We’ve been seeing stories of two people getting into all 8 ivies, and as great as that may be…why the hell did they apply to all of them? I mean, you wouldn’t apply to all NESCAC colleges or Big Ten, so why all ivy leagues? Applying to three is a different thing (let’s say you apply to three urban colleges like Harvard, Columbia and Penn or more rural ones like Cornell, Dartmouth). What wiould they have written for their essays? “I like large colleges in big bustling cities so I will thrive at Penn” and then say “Dartmouth’s rural location is my optimal environment”? There’s obviously prestige involved, but applying to all 8 seems kind of like they don’t actually know any of the colleges or aren’t passionate about one of them.
I think what they usually say in the way of explanation is that they are either undecided, or like all of them equally.
For the recognition and prestige I guess? When you’re in their shoes and are qualified enough to be admitted, why not?
Or for financial reasons. You can use the best financial offer to bargain with another one.
Prestige chasing is especially common among first gen/immigrant students (ie foreign parents are more likely to believe in Ivy or bust)
“but applying to all 8 seems kind of like they don’t actually know any of the colleges or aren’t passionate about one of them.”
It sounds like they do know enough to know that there are 8 Ivy Leagues.
Does everyone who is passionate about a college get in? No. Never. So many people are passionate about Harvard and almost all of them get rejected.
They applied because they wanted to and the Ivies accepted them, because they wanted them obviously. Enough said.
I think some people still think that if they apply to all 8, they’ll get in at least one.
For the two people getting into all 8, I think they applied to all of them because of what @Iamabigbug said, for financial reasons.
I’m always skeptical of kids who apply to both Brown and (one or both of UChicago/Columbia). Do they want an open curriculum or do they want a core curriculum? Or do they just want a name…
Or Dartmouth and Columbia?
If prestige is a key criteria (which it is for a lot of people), you will have the best odds of getting into 1 ivy if you apply to all of them. You wouldn’t apply to all Big Ten schools if you’re confident that you will be able to get into the few that you like the most but with ivies, you can never be confident that you will get in any.
I did apply to all 8 and for differing reasons for each. The overarching reason as to why I applied to this entire athletic coalition of schools instead of another is that of financial aid. Ivies are known for their extremely generous financial aid programs and, coming from a family with very low income, it would be the only way to even be able to attend college. I understand the skepticism found in the huge diversity separating each of these schools but I can’t put it more simply than by saying that I loved each of them for their individualities. Dartmouth I loved because of the outdoorsy nature that offered a secluded feeling and a unique D Plan. Columbia because of its incredibly accessible location that opened up possible internships (Econ major so Wall Street, other financing firms). In the end, I’d say that applying to all 8 of them was definitely the right choice for me. I was accepted at Princeton and Dartmouth, waitlisted at Columbia and Brown, and rejected from Yale, Harvard, UPenn, and Cornell. Almost none of the other schools I was accepted at met my need as well as these schools. I will be attending Princeton in the fall wherein all my costs are covered except for a tiny $1,100 family contribution.
Homeless2Princeton kind of hit on this, but I think you can like different things about each Ivy League school. Maybe you love Brown’s open curriculum, and Columbia’s location, so you apply to both. Chances are that you won’t get into either, so it’s not an issue.
Because getting into all Ivies is a HUGE accomplishment…mostly recognized in non-Western cultures/ people with that kinda background. My parents want me to apply to all Ivies so I can be the next Nigerian boy w/ 8 acceptances. Lmao, no way in hell that is happening. I’m applying where I want. 
According to this article, they are all the children of immigrants. http://www.businessinsider.com/students-accepted-to-all-8-ivy-league-schools-have-one-specific-thing-in-common-2015-4
By the way, my parents are from Nigeria but they don’t even talk about colleges much. I guess they’re not the usual Nigerian parents.