<p>I'm not personally doing that, but when I heard that my friend is going to do that, I was perplexed.</p>
<p>What do you guys think?</p>
<p>If a person applies to all the ivies, then they haven’t really looked at what they want in a school (small/large, urban/rural, strength of program in their major, etc) and may just be trophy hunting. JMO</p>
<p>I know a few of these people. They tend to be first generation immigrants who want to be doctors and have parents who believe they should go to the school with the best name. No fault of their own.</p>
<p>They aren’t imaginative people, nor entirely secure. They are people who embrace structure. They like the strong identity of a big name and the instant boost of name recognition that comes from the Ivy.</p>
<p>Some of this is typical of nearly every teen applying to schools, though.</p>
<p>Honestly, I feel a bit sorry for them. They’ve paid more attention to prestige than to “fit”, and I worry about them finding themselves at a school that doesn’t meet their wants and needs, especially since the Ivies are all so different (imagine being a “Brown type” who ends up at rigid Columbia or conservative Dartmouth—or vice versa). Applying to two or three Ivies is fine if you’re an elite student, but always pay attention to what really suits you.</p>
<p>In my opinion, they’re pretentious and put way too much value in what people think of them.</p>
<p>do you guys know anyone who got into all of them?</p>
<p>D’s friend applied only to HYPS (of the Ivies) and got into all of them. And S isn’t technically an Ivy.</p>
<p>I think they’re athletes, people who don’t have the ability to research colleges, or have no idea what they want whatsoever other than to be recognized.</p>
<p>I think they’re people who are too lazy to really research what schools they want to go to. It’s a shame really, because these kids are really smart, but they’ve just gotten hung up on the Ivies probably because they’re insecure or obsessed with prestige. Probably pretentious too.</p>
<p>One word: pathetic. If you apply to schools that are so different like Dartmouth/Cornell (middle of nowhere, big frat/sports scene) and Columbia (city, less frat/sports scene) or Brown (no course requirements) and Columbia (rigid core curriculum) you don’t really know what you want.</p>
<p><a href=“imagine%20being%20a%20%22Brown%20type%22%20who%20ends%20up%20at%20rigid%20Columbia%20or%20conservative%20Dartmouth—or%20vice%20versa”>quote</a>.
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<p>Dartmouth is not conservative.</p>
<p>Some people are too quick to assume that everyone sees schools through the same lens that they do. My S ended up choosing between Dartmouth and the U of C: two very different environments–in some ways. Of the Ivies, he also like Brown and Yale, but not Cornell, Princeton, or Columbia. According to some, the schools he liked didn’t fit together in obvious categories. But he saw things he liked in each of them. I think that the concept of a perfect “fit” can be overblown. Many people will be happy with a range of characteristics.</p>
<p>Well i think it shows people are naive. Does anyone see that there are kids applying to schools that they have no hope of getting into? Thats prob why ivies are so selective, they have the most prestige so poor applicants make the admissions figures seem more selective (though they are selective of course)</p>
<p>In answer to the question above, there are applicants who get into all eight of the Ivy League colleges. That is rare, but it may happen every year. There are certainly enough people applying to all eight each year that it could happen annually. </p>
<p>[Ivy</a> League - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivy_League]Ivy”>Ivy League - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>
Indeed. Every year in April there is a “where did you get in” or “who got into the best colleges” thread (= bragging thread) with posters rattling off a dozen or so highly selective colleges to which they were admitted. </p>
<p>I would be willing to bet that 90% of the posters on CC, including those on this thread, do not know their chosen schools nearly as well as they think.</p>
<p>I think it is a little unwarranted to immediately say that somebody who applied to all the ivies hasn’t researched where they want to go to school at all. All of the ivies are great schools and each has a very high quality of life, and while they may be very different, it is possible for somebody to like all of them for different reasons. I was absolutely completely torn between whether I wanted to apply ED to Brown or Columbia, which might be the two most polar opposite ivies, but I liked them both a huge amount for different reasons. I think the reasons people might be drawn to Columbia’s core curriculum can be similar to the reasons people are drawn to Brown’s open curriculum, as in the desire to have a well rounded education, breadth and depth, etc. Regular decision I am applying to all of the ivies except HYP (because I don’t think I can get and it would be a waste of time) and not just because they are prestigious but because I genuinely like all of them and would love to go to school at any of them.</p>
<p>Also I had a friend who last year got into all 8 ivies. She is currently going to Stanford lol.</p>
