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Hmmmm....hope the name can attract the attention of some viewers...

I'm approaching my senior year in high school and I've had a goal, like many of you out there, since early on to attend one of the best universities in the world--you can fill in the gap however you want. Let's go beyond grades, scores, and EC's: why do you guys want to go? Simply because it's the best that's out there? I've asked myself that question SO many times yet I still to this day find I have no definite answer.

What approach are you taking to make the leap and go for it? Any of you bold enough to try early decision? To this point, I've decided that two deferrals would be a crushing blow, even worse a swift rejection.

Let me know your plans, and I'll tell you some of my history, surrounding certain family members that attended Harvard in consecutive years, one who went on to achieve Magna cum Laude with highest honors...

By Barbs (Soccerfrenzy) on Thursday, July 04, 2002 - 02:45 am: Edit

Oh, and let me know if you're attending a public/private high school...believe me, each has great benefits.

By Smiles on Thursday, July 04, 2002 - 03:09 am: Edit

Still just going into my junior year, I do not yet know where I want to attend. Just thought that I'd share my philosophy about applying ED to a dream school: As I see it (just one viewpoint), if you don't give your dream the best shot you possibly can, I think you'll always end up wondering what would have happened if you had done so. I could not agree more with the line in the Sound of Music, "Climb every mountain." Even if you believe that you are not a sure admit--or even if you believe you have a slim shot--I'd recommend going for the school at which you decide you'd be happiest (assuming that you know this with certainty in time for the deadline).

I do plan to apply early decision for the reason that I have discussed above. In addition, if I should be so fortunate as to get into my ED school, I believe the second half of senior year would be a wonderful period of spending lots of time with my friends and family before we part in the fall. Although I don't know what my chances will be, I am going to go for it so that I'll know that I tried, so that (if I should be lucky) I'll have the security of knowing where I'm headed, and so that (again, if I luck out) I can have that glorious freedom for the second half of senior year. Just my two cents... Good luck with whatever you decide to do, Barbs! :-)

By Blade on Monday, September 23, 2002 - 11:38 am: Edit

Please, I've being trying to figure out why is it worth going to an Ivy league university compared to a normal state university. Do you get paid more money or something if you are a graduate? What if there is like a special program or something at the state university, than there is at an Ivy school, where would you choose to go? What if you can't afford to go to the Ivy even if you are accepted.
Please somebody respond before I lose my mind.
And the response, "simply because it looks better does not count as an answer."

By Mark (Mark) on Monday, September 23, 2002 - 04:47 pm: Edit

I think colleges are sort of like cars...most cars, regardless of price, will get you from point A to point B safely and effectively. No one *needs* a luxury car, be it a Jaguar, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, or whatever. But, if you happen to be able to afford one of these cars *and* are a good driver who can take advantage of some of the car's high-end features, why not buy it? The only risk you take is alienating others who can't afford your expensive car.

In the same way, most colleges provide a good foundation for graduate school and/or a career. No one needs to go to Harvard or Yale or M.I.T. to succeed in life. But, if you can afford the tuition at the top schools (or get sufficient financial aid) and are a good student who will take advantage of the curriculum/faculty/resources at an Ivy-caliber school, why not apply? Yes, some people may accuse you of applying for the name, but if that is not your only reason, why should it matter?

By Gurl1114 (Gurl1114) on Monday, September 23, 2002 - 04:53 pm: Edit

i really want to go to columbia and i wanted to know what u think my chances are of getting in. I have a 3.8 average, i havent taken the psat yet but i've taken practice sat's and so far my highest score is only about 1200. i'm also editor in chief of the french magazine, choir (1 year) and i wrote for a lit. magazine. does anyone know if i still have a chance of getting into columbia/cornell? any advice?

By hoopla on Wednesday, November 13, 2002 - 10:46 pm: Edit

I only want to go to Harvard because you just can't study the Manchu or Vietnamese language at a state university. I want to be a scholar, and Harvard's the place to do it...

By 94grad on Thursday, November 14, 2002 - 09:13 am: Edit

You can be a scholar at any number of schools. I do think it's eminently worthwhile to go to a school with a great academic reputation, good profs, and other bright students. But you can find that in many places outside the Ivy League (although hoopla is right, it would be hard to find a school besides a big Ivy that has Vietnamese language classes).

