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I know that the US news ranked them all in the top 13, but are they really that good?

im not only talking about education, but all other aspects, like quality of life, and stuff like that.

i heard that in cornell, some classes have like 130 kids in them. If the ivies accept a minority of the applicants, why does stuff like thishappen? You are paying 30k a year for this, and in public schools, you have this many people in a class too.

Is it VERY hard to get an A in your classes? Do the teachers teach very well? or do they expect you to be geniuses because you made it in the school, and so dont teach much and expect you to do a lot of it on your own?

how is the quality of life here?

i dont know what else to ask...

By Interesteddad (Interesteddad) on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 09:43 pm: Edit

The various member schools of the Ivy League athletic conference are VERY different from one another, so it is hard to draw any firm conclusions. For example, it would be hard to find two schools that are more different in setting than the very rural Dartmouth and the very urban Harvard.

Quality of life, academics, and the focus placed on undergrad education vary quite a bit as well, although they are all good solid schools. I think it's fair to say that at least some of the admissions interest in these schools is driven by name-brand recognition more than thorough investigation of a good fit with a particular student.

By Tropicanabanana (Tropicanabanana) on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 11:18 pm: Edit

from what I've experienced in the past few weeks - hell yes. and a lot of it is because of the name recognition.

By Tropicanabanana (Tropicanabanana) on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 11:18 pm: Edit

from what I've experienced in the past few weeks - hell yes. and a lot of it is because of the name recognition.

By Joev (Joev) on Wednesday, October 06, 2004 - 11:26 pm: Edit

Double posts really annoy me!

By Alexandre (Alexandre) on Thursday, October 07, 2004 - 02:34 am: Edit

Neelesh, the Ivy League is a collection of 8 excellent universities. Nothing less, nothing more. They are 8 of the nation's top 25 universities. The USNWR is biased, and that is why they all rank in the top 15. However, don't let that fool you. To people who are in a position to impact your life (employers and graduate school admissions committees), there is no difference between Brown, Chicago, Amherst or Cal-Berkeley. A good student from any of those 4 schools will pretty much have many options and a bad student from any of those 4 schools will probably not have many opportunities.

As far as quality of life, most Ivy league schools have very little to offer. That is why I turned down four Ivy League schools to attend Michigan. I hear that Brown has a good quality of life and that Cornell (I went there for grad school and it was tolerable) and Princeton are not bad either. But other than those three, most Ivy's have glaring weaknesses. Some are too secluded from civilization while others are located in unpleasant areas. They do not have much to offer in terms of school spirit.

If you want to mix great quality of life with awesome academics, do not limit yourself to the Ivy League. Schools like Amherst, Duke, Georgetown, Michigan-Ann Arbor, Northwestern, Pomona, Stanford, UNC-Chapel Hill, UVA to name a few, offer unbeatable educations, awesome post-graduation opportunities and great quality of life.

By Dke (Dke) on Thursday, October 07, 2004 - 07:17 am: Edit

I beg to differ with Alexandre as far as school spirit at the Ivies go.....maybe not at Penn. but Dartmouth and Princeton have quite a bit of school spirit...and they stick together after graduation,too with very tight networking....just look at the annual giving at Dartmouth....grads from at least Dartmouth and Princeton are die hard fans of their alma maters!

By Alexandre (Alexandre) on Thursday, October 07, 2004 - 08:05 am: Edit

Dorothy, are you any relation to Deborah? LOL I love that actress.

Anyway, I think I was unclear. I am sure that Ivy League students are very tight knit and enjoy excellent networking opportunities. I am also sure that they are proud of and loyal to their alma matter.

I was referring to school spirit and campus atmosphere. Dartmouth and Cornell are very secluded. If one does not like the outdoors or getting drunk, there is almost nothing to do on either campus. Yale, Penn and Columbia are located in dodgy areas and they are not well integrated with the towns around them.

Brown is truly pleasantly situated, and Harvard and Princeton are not bad either.

