<p>At first I was like many people on CC -- that is, "go to an Ivy League School and learn + be challenged in top schools of the world."
Anyway, I've been traveling to all these Ivies -- Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia...and I don't see what's so special about them. The campus's don't seem so special -- a lot of Columbia classrooms are tiny and feel so old (you'd expect state-of-the-art classrooms with all the $$$ they are making). Everything feels desolute, I can see how kids comite suicide at these places...
In the end, I realized public facilities are much better than these Ivies..you get what you pay $100k+ for free at the NYC Central Library...really..the only thing about the Ivy League is the name. Pretty much after that, its all glitz and glamour...</p>
<p>Hmm...I used to think like you. The first school I was visited was Princeton, and after seeing their dorms, I wanted more modern, carpeted dorms rather than their all wood ones. However, I think now the charm in those schools lies in their rich history and the fact that they weren't just built 20 years ago with elevators and fancy state of the art dorm rooms. I just went to prefrosh weekend at Harvard, and the dorms were all very beautiful and unique in their own way- none of those cookie cutter high rise apartment-style dorms you see at some of the newer universities. The rest of the campus is gorgeous as well- if you haven't seen the freshman dining hall, I recommend going to visit it because it will make you forget your "desolation" :)</p>
<p>well then ur in love with dorm not the school it self jli. most people dont visit the dorms they just want the name. i agree with RGS ivys are worthless, studies have shown they make just as much people out of regular college's. w/e though if it makes people happy and special than i guess ivys have a purpose in life.</p>
<p>i think what makes the ivy prestigious is not the buildings, but the students and profs.</p>
<p>hey hey they're not worthless watch what ur saying. So? just becuase studies show that they're now worthless? Worse than state schools? If u want to be with talented people then ivies r for u. If u rn't then just don't go.</p>
<p>Well the only reason why the Ivy League is the Ivy League is mainly because they are private universities that were built a long time ago. There are plenty of other schools that I think are better than some of the Ivies. I mean, HYP is good and UPenn has been up there in the past, but I think that lots of other schools like Duke, MIT, Stanford, Caltech, JHU, etc. are just as good...they're just not called ivies. I turned down two ivies to go to what I think is a much better school. So name isn't everything and just because it's an ivy doesn't mean it's better.</p>
<p>The Ivy League is an athletic conference.</p>
<p>^^^^ Basically.</p>
<p>I agree with stevenlee 87.
You'll find the best professors, you'll be able to make connections among your peers/alumni that will give you an advantage, as they will (compared to peers/alumni at less selective/elite schools) more likely be the people making influential progress in a variety of industries.
If the prestige of the IVY League came only from sports, the prestige could hardly have lasted through these years.
There's a reason that their names are so lauded.</p>
<p>Granted, HYP and UPenn deserve their amazing names---but you can find outstanding students/profs at schools that aren't (GASP) ivies, and schools that aren't even considered to be in the stanford, mit, duke, caltech category. </p>
<p>Personally, I think that there are a lot of schools better than the other four ivies---so just because it's an ivy doesn't mean that it's the best school ever. And it might not fit for what you want to do with your major.</p>
<p>If you don't like a single school, that's fine. But don't generalize and degrade the Ivy League just because they're the best. It really bothers me when people act like they're special because the "turned down Harvard". All the Ivies are great schools, but there are much more great schools than just those eight. (Personally I think Stanford is the best in America)</p>
<p>most intelligent students in the country and the best professors in the country as well as the best resources for students and one hell of a name on your resume equates to an Ivy League education over almost every other college (except Stanford, MIT, CalTech and one or two others)</p>
<p>I still disagree with the most intelligent students. There are intelligent students pretty much everywhere you go. Heck, my mom is going to Gordon College here in Ga ( community college) and I met the smartest person the other day that goes to her school. I mean, here I am, thinking I'm the coolest and smartest person ever because I'm going to MIT and I got into Ivies yipee, but there are some really smart people out there who could give kids at ivies a run for their money any day of the week.</p>
<p>Not all the super smart kids out there want to go to ivies. You're fooling yourself if you think that.</p>
<p>ok notice how you mentioned only 1 person from Gordon College or you could only name a few hundred at other schools.</p>
<p>meanwhile at an Ivy you get up to 15,000 kids that are ALL amazingly intelligent on some level or another.</p>
<p>I agree aviatrix, every school has its load of intelligence no matter the prestige of the school. As long as you're willing to put in the work..</p>
<p>You should go to a school where you fit in the most culturally. And Ivies are ivies because of the resources and environment, as said before.</p>
<p>The Top-tier schools are about raising the ceiling. Don't apply if you don't want/can't take advantage of that.</p>
<p>The ACC doesn't seem that special to me.</p>
<p>[url=<a href="http://www.tumr.com/view/?id=20&app=college%5DNash%5B/url">http://www.tumr.com/view/?id=20&app=college]Nash[/url</a>]
PS - If the Ivies don't seem special to you, by all means don't waste your time there. Let the other 160,000 applicants each year who find them special have their fair shot.</p>
<p>i think it's wrong to believe that ONLY intelligent students go to ivies. they definitely have their fair share, but plenty go to peer institutions (stanford, mit, caltech, duke, jhu, etc.), and then some go to many other places, including cc's. having a degree from an ivy league school might give you a boost initially, but ultimately your success depends on yourself, your own performance, and your ability.</p>
<p>I agree, I didnt apply to a single Ivy becuase I honestly didnt have any desire to go to one. That said, some people do like them, so they do go there.</p>