Is Going To An Ivy League Worth It

Everyone has heard of the “Ivy League,” a group of eight private universities defined by their membership in the same collegiate athletic conference. They Ivy League comprises Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Brown, Dartmouth, Columbia, Cornell, and the University of Pennsylvania. But what holds these eight schools together is more than their athletics—it’s their shared world-renowned academics, prestige, and—perhaps most anxiety inducing— exclusivity, as evidenced by their low acceptance rates.

Is the Ivy League Really Worth it? Pros and Cons

Each year, hundreds of thousands of students all over the world apply to the Ivy League, a group of eight elite universities in the Northeast. These schools are known for graduating leaders in practically every field.

But while these schools certainly boast world-renowned programs, they’re not the only top-tier colleges—and might not even be the right choice for some students. Is the Ivy League worth it? Here’s what you should consider.

What is the Ivy League?

The Ivy League is made up of the following schools:

• Brown University
• Columbia University
• Cornell University
• Dartmouth College
• Harvard University
• Princeton University
• University of Pennsylvania
• Yale University

The Ivies are synonymous with the most prestigious schools in the nation, but the Ivy League is actually an athletic conference. The first term appeared in 1935, when the Associated Press reported on a developing sports league consisting of long-established, Northeastern universities.

The “League” became official in 1954, when the NCAA Division I athletic conference was established. The Ivy League brought together these eight schools, which were considered elite for their athletic prowess.

Today, these schools continue to compete against one another in the Ivy League as well as the NCAA Division I. But this prestigious club also has a reputation for academic excellence in addition to athletic prestige.

Pros of Going to an Ivy League

1. You’ll Learn Under Well-Respected Faculty.

Lewis Black, Nadine Gordimer, Toni Morrison, Tony Shalhoub, B. F. Skinner, and Cornel West are just some of the world-famous professionals who have taught at Ivy League institutions. These eight schools attract some of the biggest names in their fields, and you’ll have the chance to learn under these brilliant minds.

2. You’ll Have Access to a Huge Network of Fellow Ivy League Alumni.

Each of these schools has graduated thousands of successful alumni. Many are eager to network with and help fellow alums. Moreover, given the sense of camaraderie (and often rivalry, especially on the field) among these eight institutions, you may also have access to other Ivy graduates through events that bring together graduates of different schools.

3. It Will Open Doors.

These brand names carry a lot of cache. Not only will you impress people, but you’re likely to find that attending an Ivy opens doors. For example, when you’re looking for your first job out of college, hiring managers and recruiters will probably look favorably on your application because of your alma mater.

4. The Ivies Offer Generous Need-Based Financial Aid.

All Ivies also promise to meet 100% demonstrated financial need, and many are even no-loan. For low-income students, attending an Ivy could be cheaper than attending a state school, and you may even receive a full ride! In fact, Harvard grants full rides for students with families making under $65,000 per year. Families with incomes between $65,000 and $150,000 will contribute from 0-10% of their income.

Not every Ivy is this generous, but in general, they offer some of the best aid in the country.

5. You’ll Have Plenty of Options in Terms of Courses, Majors, Activities, and More.

Thanks to their large endowments and long histories, the Ivies all have an abundance of resources to offer their students, from enormous libraries to performance venues to museums and cultural institutions.

Each Ivy has its own personality and strengths, but in general, they all have options in a wide array of fields. You’ll also be able to take advantage of extracurricular activitie s across areas like sports, Greek life, arts, journalism, religion, ethnicity, and much more.

5 Reasons You Don’t Have to Go to an Ivy League School to Succeed

1. There Are Many Schools of Comparable Caliber.

The Ivies are highly prestigious, but there are plenty of other options when it comes to elite schools with great reputations, including several public institutions. You may want to consider these top non-Ivy League schools and these public universities known as the “public Ivies.”

You don’t need to go to an Ivy to get a great education and land your next great role. Remember, too, that after you land your first job, where you went to college is less likely to matter than how you performed in your previous roles.