But I feel that schools like Duke, Georgetown, Michigan, Northwestern, Stanford, UNC and UVA are more complete.

By Ohmadre (Ohmadre) on Thursday, October 07, 2004 - 08:49 am: Edit

Neelesh -

"Is it VERY hard to get an A in your classes? Do the teachers teach very well? or do they expect you to be geniuses because you made it in the school, and so dont teach much and expect you to do a lot of it on your own?

how is the quality of life here?"

You might try asking these specific questions on the Ivy board as you are likely to find more current students there who can give you their direct impressions. But, for contrast, you might ask these same questions on the boards for the Top 25 and Top LACs under individual schools to get a fuller perspective.

By Lfill (Lfill) on Thursday, October 07, 2004 - 09:59 am: Edit

Alexandrem are you perhaps biased towards Michigan? My husband went to grad school there, and I have to say I'd take Dartmouth or Cornell over the Detroit area any day! Ann Arbor is cute, but Hanover and Ithica are beautiful! To the OP I say there are very different opinions. My NYC son felt the rural beauty of Dartmouth was just the ticket. His brother wanted beauty but to be near a great city so he chose Princeton. Both schools have incredible spirit as do the other ivys. Ivys also have endowments hard to beat which results in better financial packages and overall resources. There is a reason ivys remain at the top, and it's not just myth.

By Dke (Dke) on Thursday, October 07, 2004 - 10:56 am: Edit

I agree with LFill...the only Michigan (undergrad) friend I have said she felt like one of millions there,didn't rave about Ann Arbor, and sent her daughter to a northeastern LAC where she could get some attention....Alexandre, I'm not related to Deborah Kerr..and I wish she hadn't pronounced her name "CAR" because everyone mispronounces mine now! LOL

By Alexandre (Alexandre) on Thursday, October 07, 2004 - 11:43 am: Edit

Lfill, I am biased but not blind. Ithaca and Hanover are, no offense to anybody, real dumps. I went to Cornell for grad school (picked Michigan over Cornell for undergrad) and visted Hanover enough times to know that they are economically depressed towns in the middle of nowhere. I admit that the areas surrounding Ithaca and Hanover are gorgeous. Like I said, for outdoorsy types, those two schools are awesome. And for people who like to get drunk every weekend, those two schools are perfect. But that's about it.

Ann Arbor on the other hand, is rated one of the top 5 places to live by a number of sources. It is a wealthy town with thirving high tech and biotech industries. The town has the largest stadium in the country, one of the top 5 music halls in the nation and one of the top 10 hospitals in the nation. Detroit, which you so easily dismiss, has the 4th largest art collection in the country, and an international airport with direct flights to Paris, Amsterdam, London, Frankfurt and every city in the US. That airport is 20 miles from Ann Arbor. The relationship between Ann Arbor the the University are very strong.

As for school spirit, you cannot honestly compare the Ivys to Michigan or Duke. Again, I have attended Cornell and Michigan. Cornell is known for its school spirit among Ivy League schools, primarily thanks to its student body and its hockey team. But it does not come close to Michigan or Duke.

As for endowment, Michigan's endowment is equal to Columbia and Penn and greater than Cornell, Brown and Dartmouth. And this year, Michigan increased its endowment by $2.5 Billion, from $3.5 Billion to $6 Billion. Michigan does not have money problems. The reason why it lagged for a long time is because Michigan was a typical state university in the 60s, 70s and 80s. They thought that the state would always take care of them. But they woke up in the 90s. It recently jumped on the "endowment badwagon" but its endowment has increased by 1000% in the last 15 years. Just to give you a common frame of reference, mist Ivy League schools have had a 400% increase in their endowment in the last 15 years. At the current rate, Michigan's endowment will exceed all universities except Harvard by 2010. Michigan does not give as much aid for out of state students because in-state students only pay $8,000/year, but that does not mean Michigan does not have incredible resources availlable to its students.

