Is the Ivy League Overrated?

My friend told me that people who go to Ivy League schools have a better life than those who don't. People nowadays are so obsessed with these schools. Also Ivy Leagues are so god damn expensive nowadays. Is it overrated? Is it even worth it? What fo you guys have to say?

 

Is a Ralph Lauren Polo necessarily better than a Walmart brand Polo? Not necessarily, but they are more expensive. People look at the logo and say "that person is dressed nicer, it's Ralph Lauren." Is it more worth it to splurge on a more expensive shirt? Not necessarily. But it can change people's perspective on how they see you as a person.

Same thing with colleges, you pay more for the "logo" to put on your resume and receive similar education. It's up to you if it's worth it or not.

 

I got tough news buddy, most private schools are goddamn expensive. If your a gifted student, they'll give you all the financial aid you need (multi billion dollar endowments have their perks)

For undergraduate, ivies don't have that much of an advantage over other top schools. Most top professors teach graduate students/upper classmen, leaving freshmen with teaching aids and whatnot. However, the connections made at ivy league schools are ridiculous, the student bodies are breeding grounds for future heads of state.



:edit:

getting into top schools is becoming less and less about money. If you're gifted, you'll be lathered with scholarships and financial aid.

 

I feel like Ivy league students tend to be much more stuck up then others. I am not generalizing and saying all of them are, because i know 3 or 4 kids at Princeton and theyre super chill and down to earth, but i also tried going to a Princeton party and they said at the door that it was 'Ivy' only.. Well if they think theyre too good enough to party with non ivy college students thats pretty messed up. I feel like if you can afford it and you can get in to an Ivy league school go for it, it'll undoubtedly open up more doors for you when trying to get a job.

 

You just put it in the best way anyone could. Kudo's my friend

 

It's all about one word: "Community." The Ivy league schools have an awesome community full of people wanting to do more than take classes and graduate. People who go there are collaborating with each other to start companies or begin research projects; no idea is too big. I go to Purdue University, and we have a ton of smart people here, we just need to start collaborating between majors to start some big things (not that Purdue grads haven't done that already!). There was an awesome presentation given by a Microsoft representative a few weeks ago, and he talked about this. That is the only difference between "them" and "us" and I use those words VERY hesitantly.

Example: Electrical Engineer designs a product, a Computer Scientist writes the code for the device, and a Marketing Major sells the product.

Basically, no and yes because we really are taking the same classes.

 

Also

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Need-blind_admission

All the ivies are need blind, there aren't very many financial issues with attending them.

 

The major benefit to going to an Ivy League School is the prestige and immense bragging rights that come with it.
Every college experience is different and depends solely on your interests.
I would never go to an Ivy League School just for the reputation though.

 

Ivy League?

 

Were talking about colleges like Harvard, Yale, Princeton, etc...

 

College is all about networking my friend. Meet people, meet people's families. Develop connections and take a sincere interest in others, it will pay off massively in the long run. I was accepted to Ivy League schools and chose to go elsewhere because where i am now has a better CJ program.

 

I can't agree with this statement more. As a Johns Hopkins (pseudo-Ivy) student, and my sister at Harvard, I have an in-depth knowledge of the community and network opportunities of such high-caliber universities.

These schools are intended to help students build large numbers of professional contacts who have a high probability in succeeding in their respective fields. This is mainly due to the emphasis that the individuals at a certain institution place on learning.

For example, I took a semester of classes at the University of Delaware (a decent state school) and was taken aback by the dramatic drop in the quality of my peers. I believe this is due to the atmosphere at State Universities emphasizing social more than academic growth.

Also, the alumni networks at Harvard, for instance, can land resourceful Harvard students a job in any of the Fortune 500 companies with a few phone calls.

Therefore, I believe that when it comes to Universities, you get what you pay for, and a Harvard Student will have much more than just a piece of paper with a Harvard logo after graduation. It's the intangible benefits that really separate high-caliber Universities from the rest, and the administrations realize this, and price their tuition accordingly.

Thanks for reading,
Mhfan12

 

They really are overrated.

 

Ivy leagues are not much more expensive than you're average university or college tuition.

Probably half the students that attend such schools are legacies or have rich parents with connections.

I would love to attend Harvard, Yale, or Princeton. With a degree from any of those places (and many more) you would never go without a job.

But all in all, they're just your typical college with typical students.. Unless you get into some of the secret societies and start hanging with the big dogs.

My opinion..

I'd still like to attend one though.