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What Are Ivy League Universities and Why Should I Care?

ivy league

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If you’ve seen most movies portraying American college life, you’ll notice that most of them are at a well-known, prestigious university. Animal House, Legally Blonde, A Beautiful Mind, and Good Will Hunting depict the odd parties and individuals that dwell behind the walls of these prestigious universities.

These famous and highly selective colleges are frequently referred to as the “Ivy League,” Their history is quite intriguing and significant in American higher education. If you are considering getting a Master’s degree in the United States, here are some things you should know about these Ivy League schools.

Which American schools are Ivy League universities?

In the United States, Ivy League institutions originated as a collective organisation of eight highly competitive sports colleges, namely:

  • Brown University (Rhode Island)
  • Columbia University (New York)
  • Cornell University (New York)
  • Dartmouth College (New Hampshire)
  • Harvard University (Massachusetts)
  • Princeton University (New Jersey)
  • University of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania)
  • Yale University (Connecticut)

As its athletic teams acquired fame and more financing, student performance and admittance requirements became more arduous and severe.

As a result, these Ivy League institutions and universities have earned a broad reputation for generating graduates with substantial academic achievement, social prominence, and good professional prospects since the 1960s. Even now, these colleges have a strong presence among the top-ranked universities in the United States.

They are supported in this status by Stanford, M.I.T., and Caltech, which are not strictly Ivy League colleges but have a comparable reputation and social standing.

Why should I care about Ivy League universities?

For various reasons, these colleges will likely be the first to catch your interest when you begin your search for undergraduate and graduate degrees.

If you want to lead a large firm, occupy a public position in government, or obtain a competitive advantage in research and innovation, the Ivy League is your best bet.Click To Tweet

They invest much in attracting bright, hardworking, and career-minded students worldwide. Second, it goes without saying that these colleges greatly assist students in their professional pursuits. Ivy League colleges truly dominate a variety of areas, from law and medicine to electrical engineering and business. A degree from one of these colleges will open many possibilities for you in the future.

However, these colleges are also among the most costly in the United States, with tuition ranging between 55,000 and 60,000 USD each year. Fortunately, they also provide excellent financial assistance through scholarships to their top students. Perhaps you are one of them!

3 things to know before you apply to an Ivy League school

  1. The admissions procedure for these top colleges is challenging; you’ll need to meet requirements far higher than those of regular public universities. For example, total admission rates in 2020 were less than 10%.
  2. Remember to thoroughly review the entrance standards, which include test results (SAT, GRE, LSAT, GPA), references, extracurricular activities, and other academic accomplishments. They are significant!
  3. However, keep in mind that there are hundreds of higher education institutions in the United States, and many of them rank well in university rankings while having lower tuition fees. This is why, when looking for institutions, you should look for the best fit for your specific needs.

If you want to lead a large firm, occupy a public position in government, or obtain a competitive advantage in research and innovation, the Ivy League is your best bet.



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