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Are the Ivy leagues worth it?
I'm a senior in high school. Just finished my very last college application last week.
Most colleges I applied to were either Ivies or almost as (if not equally) selective / prestigious.
But I've been thinking. Schools like these tend to put enormous pressure on their students (does Cornell REALLY have the highest suicide rate or is that just myth?). Now, I KNOW my chances of getting into any Ivy are slim to none, so I probably shouldn't even be worrying about this, but.. is four years of stress really worth it? I mean, for the most part, a Bachelors from Harvard and a Bachelors from a state university only really differ in ... the name of the school. Yes, it can get you ahead in getting a job, but it won't KEEP you ahead. And yes, of course it'd be nice to not be surrounded by complete idiots for the next four years of my life (though there are idiots everywhere).
Is it worth it?
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Going to Harvard over a state school might get you an interview easier, but nobody wants to hire someone with the personality of a brick (which a lot of Ivy League kids are like). That is where you can beat them.
The sad fact is, most people who attend Ivy Leagues already have rich, well connected parents, so getting a job isn't anything they actually have to try that hard at. They coast through life with an undeserved sense of accomplishment.
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One thing you should consider is that Ivies and other really prestigious schools generally cost a lot more than Such-and-such State University. If your family can afford to pay, or if you know you will get a lot of financial aid (and Ivies don't give merit aid) that is not an issue.
I think, if you are intelligent, driven and dedicated, you can get as much out of a state school as an Ivy. Consider that a lot of state schools have honors colleges, so you can still go to classes with really smart, driven people.
Consider also that there are a lot of smaller, lesser known colleges that provide a great education and are populated by very smart people, they just don't have the big name brand that Ivies do. I went to one of those schools and had the greatest time there, and I don't think it could have been any better if the school had been called Cornell or Princeton instead of Hendrix.
Of course, since you're done filing all your apps, your question is a little late. Unless you want to look into schools with rolling admissions, or take a gap year and re-apply later, you're kind of stuck now.
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you'll only get out of whatever school you go to what you work to get out of it, knowledge-wise. two things; a degree from Harvard is infinitely better because of the professional connections you make while IN school. once you get past bachelor and are working towards a Master's(which is the other of the two things; everybody, or at least the amount of people going into professional careers rather than grunt work or trades, goes to college now. everybody has a bachelor's. the only way to get ahead is to get a Master's; a bachelor's might have been enough professionally and opportunity-wise in your parent's day, but it IS NOT anymore. the equivalent in opportunity is a Master's.) degree, you're going to be in grad school, limited classes, close working with instructors that value your capability or they wouldn't have selected you for the program; through this, you make connections with these professors and their colleagues, who are names in their(your) field. you'll then have professional connections and opportunities for after you graduate, which will be invaluable for finding work, getting grants, and doing what you want and getting paid for it. the higher the school, the more often you start out-and continue on with-good connections, because you will most likely never again have half as much of a chance to make nearly as many of those professional contacts, especially since the students in your graduating class will also be professional interconnections as you all work your way up.
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It's worth it, if you think it's worth it.
Some people just want to go to an Ivy because of the name, the label, to be able to put it on a resume, to be able to tell their friends/family, to be able to brag and look incredibly intellectual.
Some people really want the education aspect. Ivy schools are fast-paced, difficult, and very no-nonsense. If you want the highest of education and to have the best professors, that's why you go.
I would decide whether you want the label of it or the education of it. Yes, it's stressful but in the end, you have mass amounts of knowledge and experience, plus like you said, more options for careers, especially in our economy.
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