Ivy League Suggestions
Which Universities are Ivy League?
- Harvard University (Massachusetts)
- Yale University (Connecticut)
- Princeton University (New Jersey)
- Columbia University (New York)
- Brown University (Rhode Island)
- Dartmouth College (New Hampshire)
- University of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania)
- Cornell University (New York)
Details for each college and suggested courses are noted below the Ivy Leagues and Partners section.
It's application season! Please find Ivy Leagues and partners online resources using the links below:
Ivy Leagues Suggested High School Courses (GPA chart at the bottom of this page)
The 8 ivy leagues encourage all prospective undergraduate applicants (you) to prepare by challenging themselves with the most rigorous course of study available at their high school and within the community. In other words, if Fairfax offers 20+ APs, 10+ Honors, and Dual Enrollment how many courses have you taken? How many courses have you taken beyond the regular school schedule (after school, weekends)? How did you perform in the courses (this includes AP test results for each AP course you have completed)?
Below are suggested courses to get you started on preparing for the ivy league, please remember to do your own research for each school you are interested in. Here is a video from Penn to help summarize admissions: https://youtu.be/Dv1gKQE7zjk
Brown University High School Course Recommendations
- English – 4 years
- Math – 3-4 years
- Science – 3 years (2 years of lab science)
- Social Studies – 2 years (American history is required)
- Foreign Language – 3-4 years of one language
Learn more about Brown’s admission requirements.
High School Course Recommendations for Columbia University
- English – 4 years
- Math – 3-4 years (through pre-calculus recommended)
- Lab Science – 3-4 years
- History & Social Studies – 3-4 years
- Foreign Language – 3-4 years of one language (ancient or modern)
High School Course Recommendations for Columbia University Engineering Program
- English – 4 years
- Math – 4 years (through pre-calculus recommended)
- Physics – 1 year
- Chemistry – 1 year
- History & Social Studies – 3-4 years
- Foreign Language – 2-3 years
Learn more about Columbia’s admission requirements.
Cornell University High School Course Requirements
All of Cornell University’s undergraduate colleges require a minimum of 16 units total of high school coursework. Below are the course requirements by college.
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
- English – 4 units
- Math – 4 units (including pre-calculus)
- Science – 3 units (biology, chemistry, and physics recommended)
- Special requirements recommended for select majors
College of Arts and Sciences
- English – 4 units
- Math – 3 units
- Science – 3 units
- Foreign Language – 3 units
- Special requirements recommended for select majors
Cornell SC Johnson College of Business
- English – 4 units
- Math – 3 units (calculus strongly recommended)
- Science – 3 units (biology, chemistry, and physics recommended)
- Special requirements recommended for select majors
College of Engineering
- Chemistry – 1 unit
- Physics – 1 unit
- Math – 4 units (2 of algebra, 1 of geometry, and 1 of calculus)
- Special requirements recommended for select majors
College of Human Ecology
- English – 4 units
- Math – 4 units (including pre-calculus)
- Science – 4 units (biology, chemistry or physics, and additional core science recommended)
- Special requirements recommended for select majors
School of Industrial and Labor Relations
- English – 4 units
- Math – 4 units
- Special requirements recommended for select majors
Learn more about additional admissions requirements here.
Dartmouth College
For students entering a STEM field, additional requirements may apply.
Dartmouth College High School Course Recommendations
- English – 4 years (preference for writing-intensive courses)
- Math – 4 years (calculus recommended for STEM majors)
- Science – 3 years of lab science (four years including physics for engineering majors)
- History & Social Science – 3 years
- Foreign Language – 3-4 years of one language (ancient or modern)
Learn more about Dartmouth College admission requirements.
Harvard University
Harvard recommends students take the most ambitious path available during high school. Additional coursework may be required by major.
Harvard University High School Course Recommendations
- English – 4 years (including writing-intensive courses)
- Math – 4 years
- Science – 4 years (biology, chemistry, physics, and an advanced course in one of these subjects)
- History & Social Science – 3 years (including American and European history)
- Foreign Language – 4 years of one language
Learn more about Harvard admission requirements.
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania High School Course Recommendations:
The University of Pennsylvania doesn’t list out the specific number of years required for each high school subject area. However, the university does recommend that students take courses in English, social studies, math, science, and foreign language throughout high school.
Some colleges within the University of Pennsylvania look for additional qualifications when reviewing applications.
College of Arts & Sciences
Applicants should show interest in humanities, social science, and natural science; demonstrate the ability to apply classroom knowledge to the real world, and take courses that will prepare them for college.
Penn Engineering
Applicants should demonstrate the ability to use scientific concepts to discover, create, and apply knowledge to the real world; express interest in engineering; and complete high school coursework in physics and math (especially in calculus).
School of Nursing
Applicants should show a desire to serve patients, express interest in health care issues, and complete science college prep coursework (especially chemistry).
The Wharton School
Applicants should show leadership skills, express interest to have a positive impact on the world, and complete high school coursework in math (especially calculus).
Learn more about Penn’s admission requirements.
Princeton University
Princeton recommends students complete the coursework listed below if they have access to these courses at their high school. The college gives preference to honors, dual-enrollment, and AP® courses.
Princeton University High School Course Recommendations:
- English – 4 years (including writing-intensive courses)
- Math – 4 years (including calculus for engineering majors)
- Lab Science – 3 years (including physics and chemistry for engineering majors)
- History – 2 years
- Foreign Language – 4 years of one language
- Visual or Performing Arts – At least one course is highly recommended
Learn more about Princeton’s admission requirements.
Yale University
Yale University recommends students take a balanced list of courses each year in English, science, math, social science, and foreign language.
- English – 4 years (including writing-intensive courses)
- Math – 4 years (including calculus)
- Lab Science – 4 years (including physics and chemistry for engineering majors)
- History – 4 years
- Foreign Language – 4 years of one language
Check out the awesome Yale Podcasts about admissions, the personal statement, Questbridge and so much more: https://admissions.yale.edu/podcast
Learn more about Yale’s admission requirements.
Source of information for HS courses: https://kdcollegeprep.com/high-school-course-requirements-ivy-league-colleges/#columbia
College List and Average Admissions
Please remember to use data to create your college list. The table below has admission averages but students with lower GPAs were admitted.
