Ivy League schools. They’re the cream of the crop. The pedestal of higher education. The dream to which every student aspires.
But what is it, exactly, that makes them so famed? Are they really that much better than other universities?
Why is that they’ve become the end goal for so many aspiring university students. With several great colleges on the West Coast and scattered throughout the country.
Why is it that these eight schools rise above the rest?
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But the answer isn’t a simple one. In fact, there are several ways in which having an Ivy League degree can benefits students later in life.
It’s also the case that the schools themselves boast different features not found in other universities.
Below, we’ve put together a list of the top six reasons that make Ivy League schools stand above their peers.
Keep reading to find out why these schools are considered the best in the world.
The Professors
First and foremost, because of their prestige, these universities attract elite-level professors.
This often has great benefits and unintended drawbacks.
For instance, Ivy League professors often prove to be experts in their fields.
And we’re talking world-class experts. People who are the leading authorities on the subjects they teach.
It’s not easy to imagine how this helps Ivy League students get some of the best education possible.
What many fail to understand, however, is how this actually makes the college experience harder.
But here’s the truth:
Professors who have gotten so good in their field aren’t at the university to teach.
At least not usually.
Instead, they’re looking to use the university’s resources to further their own studies.
This means that they have less time to focus on their students—and more time to dedicate to their own work.
This often makes classes harder, with Ivy League students taking on more difficult subject matter with less hands-on involvement from professors.
To make matters worse, you may even find classes that are taught solely by teaching assistants.
While this is the case at universities across the nation, the rigorous nature of Ivy League universities often necessitates a more thorough education.
For this reason, a good Ivy League professor can make or break a student’s experience.
The good news is that if
This proves just another way in which Ivy League schools bring top-quality resources to their students.
Where this really becomes important, however, is at the graduate level.
Graduate students attending Ivy League schools have the ability to receive direct mentorship from some of academia’s biggest names.
Not only does this provide greater educational insight—an important value in and of itself—but it also opens more doors later.
This means that a graduate’s name will immediately be more respected upon graduation, giving them greater options to explore their ideas.
These ideas will also be given more weight and credibility, as their education will have come from a trusted source.
For this reason, those looking to get a top-quality education tend to shoot for Ivy League schools.
Even those who graduate with a bachelor’s degree form other institutions often find themselves applying to Ivy League graduate programs just for a chance to study under these famous researchers.
Let’s put it this way:
The professors at Ivy League schools are typically those who authored the works undergraduates at other university are reading.
Ivy League students possess the unique ability to study under these leading experts first-hand, granting them a much better educational experience.
And while it’s certainly not the case that professors at other universities are slouches, it’s safe to say that their Ivy League colleagues truly stand out.
The Students
When comparing the differences between Ivy Leagues and other universities, it’s not only the professors who stand out.
Students typically come cut from a different cloth, as well.
This might not come as a surprise to many, as Ivy Leaguers are typically expected to be smarter than the general populace.
But it’s more than intelligence that sets these students apart.
They also tend to be more study-oriented and take their classes more seriously.
And while that’s not to say that Ivy League parties never happens, they’re not to the same scale that you would find at other universities.
This is due in part to the fact that Ivy League schools have particularly-strict academic standards. And not only are students tasked with meeting them, they also face a tougher course load in order to do so.
In other words, Ivy League students typically don’t have the time to waste on frivolous parties.
But even more important, they’re not usually the kind of students who would want to.
Like other campuses, Ivy League students remain relatively diverse—but they differ in a key way.
Because of their nature, Ivy League students tend to be more free-thinkers than students attending other schools.
They’re also more ambitious and look to join a number of organizations that can help enhance their academic careers.
And it should go without saying that they’re not as much into sports.
That’s not to say that these students don’t care about sports. Don’t get us wrong: Ivy League schools have their share of jocks and sports watchers, too.
But it’s also no secret that these schools have underperforming sports teams.
Those looking to win a collegiate national championship, for instance, aren’t going to attend Harvard.
For this reason, students at Ivy Leagues typically have a more academically-oriented focus.
Attending their school’s football game might not be on their radar, and it certainly wouldn’t take precedence over studying.
That can’t be said of schools in other regions—particularly those in the South. Instead, Ivy League universities remain true to a concept of brains over brawn.
More Resources
One of the biggest differences between regular and Ivy League universities, however, is the number of resources they offer.
While several universities across the country boast amazing collections of works, Ivy Leagues typically boast superior resources.
This comes across a variety of disciplines—from the sciences to the arts.
And, again, this proves to be more beneficial for those at the graduate level.
