As we near the end of the year, graduation invites flow into your mailbox. Seniors have applied to their dream schools and have received their acceptance letters back. Whether it is your local university in or out of state, there are a select eight universities that stand out from the crowd.

These eight schools are called Ivy Leagues and are known for their academic excellence and highly competitive admissions process. Attending one of these schools is a huge accomplishment. The eight Ivies are Harvard, Brown, UPenn, Colombia, Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth, and Cornell.

Several students here at MN have worked hard to receive their acceptance letters to several of these prestigious schools. Two of these students are Seniors Reema Guda and Jerry Sun, who each applied to several Ivy League schools. Guda was accepted into Harvard and UPenn and is officially committed to Harvard. Sun was accepted and is committed to Brown.

“I feel really lucky to have been accepted into the schools I applied to, especially considering how competitive the whole college application process has gotten,” Guda said.

Ivy leagues often have several programs that are offered which draw many people to apply.

“I think every school in the Ivy League offers really great resources. [For] Brown in particular, I’m interested in applied math, the programs that they offer in terms of research, and the different professors that work there,” Sun said.

Another important factor in deciding where to apply is the atmosphere of the college.

“I applied to a lot of smaller-sized schools because I like the smaller class sizes and how intimate the student body feels. I also took a lot of college tours and fell in love with the east coast and California campuses and could really imagine myself going to school there,” Guda said.

Since Ivy Leagues have very low acceptance rates, the application process is quite competitive, stressful, and time consuming.

“It was definitely stressful. I tried to start on my CommonApp essay and activities during the summer, but it was hard because I was really busy. I spent basically all of first semester and winter break writing essays for all of my schools, which was a lot to handle on top of school, but I know every senior was going through the same process,” Guda said.

During these tough months, it is important to have a supportive group of people around you. Whoever it may be, being in an encouraging environment is essential.

“I’m super grateful to my parents and brother for supporting me throughout high school and the application process. I definitely would not have been able to do it without them. I also appreciate my friends so much for always keeping positive and being supportive outlets throughout high school as we navigated the whole college process together,” Guda said.

Along with family and friends, the teachers and staff are rooting for students every step of the way and have had a big impact on students’ success.

“I work with such talented young people at this school, and it’s a privilege to help them begin the next phase of their academic journeys,” IBDP Coordinator Rhonda Betzold said.

Being accepted into an Ivy League is a huge accomplishment and is important to acknowledge your success.

“I feel very happy about it. It’s a very satisfying thrilling experience because the schools in the Ivy League are very selective so when you get in it is very exciting,” Sun said.

Attending college across the country may be a little scary, but it is also very exciting.

“I really love Boston and am familiar with the city already, so I can’t wait to explore it more. I also think the campus is really beautiful and I know some people there already, so I’m excited to meet up with them and meet new people as well. Harvard is also an amazing place to be for premed students, so I’m excited for the opportunity to take various biology and global health classes, as well as explore new subjects like women and gender studies,” Guda said.

With Ivy Leagues having so much to offer, there are many students who are interested in applying.

“I think just do things that you really like and not necessarily do things like joining clubs or certain activities because you think they’ll get you into an ivy league but rather just do what you enjoy in high school. Make some nice friends and be a part of the community, and follow your passions in high school, and I think that it will lead you whether or not you end up in an Ivy League, that’ll lead you to a good spot,” Sun said.

With the school year coming to an end, it’s a great time to celebrate you and  your friends’ accomplishments throughout your high school years and look forward to this next journey ahead.