Dke, there are people who go to Michigan who do not like their experience there. Michigan, like any university, is not for everybody. If a person likes personalized attention, Michigan is not the best place to go...neither are most top research universities, including Harvard, Cornell, Stanford etc... If your friend likes a more tight-knit environment with personalized instruction, clearly, a school like Bowdoin or Oberlin would be much better for her than a school like MIT or Michigan.

Again, I am not questioning the quality of the Ivy League. They are a bunch of excellent universities with great opportunities and happy students. All I am saying is that there are several alternatives that are just as good.

By Garland (Garland) on Thursday, October 07, 2004 - 11:55 am: Edit

Okay, I went to Michigan and I adored it. Ann Arbor is definitely the best town I ever lived in (and I would probably still be there except that it's too far from the ocean.) I got an incredible education with lots of personal attention. Maybe departments vary, but I had a great experience in the English Department and Honors Program.

That being said, Alexandre, I thnk you should re-think your "Columbia is in a dodgy area" comment which is as uninformed as the other poster's comments on UMich/AA. My son was admitted to Michigan and Columbia; it somewhat pained me to see him pass on UM, but I've got nothing but raves for the life he's living at C: the neighborhood is wonderful, the city is phenomenal, the football stadium brimmed with school spirit at the game I attended last weekend (yes, it's not the same as UM, but it was still fun.) The camaderie among the students has been great for my son, and his classes are wonderful.

Both are great schools, as are all the ones discussed here, Ivy or not.

By Monydad (Monydad) on Thursday, October 07, 2004 - 12:38 pm: Edit

The Ivy league is an athletic conference. The members are high-quality schools with top academics. The member schools are all different from each other. Whether any or all of them are "all that good" for any particular person depends on how the preferences and needs of that person stack up with what each school offers. The schools ought to be investigated individually.

There are a number of other schools that are also high-quality schools with top academics, but don't happen to be members of the Ivy league athletic conference. Academically any of these other schools may be a better fit for a particular applicant, on a case-by-case basis. The main difference is that schools in the Ivy League do not offer athletic scholarships.

A side effect of having banding together in an athletic conference is that some of these schools have enhanced their individual name recognition by means of the association. Many people don't just think of each school solely in isolation, but also think of "Ivy League". This does give a reputation bump to some of the schools in the league a bit beyond what they would merit on their own, IMO. But if you attend one school, it's only that one you will be attending, not eight.

By Madelinemay11 (Madelinemay11) on Thursday, October 07, 2004 - 02:07 pm: Edit

I think most people go to an Ivy league school to set themselves apart from the less privileged of the society...they feel that an ivy education will give them a huge boost in life later on. At the upper echelons of society, you find an unusually high number of Ivy grads...which may or may not mean anything.

I don't give credit to this kind of stuff myself, but I see it happen more and more. My uncle is a professor at ucla, and he mentions how the UCs try to recruit from the ivies, mit and stanford. I think it makes more of a difference in academia, but I don't know how its taken in the corporate environment.

By Kk19131 (Kk19131) on Thursday, October 07, 2004 - 03:00 pm: Edit

Forget the Ivy League, come to Northwestern!

By Alexandre (Alexandre) on Thursday, October 07, 2004 - 04:51 pm: Edit

Garland, maybe Columbia has changed. When I visited it 15 years ago and walked around the campus, I noticed that it was about 5 blocks away from pretty dodgy areas and I could not sense any school spirit. I eventually picked Michigan over 4 Ivys, including Columbia. The hardest to turn down was Brown because of how nicely situated it was.

Academically, you are absolutely correct. Columbia is at least as good as Michigan. Awesome school with an awesome reputation.

As far as NYC goes, I was never impressed. Too crowded, too dangerous, too pretentious and completely lacking in humanity. Chicago is my kind of town! hehe

But it really boils down to fit. Some people love NYC. For such people, Columbia cannot be beaten. Like I said, it is an incredible university with an incredible student body and an incredible reputation.

