The Ivy League is at the finish line for many of the world’s most ambitious high school seniors. You’d be hard-pressed to find a high-achieving student who hasn’t dreamed of waking up to an acceptance letter from a place like Harvard or Yale. But is all that glitters really gold? Is the Ivy League worth all of the hype? You’ve come to the right place to find out! We’re here to walk you through the five main pros and cons of an Ivy League education. 

The Pros of the Ivy League

1. Ivy League grads outearn their non-Ivy League counterparts, and study after study has shown this to be true. Not only are Ivy League alums far likelier to have access to exclusive professional opportunities from companies that treat the Ivy League as their recruitment stomping grounds, but they also tend to out-earn those who don’t have an Ivy League degree — by a factor of thousands of dollars a year in many cases!
2. The social networks are unparalleled. Nowhere else in higher education will you find future captains of industry, generation-defining artists, soon-to-be Nobel Prize winners, and the rich and famous casually dining together over some cafeteria rice and beans. The Ivy League thrusts these groups together and creates friendships and networks that last a lifetime. It’s no wonder that Ivy League alumni are so well-connected with the global elite — they all met in college!
3. Ivy Leaguers have access to immense resources and opportunities. No matter your passion, quirk, thing, or singular hook, you can only take it as far as your school lets you. But at Ivy League schools, the sky’s the limit. These students are lavished with research grants, exclusive internships, cutting-edge equipment, and access to the world’s brightest minds to make all of their dreams into reality. It’s hard to overstate just how well-resourced Ivy League schools are.
4. Robust financial aid. It might surprise some that most Ivy League schools are among the most affordable options for an elite private college education. Liberated by billion-dollar endowments, these schools are free to admit low-income students who only pay what their families can afford. While these schools have no merit or athletic aid, their financial aid packages are so generous that it doesn’t matter!
5. Bragging rights. Okay, can you blame us for having fun with this last one? Getting into an Ivy League school is tantamount to proving yourself to all those who doubted you. Is this a shallow reason to apply to an Ivy League school? Maybe, but you can’t deny that it’s true!

The Cons of the Ivy League

1. The teaching is only so-so. Even though these schools count world-renowned faculty among their ranks, these academic superstars are not always committed to teaching undergraduates. In fact, graduate students often teach intro-level classes while faculty members focus on their research. Don’t get us wrong — you’ll still get a quality education in the Ivy League, but it will likely be no better than what you’d receive from a top liberal arts college.
2. Campus culture can be cutthroat, and competition can be the lifeblood of some the Ivy League institutions. Many students struggle to adjust to these environments, in which some of their peers are more focused on getting ahead than forming genuine friendships. From getting into clubs to securing grants, peer evaluations are par for the course on these campuses. Finding your community takes dedication and perseverance, but it’s worth it in the end.
3. The rich rule the Ivy League. Wealthy students are vastly overrepresented on Ivy League campuses. For students who come from more modest backgrounds, this can cause quite the culture shock and might drive some to break the bank by trying to keep up with their peers.
4. Location, location, location. Let’s face it. Not everyone wants to spend the winter in the Northeast, where it’s cold, and the people can be even colder. Those who want an Ivy League education somewhere where the sun shines are better off looking at Stanford.
5. Getting in is no walk in the park. If these downsides to the Ivy League haven’t scared you off, prepare yourself for an admissions process that is bound to cause some stress and anxiety. Unfortunately, the odds are stacked against you—unless you enlist Ivy Coach’s help!

Ivy Coach’s Assistance with Earning Admission to the Ivy League

If you’d like to optimize your child’s odds of admission to an Ivy League school with the help of Ivy Coach’s team of former elite college admissions officers, fill out our complimentary consultation form and we’ll be in touch.