Are Ivy Leagues Worth It?

As college application season rolls around, it is important to consider where you see yourself in the future. Whether you want to pursue a four-year university or go through the vocational route, there are plenty of options that can accommodate your personal preferences. This year, approximately 401,750 students applied to the Ivy League institutions, which are some of the top-ranked private universities in the United States. The eight Ivies are usually known for their prestige, competitive nature, and selectivity in the college admissions process. However, it has been debated whether or not the Ivy degree is truly worthwhile in the long run.

Networking with professionals is a valuable skill to keep in handy after graduation. By closely establishing relationships with fellow students, faculty, and alumni, you are able to explore the wide variety of available resources. This could include internships, professional organizations, career advice, and support. It would be a stepping stone to receiving useful recommendations when seeking for job opportunities - something that is essential to your career path development as you navigate the professional world. Furthermore, although the Ivy Leagues are notoriously known for their expensive tuition fees, they offer some of the best financial aid packages in the country. For instance, for those with family income less than $65,000, tuition is free. This varies among each Ivy League, but it’s the general idea of what you can expect in terms of the affordability.

On the other hand, although Ivy Leagues are highly renowned, you can still receive the same quality—or even better —of education at a public, in-state institution. Whether you’re interested in the beautiful campus, academic rigor, or networking opportunities, there’s a chance you could discover the real deal in other locations, too. One alternative is to research “public Ivies,” where there may be acclaimed programs that align with your chosen major. This could potentially ease your financial burden or increase your chances of getting accepted into an equally respected college. Additionally, as many people already know, the Ivy Leagues are incredibly competitive, gravitating towards students with impressive portfolios from all over the world. It directly leads to the phrase “A small fish in a big pond,” which is a metaphor used to describe how it can be difficult to stand out in a pool of exceptional people. To put this into perspective, Columbia University’s acceptance rate swooped to 3.66% from a total of 60,548 applications. With the low acceptance rates each year, it can be challenging to understand what the college admissions officers are looking for in an ideal applicant, because it depends on the school’s values.

Selecting which colleges to put on your application can certainly be a confusing and nerve-wracking process for everyone involved. You should carefully weigh the pros and cons in order to ensure that the time is being spent wisely during this short timeframe. Whatever commitment you decide to make, it should, first and foremost, be a genuine decision of where you see yourself fit. There are a plethora of factors that should be taken into consideration when creating your own list of colleges, but most importantly, do it for your passion, not just the reputable name.

Bibliography:

• https://www.crimsoneducation.org/us/blog/campus-life-more/benefits-of-Ivy-League/

• https://collegerealitycheck.com/pros-cons-ivy-league/

• https://college.harvard.edu/guides/financial-aid-fact-sheet

• https://blog.collegevine.com/is-the-ivy-league-worth-it/

• https://www.businessinsider.com/how-ivy-league-financial-aid-packages-stack-up-2017-3#cornell-university-3

• https://www.shemmassianconsulting.com/blog/ivy-league-acceptance-rates#:~:text=The%20admissions%20statistics%20are%20sobering,the%20time%2C%20a%20record%20low.