By Slipper2002 (Slipper2002) on Thursday, October 07, 2004 - 07:30 pm: Edit

Alexandre Hanover is not a "dump" In fact it is rather a ritzy place filled with large homes and almost overly snooty establishments. In fact my biggest criticism of Dartmouth is the town is TOO ritzy and upmarket, which prices some things like meals slightly outside the reach of students.

Quality of life is what you make of it. Dartmouth offered an amazing quality of life, to me having a party on a rooftop under the stars and then going swimming in a river afterwards with great friends is a great quality of life experience rarely duplicated. There's something to be said about knowing and respecting most of your classmates. There might not be big football games, but some actually appreciate atmospheres where big time athletics dont run the campus.

By Lfill (Lfill) on Thursday, October 07, 2004 - 07:59 pm: Edit

Alexandre, I take it you're a proud Michigan alum? To put it gently, I don't think Michigan is even in the same league, and I don't mean ivy, as Columbia. It has a great law school and very good business school, but the stats needed to get in for undergrads don't come close to what it takes at Columbia or any other ivy. As for Hanover being a dump, it is on every list of best college towns I've ever seen. It is beautiful and affluent. You've been blinded by the Michigan light!

By Sac (Sac) on Thursday, October 07, 2004 - 08:36 pm: Edit

Alexandre, NYC has, indeed, changed in the last 15 years. The area around Columbia is vibrant and bustling with both faculty and students. And, there are more friendly or, at least, polite people on the streets and in the subway than rude ones. (Like Garland, we just got back from parents weekend there.)

All the Ivies are excellent places. There are many excellent places that are not Ivies. I am always unhappy when someone asks a generic question about the Ivy League because each school within in it is so different. Someone who likes the core curriculum and academic intensity at Columbia should also look at the U of Chicago. Someone who likes the sense of bustle and activism at Columbia should also look at UC Berkeley (my alma mater. which I loved). Someone who likes Dartmouth's setting and community might also consider Williams. Someone who likes Cornell's engineering should look at MIT, Stanford, CalTech, UC Berkeley, etc. I can't imagine that someone who loves Columbia's urban setting would be particularly happy at Princeton, or that someone who loves Brown's lack of requirements would be content at Columbia. The key is to find what are the most important factors to an individual -- locale? a particular department? campus culture? sports teams? cost? opportunities for study abroad? etc etc-- and then to find schools that fit. Someone who finds UC Berkeley a good fit would probably also love U of Michigan. But, I suspect that someone who likes Amherst or Bowdoin, might not.

By Garland (Garland) on Thursday, October 07, 2004 - 09:22 pm: Edit

Sheesh, my two favorite U's are getting dumped on from opposite sides. Lfill: Michigan is a state university, and will never be as selective as an Ivy. That doesn't mean the education is any less spectacular, especially in the Honors program, which has a minimum 1400 SAT cutoff, thus probably averaging the same level students as an Ivy. Certainly I felt very challenged by the remarkable students I attended classes with.

This is getting like those endless University/LAC debates, where everyone has to prop up one side by putting down the other (and my other kid went to a great LAC, so let's not start in on them, now!)

By Interesteddad (Interesteddad) on Thursday, October 07, 2004 - 09:34 pm: Edit

I think the key point here is for an applicant to check out different types of schools: small/med./large, rural/suburban/urban, etc.

Then, start to make lists of things that you like and don't like about particular combinations.

Finally, evaluate schools individually. Does a particular school fit your requirements or not? Why?

Frankly, lumping all the "Ivy League" schools together as if they are clones of each other demonstrates a fairly superficial college search. Beyond the fact that they are all mid-size universites in the Northeast United States with good academics, they share almost nothing in common.

By Lfill (Lfill) on Thursday, October 07, 2004 - 09:38 pm: Edit

I do agree with interstatedad, when I see kids list all eight ivy schools I cringe. If you've done any homework and chosen what's right for you, no more than 3 should be on any list.

