Entry into Student run Clubs at Ivy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You don’t need a club to get certified as an EMT (my child’s school offers a class open to anyone) or for LSAT tutoring.

You ignored everything else: guest speakers, credit, etc. no one said these are the only opportunities, but some of them offer a package of very appealing ones.

Guest speakers, sounds boring. I got into a T5 law school just fine without participating in any legal fraternity. I mean, it’s fine as a social club, but it doesn’t actually confer any professional benefit.

Successful attorney here. I didn't even know that legal fraternities existed, lol. I Googled them and apparently undergrads and law students are members? But no one at my law school would have been interested in such a thing -- at my ls people put their energy toward law review or moot court or one of the clinics or political groups like PILF or Federalist Society.

[Anonymous]

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

It hasn’t always been this way. It’s a new thing at some schools.

[Anonymous]

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

My child attends an Ivy. He is not having problems with joining clubs. No, he is not rich or an athlete. He is an introverted nerd, but he has a laid-back personality that people seem to be drawn to. He is pretty chill and easy going. My child joined some clubs, and the other students welcomed him with open arms. Actually, since school started, my child is getting bombarded with invitations to join clubs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

My child attends an Ivy. He is not having problems with joining clubs. No, he is not rich or an athlete. He is an introverted nerd, but he has a laid-back personality that people seem to be drawn to. He is pretty chill and easy going. My child joined some clubs, and the other students welcomed him with open arms. Actually, since school started, my child is getting bombarded with invitations to join clubs.

It isn’t your kid’s personality- it is that he isn’t going for clubs with limited spots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You don’t need a club to get certified as an EMT (my child’s school offers a class open to anyone) or for LSAT tutoring.

You ignored everything else: guest speakers, credit, etc. no one said these are the only opportunities, but some of them offer a package of very appealing ones.

Guest speakers, sounds boring. I got into a T5 law school just fine without participating in any legal fraternity. I mean, it’s fine as a social club, but it doesn’t actually confer any professional benefit.

Successful attorney here. I didn't even know that legal fraternities existed, lol. I Googled them and apparently undergrads and law students are members? But no one at my law school would have been interested in such a thing -- at my ls people put their energy toward law review or moot court or one of the clinics or political groups like PILF or Federalist Society.

That’s bc they weren’t a thing when you went to school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the university admission departments aren’t doing their job of identifying and admitting the best and the brightest, the kids have to do it themselves. This is the meritocracy at work. If your kid can’t cut it, there’s always government work.

I think you mean preexisting connections. Don't pretend that there is anything meritocratic about college club admissions

Exactly. Penn. Lots of nepo babies in the club scene.

[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?

Not fake. This is true for a wide range of clubs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this is one of the problem with ivies. What school, OP? I know Penn is awful. Such a cutthroat atmosphere.

Yes, Penn does not look good. DC having club rejections. Ridiculous.

OP here. Penn.

[Anonymous]

This is ridiculous. The top business schools get the best speakers and have the best perks. Their clubs are not application only. You have to network wide with good people to run a successful business. As someone who does run a sizable enterprise, I’m skeptical of anyone who promotes this culture.

[Anonymous]

Club applications are not exclusive to ivy schools. Even occurs at *gasp* public schools.

[Anonymous]

OP, I think this is happening everywhere — not just the Ivies. My kids attend OOS state colleges and many of the clubs are competitive there, too.

Take a read of Colin Jost’s book — he talks about trying out for the Harvard Lampoon. He failed over and over gain, but he persisted and eventually got in.

[Anonymous]

This is also prevelent at Berkeley.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Club applications are not exclusive to ivy schools. Even occurs at *gasp* public schools.

Agreed. The whole thing stinks -- Ivy or anywhere else.

[Anonymous]

Welcome to life.

[Anonymous]

That's weird. I went to MIT, so not an Ivy, but this wasn't a thing there. I walked on a sports team with no experience, clubs, etc. Only exception was rush / recruitment.