2. You May Be a Small Fish in a Big Pond.

Most students who attend Ivies were at the top of their class in high school. But each of these eight schools is extraordinarily selective, and you’ll find yourself surrounded by peers who were equally impressive in their schools. As a result, some students have imposter syndrome or even struggle in their classes. If you attend a less selective school, you may end up performing better comparatively.

3. The Price Tags Are Steep

While the Ivies offer generous financial aid, the price tags themselves are quite steep. Depending on your family’s income, you may end up paying more than you would at a public school.

4. Ivies Don’t Offer Merit Scholarships.

As per an Ivy League agreement, none of the eight schools offers scholarships based on merit — they only offer aid based on financial need. You can still receive outside merit scholarships, but beyond need-based financial aid, you won’t get any money from the schools themselves.

5. Some Sections and Seminars Are Taught by TAs.

This is true of many large schools, including some of the Ivies: often, sections of big lectures and seminars are taught by teaching assistants rather than professors themselves, particularly at the introductory level. As you advance in your academic career, this is less likely to be the case, but you’ll also face stiff competition getting into courses taught by famous faculty.

The smaller Ivies tend to be more focused on undergraduate teaching, but you’ll need to look out for this at a larger school like Cornell.

How to Get into an Ivy League School

Each of the eight Ivies is enormously selective. Even if you’re a top candidate, there’s no guarantee of admission to any of these schools. They would be a reach for every student.

Still, there are ways to increase your chances of getting into your dream Ivy. And it starts with having an exemplary record of academic achievement. All of the Ivies, as well as other highly selective schools, use a tool called the Academic Index (AI) to assess whether a student meets their minimum standards for admissions. The AI weeds out students whose grades and test scores fall below a certain threshold even before their applications are reviewed (though this has changed due to COVID-19 test-optional policies).

Having top grades and test scores is only part of the battle. Because most other candidates are also high achievers, you must set yourself apart by demonstrating your unique talents and interests beyond the classroom. Extracurriculars — especially impressive and outside-the-box activities — are an important part of your profile. Try to demonstrate cohesion, focusing on a few interests as opposed to casting a wide net. Learn more about the extracurricular profile the Ivy League wants.

You can also show your unique qualities and characteristics in areas like your essay (check out some Ivy League essay examples ). This is also a good place to demonstrate your interest in and compatibility with the school. (Hint: It’s not enough to want to attend any Ivy — you should indicate why that institution in particular appeals to you.)

Which Ivy League, if Any, is Right for You?

While the Ivies are all prestigious, highly selective schools with stellar academic programs, each institution has its own unique culture, along with strengths and weaknesses. Different Ivies will appeal to different students.

For example, if you’re looking for freedom to explore your interests and talents, Brown’s open curriculum will appeal to you. In contrast, Columbia adheres to a classical approach, with more requirements.

Some of the institutions have unique programs you’re unlikely to find at its peer schools. Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration, for instance, hosts one of the few—and best—programs of its kind.

Location matters, too. Some of these schools, like Columbia, UPenn, Harvard, and Brown are in cities, while Princeton and Yale are in suburbs. Meanwhile, Dartmouth and Cornell are situated in some of the most rural areas you can find.

These are all important factors to consider when choosing the best college for you. To help you narrow down your search, check out CollegeVine’s school-search tool . It will allow you to search by criteria like program, size, location, and more. And don’t forget to estimate your chances of admission to top schools, including the Ivies, with our chancing engine . Both tools are free to use!

Is Attending an Ivy League Worth It? The Real Benefits of an Ivy League Education

Learn the truth about the advantages and drawbacks of attending an Ivy League school

Introduction

Deciding which schools to apply to is the first major step in your child’s college application journey. And if your child is a high-achieving student, they’ve likely given consideration to applying to an Ivy League school.

Everyone has heard of the “Ivy League,” a group of eight private universities defined by their membership in the same collegiate athletic conference. They Ivy League comprises Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Brown, Dartmouth, Columbia, Cornell, and the University of Pennsylvania. But what holds these eight schools together is more than their athletics—it’s their shared world-renowned academics, prestige, and—perhaps most anxiety inducing— exclusivity, as evidenced by their low acceptance rates.

So how do you know if one of these universities would be the right fit for your child? Is attending an Ivy League worth it?

