Why are there ivy league schools

For over years, Harvard continued to rank students by social status. The elite nature of the Ivy League continued into the 20th century.

Ivy League graduates have historically gone on to hold top spots in government and politics. A total of 15 U. Fifteen U. It's no surprise that Ivy League schools consistently appear among the top 10 colleges in U. An Ivy League education pays off for many students as well. Thanks to a track record of success in higher education, many perceive an Ivy League education as a guarantee for success in the workforce.

A recent survey found that nearly 1 in 3 hiring managers prefers to only hire candidates who attended an elite university. The Ivy League may represent only a small segment of higher education, yet it often receives an outsized amount of attention. In , less than 0. Today, the eight Ivy League colleges enroll around 68, undergraduates out of 17 million total undergraduates in the country. Most students choose public schools over private institutions. Additionally, the Ivy League schools are not the most selective institutions out there.

In , Stanford ranked No. Today, the eight Ivy League colleges enroll around 68, undergraduates, or 0. In , Forbes investigated the notion that elite schools produce the "leaders of tomorrow. The recent "Varsity Blues" admissions scandal reveals the lengths to which wealthy parents will often go to secure a spot for their child at an elite university.

More broadly, the college admissions process shows the many loopholes exploited by privileged families who can afford large donations or private coaching in polo or sailing to earn a few extra points during a holistic admissions review. Virtual Tour. Transfer Credits. English Proficiency. How to Apply. Prepare for University. Foundation Courses. First Courses Prep. The American Education System. University Documents. Essential Documents. UoPeople Policies. Ask a Student. What is Tuition-Free?

Our Scholarships. About UoPeople. In Brief. Fact Sheet. President's Council. Board of Trustees. Our Academic Team. Academic Partners. UN Partners. Corporate Partners. Foundation Partners. Worldwide Recognition. UoPeople in the Media. Contact Us. Brown University Brown University is a research university located in Providence, Rhode Island and is known for its rigorous and flexible open curriculum which allows students to choose a personalized course of study. Cornell University Cornell University is located in Ithaca, New York, and has a large enrollment of over 15, undergraduate students.

All carry a certain reputation with them, and each school has programs that excel primarily in the medical and law fields, making them some of the most sought-after schools in the world. Their admissions process is very selective, which helps the schools ensure that they only accept the best and brightest.

Many famous people have graduated from Ivy League schools, including recent presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama. This prestige leads many to believe that these colleges are only for the wealthy and elite.

Often, companies look for Ivy League graduates as potential employees, usually preferred by law firms, medical facilities, and large corporations. It has long been coveted to have earned a degree from an Ivy League school.

Today, there are other competitors that some claim to be just as good as their Ivy counterparts. To get into these schools, you should have great test scores and grades plus other impressive and unique accomplishments that will distinguish your application. This could be anything from winning a national science fair competition to starting your own business to writing a novel.

Read this article to learn more about how to get into the most ridiculously selective schools. If most other applicants are the little pink flowers, you need to be the big pink tree.

Or better yet, be the mountain. OK, so you think you probably have a chance of acceptance. Should you just apply to Princeton because the name sounds like some sort of magical kingdom of learning? Definitely not! Even though all the Ivy League colleges have great academics and highly motivated student bodies, some will fit your preferences better than others.

You might decide that none of them are the right fit for you even though you have the appropriate qualifications. You could be more interested in applying to colleges located in a different area of the country. There are some great schools on the west coast that are at the same level as the Ivies think Stanford without the nasty winter weather. If you're interested in very small or very large colleges, you might not want to go to an Ivy League school.

The smallest, Dartmouth, has between 4,, undergraduates, and the largest, Cornell, has between 14,,, so all of these schools are more in the middle range for size. If possible, you should visit the campuses of schools that interest you, so you can get a feel for what they're like. When I was looking at colleges, I considered applying to Princeton, but when I went on a campus tour, I decided that it seemed like too intense of a place for me.

I ended up choosing Dartmouth because I felt like it had a more comfortable atmosphere with a close-knit community and a campus that encouraged outdoor activities.

These are just some of the factors you could consider depending on what's most important to you. Other concerns might include financial aid, research opportunities and facilities, quality of undergraduate teaching, study abroad options, and more. Don't apply to an Ivy just because you've heard of the school before. Check out my guide on how to do college research for more detailed information!

Plus, you'll get some practice for doing research in college! Fake fun fact: Ivy League libraries provide hideous complimentary glasses to all students to prevent them from flirting with each other while studying.

I think this idea is important enough to be its own point even though it ties into doing your research. Most of us have it drilled into our heads from a relatively young age that going to an Ivy League university is the best way to prove once and for all that you're a card-carrying smart person even as I'm joking, I'm also cringing.

It's so hard not to be influenced by this societal norm, especially if your parents, teachers, and even peers are pushing you to go to one of these schools. I know I was influenced by it, and I sometimes wish I had made a different decision that was more firmly based on my personality and interests rather than what others expected of me.

Remember that going to an Ivy League university isn't something that you have to do just because you can. If you genuinely love one of these schools, then go for it, but if there's another college that fits your needs better, you shouldn't feel pressured to go to an Ivy instead. There are plenty of great colleges out there, and you should take the time to think about what you really want before you make a choice.

This will be your life for four years, so make sure you get to enjoy it! Crimson is a terrible color.