Garland, I have taught at several universities. IMHO, what makes a school is but one thing: its student body. When my kids apply to colleges it's my thinking that they are looking for the strongest possible peers. All schools have many very bright students. A few schools have mostly very bright students.

By Garland (Garland) on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 08:51 am: Edit

I agree that the most important thing about a school is its student body. I went to Michigan; I think I know a little about its students. If my son had gone there, in the Honors Program, I think he would have been attending classes with 500 students at the same level as he is finding at his school.

Maybe that's not true at many big universities. Maybe not the ones you taught at. Not at the ones I teach at, either. But at Michigan? No question.

By Cangel (Cangel) on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:22 am: Edit

Right on Sac, one of the most sensible posts I've read here.

By Madelinemay11 (Madelinemay11) on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 12:40 pm: Edit

"Alexandre, NYC has, indeed, changed in the last 15 years. The area around Columbia is vibrant and bustling with both faculty and students."

But, Harlem is still the same ( I just saw it a few months ago). Isn't that just a few blocks away.

By Rtkysg (Rtkysg) on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 01:15 pm: Edit

"Someone who likes Cornell's engineering should look at MIT, Stanford, CalTech, UC Berkeley, etc."

No offense to anybody, but I guess this list comes first before Cornell for engineering aspirants

By Neelesh (Neelesh) on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 08:28 pm: Edit

Thanks for all your replies!

I think i will appy to Cornell, and that will be the only Ivy.

Also, since i will be going out of state (idaho), and my parents cant afford to pay like 30k a year as Cornell charges(hopefully i get good need based if i get in), are there any state schools that give good financial aid? UM-Ann Arbor sounds very good, and i will apply there, but it also costs like 23k out of state, and i heard someone say that they dont give as much financial aid to out of staters...

are there any good schools-not LACs(too small for me) like you guys listed, that give good financial aid?

I am applying to
UCLA
UM-Ann Arbor
University of Pittsburgh
UWash
Rice

any others that have a mix of everything, ranging from quality of life to good academic

By Slipper2002 (Slipper2002) on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 10:16 pm: Edit

Harlem isn't the same actually. Its tremendously improved. 125th street has undergone a resurgence and is a much safer place. Same goes for the entire area.

By Slipper2002 (Slipper2002) on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 10:16 pm: Edit

Harlem isn't the same actually. Its tremendously improved. 125th street has undergone a resurgence and is a much safer place. Same goes for the entire area.

By Slipper2002 (Slipper2002) on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 10:16 pm: Edit

Harlem isn't the same actually. Its tremendously improved. 125th street has undergone a resurgence and is a much safer place. Same goes for the entire area.

By Brownhopeful101 (Brownhopeful101) on Friday, October 08, 2004 - 11:31 pm: Edit

"Harlem isn't the same actually. Its tremendously improved."

What?! Please, don't spread lies like that. Harlem is one of the scariest places I've seen.

"I think i will appy to Cornell, and that will be the only Ivy."

If you're applying to Cornell and Stanford, apply to Princeton as well. It's not as good as the other two, but it's not that bad at science/engineering...plus it's got a great campus.

If you're into arts, then Brown/Darmouth are the best..no Ivy can beat them.

By Par72 (Par72) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 12:18 am: Edit

Schools like Duke and Stanford offer the complete package-academics,school spirit,Division 1 athletics, beautiful environments and best of all warm weather. If one wants small-time athletics, cold weather, a lot of old buildings, and plenty of elitists than the Ivies are a good choice.

By Diceypit (Diceypit) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 12:33 am: Edit

Forget IVY league, Come to Cornell!!!!

By Chatterjoy87 (Chatterjoy87) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 12:55 am: Edit

lol!

Out of curiosity Diceypit, how would you rank the eight ivies? Cornell #8 I take it.

