why an obsession with ivy league? - Page 4

[UUMom]

Originally Posted by Rico'sAlice

Interesting. The people I associate with always thought of Darmouth as the "party" Ivy, atleast in terms of drinking. And AFTER getting in, Harvard was supposed to be the "easiest" Ivy for undergrad. Brown was always more associated with academic freedom, activism, and lefty-politics. And I better not say anything about how we viewed Cornell... It is funny how different schools get different reputations among various groups of people.

I didn't want to say above, but now I will. Some of the biggest drunks I know got their start at Yale.

One of my best friends went to Cornell...she's cool. But well, let's just say there's not much to when the cold sets in.

[phatchristy]

I was 15 years old, making decisions on where to go to college (I was a freshman at 16) and honestly my parents would have freaked out had I decided to attend an ivy league accross the country not knowing anyone!

Another factor--scholarships vs. insane amounts of student loans. My parents had put three kids though school and grad school before me...they deserved a break. And, the school I chose (Michigan) is among the best of any state universities. It's really hard to pass up, especially with financial incentives (and great athletics). I wound up there, and from the first day I stepped on campus I felt home.

I also may just admit as well, it didn't hurt that I also had the serious hots for a young man who was also attending Michigan : . Who I later married : .

My experience at Michigan was one factor in my transformation from a sheltered, conservative, and religious teenager to the free-thinking, liberal and spiritual woman that I am today.

I just hope that my kiddos have that same experience at whatever university they choose to attend. I want them to be true to themselves and aim to achieve what they think is important during their lives. And, above all...to be happy! I think happiness is highly underrated...

[rose angel]

Originally Posted by jkpmomtoboys

I think this is probably dependent on your geography. I noticed you live in MA. Here in the Bay Area, the Ivies (yes, including Harvard) don't mean a whole lot to people. There are schools that do, but they're not the Ivy Leagues...

So maybe going to an Ivy League school can be considered important in the Northeast, but I would wager that's about it...

:
I am a California native, and would venture to guess that most people here couldn't even name all the Ivy League schools, except Harvard and Yale. It is just not that big of a deal here.

[Trillian]

Originally Posted by Qestia

I actually think any large research university is the wrong place to go for an undergraduate education. People have mentioned that the best professors may not be the best teachers--I haven't seen anyone mention that classes at large universities--including those Ivies--are by and large not taught by professors, but by grad fellows.

It depends on the place. I didn't go to an Ivy League college, but I did go to MIT. All of my lectures and most of my recitation sections were taught by full professors. It was an amazing experience. Not to say that all the hot-shot researchers were good teachers, but neither are all grad students.

[Rico'sAlice]

Originally Posted by Trillian

It depends on the place.... All of my lectures and most of my recitation sections were taught by full professors.

: Except I was at Brown.

[mtiger]

Same thing at Columbia.

[UUMom]

Originally Posted by rose angel

:
I am a California native, and would venture to guess that most people here couldn't even name all the Ivy League schools, except Harvard and Yale. It is just not that big of a deal here.

ETA-- LOL I am a dork. I thought you wrote that nobody in CA would get accepted to these schools. Man I need to read slower. lol Anway-- I'll leave my wrong repsonse, since someone might be interested. lol

Diversity of geography is a very Big Thing at Harvard... and all the ivies. I kid you not. They have been turning away the east coast prep school kids in quite the large droves these past few years.

It's def a different world.

That said, there are plenty of other schools out there to choose from. However, never discourage a child from applying anywhere based on money or geography. You just never know.

[miasmommy]

I do think there are some certain benefits ( name recognition, networking etc.) to an Ivy League education but I am totally for my DD attending the school that's right for her.


I am open to whatever school is the best fit for my daughter.

[loraxc]

If I had to make the decision today, I would go to Oberlin, because nice people graduate from there, and they get a good education too!

Why, thank you! (I'm an Oberlin graduate. And I thought my undergrad ROCKED.)

[Ilaria]

I would be happy if my children were to attend an Ivy League school, but it's not imperative...and not just ANY Ivy! My dh went to Cornell for his MBA and I taught there. We LOVED Ithaca, and since it's one of the crunchiest town in the US, I wouldn't mind following my kids back there either!

I do think the 'quality' of the students is 'higher' than other schools. It was certainly very different when I started teaching at ASU (Az State Uni)...but I loved it there too!

As for job prospects, it was great for my dh. Before he even finished his MBA he had a ton of job offers (I'm thinking around a dozen) with a starting salary higher than for others who went second tier schools, and when he accepted a job, he started at a higher 'grade' because his MBA was from Cornell. His choice of school has made a tremendous difference in our lives.

Ultimately, I want my children to be happy, and I hope they go to a college we both like.

[mama40]

Ten years ago I'd have said no, wouldn't want a kid of mine to go to an Ivy. After all I'd turned down a Seven Sisters school (Wellesley) and taken faculty-kid free tuition at a second-tier engineering school, and it hadn't hurt me. But as I listen to grad-admissions committee faculty talk, it sounds as if the name business is getting much more important at the BA level, at least in humanities. I don't like it, but if it's true, is what is.

What others have said about club-for-life is true. I didn't pick my MFA program because of the name fanciness, but it's opened many doors for me since, as has a passing association with the London School of Economics. Actually I still don't regret turning down Wellesley but I do regret not having done a degree at LSE. Even though I was violently & pinkly opposed at the time. If you're headed for academia, it's no secret that you want top schools on the CV. There's an open hiring bias.

I don't know that I'd get into my MFA program now, btw. The head then was an old guy who didn't care where you were from, and my work's not fashionable. I think the current head is more status- and moment-aware, and takes it all more seriously. And in general things in the field have become more formal.

[RedWine]

Originally Posted by teachma

Except that the system is not equally available to everyone. .

I can only speak to how it was for me, entering grad school at Harvard in 2001.

I did my undergrad at Hunter College in NYC. That's a "nothing" college, definitely not one that will automatically open doors for you.

I got in because I had the good grades, good scores, etc. -- but I also made a point of reading the professors' work and making appointments to go up to meet them, and to talk about their work and how I would fit in it. Out of 2000+ applicants to my department, I was the only person who did that. So when my application landed on their desks, they knew who I was, had a face to put to the name, knew they could get along with me just fine, and let me in (my department takes 2 or 3 people a year).

How was it "back then" for undergraduate admissions? I don't know. I can't help but think there are a lof of myths regarding inequality, due to Harvarad being so difficult to get into (for anyone, mind you). I've never sat in on their admissions meetings and discussion, so of course I couldn't tell you for sure.

[RedWine]

Originally Posted by ecoteat

Someone mentioned the high quality of teachers at Ivy League schools. My husband is a professor at a top-name (but not Ivy) school and has always thought that even though you might get the best minds at an Ivy school, those brilliant people may not be the best teachers. They are there pulling in big research grants and writing influential papers, but teaching is not a priority for some. He and I went to a rinky-dink state college together and had some fantastic teachers--they were professors because they were passionate about teaching. They wouldn't be able to get jobs at more prestigous schools because they don't have lots of publications under their belts; they've been too busy teaching.

From what I know of both Harvard and MIT professors...ITA with the above.