Harvard is actually not "the place" to be a scholar. It has terrible grade inflation. Last year, 91% of Harvard's seniors graduated with honors -- causing other Ivy League schools to sneer at Harvard's grading policies. Based on what I've read, the U of Chicago offers the most intense academic experience for undergrad.

Check out the "Confidence Booster" thread in this forum for more discussion on the merits of going to an Ivy League school vs. a smaller liberal arts college. Personally, I'd *strongly* recommend that you choose a college/university for more reasons than just the name. Pick the school you attend based on the teaching styles/ethos of the profs, the attitudes of the students, the "feel" of the place, and all of the other intangibles that will greatly affect your college experience. Maybe Harvard is the right place for you, but maybe it isn't. Wesleyan Univ, where I went, was a *great* fit for me; I don't think a big Ivy League school would have been as rewarding a place to spend my undergrad. I had a much better college experience than did my best friend, who went to Yale. And one of my HS classmates turned down Princeton to go to Georgetown, because she had really great experiences visiting the latter school.

By 94grad on Thursday, November 14, 2002 - 10:15 am: Edit

Blade,

re: state schools....if you live in a state with one of the "public Ivy" schools (like Michigan or Virginia), you might want to consider going. The quality of the academic programs there are as good as at the Ivy League schools. The major drawback to those schools is that they are huge, so you'll probably have enormous class sizes for the first couple of years, at least. Some do have special programs or seminars that allow you to take at least one small class per term in your freshman and/or sophomore years. My half-sister went to UC Berkeley and was part of a special honors program in the humanities; during her freshman year, she didn't have one class with over 35 people in it. She absolutely loved her time there.

If you go to a "plain jane" state school, you will probably have to work harder to find inspiring faculty, interesting classes, and/or a community of other bright, motivated students to hang out with. Nevertheless, it is certainly possible to flourish and do well after attending a "no name" college or university. I have several friends who went to schools like that, and are doing fine now. One friend graduated in the same year as me from a tiny all-female lib arts college in MS, and is making over $75K a year at age 30 and without a grad degree.

From what I have seen, the major benefit to graduating with an Ivy League degree is in getting a job right after graduation. There are more recruiters visiting the campuses, and more opportunities available for graduating seniors from an Ivy League school (or even a prestigious liberal-arts college) vs. most state schools. I'll never forget the time a friend from Yale forwarded me an email from a classmate of his that casually asked if any of the recipients were interested in becoming a speechwriter for Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison of TX. As time goes on and your career progresses, however, where you went to school generally becomes less and less important. As you get older, your actual work experience and personal qualities become the major factors in determining how successful you are in your chosen career(s).

If you know that you want to go to grad school, consider doing your undergrad degree at a liberal-arts college/small university with a good reputation. I'm talking about places like Swarthmore, Haverford, Davidson, Rice, or Bates -- not necessarily names that people on the street know, but that are quite well-respected in the academic community. Some Ivy League grad schools actually prefer applicants with degrees from liberal arts colleges or other smaller schools over people who did their bachelor's at Ivy League schools, claiming that lib arts college grads tend to be better prepared in doing independent work and research. And the place you get your grad degree from matters more to employers than where you got your undergrad degree from. So even if you don't get your undergrad degree from an Ivy League or other prestigious school, you still have a shot at getting your grad degree from one of them.

By Jessica Smith on Thursday, November 28, 2002 - 05:20 pm: Edit

Hi, I scored a 1450 on the SAT my junior year (720 V 730 M), and I recently scored a 34 composite on the ACT. I have a 4.0 grade average. I applied early decision to Brown University and I was wondering what you think my chances would be? I didn't apply to an Ivy League school just because it was "Ivy League." I thought it sounded like a place that would be a good fit for me, and it offers some majors that I am interested in that I can't find at other schools. Any input would be great thanks.

By college crazy on Friday, November 29, 2002 - 05:49 pm: Edit

Jessica, those are great scores, congrats! However, a bunch of people applying to Brown have comparable scores, so people on the board probably won't be able to give you much input without knowing other factors.

By jows on Wednesday, December 11, 2002 - 09:24 pm: Edit

I just received a likely letter from Harvard three days ago. I play soccer, and I am soo happy to be done with all this stuff. Plus, my stats werent to incredible either. 3.3 GPA and 1210 SAT Score, And people with 1600s get rejected. Go figure!

By deb on Thursday, December 12, 2002 - 10:57 pm: Edit

jows - what do you mean a "likely letter"? what's your hook?