What Separates Ivy League From Other Colleges

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Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Princeton… they are the ultimate dream, right? The obsession of Indians wanting to go to an Ivy League university is crazy. But is it justified? What makes these elite colleges so special and different from the rest? There are a lot many factors to being with apart from academic excellence, impressive infrastructure, and athletic merit. What started as a football league, over the years has turned into a brand in itself.

• 1.Difficult to get in
One of the most distinctive characteristics of Ivy League colleges is their low acceptance rate. These universities are highly- selective and cracking the admission process is a unique feat in itself. Harvard’s acceptance rate dipped as low as 4.9% in 2018. The acceptance rate for the class of 2022 is 5.5% at Princeton and Columbia and the highest at Cornell with 10.3%. The competition is fierce and you need to perform your best to get in. Not only are you competing with peers from your country but with the best of the best around the world.
• 2.Top faculty
Ivy league colleges employ some of the best faculty around the world. Various famous speakers come for guest lectures and events as well. So, for example, if you want to learn under Michael Porter or Greg Mankiw, Harvard is a direct opportunity to interact and seek guidance from them. Chinua Achebe, the world-renowned author of Things Fall Apart used to teach at Brown until his demise in 2013. So, you are taught by the best of the best like Nobel Laureates or experts inside the classrooms.
• 3.Career opportunities
The job opportunities after graduating from an Ivy League university are endless. A degree from Harvard or Yale can definitely impress a recruiter more than other public or private colleges. The median salary for a Harvard graduate is $1,58,000 whereas it’s 1,59,440 for Penn graduates. This degree will be useful to you through the course of your life. And with the starting salary in these figures you can easily pay off your debt in a year or two.
• 4.Return on Investment apart from money
The efforts you put in getting into Ivy League colleges are definitely worth it as they not only secure a successful career but also provide other benefits. You will be leaving the college with academic knowledge and communication skills equipped to face the tough workplace seamlessly. These colleges attract a lot of international students; hence the campus is very diverse. You will get to interact with people from varied backgrounds thus honing your personal skills.
• 5.Networking
Colleges are a great place to network and build contacts. Cut the list down to Ivy league and you are left with intellectuals and smartest people around the world. Your classmates might be someone famous or influential. And if that’s not the case, then they are some of the most brilliant-minded people. These friendships that you build in college will definitely help you in your professional life. Imagine some of the most prominent experts being just an e-mail or a phone call away!