader. This can range from becoming class
president to cheerleading captain, or even an officer for a club you participate in. Take your job as a leader seriously because the lessons you learn in this role can be the experiences that set you
apart from the crowd when you write your essay or get interviewed.
School Information
Stevenson: https://www.d125.org/
School report: https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/school.aspx?source=trends&source2=sat&Schoolid=340491250130001
Course book: https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1602715210/d125org/iwhixtyuyxjcym4yz0sp/SHS2021-22CoursebookComplete.pdf
New Trier: https://www.newtrier.k12.il.us/
School Report: https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/School.aspx?schoolId=050162030170001
Course book: https://www.newtrier.k12.il.us/publications/
Imsa: https://www.imsa.edu/
School Report: https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/OtherEntity.aspx?schoolid=651089030800001
Course Book: https://www.imsa.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Learning-Opportunities-Academic-Year-20-21-1.pdf
Northside College Prep: https://www.northsideprep.org/
School Report: https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/School.aspx?schoolid=150162990250794
Course Book: https://www.northsideprep.org/pdf/Program_of_Studies_2019-2020.pdf
Payton College Prep: https://www.wpcp.org/
School Report: https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/School.aspx?schoolid=150162990250796
Course Book: https://www.wpcp.org/pdfs/Payton_Course_Guide_2020-21.pdf
Jones College Prep: https://www.jonescollegeprep.org/
School Report: https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/School.aspx?schoolid=150162990250533
Course Book: https://www.jonescollegeprep.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1465100&type=d&pREC_ID=1620503
Whitney Young Magnet: https://wyoung.org/
School Report: https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/School.aspx?schoolid=150162990250764
Course Book: https://wyoung.org/pdf/planning_guide.pdf
Lane Technical: https://lanetech.org/
School Report: https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/School.aspx?schoolid=150162990250027
Course Book: https://lanetech.org/academics/curriculum/
Buffalo Grove: https://www.d214.org/bghs
School Report: https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/School.aspx?schoolid=050162140170008
Course book: https://www.d214.org/Page/2109
Palatine: https://adc.d211.org/Domain/8
School Report: https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/School.aspx?schoolid=050162110170003
Course Book: https://adc.d211.org/curriculum-guide
Wheeling: https://www.d214.org/whs
School Report: https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/School.aspx?schoolid=050162140170006
Course Book: https://www.d214.org/Page/2109
William Fremd: https://adc.d211.org/Domain/9
School Report: https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/School.aspx?schoolid=050162110170002
Course Book: https://adc.d211.org/curriculum-guide
John Hersey: https://www.d214.org/jhhs
School Report: https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/school.aspx?source=teachers&source2=teacherdemographics&Schoolid=050162140170004
Course Book: https://www.d214.org/Page/2109
Vernon Hills: https://www.d128.org/vhhs
School Report: https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/School.aspx?schoolid=340491280160004
Course Book: https://www.d128.org/vhhs/curriculum-guide/vhhs-course-selection-information
Glenbrook South: https://gbs.glenbrook225.org/
School Report: https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/School.aspx?schoolid=050162250170002
Course book: http://www.gbscurriculumguide.org/graduation-requirements/
Glenbrook North: https://gbn.glenbrook225.org/
School Report: https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/School.aspx?schoolid=050162250170001
Course Book: https://www.glenbrook225.org/Media/BOE/Policies/Section%207000/7300-Graduation-Requirements.pdf
Prospect Heights: https://www.d214.org/phs
School Report: https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/District.aspx?DistrictID=05016023002
Course Book:
Arlington Heights: https://www.fwisd.org/ArlingtonHeights
School Report: https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/District.aspx?districtid=05016025002
Rolling Meadow: https://www.d214.org/rmhs
School Report: https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/School.aspx?schoolid=050162140170007
Course Book:
Neuqua Valley: http://nvhs.ipsd.org/
School Report: https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/School.aspx?schoolId=190222040260002
Course Book: https://ipsd.eduk8.me/
Naperville North: https://www.naperville203.org/nnhs, https://www.naperville203.org/NNCourses
School Report: https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/School.aspx?schoolid=190222030260013
Naperville Central: https://www.naperville203.org/nchs
School Report: https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/School.aspx?schoolid=190222030260001
Course Book: https://www.naperville203.org/NNCourses
Metea Valley: http://mvhs.ipsd.org/
School Report: https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/School.aspx?schoolid=190222040260005
Course Book: http://mvhs.ipsd.org/Subpage.aspx?id=1076
Hinsdale Central: https://d86.hinsdale86.org/Domain/8
School Report: https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/School.aspx?schoolid=190220860170001
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