Looking to do a research paper on a particular work?
It’s likely that your Ivy League’s library has a first-edition print.
Want to do some extensive historical research?
Search the university’s records for in-depth and far-reaching original reports.
The truth is that in many respects, most universities can’t compare to the vast resources offered by Ivy League schools.
But in many ways, we can’t hardly blame them.
Ivy Leagues typically receive jaw-dropping endowments that far outshine anything their public-school counterparts get.
Yale, for instance, received a $29.4 billion endowment fund for 2018.
This money is, in turn, pumped into new educational facilities and resources that keep growing the gap between Ivy Leagues and everyone else.
This becomes especially important for graduate students who are looking to further their research.
The extra resources provided by Ivy League universities go a long way in helping foster game-changing research.
Because they have the cash and the resources necessary to cover far-reaching projects, Ivy Leagues tend to encourage better research from their students.
Likewise, students enjoy greater flexibility in the work that they can do and have more tools at their disposal.
Job Opportunities
This all leads to Ivy Leagues offering better opportunities to their students.
Those graduating from Harvard, for instance, have a much better chance of being employed than regular college graduates.
This often proves useful for those graduating in competitive fields.
Lawyers, for instance, have an increasingly difficult time of breaking into the market.
Many find themselves relegated to small firms and assignments that can hardly help cover the cost of such high tuition rates.
Those graduating with a degree from Harvard Law, however, have nearly every door open for them. Even the largest and best of firms will be jumping at the chance to take such young talent under their wings.
Eventually, it’s only a matter of time before these graduates are making sums that those from other universities could only dream of.
This happens, of course, across a variety of fields.
In fact, Ivy League graduates make, on average, close to $30k to $40k more than graduates from all other universities.
These averages include the salaries of graduates from other big-name schools—even those like UCLA and Stanford on the West Coast.
So what does this tell us?
For starters, those looking to get good quality jobs should look first to securing a good education.
And while most people aren’t going to make it into an Ivy League, there’s no harm in trying.
The eventual financial payoff could prove quite rewarding.
The Prestige
Perhaps the most significant difference between Ivy League schools and their competition is the most intangible.
What really separates Ivy Leagues from others is their prestige.
It’s this reputation that allows these schools to attract the best students and professors.
It’s also what let’s future employers know that their graduates are worth hiring.
Consider the following:
You’ve applied to two universities: Harvard and the big public university in your state.
You get a notice in the mail from each university regarding your admission status.
Which one are you more anxious to open?
Which one will make you happier to be selected to?
The answer to that question is pretty obvious for everyone.
That’s because an acceptance to Harvard allows for true bragging rights. There aren’t many who would turn down options to go to this elite-level Ivy League institution.
And while there’s no shame in getting accepted into your state’s school or any other university, let’s be honest: it just can’t compare to making it into an Ivy League.
In fact, we’re conditioned from an early age to respect Ivy League universities in a way that we don’t other schools.
When we think of Yale, for instance, we think of future NASA scientists and Nobel Prize winners.
When we think of the University of Alabama, we think of future NFL players.
And while both are great things to aspire to, there’s a clear-cut difference in our public perception.
They’re Selective
If you’ve ever thought about applying to an Ivy League university, you know just how selective they can be.
It would appear that everyone wants to get admitted into an Ivy League university. With all the benefits we’ve discussed above, who can blame them?
The effect of this, however, is to make Ivy League universities some of the most exclusive in the world.
It appears that every year, the selection window gets narrower, while the pool of potential candidates continues to grow.
These schools feature astronomically-high admission requirements that weed out the best of the best from all students.
Those admitted feature very high SAT and other test scores, unblemished academic records, and typically a history of volunteer work or other extracurricular activities.
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Because here’s the deal: though we typically associate Ivy Leagues mainly with academics, getting admitted requires so much more.
For this reason, if you’re thinking of going to an Ivy League one day, it’s important that you remain as active as possible.
University recruiters enjoy looking at modern-day Renaissance men and women. By excelling in a multitude of areas, you can stand out among the selection pool.
This isn’t something that you can do last minute, however. You’re going to want to have an established track record of excellence to really catch the recruiters’ eyes.
The Price
All these benefits don’t come for nothing.
Ivy League universities have incredibly-high tuition and other fees. This helps generate the revenue required to keep them running as successfully as they do.
The good news is that, if you’re truly qualified, you may qualify for significant financial aid.
Ivy League universities are committed to finding the best talent—regardless if you can afford it or not. This means that you can be all but sure to find some way to afford these schools if admitted.