America is known for its amazing institutions of higher learning. However, even among these amazing institutions, there is a group of institutions that sits on a higher level of prestige. The Ivy League is the dream of thousands of students around the world. All Ivy League schools are among the very best educational institutions in the world. You will find Ivy League schools on top of most of the global university rankings. In this post, we will take a brief look at the Ivy League. Let’s get started.

Ivy League: All You Need To Know

What is the Ivy League?

Most people today associate the term “Ivy League” with highly competitive, renowned universities and use it as a benchmark to measure high quality education. If you say what the Ivy League means, we can say that it is a community with academic excellence and academic excellence.

Founded in 1954, members of the Ivy League are called The Ancient Eight or Ivies. Originally the term Ivy League was coined to name the sports leagues of universities on the east coast of the USA, specifically the American football league. However, these schools, which were the subject of books and movies in time, began to be remembered not only for their sports achievements but also for their famous academics and high-quality education systems. As a matter of fact, they aren’t that well known for their sports program now, and are chiefly hailed for academic excellence.

Why should you study at Ivy League schools?

• They are the most prestigious and highest quality universities in the United States and the world.
• They have a strong alumni network and reputation.
• They are the schools with the largest financial income in the world.
• About 80% of the technology research we use today comes from Ivy League universities. 
• Many scientists have been awarded many awards, especially Nobel prizes in various fields.
• You enjoy many opportunities to take part in a variety of prestigious research.
• Its links with industry, employers and other academic institutions are strong. 
• They have high academic qualifications in law, medicine, engineering and business.
• Most Ivy League graduate students tend to be top leaders and managers.  
• Employers prefer graduates from Ivy League schools, and their salaries are higher than graduates from other schools.

What are Ivy League schools?

The Ivy League is made up of 8 private schools in the Northeast of America and they have centuries of history, tradition and prestige. These are the members of the Ivy League. 

1. Brown University – Rhode Island

2. Columbia University – New York 

3. Cornell University – New York

4. Dartmouth College – New Hampshire

5. Harvard University – Massachusetts 

6. Princeton University – New Jersey 

7. University of Pennsylvania – Pennsylvania 

8. Yale University – Connecticut 

How to get into Ivy League schools?

Competition for admission to Ivy League universities is of course very high. The certainty for Ivy League admissions requirements is that academic excellence must be high, and students’ extracurricular experience and skills are also taken into account by the university. You must have high SAT / ACT / LSAT / GRE / GMAT scores as well as  TOEFL or IELTS scores. 

Ivy League colleges always look for students who have taken classes considered the most challenging in high school, such as math, language, science, and philosophy (Advanced Placement courses also help). This shows that the students who apply are willing to face and overcome high challenges. Such students are considered Ivy League candidates and have a better chance of being selected. So, what should you pay attention to for admission to schools?

• Start writing your application essay as early as possible
• Introduce yourself to them.
• Try to highlight your strengths so that you stand out and get noticed.
• Show that you are unique.
• You don’t have to be highly knowledgeable, but you should be great at something.

What are the Ivy League acceptance rates like?

It is a well-known fact that Ivy League schools have tough admission requirements. In 2020, five Ivy League schools accepted less than 7% of applicants. Harvard, the most selective Ivy League school, accepted only 4.9% of over 40,000 applications.

What documents are required to enter Ivy League universities?

• Transcript 
• A GPA GPA of 4.00 or higher
• SAT score above 1,400 ACT score above 31
• GRE, GMAT scores
• Evidence of TOEFL or IELTS for English proficiency
• Resume
• A letter of intent known as a motivation letter or Statement of Purpose
• Passport 

How to apply to Ivy League schools?

There is no central online registration system for US universities like UCAS in the UK. For this reason, you must make your Ivy League university applications online through the official websites of the schools. 

Applications are made between October and November and February and March each year. To enter master’s and doctoral programs, you can apply twice a year between July and September and between January and March. For exact dates, please make sure to check the official website of the school you wish to attend.

Who are some of the famous Ivy League alumni?

Barack Obama – Harvard University

Jeff Bezos – Princeton University

Meryl Streep – Yale University

Alan Turing – Princeton University

Elon Musk – University of Pennsylvania

Toni Morrison – Cornell University

Donald Trump – University of Pennsylvania

Jake Gyllenhaal – Columbia University

How much does it cost to study at Ivy League schools?

Tuition fees at Ivy League universities are quite high. Excluding living expenses, each school exceeds $50,000 annually. For living expenses, it is necessary to be ready to spend approximately $60,000 per year.

But despite being incredibly expensive, Ivy League schools offer some of the most generous financial aid packages to undergraduates. One of them is Yale University, which provides 100% scholarships to its students. Similar scholarships are offered at Harvard and Princeton as well.

Is it possible to study online for free at Ivy League universities? 

When it comes to student admissions, Ivy League universities choose the best, so there is fierce competition for entry. The good news is that all eight universities now offer free online programs through various online course providers. So even if you can’t meet the Ivy League admissions requirements or don’t have enough money to apply, you can still study at Ivy League universities, virtually.