Interesting definition of "Ivy League"

Colleges & Universities A-Z Yale University
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<p>Oxford Dictionary definition of Ivy League:</p>

<p>"a group of long-established colleges in the eastern U.S. having high academic and social prestige. It includes Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Dartmouth, Cornell, Brown, and University of Pennsylvania."</p>

<p>Note the order they list the colleges...there's no real rhyme or reason to it...it's not alphabetical...could this be Oxford's implicit understanding of the prestige of the Ivies?</p>

<p>1-Harvard
2-Yale
3-Princeton
4-Columbia
5-Dartmouth
6-Cornell
7-Brown
8-University of Pennsylvania</p>

<p>What other reason could there be? Is this the order in which they were established? lol...something to think about.</p>

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<p>Penn was established first, I think. I don't think there's a special method of ordering involved.......</p>

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<p>Harvard is the nation's first university :p
Penn is 3rd I think...not sure though.</p>

<p>Enco I think the list is ranked according to Oxford's notions of prestige - not least because thats probably the general ranking in my country too :p - except that Yale and Princeton would probably be tied for 2nd (Princeton has a very very slight edge in my town though)</p>

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<p>i'm sure lol</p>

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<p>Penn was the first university. Harvard was the first college.</p>

<p>This is reminiscent to the US News Rankings of the early 90s. </p>

<p>You posted: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Dartmouth, Cornell, Brown, University of Pennsylvania</p>

<p>1991: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth, Cornell, Columbia, Brown, Penn</p>

<p>With the exception of Columbia, they are identical. Perhaps 1990? I don't have access to that unfortunately.</p>

<p>2005: Harvard/Princeton, Yale, Penn, Columbia, Dartmouth, Brown, Cornell</p>

<p>Don't read into it too much.</p>

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<p>Yea, I'm guessing that is an older definition. Personally, based on prestige alone I would rank:</p>

<p>1.Harvard
2.Yale
3.Princeton
4.Brown
5.Dartmouth
6.Columbia
7.Penn
8.Cornell</p>

<p>US News rankings are based on much more important factors</p>

<p>1.Harvard
2.Princeton
3.Yale
4.Penn
5.Dartmouth
6.Columbia
7.Brown
8.Cornell</p>

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<p>Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Penn, Dartmouth/Brown, Cornell</p>

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<p>or maybe you're just reading waaaay too much into it. You know, the people who write dictionaries are probably not so obsessed with colleges as we are. Just a thought :-)</p>

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<p>I made that point three posts ago!</p>

<p>I agree with fids on "prestige" now, though.</p>

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<p>I expect the OED reflects what is generally thought of as rank order by public at large. As poster points out, rank of the "other 5" changes almost annually. HYP is pretty well set. Cornell is likely to leap by next year, and Brown and Dartmouth to settle back based on app/admit rates and Cornell push to have more small classes. Just points out need to make the best choice for yourself rather than rely on ephemeral and transient "rankings."</p>