What Are The Ivy League Schools Should You Go To One
When we hear the phrase “Ivy League,” most of us probably think of rich people who tie sweaters around their necks. Believe it or not, there’s a lot more to it than that. The Ivy League is a group of elite colleges that have a long history of impressive achievements and notable alumni. But how did this come about? And what are these schools really like? Read on to learn more about the formation of the Ivy League, its member schools, and whether you should consider applying.
History Of The Ivy League Schools
While the term âIvy Leagueâ wasnât coined until 1954, when the NCAA Division I athletic conference began, seven of the eight schools existed before George Washingtonâs presidency. Each school in the Ivy League agreed not to offer athletic scholarships, so students competing in this league would need to be scholars and athletes.
For centuries , the schools that made up the Ivy League were almost exclusively white, male, and wealthy. While some of the student body is still considered privileged, the schools now enroll a diverse group of students.
Applying For Financial Aid At Ivy League Schools
In order to qualify for financial aid at an Ivy League school, you need to be admitted to the college and also apply for financial aid.
The good news is that all of the Ivy League schools are need-blind for students from the United States. Harvard, Yale, and Princeton are even need-blind for international students. Need blind admissions means that the ability to pay is not a factor in the admissions process. Nonetheless, students will need very strong credentials to be admitted to an Ivy League school because admission is extremely competitive.
This need-based financial aid includes grants that dont need to be repaid, work study, and in some cases, federal student loans. In the case of some Ivy League schools, like Harvard and Princeton, students wont be packaged with any student loans so you can graduate debt-free.
In order to qualify for any need-based financial aid, you will also need to submit the FAFSA and for some colleges, the CSS profile.
If you are interested in an estimated financial aid package, you can use the Net Price Calculator.
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Can You Get A Full Scholarship To Harvard
Harvard does not offer any merit-based aid, and no full-ride scholarships. However, they do meet 100% of students demonstrated financial need. So, if you have high need, such as an auto-zero EFC on the FAFSA, you might qualify for almost a full ride. They will typically require that students make some contribution, oftentimes through loans, but if your need is high enough, this will be a drop in the bucket compared to the aid package they gave you.
You can also oftentimes supplement your need-based aid with an external scholarship. If you managed to get into Harvard, you are probably a shoe-in for many scholarships! Its just a matter of going out and finding them. Check out our free scholarship search tool as a first step to finding some.
Ivy League Acceptance Rate And Admissions
Gaining admission to an Ivy League school isn’t easy. In 2020, five Ivy League schools admitted less than 7% of applicants. Harvard the most selective Ivy League school admitted just 4.9% of its more than 40,000 applicants for the class of 2024.
The cost of an Ivy League education exceeds $50,000 in tuition and fees at every school. Harvard, which charges around $52,000 per year, represents the most affordable option, while Columbia’s tuition and fees stand at nearly $62,000 per year.
Fortunately, the Ivies provide extensive financial aid packages to students, mainly thanks to their large endowments. At Brown, Columbia, and Cornell, students whose families make under $60,000 a year receive free tuition.
Despite being incredibly expensive, Ivy League schools offer some of the most generous financial aid packages to undergraduates.
The same applies at Harvard and Yale for family incomes below $65,000 and $75,000, respectively, and at Dartmouth for family incomes below $100,000. Princeton offers free tuition to anyone with a family income of less than $160,000 per year.
As a result of financial aid packages, few Ivy League students pay the full listed price for tuition and fees. At Yale, for instance, the average scholarship in 2018 was $52,800.
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Princeton University Has A Longstanding Commitment To Service Reflected In Princetons Informal Motto Princeton In The Nations Service And The Service Of Humanity And Exemplified By The Extraordinary Contributions That Princetonians Make To Society
– Christopher L. Eisgruber, President of Princeton University, Class of 1983
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| 4.4% | 12% |
Founded in 1701, the university was not named Yale until 1718, when merchant Elihu Yale donated 417 books, cloth goods worth 562 pounds, and a portrait of King George to the New Haven college.
Yale is a research university and liberal arts college that accepts students they believe will make the most of their resources and someone who will contribute most significantly to the Yale community. They look for students who have the desire and ability to stretch their limits.
A Day In The Life: Yale Student
Our Application Advice
Pursue what you love and tell them about that. Be yourself. Ask the teachers who know you best to write you a letter of recommendation. Apply and relax.
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Apply To Early Action/early Decision Programs
It is easy to say plan ahead, but there is a lot of advantage in knowing what school and program you would like to attend in the future. If you are certain about which school you want to enroll in, it might be wise to apply through the Early Action/Early Decision program. This way, your deadline for application is earlier, but so is your response date. To utilize this opportunity, you must research your school of choice and determine whether you are a good fit for the program to which youre applying. Early Action programs give you an early answer as to where you stand in the admissions process. According to most recent data, Cornells acceptance rates for their early decision program is 22.7%! UPenns early decision program admitted 18% of early applicants! Other Ivy League members show similar trends.
