<p>I mean, I don't know very many people who would turn down Ivy Leagues if they did get acceptances, but does everyone here really want to go to ivy leagues? It seems like EVERYONE has at least one (or five) Ivy Leagues on their college list here but maybe that's just because I'm on CC. Of course, there was a time when I wanted to go to an Ivy school too. But after researching colleges, the idea of an Ivy school wasn't so appealing any more. But maybe that's just me. I'm just wondering if people here truly want to go to their 5-7 Ivy League schools because they have actually thoroughly researched each school and found it to be a "fit" for them or if they're just like that for the name sake?</p>
<p>Most people go for ivy leagues for the prestige of the name and the fact that maybe they might have a greater chance of being hired for jobs. However, some people may turn down Ivies due to financial issues. </p>
<p>I know plenty of people who had no desire to go to an Ivy, and the majority of them would have been accepted to at least one. It’s a combination of the cost and the social scene isn’t as prominent as a state school. </p>
<p>More than likely it’s all for the name sake.</p>
<p>For some people, an Ivy is really a great fit for them. For example, if you’re looking for an academically fantastic, liberal school on the east coast with a flexible curriculum, look no further than Brown. But when every Ivy, MIT, Stanford, Duke, Vanderbilt and JHU show up on an applicant’s list, then yeah, you can be pretty much assured that they are probably just doing it for the name (which I don’t think is a terrible thing either, BTW, as long as everyone involved is very aware of that).</p>
<p>Also, forgot to add, some people do apply to Ivies because they offer amazing financial aid to everyone and are need-blind even for internationals. This is why a lot of kids in the middle of the “donut” so to speak, apply to so many Ivies. </p>
<p>After years of freezing his butt off in winter, DS wants out of the Northeast. </p>
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<p>Er… afaik most ivies aren’t need blind for internationals.</p>
<p>@mistanervous, Sorry you are correct, that was careless of me, I just double-checked and, of the Ivies, only Dartmouth, Princeton, Harvard and Yale are need-blind for both US Citizens and internationals. My bad. </p>
<p>I don’t. I’m not applying to a single Ivy and aside from breifly looking into them after starting my college search, I never considered applying there. One, I know I wouldn’t get in because my stats aren’t Ivy-league competitive. Secondly, I want to major in journalism, which they don’t offer. Thirdly, I just don’t want the pressure that comes along with going to an Ivy. Honestly, I think even if I applied to all of the Ivies, was accepted to all of them, and also got into my other schools I’m actually planning on applying to, I’d pick a non-Ivy. </p>
<p>Not knocking those who do want to go to Ivies, because there’s certainly nothing wrong with that, but it seems like a lot of people want to go to one because of the name, without actually thinking about whether they’d enjoy the school. If they looked around more, they might realize they’d be happier elsewhere, but they’re infatuated with the name and how amazing it sounds to be able to say they go to Harvard, Yale, etc.</p>
<p>It’s definitely just a CC thing though, and it depends on the kind of school you go to. At top high schools, I’m sure plenty of kids apply to Ivies. At my school, a rural high school in Virginia, we had like two kids apply to any Ivies (and I think that was a record). Most here are completely fine with going to state schools or even community college (gasp!). And that’s completely fine. </p>
<p>@butterfreesnd heh well 4/8, you were almost “mostly” right 
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<p>I’m currently considering four Ivy League colleges. In addition to fantastic academics, they offer a flexible curriculum (Brown), an urban environment (Columbia), a theoretical bent (Princeton), and a beautiful campus (Cornell). I’m visiting 3/4 of these colleges in a couple of weeks, and then I’ll have a better grasp on their respective vibes.</p>
<p>I’ll probably end up applying to 1-2 Ivys, but I’d choose Caltech or MIT over them in a heartbeat.</p>
<p>I visited all 8 this year, in addition to a number of other schools. 4 were immediately crossed off the list and 2 more probably will not make the final cut. In my ever-changing top 5, only 1 is an Ivy, and I will be happy to go to whatever college accepts me.</p>
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<p>Not to everyone. For those families they deem “too rich” for FA, the ivies stick them with a quarter of a million dollar tab. </p>
<p>No thanks…</p>
<p>Yes it is because you are on CC which attracts extremely highly qualified kids. But even here some choose not to for financial and personal preference reasons. Also as CC has gained users it has diversified more in terms of which academic level kids are on which just adds more and more help and information when looking at more diverse options. My kid had two ivies.</p>
