Ivy League Colleges: What They Are & Why You Should Go

Ivy League. Two words that carry immense semantic weight, signifying the best of the best in higher education. People travel across the world to walk these prestigious campuses and study among the foremost scholars of the day. While you may know about these schools on the surface, what are Ivy League colleges and why should you go?

What Is an Ivy League College?

An Ivy League college is one of eight prestigious colleges in the United States. Also called The Ancient Eight, these schools are as follows: Dartmouth, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Brown, Columbia, Cornell, and the University of Pennsylvania. This coalition of eight schools began to develop an athletic conference between a handful of elite research schools in the Northeast. Today, the moniker identifies elite academic institutions.

Why Should You Go?

Though there are several thousand colleges in the US, none are as recognized by name or connected to career opportunities as the Ivy Leagues. If you want to develop your intellectual acuity and jump-start your career, then an Ivy League college is the place to be.

These institutions offer holistic college experiences like every other college or university, just at an advanced level. Joining the freshman class of an Ivy League is a surefire way to elevate your academic and career prospects—not to mention, you’ll get inside access to your Ivy League college gear store, and you can rep your school with unabashed pride.

How Do You Get In?

Ivy Leagues are notorious for their high standards. Every applicant to an Ivy League college or university must prove they belong before starting classes in the fall. This application process is different for every school, but the structure remains the same. These are the essential steps to applying to an Ivy League college or university:

• Build a well-rounded resume. Ivy Leagues want to know more about you than a simple test score or teacher recommendation. You must show a holistic approach to life that exhibits your commitment to several activities, including academics, service projects, sports, leadership development, and entrepreneurial engagement.
• Write a great essay. Your skills with words on paper are vital to a successful application. A college application essay isn’t something you whip up overnight, hours before the deadline. This is a lengthy process involving brainstorming, outlining, writing, editing, revising, rewriting, and further editing before final submission.
• Apply for early decision or early action. Schools want to know your level of commitment to their institution. Ivy Leagues, like many other colleges, provide early decision and early action applications for students who are willing to drop all other offers and commit wholeheartedly to their institution, should they receive an acceptance letter.

The next time you wonder, “What are Ivy League colleges and why should I go?” remember the vibrant, exciting communities awaiting your application. If you find your way into a freshman class, you should purchase spirit wear to celebrate. Explore our Dartmouth branded apparel at the Dartmouth Co-Op today.