The catch is that early decision programs restrict your applications to other universities, i.e. youre allowed to apply through the early decision program to one school only. Early decision applicants are contractually bound to attend the school if offered admission. This is to ensure that you make a commitment to a first-choice school and if admitted, you will definitely enroll and withdraw all your other applications that you submitted.
Apply early! Cornell’s acceptance rate in the Early Decision program is 22.7%!!!
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Whats The Easiest Ivy League School To Get Into
While all Ivy League schools have a low acceptance rate, Cornell University has the highest acceptance rate among them. Cornellâs acceptance rate is 11%, but try not to get too hung up on the numbers. You should apply to whichever Ivy League schools would be the best fit for you, not just which one you have the best chance to attend.
Brown University: Providence Rhode Island
Brown University has recognition for being the most liberal among the ivy colleges list. The most incredible difference between this university is that it enables its students to design a personalized course of study.
Founded: 1764
QS World University Ranking 2021: 60
Student to Faculty Ratio: 6 to 1
Acceptance Rate: 9%
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Why Is It Called Ivy League
The first question that pops up when someone hears about the Ivy League institutions is Why is it called Ivy League?
In order to understand what Ivy League means, we need to delve into a bit of its history:
Graduating seniors at the University of Pennsylvania observed the Ivy Day during spring. They planted an Ivy plant on this day and this custom was already being followed in Brown University, Harvard University, Yale University etc. The term Ivy is attributed to this tradition.
It was Stanley Woodward, a sportswriter who first used the term ivy schools in a 1933 article. The first known instance of the term Ivy League appeared in The Christian Science Monitor on February 7, 1935. Several sportswriters and other journalists used the term shortly later. They used the term to refer to the older colleges along with the northeastern seaboard of the United States, chiefly the nine institutions with origins dating from the colonial era, together with the United States Military Academy , the United States Naval Academy, and a few others.
Although some of the institutions existed way before the use of the term Ivy, the official Ivy League was established in 1954 at an NCAAathletic conference.These schools were known for their long-standing traditions in intercollegiate athletics, often being the first schools to participate in such activities.
How Much Do My Grades Matter To Ivy League Schools
The short answer is that your grades are a crucial part of your application. Consider that among all Ivy League schools in 2019, âthe average share of freshmen who ranked in the top 10% of their high school class was nearly 92%.â
Based on this information, your grades certainly may not be everything, but higher grades will always work in your favor to give you a better chance of acceptance.
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Get Your Chances Of Admission To Ivy League Colleges & Universities
One of the top, most selective group of colleges and universities are the Ivy League schools, which include: Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Pennsylvania, Princeton and Yale. In 2001, Go4Ivy developed a separate algorithm for each Ivy Leaguecollege and university which predicts studentschances of being accepted by each school. These algorithms are continually updated and revised as the schools change their admission criteria and their approaches. Over the last 15 years our predictions have been over 90% correct . Go4Ivy refunds the fee for any school for which its prediction turns out to be incorrect. We are proud to have an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
While each Ivy has high academic standards and strict requirements for admission, they are significantly different from each other in their admission criteria, focus, location, number of undergraduates, campus setting and in many other ways. Go4Ivy has gathered below key data for each Ivy, which gives the flavor of each school and provides convenient links to each schools website for any additional information.
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Arsema Aklog, a San Diego High School senior, will be attending Harvard University in the fall.
Arsema has great reverence for her Ethiopian heritage and community, teaching herself to transcribe the Amharic language to help the elders in the local community understand what was happening during the pandemic, Burgos said.
Victoria Ruiz, who is valedictorian and a varsity athlete in both swimming and water polo at Montgomery High School, will be studying science, technology, engineering, and mathematics at Dartmouth College. She is the first QuestBridge College Match recipient at her school, Burgos said. Victoria is a Mexican immigrant raised by a single parent, and she has recently helped to establish a First Gen Club at Montgomery, which started with more than 30 students.
Zi Nava Chen, a student at San Diego High School, will be attending Brown University, and was also awarded an opportunity to study abroad this summer in Spain.
Zis father is Chicano and his mother is Chinese, and he speaks fluent Spanish, Burgos said. Growing up with food insecurity, it was important for Zi to volunteer weekly at a food distribution center. He also tutors students in Spanish.
For students in the Class of 2023, applications are now open through June 4.
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What Are The Ivy League Schools Like
Lush, sprawling campuses, rosters of reputed alumni, huge libraries and celebrated athletic teams are just a few things that separate the Ivy League schools from the rest. But what is special about each of the individual colleges? Moreover, what are the ranking, tuition fee and application deadline for these colleges? Lets have a look.
