What It Really Takes to Get Into the Ivy League
DanielWhat It Really Takes to Get Into the Ivy League
Every Ivy League applicant pool is full of 4.0s, perfect scores, and long activity lists — which means none of that actually separates the admits. Former Brown admissions officer Daniel breaks down what a reader is really scoring once academic qualification is a given, and why a coherent story across activities and essays becomes the true differentiator. This isn't a list of hacks — it's the framework Daniel used to evaluate thousands of files.
Speaker Info
Daniel
Daniel M. brings five years of experience in undergraduate admissions to Empowerly. Most recently, he served as a Senior Admissions Officer at Brown University. Before his time at Brown, Daniel was an Assistant Director of Admissions at Connecticut College, where he earned his B.A. in Economics. Over the past five years, Daniel has reviewed over 5,000 college applications, interviewed hundreds of prospective students, and played a key role in more than 50 admission committees. He has evaluated applicants from across the country, representing a variety of school systems and academic interests, including Computer Science, Engineering, the Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Visual Arts.
Additionally, Daniel has made decisions on students applying to Brown’s BS/MD program (PLME), recruited athletes, and those pursuing the Brown/RISD dual degree program. Throughout his time in admissions, Daniel has had one-on-one conversations with prospective students about building competitive application profiles. He’s also volunteered as a college counselor, where he’s reviewed essays, helped students build college lists, and educated students on standardized testing. What excites him the most about college counseling is the chance to build genuine relationships with students and serve as a supportive guide during this pivotal time in their lives.
About this Webinar
Every Ivy League applicant pool is full of 4.0s, perfect scores, and long activity lists, which means none of that is actually what separates the admits. Join Daniel, a former Brown admissions officer, for a direct look at what a reader is actually scoring once academic qualification is a given. He'll break down why "well-rounded" is often the wrong goal, what makes an essay memorable instead of forgettable at eleven at night on file four hundred, and how a coherent story across activities and essays becomes the real differentiator. This isn't a list of hacks—it's the framework Daniel used to evaluate thousands of files. Bring your questions for live Q&A at the end.
In this webinar, you'll learn:
- Qualified Is the Floor: Nearly every Ivy applicant is academically qualified. Daniel explains what actually happens once that's no longer the question.
- One Person, Not a Resume: Readers assemble a portrait from the file, not a checklist. Learn what makes activities and essays read as one coherent person.
- The Sentence a Reader Needs: A reader has to describe your student in one sentence to a committee. Daniel shows you how to give them that sentence — or force them to invent a worse one.