<p>After reading a depressingly long list of the over-qualified candidates and just stellar people in general being rejected and deffered in 2004, I was forced to step back and ask "What kind of stuff are these schools looking for?".
After reflecting on the obvious: good grades, shining EC's, etc, I began to wonder, 'Why am I applying to Yale?'. Although I like to think that it's because of the residential colleges, liberal arts feel, opportunities, etc, I must be frank with myself and admit that it's mainly for the name "Yale". I am sure that I am not alone on this idea, and that almost everyone else here feels the same way. Then we must ask ourselves why do we put so much value on such a name? Is it for our own ego? Is it to impress others? Do the Ivies even have anything that other private schools don't, albeit the reputation?
Anyone else have any similar thoughts?</p>
<p>I think the true value of an Ivy-league education is the interaction with your peers. If you focus on examples in the past of how you have both learned from and shared knowledge with peers, this would be both honest and appealing.</p>
<p>Even though it's not the popular opinion, I think it's because of the name Yale. Jobs, Grad Schools, and people in general will look at your differently if you come out of an Ivy or some other top notch school. Even if you were at the bottom of your class, you still graduated from Harvard. If you knew nothing about two people, and one graduated from princeton and the other from some top state school, you would assume that the princeton grad is smarter and more capable. (When I say you, i mean people in general.) It might not be the truth, but, at least in the back of their mind, people will think that. Even if you are rejected from an Ivy, you still have a great shot at becoming sucessful from a state school. All you miss out on is the immediate recognition of success. You'll have to prove yourself in some other way. If you get in great, if not then oh well-your not missing anything academically speaking. You are, however, missing out on the ivy experience.</p>
<p>Concerning the first part of the OP's post:</p>
<p>Keep in mind that those people don't post their ECs at all! They really can make or break an application. Plus, the posters' perceptions of their own essays might be just a tad bit subjective, no? And most of them didn't really know what their recs said and whether they convinced the adcoms.</p>
<p>Concerning the second part:</p>
<p>I totally agree that the reason I lean towards top-tier schools is because of the people I'd be surrounded by. Honestly, I'm attracted to intelligent people. One of my very good friends is like the complete opposite of me in every way and we debate our views all the time, but I enjoy it because he knows what he's talking about. On the other hand, there's another person who is also the complete opposite of me and I can't stand her because she's full of ****. Last fall I asked her why she supported the Electoral College and she said "because it helped Bush win over Gore in 2000". I doubt there would be many of those types of people at Yale.</p>
<p>My best friend just got a 2360 on the SAT without studying. I got 170 points below him. He's probably the most naturally intelligent person I know (not just because of the SAT, mind you) and I truly enjoy talking about everything from politics to homework to what pompous *******s movie critics can be. We challenge each other with mutual amity and we appreciate it.</p>
<p>The prospect of being around those kinds of people sincerely excites me. However, I recognize that Ivies aren't everything, which is why I'm also very interested in schools like MIT and Chicago. But then there's the endeavor of choosing one school, which, for most of us on this board, is Yale. We all have our own reasons, but I really do feel like one of the most universal ones - though it may not be everyone's most important - is the caliber of the peers you would find at such an institution.</p>
<p>Why Ivy?</p>
<p>Because all other schools suck, duh</p>
<p>"'If a guy buys a Mercedes-Benz, people don't go up to him and say "Why'd you buy the Mercedes? Why don't you buy a hyundai?" because the answer is obvious. The Mercedes-Benz is a kick ass vehicle. Likewise Harvard is a kick ass university."
-eyezonharvard</p>
<p>well the hyundai is more gas efficient, but clearly the benz looks cooler... there's my answer*</p>
<p>Why Ivy? I'm only interested in Ivy League schools for the name. And the prestige. This will totally be the achievement and crowning glory of my life. I don't even know anything about Yale! All I know is that everyone totally knows so much about it, which totally turns me on. My whole cheer squad knew, and they totally flipped when I said I was applying. Who knows? I might just marry a senator!!!!!!!!! </p>
<p>ha ha ha.</p>
<p>lmao film</p>
<p>so very true.. I bet there are quite a few kids who know absolutely nothing about Yale but are still applying.. (same with other ivys)</p>
<p>I know nothing about Cornell but I'm still applying RD... (oh I'm applying to all the other ivys also.. but I know my fair share on each)</p>
<p>PeaCe</p>