In this post, we’ll lay out some of the benefits of attending an Ivy League, while digging into some common concerns.

The Benefits of an Ivy League Education

Excellence of peers and faculty

The selective nature of each of these universities means that your child will be surrounded by stellar students in the classroom, dining hall, and dorm. And while each student accepted to an Ivy League university generally has strong test scores and academic performance, most Ivy League undergrads are also accomplished in extracurricular activities and notably engaged in their communities. Such a remarkable student body leads to an enriching academic and social experience for all students.

These universities don’t just draw the best students, but some of the most standout faculty as well—winners of Pulitzers and Nobel Prizes. Because the resources of Ivy League universities allow them to offer small seminars taught by top faculty, even to freshmen, your child will have direct access to brilliant researchers and academics. As a student at Harvard, your child could choose from a range of freshmen seminars such as “Broadway Musicals: History and Performance” taught by Carol Oja, the Chair of Harvard’s Department of Music and the Leonard Bernstein Scholar-in-Residence at the New York Philharmonic. At Yale, your child might take the freshman seminar “What History Teaches” with Pulitzer Prize winner and renowned historian John Gaddis.

That’s one of the key differences between Ivy League schools and large public universities. While larger public universities certainly have brilliant faculty on staff, they may have less time with students, or may be more concerned with publishing or researching. Large Ivy League universities like Cornell and small colleges like Dartmouth alike place an emphasis on teaching.

Lifelong Ivy League network

Your student won’t only benefit from engaging with other extraordinary students and faculty during their four years of college. Their peers will go on to pursue a wide variety of careers, meaning your child will have access to a rich network for the rest of their life. Their network will also include the many notable faculty and alumni from their chosen university.

Benefits of that network can begin as early as freshman year. At Yale, the Office of Career Strategy connects students to internships in a wide variety of fields through Yale alums, donors, parents, and employers who are eager to hire Yale students. At Princeton, your child can find similar internship opportunities in the United States, as well as abroad through the International Internship Program. Every Ivy League university will offer your child an alumni database that they can access to help find their dream internship.

And if there is a specific field your child is interested in, attending an Ivy League may give them a leg up. Harvard is known for having an especially strong entertainment industry network, organized as “Harvardwood.”

Research also shows how Ivy League graduates are overrepresented in leadership roles in the corporate and political worlds. One study showed that nearly a third of Fortune 500 directors and CEOs attended elite undergraduate institutions (note that these institutions were not limited to the Ivy League).

Availability of resources

Ivy League universities command a tremendous amount of resources. With their massive endowment funds, each of these universities can afford to offer research funding, Broadway-level performance spaces, enormous libraries, and the support your student might need to initiate their own unique extracurricular group, academic project, or small business. However, each Ivy League university also boasts a unique set of offerings and your child should consider which of these schools commands the resources that best match their interests.

If your child is an aspiring visual artist, they will have access to renowned faculty and studio space at Brown University. If your child is looking for a foundational education in humanities, they might want to attend Columbia University for its Core Curriculum or Yale University for its Directed Studies Program. Or if your child craves access to hiking trails, skiing, or cabins they can rent through their college, Dartmouth might be a good fit.

Name recognition

Some say there isn’t much value to an Ivy League diploma other than the name. The truth in this statement is that “the name” does carry some value. In addition to serving as an entry point to the alumni network, an Ivy League school listed at the top of their resume can help your child land their first job out of college, as well as internships and other opportunities while he’s in college. Ivy League universities took up half of the slots in the top ten of the 2021 Global University Employability Ranking, compiled based on the perspectives of job recruiters.

While research shows attending a selective institution may not have a notable positive impact on student learning, job satisfaction, or well being, attending an Ivy League or comparably elite university has been found to have a measurable positive effect on future earnings for some student populations.

Attending a university with a 100-point higher average SAT score (most Ivy Leagues fall under this category compared to most other schools) has been found to increase future earnings for women by 14 percent. And another study showed that students from low-income backgrounds who attend elite colleges on average earn more than those from low-income backgrounds who attend less prestigious schools.

Attending an Ivy League college can also provide students with an edge if they decide to apply to graduate school.