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No. Both my Ds had the stats and neither were interested in applying. YMMV</p>
<p>I don’t! I don’t like the environment at many ivy league schools - competition, etc. I don’t think it’s worth the effort or the disappointment, but I would probably be qualified (you can check my stats). Obviously though, they are reaches for anybody. College is supposed to be fun, not miserable! </p>
<p>@Eniam666 wrote: " I don’t like the environment at many ivy league schools - competition" </p>
<p>Hmmm… that’s very curious as almost universally, this isn’t borne out by student testimony. The “competition” comes from within – students pushing themselves. But there is little “cutthroat” mentality. Can you share with us where you got this opinion that they are hotbeds of “miserable” cutthroat competition? That absolutely was not my experience.</p>
<p>@student197 You’re suspecting confirmation bias – and it’s true. The avg CC user is looking for advice on top school admissions. Of course it will then be commonplace for Ivy aspirants to have a significant presence here.</p>
<p>@T26E4 You’re completely right, I am sure not all experiences are like that. That being said, the caliber of academics at the ivy league schools is so high that you will most likely have some sleepless nights and maybe some grades that you aren’t used to (lower than an A). Obviously the students that get in are brilliant, but being at the top of the class like they were in high school just isn’t feasible.<br>
I am sure lots of students have a beyond amazing time while in an ivy, but for me at least, it would be difficult going from top of my class in high school to average or below average in college. That is why I would be miserable and I am sure that is not true among the majority students that attend there. </p>
<p>Check out this article: <a href=“http://www.ivygateblog.com/2010/02/grade-deflation-makes-princeton-students-unhappy-and-jobless-or-proves-that-they-are-just-dumb/”>http://www.ivygateblog.com/2010/02/grade-deflation-makes-princeton-students-unhappy-and-jobless-or-proves-that-they-are-just-dumb/</a> </p>
<p>If I may be blunt, try to alter that thinking and dependence on external affirmation. Do you seriously want to be the smartest person in every room you enter for the rest of your life? If so, what does this say about one’s character. You’ll always aim lower than your abilities just to maintain that status quo. (I’m not denigrating so-called “lower” schools – I’m speaking about a philosophy of life about challenging oneself).</p>
<p>If you were my employee, I’d find your attitude quite useless – not willing to challenge yourself, not helpful to others or my team, not being adventurous and willing to make mistakes and fall on your face, willing to remain bored if the top place can be maintained. White bread</p>
<p>The implications for this kind of thinking are broad. Please speak to someone whom you perceive to have an adventurous academic outlook on life. Go forth and make a colossal and embarrassing mistake – and relish it. Color outside the lines. Stop conforming. Take the less-travelled path.</p>
<p>Let go of the edge of the pool. The kids at the other end are having fun – you will too.</p>
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There is a lot to be said for being at the top of your class at a state flagship, rather than in the middle of the pack in an ivy league school.</p>
<p>Here is the Wall Street Journal’s list of top schools for recruiters:
<a href=“http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748704358904575477643369663352?mod=WSJ_PathToProfessions_TopLEADNewsCollection&mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052748704358904575477643369663352.html%3Fmod%3DWSJ_PathToProfessions_TopLEADNewsCollection”>http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748704358904575477643369663352?mod=WSJ_PathToProfessions_TopLEADNewsCollection&mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052748704358904575477643369663352.html%3Fmod%3DWSJ_PathToProfessions_TopLEADNewsCollection</a>
</p>
<p>The top 5 schools for recruiters:
- Penn State
- Texas A&M
- University of Illinois
- Purdue University
- Arizona State</p>
<p>I have a kid who had a 2380 SAT, Subject tests of 800 Math II and 800 Lit, good GPA, and strong ECs. The Ivies held no interest for her… she was accepted everyplace she applied, which included U of Chicago, Swarthmore, and Harvey Mudd. But zero interest in any of the Ivy league schools, although I am pretty sure she would have been admitted to at least some of them if she had applied. She is very happy at Mudd now, and rolls her eyes at the idea that any other school could have been a better fit or made her happier. And someone above implied that the smartest people are at the Ivies – not necessarily true, one reason she picked the schools she did instead of the Ivies is because she wanted to go where the truly smartest people (not just the grinders and strivers) could be found.</p>