The Ivy League has its roots in eight historic US universities: Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton and Yale. The group grew from the Ivy Group Agreement signed in 1945 and was formally established as a conference in 1954. Across the Atlantic, Oxford has evidence of teaching dating to 1096, while Cambridge was established in 1209.
For students who dream of getting into these highly competitive universities, their profile should start to be built several years before the application season begins. Therefore, what should students actually do during those four important years?
Why should profile building begin in Year 9?
Dr Anil Khare: Year 9 should be about exploration and strong foundations, not trying to create an impressive resume.
Students can discover subjects they genuinely enjoy, strengthen academic skills, read beyond the school syllabus and experiment with extracurricular activities. Academic clubs, competitions, community initiatives, sports, arts and independent projects can all help students identify their interests.
The goal is simple: discover what you care about before deciding what you want to specialise in.
What should students focus on in Year 10?
Dr Anil Khare: Year 10 is the time to move from exploration towards commitment and consistency.
Instead of taking part in ten completely unrelated activities, students could choose a number of areas that they truly enjoy and go into them more deeply. For instance, a student who is interested in Biology might take part in science competitions, carry out independent research, read relevant books, or get involved in community projects relating to environmental or health issues.
Academic performance should remain a priority while students begin researching potential university courses and understanding what different institutions expect.
What changes in Year 11?
Dr Anil Khare: By Year 11, students should begin developing a recognisable academic identity.
This could involve deeper research, leadership responsibilities, Olympiads, competitions, internships where appropriate or substantial independent projects. Students should increasingly demonstrate initiative rather than simply participating because an activity looks impressive.
This is also an appropriate stage to investigate standardised testing, university requirements and course-specific expectations-particularly because Ivy League and Oxbridge admissions follow different approaches.
What should students accomplish in Year 12?
Dr Anil Khare: Year 12 should focus on refinement, achievement and presentation.
Students need to maintain strong academic performance while completing meaningful projects and responsibilities. Those applying to US universities may need to devote significant attention to essays and application materials, while Oxbridge applicants should demonstrate strong academic engagement with their chosen subject.
Last-minute activities added purely to strengthen an application are unlikely to replace years of genuine interest and development.
Can one strategy work for both Ivy League and Oxbridge?
Dr Anil Khare: Not entirely. Students targeting Ivy League universities should understand the broader US application process, including academic achievement, activities, personal context and written application components. Oxbridge applications are highly course-focused, with significant emphasis on academic ability and subject-specific preparation.
Therefore, students can build a shared foundation of academic excellence and meaningful achievement, but their final preparation should be tailored to each university and course.
How can Anilkhare.com and Amourion Training Institute support students?
Dr Anil Khare: Anilkhare.com offers guidance in areas including profile evaluation and building, subject selection, university shortlisting, essays and application preparation. Dr Anil Khare, an educationist and academic counsellor, provides personalised guidance focused on helping students understand their strengths and develop purposeful academic pathways.
Together with this advice, Amourion Training Institute provides academic tutoring and assistance with the admissions process, helping students to build up their academic background as they work towards their wider university objectives. For families who begin early, systematic guidance can help turn individual accomplishments into a consistent and genuine university profile.
What is the biggest lesson for students?
Dr Anil Khare: Do not wait until application year. A powerful profile is built gradually through curiosity, consistency, intellectual growth, leadership and genuine interests.
Four years gives students something that last-minute preparation cannot provide: time to discover what makes them distinctive-and develop it properly
Contact Us
Phone: +971 55 956 4344 | +971 4 355 4850
Website: www.anilkhare.com
Email: anilkhare@anilkhare.com
WhatsApp:Click here to text us
Dubai Centers: Sheikh Zayed Road | Jumeirah Lakes Towers | Dubai Silicon Oasis Abu Dhabi: Hamdan Street
Curricula: IB | A Level | AS Level | IGCSE | American.
Modes: In Person | Hybrid | Online
Areas we cover: Dubai Marina, JBR, The Greens, Barsha Heights, Emirates Hills, The Lakes,The Springs, Discovery Gardens, Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Palm Jumeirah, Academic City, Liwan,International City, Dubai Residence Complex, Nad Al Sheba, Mirdif, Warsan,Meydan, DIFC, Downtown Dubai, Business Bay, Trade Centre, Sheikh Zayed Road,City Walk, Al Satwa, Al Jafiliya, Zabeel, Al Wasl, Jumeirah, Bur Dubai