<p>Is it just me, or does anyone else feel as if it's time that the Ivy League broadens it's horizon? Sure it originally (and still is) a sports league consisting of schools in the North East, but the term has now become synonymous for "Amazing School". Universities around the nation such as CalTech, Standford, MIT, U Michigan, etc. have received a substantial amount of "neglect" simply because they're not Ivy League schools.
The term Ivy League could still be reserved for the Ivy League, but perhaps a league of schools that have to reach a certain academic criteria to be admitted into the league? A fair amount of students will apply to schools simply for prestige, and with a broader range of schools (~20), it would help balance out admissions (Although not by a lot). It could also motivate other schools to strive to be admitted into the league, knowing that admittance into the league would come with higher academic prestige.</p>
<p>Just me ranting though, any other thoughts?</p>
<p>it’s a SPORTS league. plus, there is no possible reason why the ivy league would want to lose their exclusivity…it’s like political parties. Republicans and Democrats do not want to make it easy for minor parties…</p>
<p>Hah! I’d love to see the Yale Bulldogs go up against the Michigan Wolverines on the gridiron. Of course, the way Michigan played last year it might be a competitive game, but rumor has it they’ve got a lot of young studs among this year’s incoming recruits and last year’s redshirts. Of course, Michigan would have to give up the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry for Big Ten supremacy. Nope, won’t happen. Not in a million years. And not just because the Ivy League won’t have them.</p>
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[QUOTE=Anon<em>Person</em>1]
it’s a SPORTS league.
[/QUOTE]
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<p>Yes, yes it’s a SPORTS league, but you should know as well as I and the OP do that that is not what it is perceived to be nowadays.</p>
<p>However, I don’t think the Ivy League will ever open itself up to other universities. They, believe it or not, like their exclusivity. It’s a private entity, and no one can make it do anything it doesn’t want to do.</p>
<p>Anyone going to the Ivy League just because of prestige shouldn’t go anyway.</p>
<p>Borb, I did read it…I just don’t really understand what your question is…other than quote " but perhaps a league of schools that have to reach a certain academic criteria to be admitted into the league?"</p>
<p>I answered it…Idk, I’m going to Columbia so i"m probably biased</p>
<p>EDIT: aberdeen, but perception =/= reality. I just don’t understand what your point is about this…do I look down on Stanford or MIT people? Of course not. The people who matter will know all are great schools, ivy or not.</p>
<p>Who says CalTech, Stanford, MIT, U Michigan “have received a fair amount of neglect”? </p>
<p>Those schools have not been neglected by Nobel Prize committees, by tens of thousands of applicants each year, by university ranking services, by – well, you get the point. </p>
<p>I think they are only neglected by a few underinformed east coast high school kids ;)</p>
<p>well, anon, I think this is about the population in general, not just you and I and other informed CCers. Most people hold the Ivy League on a pedestal. And then Stanford, MIT, etc. slightly lower, at least where I am from. I’m saying it is perceived to be more than a sports league now, it’s the elite academic experience, and perception can be more important than reality.</p>
<p>I disagree with you aberdeen15. If perception is more important than reality we would be chasing around mirages forever. But it is definitely more than a sports league.</p>
<p>^I said it can be more important; it depends on your point of view. For example, colleges do everything they can to improve their standings in these rankings and what not. Now how much better is #1 (Harvard) when compared to #2 (Princeton) in reality? And how true are these rankings anyway? Yet people still go out and buy the books and look at the rankings because that’s what the “experts” perceive to be the best school this year, so obviously their students must apply there.</p>
<p>My opinions, of course. I’m not very good at debating :D</p>