Is it crazy to choose a non-ivy over an ivy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid picked UVA over an Ivy.

Ivies have weird vibes these days. My older child is at one. They are often an exceedingly random mix of kids---super academic grinders, underprepared FGLI kids from middle America, ultra wealthy who stick to themselves. It's a odd mix.

wow! sounds like Ivies have a place for everyone!

Point taken but can be exceedingly hard to find your people if you are none of the above. And you are surrounded by a lot who are not.

I know more than one kid who is really struggling socially. My own took a long time to adjust and would tell you that their college experience has been a mixed bag. Still has some regrets and they are a junior.

Your milage may vary but fit is very, very important. Take a step back and don't let US News dictate what is best for your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If they were choosing who to marry, would you recommend their first choice and better fit, or the prestigious option?

The wealthy one. Lol

My grandmother used to say: it’s just as easy to marry rich as it is to marry poor.

P.s. I married poor. We made it together. 28 years later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid picked UVA over an Ivy.

Ivies have weird vibes these days. My older child is at one. They are often an exceedingly random mix of kids---super academic grinders, underprepared FGLI kids from middle America, ultra wealthy who stick to themselves. It's a odd mix.

wow! sounds like Ivies have a place for everyone!

Point taken but can be exceedingly hard to find your people if you are none of the above. And you are surrounded by a lot who are not.

I know more than one kid who is really struggling socially. My own took a long time to adjust and would tell you that their college experience has been a mixed bag. Still has some regrets and they are a junior.

Your milage may vary but fit is very, very important. Take a step back and don't let US News dictate what is best for your child.

My kid is at an Ivy and has a great bunch of friends- just like those described. He’s flourishing. He did not find this perpetuated difficulty, harsh environment, etc. He’s involved in so much. Having a blast,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid picked UVA over an Ivy.

Ivies have weird vibes these days. My older child is at one. They are often an exceedingly random mix of kids---super academic grinders, underprepared FGLI kids from middle America, ultra wealthy who stick to themselves. It's a odd mix.

wow! sounds like Ivies have a place for everyone!

Of course they do. This is not the 80s or even 90s. 60% are on need based aid at ivies. There is a mix of all types of smart kids, exception being the hooked athletes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid picked UVA over an Ivy.

Ivies have weird vibes these days. My older child is at one. They are often an exceedingly random mix of kids---super academic grinders, underprepared FGLI kids from middle America, ultra wealthy who stick to themselves. It's a odd mix.

wow! sounds like Ivies have a place for everyone!

Point taken but can be exceedingly hard to find your people if you are none of the above. And you are surrounded by a lot who are not.

I know more than one kid who is really struggling socially. My own took a long time to adjust and would tell you that their college experience has been a mixed bag. Still has some regrets and they are a junior.

Your milage may vary but fit is very, very important. Take a step back and don't let US News dictate what is best for your child.

My kid is at an Ivy and has a great bunch of friends- just like those described. He’s flourishing. He did not find this perpetuated difficulty, harsh environment, etc. He’s involved in so much. Having a blast,

same

[Anonymous]

People choose non-Ivies over Ivies all the time, just by the fact that they have top-tier stats (etc.) but don't apply to all (or any) of the Ivies, and decide to go elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Depends on the ivy and the major. Cornell is not equal to Harvard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC is facing such a choice. The non-ivy is their first choice and a better fit. But it’s just difficult to ignore the prestige of an ivy.

If the non-ivy is a private in the top 15ish or Williams/Amherst/Swarthmore then go for it. If it is a large public or a private outside of the top 15ish then consider carefully.

[Anonymous]

OP, its great that your DC has wonderful options to choose from. Just keep in mind "fit" means different things to different people and more importantly kids change a lot between 18-22, try to help your student get specific about what they like/don't like at each of their options and also to imagine how that might change over the 4 years. For my current college student whose final choice came down to an Ivy or top SLAC, the SLAC felt more comfortable but he also felt he'd be much more likely to outgrow it. And don't dismiss the practical things like whether there is guaranteed housing all 4 years how hard/easy it is to travel to (connecting flights are a bummer anytime there are weather issues)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid picked UVA over an Ivy.

Ivies have weird vibes these days. My older child is at one. They are often an exceedingly random mix of kids---super academic grinders, underprepared FGLI kids from middle America, ultra wealthy who stick to themselves. It's a odd mix.

wow! sounds like Ivies have a place for everyone!

Point taken but can be exceedingly hard to find your people if you are none of the above. And you are surrounded by a lot who are not.

I know more than one kid who is really struggling socially. My own took a long time to adjust and would tell you that their college experience has been a mixed bag. Still has some regrets and they are a junior.

Your milage may vary but fit is very, very important. Take a step back and don't let US News dictate what is best for your child.

My kid is at an Ivy and has a great bunch of friends- just like those described. He’s flourishing. He did not find this perpetuated difficulty, harsh environment, etc. He’s involved in so much. Having a blast,

same

same. it's a school with more than 6000 undergrads -- if you can't find a crew, that's on you.

[Anonymous]

It's not 1950. There are lots of schools that are as good and often better than the Ivy schools. Job and grad school outcomes are the same. But more important is fit. Both of my kids chose T20 non-Ivy colleges because they were better schools for them and their interests.

These days tons of students choose MIT, Stanford, Vanderbilt, CalTech, Duke, Rice, Williams, Chicago, Pomona, Northwestern, and Notre Dame over Ivy schools. And if they are STEM you can add Georgia Tech, Berkeley, Harvey Mudd, and Michigan to the list. These are all very rational alternatives to the Ivy schools.

[Anonymous]

My kid is in at Cornell and a couple of non-Ivy top 25. They will decline Cornell because of the two non-Ivy being better fits. Cornell seems academically intense to them, and they want to have a bit more relaxed college environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid picked UVA over an Ivy.

Ivies have weird vibes these days. My older child is at one. They are often an exceedingly random mix of kids---super academic grinders, underprepared FGLI kids from middle America, ultra wealthy who stick to themselves. It's a odd mix.

wow! sounds like Ivies have a place for everyone!

Point taken but can be exceedingly hard to find your people if you are none of the above. And you are surrounded by a lot who are not.

I know more than one kid who is really struggling socially. My own took a long time to adjust and would tell you that their college experience has been a mixed bag. Still has some regrets and they are a junior.

Your milage may vary but fit is very, very important. Take a step back and don't let US News dictate what is best for your child.

My kid is at an Ivy and has a great bunch of friends- just like those described. He’s flourishing. He did not find this perpetuated difficulty, harsh environment, etc. He’s involved in so much. Having a blast,

Mine too, DC loves it, happiest he has ever been with great friends and wonderful professors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is facing such a choice. The non-ivy is their first choice and a better fit. But it’s just difficult to ignore the prestige of an ivy.

If the non-ivy is a private in the top 15ish or Williams/Amherst/Swarthmore then go for it. If it is a large public or a private outside of the top 15ish then consider carefully.

I agree with this.

[Anonymous]

Ivy League is an athletic conference that’s morphed into a “brand”. Go with the fit.