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

[Anonymous]

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.

This is spot on, add the athlete segment as well.

Many private T20 schools have this odd, social engineering. It makes the schools well rounded on paper, but really uneven in classroom and culture.

Go with fit - this choice is about learning and development, not layman prestige.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All t20 are impressive and same culture as Ivy, I fear for my laid back kid going to a t20. Some schools more impressive than some Ivies, but to the layman, maybe not. For those in the know, it doesn't matter. Depends on audience, general pop, Ivy, to others, they know there's no difference between Harvard and Stanford or Dartmouth and UChicago or Northwestern. Big city or wealthy suburb know they're all impressive.

Completely disagree that T20 and Ivies all have the same culture. Some are very different than others within T20

[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.

This is spot on, add the athlete segment as well.

Many private T20 schools have this odd, social engineering. It makes the schools well rounded on paper, but really uneven in classroom and culture.

Go with fit - this choice is about learning and development, not layman prestige.

Yes - they are all obsessed with this concept of "pointy individuals, well-rounded class" which rewards extremely one dimensional kids at the expense of "normal" well-rounded kids. And a lot of these kids were superstars at something and not good at not being the best. I'm not saying they should accept mediocre kids, but these method really creates odd cultures.

[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.

This is spot on, add the athlete segment as well.

Many private T20 schools have this odd, social engineering. It makes the schools well rounded on paper, but really uneven in classroom and culture.

Go with fit - this choice is about learning and development, not layman prestige.

Yup. I am a Duke alum who loved my time there and I am hesitant to send my kid there as I think it has really changed for the worse. He is a nice, smart, kind, humble, well-rounded UMC kid. The type who used to make up much of the class at these schools and has been completely squeezed at the expense of the other groups.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

+1

[Anonymous]

We had a serious talk with our senior.

If he chooses in-State public- he is going to have to hit the ground running and fight for everything. Be self-starter. GO TO ALL classes. Avoid too much partying. Keep grades high. Opportunities are tougher. We will have an agreement about grades.

My oldest is at an Ivy and opportunities are curated and fall in his lap. It’s so personal. He’s killing it. Class sizes (even his freshmen year) were very small so he got to know professors (courses all taught by profs too) very well. The advising team - nothing short of miraculous.

UVA (personal experience) will be very different. It’s a great school but you have to be on it. It can very hard to get courses. You can skate. If you miss class it’s not noticed in bigger courses. For post-opportunities gpa needs to be high.

You need to assess your kid, their personality, learning style, etc. We put our youngest in a private high school because at a big public he was drawn to the wrong crowd and procrastinated and could succeed with little accountability. His peer group and ambition changed when everyone was motivated. I worry my kid will be like a kid in a candy shop at UVA. For the right kid- it is a fantastic place though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the schools? Fit is important.

Stanford vs. Princeton.

Wait, is this for real. These two schools are the subject of this thread "Is it crazy to choose a non-Ivy over an ivy"

lol

[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.

It is not a question of prestige or not. A lot depend on what you make out of your education. If you thrive, you will do better than many in Ivies

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Seems like a no-brainer. Pick the 1st choice/best fit. (Who cares what sports conference they belong to.) Always pick the best fit. Congrats OP!

New money always choose Ivy names over fit. Old money would choose fit over Ivy. It’s not unlike when you see old rich wear high-quality, non-flashy exquisite clothes while newer rich are more likely to make sure you see the label of how much they spent. Same for who tend to wear Rolex.

Haaaaaaaaaaaaahaaaaaaaaa!!!!

My god, you can believe how many old $$$, IVs and Vth generation our at my kids’ two Ivies. But, yeah, sure …lmaof.

You have reading comp issue. No one said there isn’t any old money students on an Ivy campuses. The idea is old money would care more about fit than strictly the Ivy names, meaning they wouldn’t necessarily choose an Ivy that’s a poor fit just to be able to say their kid goes to an Ivy. If you see old money on Ivy campus, it could very well be because they love the school for the fit.

[Anonymous]

The valedictorian at our HS chose Hunter College over Harvard because Hunter College offered him a unique research opportunity in a honors program targeting students admitted at ivy leagues. He has since obtained a PhD in Math from the UB Berkeley and is now very successful on wall street.

I don't think any of the parents here would have encouraged their child to follow the path he did lol given the obsession with prestige and bragging rights so rampant on this forum.

[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!

Sounds like the Ivy I went to 30 years ago.

[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.

This is spot on, add the athlete segment as well.

Many private T20 schools have this odd, social engineering. It makes the schools well rounded on paper, but really uneven in classroom and culture.

Go with fit - this choice is about learning and development, not layman prestige.

DP I’ve noticed this too. Have first-hand experience with really weird mix of uber wealthy/NYC Boston DC private school/boarding school crowds who like to stick together with their cool weekend trips and exclusive social gatherings; the brilliant kids who work their asses off, hustle at part-time jobs and spend most of their time at the library; and increasingly a fraction of kids who are fish out of water and just not keeping up academically. We have college admins and professors in our family; the last group is becoming an issue.

[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!

Sounds like the Ivy I went to 30 years ago.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depends on which school. Any ivy over Chicago any day every day.

Brainwashed troll. Anyone with a brain knows Chicago is a league above Cornell, Dartmouth, and Brown. Maybe Columbia too, given how messy their admin is.

[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.

This is spot on, add the athlete segment as well.

Many private T20 schools have this odd, social engineering. It makes the schools well rounded on paper, but really uneven in classroom and culture.

Go with fit - this choice is about learning and development, not layman prestige.

Yup. I am a Duke alum who loved my time there and I am hesitant to send my kid there as I think it has really changed for the worse. He is a nice, smart, kind, humble, well-rounded UMC kid. The type who used to make up much of the class at these schools and has been completely squeezed at the expense of the other groups.

Could you expand on how you feel Duke has changed for the worse? Thx