What Do Ivy League Schools Look For In Applicants
Although you should always strive to be authentic, knowing what admissions committees are looking for in applicants can help you put your best forward in the admissions process.
For example, evidence suggests that student-athletes have a better chance of making it into the Ivy League than non-athletes. However, if youâre not a star athlete, donât fret there are many other ways that you can leave the admissions committee with a lasting impression.
First, consider that admissions committees are looking for individuals dedicated to academic excellence. Strong test scores and a high GPA can undoubtedly help bolster your application and show that you can handle the rigor of a top-ranked college curriculum.
Ivy League schools look for applicants who are kind, passionate, and have contributed to their community. These contributions can be anything from taking up a leadership role in a school club, to continuously helping babysit your neighborâs children, to volunteering your time to causes you care about deeply.
If you can demonstrate that youâre willing to engage and participate in the schoolâs culture through clubs, events, or anything else, youâll surely make a great impression in your application.
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Do Ivy League Schools Give Merit Scholarships
No, the Ivy League as a group does not award merit, talent, or athletic scholarships to prospective students. Instead, Ivy League colleges offer some of the strongest need-based financial aid programs in the world.
For instance, all of the Ivy League schools are committed to meeting 100% of demonstrated need for prospective students. Some of the institutions, such as Columbia, Harvard, and Princeton, do not award loans as part of their financial aid packages. All of their aid packages are composed of need-based grants that do not need to be repaid.
Remember, there are a number of other top colleges and university that do award merit-based scholarships. As with other colleges, students will need to submit the FAFSA to qualify for need-based financial aid.
What Is The Easiest Ivy League School To Get Into
Based on the information provided above, you probably noticed that Cornell University has the highest acceptance rates out of all the Ivy League schools and can therefore be classified as the easiest Ivy league school to get into. While admissions rates can give you an idea of how easy it is to get into a school, they are not the only indicator of your admissions chances. For example, notice that only 25% of Cornells matriculants were in the top 10% of their graduating class, compared with Yales 92% or Columbias 95%. Keep in mind that Cornells standardized test scores are on par with other Ivy League schools. So, can statistics tell the whole story?
Standardized tests are also important, since they provide an overview of what the student has learned over the years. According to the NACAC, test scores are less vital than academic performance, but they are still a big factor in decision making. Other important factors include essay and writing samples, teacher and counselor recommendations, the students interests and extracurriculars. Before you write your essay, make sure to read personal statement for college examples to get ideas for your own applications.
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What Is The Easiest Ivy League To Get Into
Cornell University is typically the easiest Ivy League to get into, with a 10% admissions rate in 2021. That being said, a lot of it comes down to whoever is reviewing your application. A student rejected by Cornell might get into Columbia or Harvard if their essays and records stood out to a specific admissions officer.
Princeton University: Princeton New Jersey
Princeton University is one of the most aged Ivy League Universities in the USA. Thus, Princeton University has worldwide recognition worldwide for its academic resources. Resources like state-of-the-art laboratories, libraries, and an on-campus art museum. Although Princeton offers courses in many areas, it does not have schools of law, medicine, education, and business.
Founded: 1746
QS World University Ranking 2021: 12
Student to Faculty Ratio: 5 to 1
Acceptance Rate: 7%
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Are Other Top National Universities As Prestigious As The Ivies
Yes, they certainly can be. Many other top-ranked schools are not a part of the Ivy League, including MIT, Stanford, and the University of Chicago. The Ivy League originally started as a collegiate athletic conference, and while they have excellent reputations, there are many other great schools you can attend outside of them.
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– University of Pennsylvania Admissions
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Founded in 1746, Princeton is the fourth-oldest college in the United States. Originally located in Elizabeth, then Newark, the college moved to Princeton in 1756 and was housed in its famous Nassau Hall.
Princeton dedicates itself to undergraduate education. They boast a hefty financial aid program and ensure all accepted students, regardless of financial ability, can attend and graduate with little or no debt.
Princeton seeks out talented individuals with a broad spectrum of cultural, ethnic, and economic backgrounds. Collaboration is encouraged, and Princeton expects students to do original, creative research. Princeton believes experiences can be as essential as education. They encourage getting involved outside the classroom, leading lives of service, and pursuing personal interests, activities, and friendships.
A Day in the Life: Princeton Student
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Princeton wants to know more than your test scores and grades. They want to hear your story and learn about you. Tell them how you will use the opportunities at Princeton to contribute to their community and how Princeton will help you change the world. Donât forget to write in a way that reflects your voice.
Check out our complete guide on how to get into Princeton for more!
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