Entry into Student run Clubs at Ivy

[Anonymous]

This is correlated to grade inflation. There was a NYT article last year about Yale's incredible grade inflation.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/05/nyregion/yale-grade-inflation.html

When everyone has an A in every class, how can you distinguish yourself? Make even the identity clubs competitive (eg: Asian Club)
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/09/yale-college-undergrad-clubs-competitive/675219/

[Anonymous]

My DS is a highly recruited athlete freshman at an Ivy, and he got many invites to join exclusive clubs. One of his teammates' older brothers is the head of one of those clubs. DS was told that he could be a member of the club by: a) coming from a wealthy family or b) an athlete. He fit the latter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dc (entering freshman) was a little shocked by the student club culture. Every single club needs applications and interviews and most have a very low probability of acceptance. Seriously regretting the decision to go to an Ivy. This was hardly DC's idea of what college life would be. We were willy to not know about any of this stuff?

Sounds like fake news. Is this every club?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS is a highly recruited athlete freshman at an Ivy, and he got many invites to join exclusive clubs. One of his teammates' older brothers is the head of one of those clubs. DS was told that he could be a member of the club by: a) coming from a wealthy family or b) an athlete. He fit the latter.

I assume the level of recruitment was irrelevant, but rather there are clubs controlled by teams/frats/etc. For example, I bet the recruit who was offered the last spot on the team gets the same benefits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dc (entering freshman) was a little shocked by the student club culture. Every single club needs applications and interviews and most have a very low probability of acceptance. Seriously regretting the decision to go to an Ivy. This was hardly DC's idea of what college life would be. We were willy to not know about any of this stuff?

Sounds like fake news. Is this every club?

It may apply to that club but mine has never heard of anything like this at their ivy, in their 3rd yr. Lots of clubs are just restricted on freshmen. None require wealth. Lots have open entry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dc (entering freshman) was a little shocked by the student club culture. Every single club needs applications and interviews and most have a very low probability of acceptance. Seriously regretting the decision to go to an Ivy. This was hardly DC's idea of what college life would be. We were willy to not know about any of this stuff?

Sounds like fake news. Is this every club?

It may apply to that club but mine has never heard of anything like this at their ivy, in their 3rd yr. Lots of clubs are just restricted on freshmen. None require wealth. Lots have open entry.

What ivy? My guess it it happens at many, many schools, including all ivies, but your child wasn't interested in clubs like that so he doesn't know about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is correlated to grade inflation. There was a NYT article last year about Yale's incredible grade inflation.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/05/nyregion/yale-grade-inflation.html

When everyone has an A in every class, how can you distinguish yourself? Make even the identity clubs competitive (eg: Asian Club)
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/09/yale-college-undergrad-clubs-competitive/675219/

how can the Asian Club be competitive? How do you prove you are more Asian than someone else?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son at an Ivy hasn’t run into this.

He made the Club sport team and joined the club he wanted.

Same. My kid is unhooked. He has found lots of friends, joined club and a sports team and is having fun.

I guess it depends on the Ivy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The clubs are adopting the Greek mentality.

I was just pondering the fact that people who reject colleges that have a substantial Greek presence out of hand seem to embrace the competitiveness of the Ivy Club system. Because, "connections," you know...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The clubs are adopting the Greek mentality.

I was just pondering the fact that people who reject colleges that have a substantial Greek presence out of hand seem to embrace the competitiveness of the Ivy Club system. Because, "connections," you know...

Do they? I don’t.

[Anonymous]

DC at Cornell just went through this. Essentially hazing with the business clubs that operate as frats and seek to embarrass applicants during the "interview" round by forcing them to tell jokes until they run out or making them solve impossible brain teasers. Most of these pre-professional clubs take 5-10 members out of 250 applicants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC at Cornell just went through this. Essentially hazing with the business clubs that operate as frats and seek to embarrass applicants during the "interview" round by forcing them to tell jokes until they run out or making them solve impossible brain teasers. Most of these pre-professional clubs take 5-10 members out of 250 applicants.

Toxic, competitive and mean culture. Maybe that's why we end up with horrible Ivy people like Vance, Trump and DeSantis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC at Cornell just went through this. Essentially hazing with the business clubs that operate as frats and seek to embarrass applicants during the "interview" round by forcing them to tell jokes until they run out or making them solve impossible brain teasers. Most of these pre-professional clubs take 5-10 members out of 250 applicants.

I’ve heard about this at Cornell. Makes me sad actually. Those sorts of clubs didn’t exist when I was there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not being accepted to the Princeton Tiddlywinks Club could be a career wrecker.

New poster: you’re a jerk. Some clubs have a real impact on the future. An EMT club gets you certified, credit hours and clinical hours for med school apps. A law related fraternity gets you guest speakers for connections and info, jobs placement bumps, and special study materials and tutoring for the LSAT.

Tutoring? Lol. I didn't have any "tutoring" for it, and I scored 95th percentile.

[Anonymous]

This must be Ivy specific. I went to a top ten non Ivy school and there was absolutely nothing like this. Seems super weird.