Once upon a time in the land of No-Nap Time, there lived a young and spirited scholar named Sam. Sam’s dream was to enter the hallowed halls of the Ivy League, where textbooks were bound in gold and lectures were conducted by geniuses.Sam embarked on a quest of epic proportions, armed with a backpack full of textbooks, a laptop with more stickers than screen space, and a caffeinated potion that could power a small city. Little did Sam know that the path to Ivy’s glory was fraught with more obstacles than The Amazing Race.First, there was the dreaded SAT dragon, a beast that feasted on test-taker nerves. Sam battled this monstrous multiple-choice menace, armed only with sharpened pencils and a fervent hope that guessing C for every answer would somehow lead to victory.Then came the treacherous labyrinth of college essays, where Sam had to prove that writing skills were as sharp as Excalibur. After drafting more essays than a medieval scribe, Sam learned that the secret to Ivy’s acceptance was to write about “finding the meaning of life” and “making a world-changing app for squirrels.”Interviews with alumni were next, where Sam had to talk about their passion for figure skating and the time, they saved a unicorn from a dragon. Sam even considered auditioning for a spot on America’s Got Talent, showcasing their talent for juggling fire while reciting John Keats’ odes.Finally, after months of caffeine-fueled crusading, Sam received a golden envelope that signaled victory. They were accepted into the Ivy League! Sam danced with joy, accidentally knocking over their 17th cup of coffee.And so, Sam embarked on the most magical academic adventure, where the biggest challenge was not acing exams but navigating the treacherous cafeteria food.

Getting into reputable schools is a labor – of love and perseverance. Students need a lot more in their arsenal of college application than good grades. They need to show skills and experiences that go beyond the classroom. One way to build up your college application profile is through internships as they are a great way to show college admissions officers your enthusiasm for learning. Eye on Ivy has partnered with a number of organizations to provide students with opportunities for internships. These organizations offer a variety of expertise in many different disciplines. Students can choose whether to intern at an organization that matches their future career path or diversify their portfolio by choosing an organization that builds on other traits such as social work or communication skills. Most colleges and universities are interested in knowing what values the student will bring with them to the institution. These values are not limited to academic pursuits but should go beyond them. Social work is one great way to show prospective colleges a diversity of interest. Eye on Ivy has partnered with a number of non-profit and social welfare organizations to offer internships to students. An internship at these organizations demonstrates a commitment to social causes and community engagement. A research or scientific study based internship showcases a student’s critical thinking and analytical skills. Internships at corporate offices or startups are a great way to gain insights into the world of business and entrepreneurship. They help students learn problem-solving skills in a professional setting. Eye on Ivy has partnered with many local businesses and startups to provide corporate training opportunities, structured and curated especially for high school students. Then there are the much sought-after media or publishing internships. These show the universities your writing, creative and communication skills. Internships in the end are a valuable tool that gives admissions officers an important insight into your abilities and skill set. Choosing the right internship is critical as well. There should be a healthy dose of them in your CV and ideally aligned with your academic passion. Internships need to be tailored to your needs and requirements, both financial and academic. Are you looking for a remote opportunity? Would you like a chance to intern physically in one of the top companies in the UK or the US? Does staying local make the most sense for you? It can get overwhelming to choose the right combination of internships. That’s where Eye on Ivy counselors can be your most trusted guides. They can offer guidance on what internships would give the most complete and impressive glimpse into your personality based on your CV, interests and chosen major. And our extensive list of partners ensures that there is something for everyone. Author, Fatima Burki Fatima Burki is a graduate of the University of Sussex in the UK. Former editor of The Daily Times, Lahore, Pakistan, she’s also worked as a research editor at Imagination Publishing in Chicago, USA. With more than 20 plus years of writing and editing experience, Fatima is Eye on Ivy’s resident lexicon and ace proofreader.