Are Ivies All That They Seem?

Article by Amy-Ruth Gyang Graphic by Jaidyn Holt

With its warm days, blossoming flowers and a variety of festivals, springtime is known as the season of new beginnings, but for thousands of seniors, it is also one of the most stressful times of their high school careers. It marks the beginning of what is known as “Ivy Day” on which thousands of students receive their admission decisions from the “world’s most prestigious universities.”

This year, all eight Ivy Leagues briefly suspended their mandatory test requirements due to the coronavirus pandemic, resulting in a spike in applications. Although Ivies have long been known for their low acceptance rates, many expected acceptance rates to rise during the pandemic, but this was not the case. Acceptance rates dropped to new lows of 3 to 5 percent continuing the trend over the past decade, even though applications have increased year after year. According to a Forbes article, low acceptance rates, combined with high scores, grades, and other characteristics, increase the ability of more students to apply for the increase in status and exclusivity.

Given that six of the eight Ivy League schools enroll less than 5% of all college students in the country, they receive disproportionate media attention, providing many misconceptions about the college admissions process. For many kids who grew up in the early 2000s, the college admissions process was popularized through networks such as Disney Channel and CW. According to The Crimson, there was a 5,000-student increase in applications following the release of movies and shows centered on Ivy Leagues. Many of these “Ivy qualified,” on-screen characters talk of their near perfect grade point average. However according to US News, 54% of students admitted to Harvard had a 4.0 GPA. On many other Ivy websites, some Ivies have accepted students with gpas as low as 2.5.

“Grades are still the most important factor in admissions, but extracurriculars are also extremely important too,” college counselor Russel Althouse said.

Ivy Leagues, for decades, have been held up

for their high academic achievement, however these schools didn’t always come from this high academic premise as they were originally collegiate athletic schools that were known for their high sport performance. In the mid1940’s they began to shift attention to their academics and admissions process. According to Forbes the influx in applicants is a result of more international applicants and the internet.

However many these “top” schools are outshined by colleges and universities that have similar — or even better — facilities, teachers and opportunities.

The term “Public Ivy” was created by former University of California dean of admissions Richard Moll who described them as schools that provided an educational experience on par with the Ivy League, often at a fraction of the price. These schools include many public universities such as University California, UCLA, University of Michigan, and University of Chapel Hill. According to the Washington Post, public ivies have a wider range of academic topics, larger student bodies and lower tuition rates. Researchers found that students who were accepted to selective universities but chose to attend less-selective colleges received the same amount as students who attended selective schools in a 2019 study of 30 schools. It was concluded that a college’s selectivity had little to no bearing on a student’s salary. In working environments, an elite education does not automatically lead to success. According to a 2019 Business Review study, Ivy League graduates were found to have less interpersonal skills than their colleagues.

When selecting a university, students must weigh a number of factors. Although an Ivy League education is often portrayed as superior, there are many things to take into account as well.