<p>Did anyone know that Chicago is a part of The Ivy Plus Group? The group consists of The Ivy League, Stanford, MIT, and Chicago. I wonder why this group isn't more publicized.</p>
<p>Below is the link to my original reference:</p>
<p>yeah i heard about it in another thread</p>
<p>Chicago is also part of some groups which are typically associated with the BigTen, like the Committee</a> on Institutional Cooperation.</p>
<p>For those who didn't know, the University of Chicago was a founding member of the BigTen conference, but withdrew in 1946. MSU joined in 1950.</p>
<p>Although it doesn't matter much, I still feel excited after reading about it..=)</p>
<p>why should it be more publicized? how does some obscure group that few people even heard of going to enhance chicago as a university? given the amount of disgust at the "ivy league" as a superficial way of measuring how prestigious a school is (ex. dartmouth is in ivy league, but stanford isnt), i don't think many people will embrace this so-called "ivy plus" and let alone even care about it. Tufts syndrome anyone?</p>
<p>i think that if it was more publicized, it would take a lot of the shine off of the ivy leagues, because it's like admitting that these schools are just as good as the ivy leagues, which opens the door to saying that other schools are also just as good, which is true.</p>
<p>Prblms4loki: I dont necessarily think that publicizing the Ivy-plus Group is going to take the shine off of the Ivy League; Its not like just any university is going to be added to the list. I do agree however, that the publicizing of the group would mean that the Ivy League is acknowledging other schools that are at par with them.</p>
<p>Chlor: Sure, there are people who are disgusted by the Ivy League but I am sure that there are many more people who could only dream of going to an Ivy League school. Your Dartmouth-Stanford-example (although I dont think of Dartmouth as any less than Stanford) is exactly the reason for the Ivy-plus group in the first place to acknowledge the other great schools beyond the Ivy League. Surely, only good can result from having people know that the Ivy League recognizes Chicago and the other plus-schools as institutions that are at par with them. </p>
<p>I agree with you that it is superficial for people to judge a university depending on what group it does or doesnt belong to; however, not as many people are as enlightened as you are. The fact is that there are many countries outside the US that have very limited resources when it comes to learning about US schools; hence, being part of a prestigious group such as the Ivy League will play much in a persons perception of a college- because when there is little information available, little things (especially those that are wide-spread) play a bigger part. </p>
<p>As to whether or not people will embrace the Ivy-plus group, I dont find it hard to imagine people embracing the concept of an extension of the Ivy League. You yourself want people to recognize that there are many other good schools outside the Ivy League; this is one way of doing that. It may not be the best way but it is certainly a good way, considering how its easier for people to grasp modifications than things that are entirely new. </p>
<p>The question then becomes whether or not a more-widely-recognized-Chicago equals a better Chicago. I think it does. There are many other talented people who would have self-selected Chicago had they known about it. With a more talented applicant pool, Chicago will have the chance to choose a more talented class. With a more talented class, there is a bigger incentive for teachers to come to Chicago and alumni to make donations. With more donations, we could increase our endowment and finance more students etc Thats not to say that we are lacking in any of those departments BUT as with any other institution, theres always room for improvement. </p>
<p>Those of us who are going to Chicago know that Chicago is a great school- the best in my opinion. You can call it anything you want, but really, whats wrong with letting other people have the chance to feel the same way?</p>
<p>Because the people for whom the Ivy+ group will make a difference are those who will not choose Chicago for the right reasons, i.e., they'll choose it because it's now somehow a de facto Ivy League school.</p>
<p>Most people at Chicago would prefer they just attend a real Ivy League school, I imagine.</p>
<p>Diocletian: You're right; there will definitely be some people who will choose to apply to Chicago for the wrong reason. That said, I don't necessarily think that will be a problem since the admissions committee should be able to see through the people whose interest in Chicago is only superficial- especially since Chicago's forms are pretty grueling. In fact, I remember one of the application questions this year somehow asked: 'Why Chicago?". I'd imagine that whatever people's perception of Chicago, the fact that the admissions committee will pick those that are a good fit for Chicago will not change. </p>
<p>My point is simply that the publication of the Ivy-plus group will allow more students to consider Chicago, see if it's a good fit for them, and apply if they think they are. </p>
<p>Imagine that you were a student from a country with little resources on US colleges. You know that you want to study in the US but you have no idea where to apply. Would you more likely: </p>
<p>a.) search for a list or a guidebook of US colleges and randomly pick some?
b.) research EVERY US college there is?
c.) look into the school's that people around you know more about?</p>
<p>Assuming that you would choose 'C' as I would, being part of a group that is already known would certainly benefit Chicago. Thing is, that Chicago is already a part of a well-known group. Why not reap the benefits?</p>
<p>This might be true, but there are those within the University community who take pride in the fact that Chicago is sort of a "secret." It has its advantages, and I'm not sure which is better in the long run for the University.</p>
<p>And there is a "Why Chicago?" question every year on the application, but it's just a one-page sort of thing.</p>
<p>Okay, I agree that advertising chicago as an "ivy-plus" school would draw applications from students who are not as knowledgeable about good US colleges, and think that the ivies are the only good ones. But, YOU GUYS are CHICAGO students, you should know better. </p>
<p>I guess what prompted me to comment in the first place was seeing poster daren_s claiming it "made him feel better," and other posters who seemed very enthused about this seemingly meaningless "ivy plus" garbage. Look, I love Uchi. I just wish students would love uchi for what it is, instead of always comparing it to the ivies, or attempting thereof.</p>
<p>I have to agree with Scrub more. Although we know that UChicago is a great university without putting her into any group, it won't hurt for poeple put UChicago in a same academic group of HYPSM. Nothing shame of being on par with ivy, right?</p>
<p>Uniqueness is good, but we can't play with it too much. Drawing more attention and more applicants to UChicago would benefit all UChicago related people, I think this is pretty basic.</p>
<p>Although putting Uchicago in the HYPSM league will hurt Chicago's 'uncommon' reputation, i'd have to agree that the benefits outweight any negative effects it might have on Uchicago.</p>
<p>Being an IVY Plus member makes my life at Chicago ten times brighter.</p>
<p>any one else notice that biztogo assigned a gender identity to Uchicago, i just noticed it out of nowhere</p>
<p>-just a random thought</p>
<p>robertsont06 : Good caught! </p>
<p>BTW, If you find anyone else assigns one's beloved school a different gender, please let me. Hopefully, it's not "very scary"...</p>
<p>:-)</p>
<p>robertson, i very much noticed biztogo's reference of uchic as "her" as well :P</p>
<p>I like to think of her as a kind of slutty school.</p>
<p>Eric, that is probably a good idea and will make the (what I expect to be) pain of the workload more bearable. ;)</p>
<p>Though I think calling the U. of C. "slutty" is a first . . .</p>