By Testertest (Testertest) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 02:03 am: Edit

Since Cost is about equal in the top schools (expand the number to top 50), pick the schools' with the best recognition and graduate recruiting #'s for jobs and for post BS work.

All the schools will have better strength in certain areas and weaknesses in other. No school is best in everything.

Try high. If you don't succeed in getting admitted, at least you tried. Further the difference between quality of the top schools is negilible.

My S, now 3rd year, is at CarnegieMellon. Doing well. He got a parttime job in his department just by knocking on a few doors. Recruiters are requesting that he setup interviews for summer 2005. Yes, the top schools make a difference and the recruiters know it.

By Ksolo (Ksolo) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 03:36 pm: Edit

Brownhopeful:

You obviously must be an outsider of NY, because as the other poster mentioned, Harlem has definitely improved. Much of it has to do with the NYC's crack down on crime in the last decade. NYC in general has improved greatly and has become so much more safe.

In NYC in general, the cost of living continues to increase. This has forced various professionals to move into Harlem, and has forced some of the poor to move out of Harlem. Even areas like Queensbridge, which was really dominated by minorities, today, it's just not the same. It's still lots of minorities, but others have moved in as well.

Me personally, it's amazing to see how ANY low-income families are able to survive in NYC, because the cost of living far surpasses their annual income. And it's only getting worse.

Anyway, Harlem is not bad, and Columbia is a great school. Practically all students dont have a problem with it. You haven't been around much if you think Harlem is scary!

By Chocoman (Chocoman) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 03:55 pm: Edit

Penn is not in a dodgy area at all. I've lived in Philadelphia for 17 years and I go to a school that is downtown. Of course youre gonna run into bums and all that kind of stuff, but youll find that in any urban environment. Penn is right near practically everything there is to do in its city: no other Ivy can say that.

By Chocoman (Chocoman) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 03:56 pm: Edit

Also, don't give me columbia. you can't walk from columbia to SoHo or Chelsea. But you can walk from Penn to South Street and even Penn's landing.

By Slipper2002 (Slipper2002) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 04:30 pm: Edit

Umm...are you kidding? You must scare easily. 125th used to be a scary place, now they are building a marriot and W hotel on 125th! Magic Johnson theaters, etc. Its safe enough that 116th where columbia is located is absolutely fine.

By Slipper2002 (Slipper2002) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 04:30 pm: Edit

Umm...are you kidding? You must scare easily. 125th used to be a scary place, now they are building a marriot and W hotel on 125th! Magic Johnson theaters, etc. Its safe enough that 116th where columbia is located is absolutely fine.

By Slipper2002 (Slipper2002) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 04:30 pm: Edit

Umm...are you kidding? You must scare easily. 125th used to be a scary place, now they are building a marriot and W hotel on 125th! Magic Johnson theaters, etc. Its safe enough that 116th where columbia is located is absolutely fine.

By Jangel86 (Jangel86) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 05:17 pm: Edit

The Ivies may be good, but they are extremely overrated. And I'm not some bitter reject, I haven't applied anywhere yet. Personally, I'd go to Georgetown over any Ivy though.

By Diceypit (Diceypit) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 07:16 pm: Edit

Cornell #8 •••• no!
I am a cornellian!!!!

Here goes.

HAAAArvard
Yale, Preppy ass princeton
Columbia
Cornell GO Go GO Big red GO,
Yucky Color
Penn State
Dartmouth? Cuz no one has heard of them outside hanover.

By Willywonka (Willywonka) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 08:43 pm: Edit

Pfft. :p

I knew what Dartmouth was when I was little. My parents knew it was an Ivy League school when we talked about it. If we know about it here, then it's well-known, trust me. As far as name recognition goes, I would think Dartmouth has more than the non-HYP schools.

By Kk19131 (Kk19131) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 09:18 pm: Edit

Chocoman: if you think that South Street is the only thing to do in Philly, then you need to get out more, buddy. LOL. By the way, what school do you attend?

