“Ivy fever is stupid in itself as these schools are very different from each other”.
Fortunately “Ivy fever” rarely afflicts those who attend the 8 schools. Students don’t refer to themselves as Ivy leaguers but instead identify with their individual schools. With few exceptions their ability to articulate the specific “fit” or appeal of a school (along with all the other credentials) is ultimately what gained them admissions.
Similarly you don’t hear Duke, Michigan or Williams kids using the Ivy of the South, Public Ivy or Little Ivy monickers. They also recognize the unique qualities of their schools and just as importantly don’t feel compelled to self attribute elitism by association.
Tends in my experience to be parents who need to “explain” or “contextualize” their children’s schools and use terms to portray achievement and exclusivity. Thankfully it’s the kids that matter and they seem to appreciate their school’s specific qualities regardless of geography, athletic conference or size.
The use of any Ivy comparison is demeaning to those it is being applied to. A thread titled “Southern Ivies” suggests their is such a thing. The likes of Duke or Vanderbilt hardly need the comparison to be viewed as amazing and competitive school’s.