Students who hope to attend an Ivy League college face a major challenge. In fact, admission to the Ivies appears to be more competitive than ever before.

Ninety-five percent of the incoming freshmen at Harvard last fall finished in the top ten percent of their high school classes. And, a fairly high percentage came from highly competitive high schools in which graduating at the top of the class is a noteworthy accomplishment.

They were no slouches on the SAT or ACT either, with the middle 50% of the incoming Harvard class scoring in the top 1% of national test takers.

But, not only must a student hoping to be admitted to an Ivy compete against incredibly capable students, he/she must compete against lots of them. There were 22,754 applicants to Harvard's most recent incoming class. Just 2,124 were admitted. You do the math.

Are the other Ivies easier to get into than Harvard? Maybe, but not much. Is it impossible to be admitted to an Ivy? Not impossible. But, awfully difficult.

Start by knowing two realities. One is that are no guarantees you will be admitted no matter how high your grades and test scores are. Ivy League admissions officers will be the first to tell you the sheer number of good applicants force them to turn away thousands of students who would be successful on their campuses.

You also need to know that anyone who has the credentials to be a legitimate applicant to an Ivy will almost certainly get into a great school and will be fine even if they don't go into the world with an Ivy League degree.

OK, so how do you position yourself for admission to an Ivy? Start by taking the most challenging courses your high school offers. If there aren't enough of them, think about enrolling in some courses at a college in your area.

Take the ACT and SAT early and often. Prepare rigorously, on your own, with a test prep program, and/or with a tutor.

Become engaged in clubs, activities, and at least one important public or community service organization or project. Lots of great, worthy organizations will welcome your participation. Three or four co-curricular areas in which you are a difference maker or leader are better than a dozen in which you are passively involved.

A good or bad essay can be an important "tip" factor for you. And, it's your best opportunity to tell the admissions committee who you are. Don't waste it.

Consider early decision or a similar program if it is available to you. Such options can improve your chances, but they may not make sense for everyone.

Choose carefully the teachers you ask for recommendations. Be as certain as possible that they will recommend you with enthusiasm.

Anything you can do to help others and/or accelerate your personal growth can only help you as a person, and make you at least a marginally more attractive applicant.

The Ivies' goal is to bring in a class of bright, academically accomplished, highly motivated students; students with the potential for academic and professional success. They also seek diversity, leadership, and students whose demonstrated special talents and abilities make them likely to be valuable members of the community.