Demystifying the Ivy clout
When it comes to selecting universities for admissions abroad, especially in the United States, the colleges of the Ivy League are considered to be of utmost importance and prestige. The eight universities of the Ivy League include:
- Harvard University, Massachusetts
- Brown University, Providence
- Princeton University, New Jersey
- Cornell University, New York
- Dartmouth University, Hanover
- University of Pennsylvania
- Yale University, New Haven
- Columbia University, New York
Today, the Ivy League is more synonymous with the academic rigor, professionalism and exclusivity than the sports prestige, which is the origin of the Ivy name. Harvard University holds an acceptance rate of about 6.2 percent, while that of Princeton University which stands at around 8.2 percent. In total, the eight colleges in the so-called Ivy League collect more than 250,000 applications from the nation's (and the world's) top-performing high school students - and only send acceptance letters to around 10 percent of them. This brings us down to the fact that how rigorous the admission process is.
Admissions to the Ivy League require some good numbers and figures, and more importantly, traits like passion, creativity and professionalism. SAT scores should be highly satisfactory, and also the student should have excellent essay writing skills. The following points discuss the traits briefly:
- Time management skills, leadership qualities and discipline
- Having a genuinely fair personality
- Good writing and expression skills
Financial aid is also provided by the Ivies for those who perform exceptionally well on all grounds and are eligible for the scholarships provided by different universities.
Moving ahead of Ivy League colleges, there are various other institutions in the United States which are as good as the Ivy League colleges. 4 of the Ivy League colleges make it in the top 10 list; the other 6 include Stanford University, MIT, University of California, University of Michigan, California Institute of Technology, and John Hopkins University. These universities are often suppressed under the Ivy clout, but are one of the best international universities. Also, the admission process might not be as rigorous as the Ivies, and students may find better career options for their future ahead.
Other Renowned Universities
- MIT: With more than 1,000 Faculty members, MIT continues to play a vital role in shaping the future of undergraduate and graduate students as advisors, mentors, coaches, committee members and much more. In addition, the Institute’s board of trustees includes 78 eminent leaders in science, engineering, education, industry, and other professions. The university is renowned for the global standard of excellence in their disciplines.
- Stanford University: Stanford University is in the heart of Northern California’s dynamic "Silicon Valley,” home to Yahoo!, Google, Hewlett-Packard, and many other cutting-edge companies that were started by and continue to be led by Stanford alumni and faculty. Stanford campus offers a wealth of sightseeing and educational opportunities.
- California Institute of Technology: Caltech offers graduate, undergraduate and doctoral degree programs in mathematics, chemistry, biology, computer science, physics, and earth sciences. The academic structure of the university comprises six divisions namely Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Humanities and Social Sciences, Biology and Biological Engineering, Geological and Planetary Sciences, Engineering, and Applied Science.
- University Of California, Berkley: California, Berkeley (UCB) is a public research university and the flagship institution of the ten research universities affiliated with the University of California system. Berkeley is one of the 14 founding members of the Association of American Universities and is home to some world-renowned research institutes, including the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute and the Space Sciences Laboratory.
The Ivies are undoubtedly great universities, but also, it is to be considered that several other universities provide a wide range of careers and courses at a highly standardized level. It is up to the approach, personality, and extra ordinary efforts of the students to achieve success through any university, and make the most out of their resources.
