<p>Of the schools the OP mentions, Penn, Harvard, and Columbia (at least) have a history that includes the use of official or unofficial quotas to limit the number of Jewish students in the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. Prominent Jewish leaders in New York actually sued to try to get Columbia’s tax exemption canceled in the 1940s on grounds that it was violating New York’s anti-discrimination laws, but ultimately their suits were thrown out of court on standing grounds (the courts said the party actually discriminated against would need to bring the suit). And it’s widely alleged that Yale instituted the “legacy” preference still in use at most Ivies and many other elite schools as way to limit Jewish enrollment. </p>
<p>That’s in the long past, however, and I think it would be unfortunate to limit your options by dredging up that old history and holding it against these schools today.</p>
<p>I wonder if the OP (or the OP’s friend) is possibly more concerned about more recent incidents involving pro-Palestinian, pro-Arab, or “anti-Zionist” activism on college campuses, which some Jewish groups have deemed “antisemitic” in character? That’s a different kettle of fish.</p>