Applying to Many/All Ivies?

Applying to College
1

<p>I've browsed around the forums, and I was surprised to find many people saying that if you apply to many or all Ivies, you're just in for the prestige, and that you most likely won't be happy at all of them since all of them are so different (ex. Brown vs. Columbia in terms of curriculum).</p>

<p>I'll be applying to six Ivies (all except Harvard and Brown) this fall, but my reasons are valid, or at least I would think--and hope--so. I don't want to be arrogant and assume that my reasons for applying to so many are the same as everyone else's who are applying to that many, but hopefully it should provide a look into exactly why people apply to so many Ivies--</p>

<p>Actually, scratch that--top schools. The Ivies are top schools, so why should people accuse others of applying to all Ivies because of the name when they're applying to other top schools and top schools in general? Should applying to top schools mean that you're only doing it for the name?</p>

<p>Either way, here are my reasons for applying to so many Ivies/top schools:</p>

<p>Location</p>

<p>I want to stay close to home, in the Northeast. All the Ivies are pretty close to me.</p>

<p>Financial Aid</p>

<p>With my family's relatively high income, the only schools I know for certain who will give good need-based financial aid packages are the Ivies. Other schools I'm applying to could give me some good financial aid, but it's not certain. (If you're wondering why I need the financial aid in the first place, especially with my family's income, you don't know our situation. Income is only part of the story.)</p>

<p>Great Environment and Education</p>

<p>World-renowned professors. Enough said. Plus, you're bound to meet some great people who will work wonders on your mind.</p>

<p>Differences < Adaptation</p>

<p>No matter how "different" the Ivies, or other top schools, are, adaption is still possible.</p>

<p>I visited all of the Ivies (except Cornell and Dartmouth because of lack of time), and although there were two that I absolutely loved, the others I felt were okay; I could adapt to them in time. Call that ridiculous, but I can adapt fairly easily, and remember, some people who attended their second, third, fourth, etc. choice school instead of their first eventually grew to love it, so I hope I will, too. As for Cornell and Dartmouth, I'm just giving them the benefit of the doubt, and I hope I can adapt to them, too, if accepted.</p>

<p>Strokes of Luck</p>

<p>Admission into any Ivy or top school is difficult, but hopefully, if your credentials are good, you'll get lucky--but sometimes, you aren't.</p>

<p>Thing is, you won't know if you're lucky or not until results come in. What colleges want every year changes, and you don't know what they want. The best way to prevent against being left with only a few choices to schools you don't particularly want to go when spring rolls around is to apply to a few more.</p>

<p>So why not apply to several more reach schools? Who knows, you might get in, so it's worth a shot--even applying to all the Ivies.</p>

<p>Prestige</p>

<p>I don't know about other people, but yes, the prestige factors in a bit for me, but only a bit. Compared to all the other factors, it's small, but it will help, even slightly, when I enter the workforce.</p>

<p>But what are all of your thoughts on this? Honestly, I'm still on the fence on this issue, so I want to know what other people think.</p>

2

<p>Good for you?</p>

<p>Seriously, if you want an Ivy than go for an Ivy. Just make sure that a) you think you’ll find the most success there and b) you’ll be the most happy there. Even if your Asian status (assuming this because of your Chinese-inspired username) might hurt you, if you like the school then apply.</p>

<p>You should visit though. I found out more about my tastes when I realized that one problem I had with Cornell is its location (middle of nowhere).</p>

3

<p>“Good for you?”</p>

<p>^Haha, I guess this was sort of a selfish rant on my part, so I apologize for that. Just wanted to clarify some things for the naysayers. d:</p>

<p>Guess you’re right about visiting, though… Thanks for the advice!</p>

<p>P.S. Good eye. :)</p>

4

<p>Ivies are Ivies. At the end of the day, most people just apply because they want to get into a prestigious school. Everyone I know who’s applying (myself included… sadly) is only interested in the “best” reputation. It’s messed up, but the ridiculous admissions process that HS grade inflation has created kinda makes being an overachiever necessary.
I wish that college admissions wasn’t like this, but that’s just the way things are right now, with people only applying because they want to get into top 25 schools.</p>

5

<p>Location: sure</p>

<p>Financial aid: debatable, since state schools cost less than most Ivies even with financial aid except Harvard, Princeton, and Yale and to a lesser extent Columbia and Upenn. If your family is poor, though, I believe that the less wealthy Ivies would cost less than a state school. Ivies are usually better at aid than other private schools and liberal arts schools.</p>

<p>Great environment and education: Sure, but ultimately you will have make the best of your own experience. Meeting great people will help gain good connections, so that’s always a plus!</p>

<p>Differences < Adaptation: Agreed</p>

<p>Luck: Sure, as long as if you have time</p>

<p>Generally speaking, Ivies are good schools, which is why they are ranked really high. If you have a major or specific area in mind, you should check out the rankings for the areas you may want to pursue. That said, they’re great for undecided majors, since their highly ranked in many fields.</p>

6

<p>It’s true that getting into an Ivy provides prestige and some people do it just for the sake of being able to say they attended one but the universities DO have the prestige for a reason. That being said, Ivy League schools are certainly not ideal and they are still far far FAR from perfect.</p>

<p>Personally I’d say you made a good choice not applying to Brown. I visited their campus and it wasn’t too beautiful. The worst part is a large portion of the people there fulfill the stereotype of arrogant jerks. I read an article that said Brown was home to the “dooshiest,” students but hey, they’re still super smart so they have room to brag. That’s just my experience though. I haven’t heard nearly as many bad things from the other schools though.</p>

7

<p>Location within the Northeast is very different between them. I don’t see how someone could apply to both Columbia and Dartmouth due to the huge environmental differences between the two. Unless they love the very urban and very rural equally which would boggle my mind.</p>

8

<p>i feel like all the reasons you gave for applying to ivies could be used as reasons for applying to a bunch of OTHER top schools, not just the ivies</p>

<p>that being said, it’s your life, your time, and probably your parent’s money. i just suggest you apply to some matches and safeties.</p>

9

<p>“i feel like all the reasons you gave for applying to ivies could be used as reasons for applying to a bunch of OTHER top schools, not just the ivies”</p>

<p>I said something along the lines of that in my first post, but I reread my post, and it is a bit unclear. </p>

<p>“i just suggest you apply to some matches and safeties.”</p>

<p>Don’t worry, I will. I’m not that good. d:</p>