Reply to The Dark Side of the Ivy League: Prestige & The Cost of Success

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]“The Ivy League Is a Game Within a Game” — Key Takeaways

Game Zero:
Getting into the Ivy League isn’t the finish line — it’s only the starting gate.

A Game Within the Game:
Once on campus, there’s an invisible layer of privilege and insider knowledge.
Some students “move differently” because they’ve grown up around these systems.

Elitism Is Real:
Legacy students and the well-connected often already know how to navigate professors, requirements, and opportunities.

Everyone Feels Lost at First:
Even the smartest kids feel like they’re drowning the first two years. That’s normal — what matters is how fast you learn the system.

Go to Office Hours:
Professors actually expect it. Show up, ask questions, and build relationships early.

Use Information Strategically:
Savvy students find old tests, course syllabi, and grading patterns before registering.
They don’t waste time in the wrong classes.

Network Intentionally:

Join Greek life if it fits you — it’s social capital.

Join career-relevant clubs to meet upper-class students who know how internships really work.

Protect Your Integrity:
If you’re caught in academic dishonesty, it’s devastating.
Wealthier peers may lawyer up — you probably can’t. Don’t risk it.

Check Your Motives:
Ask yourself: What brand are you chasing, and why?
The Ivy name isn’t the goal; what you build with it is.[/quote]

ok but this doesn't sound like anything dark[/quote]

Agree. That’s for clicks. The real thesis seems to be that just getting into or graduating from an Ivy isn’t a golden ticket. The golden ticket seems to be learning the system and using the resources to get you where you want to go. Of course, you have to know where you want to go or at least choose a starting point. [/quote]

And that is why kids who are good candidates/have resume for any T25 school will excel wherever they go and have similar outcomes 95%+ of the time.  Why?  Because it's what you do while at college and beyond, not where you go.

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