It’s not uncommon for students to feel intimidated by applying to an Ivy League college. The prestige, low acceptance rates, and tuition are enough to turn most away. However, some students have the grades and extracurriculars that warrant their admission, they simply have to build the confidence in themselves to apply. At Educational Attainment Services, we not only want to help your child, but we also want to help them attain the highest level of education possible. To get started, we’ve highlighted 10 reasons to go to college in the Ivy League.
Lifelong networking
You’re always going to develop a special bond with a group of people when you accomplish something significant. College is no different. The Ivy League is known for its strong alumni network not only within each college itself but within the elite eight. You’ll have a relationship with someone right away when they find out that you’ve attended an Ivy League school.
Graduates have a higher average annual income
It’s been proven over the years that those who earn their bachelor’s and master’s degrees earn more money on average than those who don’t. It’s also been shown that those who earn a degree from an Ivy League college earn more money annually than those with comparable degrees in the same field. You can enter your profession after graduating making more money than your contemporaries at state schools or other private universities.
You’ll stand out against other job applicants
There’s something to be said for the ability to stand out against other applicants when you apply for a job. For instance, you might have a nearly identical resume as another applicant, but having Brown, Princeton, or Cornell on your application is likely to move you forward in the application process. You’ll draw interest from employers as they search for new hires.
Available resources
Ivy League schools are the source for ongoing research that has a significant impact on the rest of the world as well as hundreds of years of history to draw from. As a student, you’ll have access to seemingly endless libraries of reference materials that have been curated to help shape the future of learning at each institution.
Favorable student-to-faculty ratio
With a low acceptance rate comes a limited student body on campus. While each school isn’t considered small by university standards, campuses aren’t overly burdened with students. Ivy League schools average a 7 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio, which makes it easier to get one-on-one time with a staff member. Yale boasts the lowest ratio of the group at 5.4 to 1.
Name recognition
There’s something to be said for name recognition. People like things that are familiar to them, and seeing an Ivy League school on a job application presents a level of familiarity to you. Applicants who have Western Nebraska Community College on their resume aren’t going to get the same attention as someone with Penn, Dartmouth, or Columbia.
Renowned faculty
Each Ivy League school offers a unique and noteworthy faculty that’s meant to create an atmosphere of learning and innovation. Among the professors, you’ll find Pulitzer and Nobel Prize winners, who can share their practical knowledge and experiences with students. Along the vein of low student-to-faculty ratios, it presents an environment that’s more conducive to speaking directly with these brilliant professors individually.
Offer need-based financial aid
One of the main reasons students decide not to apply to Ivy League schools is because of the high cost of tuition. Those who can demonstrate that they have a need for financial aid can receive the necessary assistance for tuition. For example, Harvard will grant a full-ride to students coming from families making less than $65,000 per year. Those with an income that is more can get percentage-based assistance.
A variety of programs are available
It’s not uncommon to feel like Ivy League schools are limited to business and medicine, as these are often the areas where alumni can identify their distinctions. You’ll find that the Ivy League offers programs for just about any career path students want to pursue. As you might expect, each school does focus on specific areas and some will provide better experiences according to the field, but it’s not difficult to find a program fit for any career choice.
Distinction
Every successful brand has a distinction that it carries with it. Every Ivy League graduate can claim the distinction that comes with the school they attended for the rest of their lives. It will set you apart from others professionally and open doors that aren’t normally available.
Get in touch for more
If you’d like to learn more than our 10 reasons to go to college in the Ivy League, get in touch with us at Educational Attainment Services. You can give us a call or send a message using our online contact form to schedule a consultation.
