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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Northwestern is way superior than Columbia, Brown, Dartmouth, and Cornell; and better than Penn in many aspects.

+1

[Anonymous]

It’s not crazy to choose MIT over any ivy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the "non-ivy" is one of the so called T10 schools, Chicago, JHU, Northwestern, then go with the ivy.

Stop. Those “so-called” T10’s are better than Columbia, Dartmouth, Brown and Cornell, and direct peers with UPenn. Lower Ivies can no longer ride on the coattails HYP.

Cornell/Dartmouth mom made two back to back posts trying to bash the superior non-Ivy T10s. We aren’t falling for it.

Nope…different mom, just a popular opinion.

Please. It’s 2026 and Ivy ≠ king anymore.

[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.

I can't believe this is even a question. LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T ATTEND AN IVY ARE SUCCESSFULL! Let your kid pick the school where they will be comfortable and thrive.

[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.

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

Someone above described it well (though they were likely describing another school). It is really rich kids (including a lot of legacies) in the Greek system who go party in empty fields and at off campus houses, FGLIs who are struggling to keep up and don't fit in (and often make little effort to assimilate and fit in), super intense striver/gunner types who think they are important because they lead the pre-business clubs and things like that. There aren't many "normal" kids who used to make the school great (and please note that many of the "normal" kids I went to school with were black, Asian, etc. - this is not a racial-based opinion). In my era (90s) Duke had a reputation of being pretty fratty and there was definitely that element, but most parties were on campus and very open and there were actually a lot of very normal kids, some of whom were in frats but it wasn't that big of a deal. This element barely exists. Which is sad.

I may have been the other poster above and yes I was describing a different Ivy where the rich kids have their very separate lives from everyone else but instead of partying at off-campus houses, it’s driving/flying into Dad’s club in Manhattan or beach house to party on weekends. Those are also the kids who get first dibs at the best internships that aren’t advertised.

[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.

What's considered ultra wealthy at these schools? I assumed a lot of kids from places like NYC and Silicon Valley where the parents are rich, but nothing out of the ordinary like tons of billionaires. But if you mean the regular rich private school kids tend to stick together, that doesn't surprise me.

[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.

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

DCUM moms think Duke is a mid-sized Michigan on academic steroids, when Duke is really just striver city nowadays. Northwestern is similar but it was never a fun school to be fair.

Is it really commonly known that Northwestern is strive city with no fun or is it just this one poster? Striver how…as in Vanderbilt?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

+1
Chicago is an academic powerhouse. HYP, then it's Chicago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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

DCUM moms think Duke is a mid-sized Michigan on academic steroids, when Duke is really just striver city nowadays. Northwestern is similar but it was never a fun school to be fair.

Is it really commonly known that Northwestern is strive city with no fun or is it just this one poster? Striver how…as in Vanderbilt?

Current Northwestern students would beg to differ, so please ignore the NU basher. (She pops up at every mention of the school…). It’s a work hard, play hard school much like Vandy.

[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.

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.

Rest assured. They’re all more well rounded than your dumb kids with extra spikes.

Only dumb people call other people's kids dumb. Sorry all your kid was good at in life was chess.

PP was right though. Being dumb/=well rounded. Lots of people confuse the two. It’s just copium.

[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.

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

Someone above described it well (though they were likely describing another school). It is really rich kids (including a lot of legacies) in the Greek system who go party in empty fields and at off campus houses, FGLIs who are struggling to keep up and don't fit in (and often make little effort to assimilate and fit in), super intense striver/gunner types who think they are important because they lead the pre-business clubs and things like that. There aren't many "normal" kids who used to make the school great (and please note that many of the "normal" kids I went to school with were black, Asian, etc. - this is not a racial-based opinion). In my era (90s) Duke had a reputation of being pretty fratty and there was definitely that element, but most parties were on campus and very open and there were actually a lot of very normal kids, some of whom were in frats but it wasn't that big of a deal. This element barely exists. Which is sad.

Subtract the Greek comments and you are describing Notre Dame.

[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.

Depends on major!
I would not turn doen Cornell CS/Engineering; UPenn Wharton; Yale Social Studies/Humanities for e.g.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Northwestern is way superior than Columbia, Brown, Dartmouth, and Cornell; and better than Penn in many aspects.

It really isn't. It's just different.

Columbia is stronger academically; Brown is more flexible and crunchy; Dartmouth has more natural beauty; Cornell is stronger in engineering and the sciences; and Penn is its equal academically with some programs better than their Northwestern equivalent.

However, if you want a suburban location near a big city with smart kids, a pre-professional vibe, and Big Ten energy (although Northwestern tends to get beaten up by other Big Ten schools), it's a good choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

Rest assured. They’re all more well rounded than your dumb kids with extra spikes.

Only dumb people call other people's kids dumb. Sorry all your kid was good at in life was chess.

PP was right though. Being dumb/=well rounded. Lots of people confuse the two. It’s just copium.

DP. The whole thread is copium as these threads invariably pop up around the time most Ivy applicants are turned down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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

DCUM moms think Duke is a mid-sized Michigan on academic steroids, when Duke is really just striver city nowadays. Northwestern is similar but it was never a fun school to be fair.

Is it really commonly known that Northwestern is strive city with no fun or is it just this one poster? Striver how…as in Vanderbilt?

Current Northwestern students would beg to differ, so please ignore the NU basher. (She pops up at every mention of the school…). It’s a work hard, play hard school much like Vandy.

DP - thanks. That matchup comparison is especially helpful to me.

Vandy’s sports culture has ratched up quite a bit the past few years. More kids make it a priority to go to football and basketball games. What’s that like at Northwestern now? Do current students show up for games in a significant way? Does it feel like a big part of student life/culture?