By Itsrainingpants (Itsrainingpants) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 09:28 pm: Edit

Yes, the Ivies are as good as everyone says. You're practically assured a lifetime of financial success, a beautiful wife, and nothing less than chateaubriand for dinner every day.

As for philly, University City (the area around Penn) isn't too bad, it's rather comparable to Morningside Heights in NYC, where Columbia is located. Quite a few restaurants,shops,etc. and South Street gets more expensive and less trendy every day.

By Diceypit (Diceypit) on Saturday, October 09, 2004 - 11:15 pm: Edit

Look it was calculated decision on my part, someone had to be placed last. Since Dartmouth is the smallest/least vocal on these boards...

By Chatter04 (Chatter04) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 02:53 pm: Edit

It completely depends on the Ivy and I definitely do not know them ALL well enough. I know that Ivy's tend to attract a higher publicity than other schools, so there are more reknowned professors, lecturers etc... and about Columbia, the neighborhood is not dangerous at all, I'm surprised that nobody mentions how horrible New Haven is, the Yale campus itself is safe, but walk past crown or howe or dixwell, you're in for a rude awakening...also doesn't Harvard have a ridiculously high crime rate???

By Neelesh (Neelesh) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 07:37 pm: Edit

how is the work load at Cornell?

By Physiclas87 (Physiclas87) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 08:32 pm: Edit

How much does name recognition influence have when either getting a job or applying to graduate school?

What's your opinion about which Ivy league school's names are most recognized? Here's my opinion:

Harvard, Yale, Priceton, Columbia, Cornell, Brown, Dartmouth, University of Pennsylvania

By Diceypit (Diceypit) on Sunday, October 10, 2004 - 08:45 pm: Edit

I am a gov major, tests are lecture oriented, so attending lectures + 65% of the req.readings = A. Language is a pain. Engineers + Pre Meds work though. Hotellies say they work hard their first year, but they LIE

As for name recognition. Penn State has way more name recognition then Brown and Dartmouth, I mean hello, JOE PATERNO!!! NITTANY LIONS???? Anyone?

By Elizabeth22 (Elizabeth22) on Monday, October 11, 2004 - 09:37 am: Edit

Alexandre-

How can you call Hanover a dump?! It's one of the most quaint, lovely, little college towns I've ever seen, and was a large part of my decision to apply to Dartmouth early. The buildings and campus of Dartmouth are beautiful, and the town itself is anything but an "economically depressed dump". As for school spirit- I've got Dartmouth school spirit, and I haven't even finished filling out my application!

By Alexandre (Alexandre) on Monday, October 11, 2004 - 10:11 am: Edit

Elizabeth, the fact that you love Dartmouth is great. That is all that matters. Students at Dartmouth are indeed a happy bunch. But Dartmouth is not for all tastes. In fact, most people would hate going there. It takes a particular type to like going to a school like Cornell or Dartmouth. That is all I am saying.

Hanover itself, very much like Ithaca, is a quaint town with a population of 11,000 (I think). What I meant by Hanover is a dump is that there is not much to do and that it is in the middle of nowhere. When I said that Hanover is Economically depressed I did not mean that it is poor (I know Hanover is a relatively wealthy town). I meant that there isn't a thriving, young, professional population. About 70% of the town's working people are employed by Dartmouth.

You obviously made the right decision for you, but like I said, most people would rather be in a more central location, with more things to do. Like you, I too visited Hanover/Dartmouth before applying to college. Unlike you, I did not like the setup and decided not to apply. The only reason I even bothered applying to Cornell is because I had 2 very good friends studying there at the time and because in my home country, Cornell is quite well regarded. But even then, I could not stomach the idea of going to such a remote area.

Ironically, one of Hanover's sister towns is Joigny, in France, which happens to be one of my favorite little villages in the World. Great food can be eaten there, at La Cote Saint-Jacques!!! hehe