<p>^ This. As an international student, maybe I have a different perspective, but here in India, you don’t look at what ‘fits’ you in terms of college, you just see the best one you can get into. Sometimes the quality of education itself matters a lot more than fit to some people (I’m not saying non ivies don’t offer excellent education, just that the Ivies do). And you’ll always find your niche in a school, I believe, unless you’re very extreme about some things (if you can’t <i>stand</i> rigid curricula a la Columbia, maybe, or you don’t like Brown’s vagueness, or whatever). Most people aren’t that extreme in their preferences. For example, I want to apply to both Uchicago (I know it’s not an ivy, but to illustrate a point-- it’s as rigid as Columbia, no?), and Brown, and I have a feeling I’d love both, because I have a strong work ethic, I like studying, and if I go to Uchicago, I’m sure I can find creative outlets on my own. But at the same time, I’d love the artsy atmosphere of Brown so if by some miraculous stroke of luck I get in there, I can both explore my creative side, plus find my own thing to study and do it well. In that context, what’s so wrong with looking for a good education with tried and tested names?</p>
<p>I don’t spend time worrying about what others do. But…I assume they’re in the market for a job where an Ivy education will get them a 2nd look.</p>
<p>If applicant #1 has no job experience but an undergrad degree from Anystate University, and applicant #2’s application says “Harvard”! That MEANS something different, to MANY employers…like it or not. There is a reason these schools produce our nation’s scholars and leaders. Yes, a few come from public schools. But, let’s face it…getting a “better” education (defined in many ways) at a private Ivy is just not the same thing as you can get from your in-state public U. Same with high schools, wonder why all the fuss? If you attend ECEPP School (you know…East Coast Expensive Private Prep School)…you DID get a better education than MFANAPS (Midwest Farmland Agricultural No AP School). You’re better prepared and you have a better chance of getting admitted to an elite college.</p>
<p>Same with College degree and jobs. For many/most jobs…you’re BETTER prepared at ANY Ivy…as compared to that same State University. Now, if you want to be a veterinarian, and work in Indiana…Purdue might be your first choice. </p>
<p>And why does everyone wonder when people apply to schools of different sizes and in different areas of the country? It’s the rigorous education one is looking for, right? If you want to learn only in a particular area, or only in a big city or small school, you’re REALLY limited yourself. Yes, that’s one of the factors for most students. But the “social/living” aspect, for one whose goal is education, should really come in 2nd. If one has to meet their piano instructor in a dank basement apartment…but they’re THE best instructor…then they go to the basement. If you live in a town where the education isn’t great, maybe home schooling is the better option, even if it might not provide the same social interaction. If it’s about the knowledge…go where you can get it. Or, if you believe the name of your school will get you a better job…go get it. Your potential employer doesn’t CARE what your small town college life was like, or whether or not you were in an eating club. You may not get to have/select EVERYTHING you want. But, if you can have an Ivy school that doesn’t necessarily “fit” your ideal lifestyle for 4 years…so be it. Deal with it and get that sheepskin anyway. Your resume says IVY and that proves something to them. </p>
<p>When applying for college my neice was told that her “A” at a big public school was not the same as an “A” from an elite private high school. Rightly so. They are NOT the same education. </p>
<p>Luck to ALL applicants, regardless of their personal choices in where to apply.</p>
<p>meghn…YES. Successful, hard working kids DO try for the “best” possible college. But this once industrious country is getting SO lazy it scares me. “Well, I don’t like the dorms at that college”, or “No…the school colors or mascot aren’t my favorite”. People didn’t used to even be able to visit colleges. You got what you considered the most for the least. Whatever was the “best” education for YOUR dollar…that’s where you went! If you wanted rolling hills and suburbia…and you got that at your state college…but you also got into NYU (and could afford it!)…then by golly you went to NYU…and you tough out whatever doesn’t “fit” perfectly…for the sake of your education. We have to take jobs we don’t love, because we MUST earn a living. And it’s unfortunately frequently not a good “fit”.</p>
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Fortunately the US has a plethora of excellent colleges. For that reason, the social aspect can be every bit as important as academics. </p>
<p>Given the tremendous variety among the top colleges, why NOT select colleges that fit? It’s perfectly reasonable to select Vanderbilt over Columbia or Tufts over Dartmouth.</p>
<p>Saying that everyone should go to the “best” college is like trying to encourage everyone to study engineering regardless of interest because it’s the “best” career field. I mean, why study anything else when engineering is lucrative? Just “deal with it,” right? :rolleyes:</p>
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Oh, please. Most people can’t name more than a handful of the Ivies. The majority of people think Stanford, MIT, etc. are Ivies and haven’t even heard of Dartmouth or Brown.</p>
<p>^ Of course it is. But conversely, it’s okay to apply to a lot of Ivies if that’s what the applicant feels suits him/her the most.</p>