Ivy with school atmosphere closest to big school, like Big Ten

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yale alum here but grew up in an OG Big 10 city. I was raised to believe that everything about ivies was better and would make my life better, too. I was so disappointed by my historic but dark and dirty dorm, the relatively small size of campus, and how low key sporting events were save for hockey games. The tradition of the Game is special but I was expecting Ohio State-Michigan and it seemed so tiny and sad in comparison. The friends I made from my alma mater are priceless but the competition for opportunity there was so intense that I wonder if I would have had even more post-grad opportunities elsewhere.

If your DD is looking for Big 10 atmosphere, steer her towards actual Big 10. There are smart kids and amazing programs at all kinds of colleges and I spent way too long hoping that the school of my dreams would be what I had actually imagined vs. what it really was.

Great comment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Penn? I mean that’s a bit of a stretch though, none of them really. Why not look at honors colleges in big 10 or northwestern

Northwestern is Big 10.

+2 Are people really that clueless about football?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Penn? I mean that’s a bit of a stretch though, none of them really. Why not look at honors colleges in big 10 or northwestern

Agree. Aim for Michigan and Northwestern and call it a day.

No, not Penn. they don’t even allow alcohol at football games.

[Anonymous]

Thousands of kids have qualifications for Ivies but still don’t get in. Big10 is more realistic, but NU and Michigan also very hard to get into. Make sure she has some safeties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would stick to Michigan for best combo of academics +B10 atmosphere, school spirit & bigtime football. I went to NU in the 90's. Got the RoseBowl season. Was awesome. Still overall felt like B10-lite compared to what i experienced visiting friends at Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin. Maybe also look at Notre Dame? Usc?

I agree with all the Michigan suggestions, Stanford (referenced in an earlier post), and also USC -- which is oddly more in the Big 10.

[Anonymous]

^^^ now in the Big 10

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What major? Something like UF or Georgia Tech might fit the bill for an engineering major. Not “elite” in the sense that your country-club friends will be impressed, but her future employers would be.

No country club friends here. Math or physics and my husband has a Masters in CS from GT. It is on her list. Family members at UF now but she isn't interested in that one.

UWisconsin and Ohio State have good honors classes for math. Ohio has honors versions of even upper level physics courses.

[Anonymous]

DC accepted to Cornell, UCLA, Michigan, GA Tech, UVA, VA Tech, and WL Princeton.

Ended up in a small cohort based honors program at Texas. Texas is T10 in his major. Loves it and was able to become instate for tuition. Has the best of all worlds small college experience at a large school with school spirit. We’ve been really happy and it was totally the right decision for him.

Definitely cast a wide net and see what happens. Visit admitted students for her top3-5 acceptances and see what they like best. We found admitted students insightful.
Good luck to your family

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some of us who know better PREFER the Big 10 experience and culture to the Ivys.

That's so sad for you all.

[Anonymous]

Notre Dame

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yale alum here but grew up in an OG Big 10 city. I was raised to believe that everything about ivies was better and would make my life better, too. I was so disappointed by my historic but dark and dirty dorm, the relatively small size of campus, and how low key sporting events were save for hockey games. The tradition of the Game is special but I was expecting Ohio State-Michigan and it seemed so tiny and sad in comparison. The friends I made from my alma mater are priceless but the competition for opportunity there was so intense that I wonder if I would have had even more post-grad opportunities elsewhere.

If your DD is looking for Big 10 atmosphere, steer her towards actual Big 10. There are smart kids and amazing programs at all kinds of colleges and I spent way too long hoping that the school of my dreams would be what I had actually imagined vs. what it really was.

Yikes this is so sad

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just let her go to the school she wants! You sound awful and Ivy obsessed.

Oh lord, please don't tell me that if your child were qualified for an Ivy you wouldn't explore them applying. We are a proud Big Ten family, hence why I said I understand her interest in those. I think the top ones provide the best of everything! I know very little about any of the Ivy schools and I thought this would be a place to get some useful input on subjective criteria.

Plenty of kids with Ivy stats have no interest for similar reasons as your daughter.. My kid wanted flagship vibe all the way. He's living his best life happy as can be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:None of them.
Not even Cornell which is the biggest ivy.
Just let her apply to big 10.

Agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here—message received! We will use other criteria to choose which Ivy school(s) she will apply to. Michigan and Northwestern are definitely on the list.

Northwestern is ranked higher and harder to get into than some of the Ivies, fyi. I also think the vibe at Northwrstetn is different than most big 10 so it really depends what she likes about the big 10. Northwestern is way more geeky.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Penn? I mean that’s a bit of a stretch though, none of them really. Why not look at honors colleges in big 10 or northwestern

Northwestern is Big 10.

+2 Are people really that clueless about football?

Big 10 is not just a football conference.