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Nicholas Yum

Ms. McGee

Creative Writing, Period 7

3 March 2020

The Overwhelmingly Positive Qualities and Underlying Values of an Ivy League Education

The Ivy League is a collegiate athletics division that coincidentally houses eight of the

United States’ top universities. They are, in no particular order, Harvard University, Yale

University, Princeton University, Cornell University, Brown University, Dartmouth University,

Columbia University, and the University of Pennsylvania. These schools attract the hopes and

aspirations of tens of thousands of prospective undergraduate applicants every year. As such, the

application processes and qualifications needed to gain admission to any of these universities are

strenuous. Differing viewpoints exist on the efficacy of an Ivy League education. As such, some

adamantly support pursuing a spot in the Ivy League while others vehemently insist the money

required to attend a university of that caliber is being wasted when compared to other options

and comparative advantages. Since a majority of any particular college experience is subjective

or purely testimonial and statistics are only able to quantify partial aspects of the whole picture,

the debate on whether the Ivy League is a worthwhile pursuit still rages on. One’s college

experiences are stepping stones into future careers and opportunities. When a student gains

admission to an Ivy League school, they are not only offered a seat in some of the most highly

respected classrooms, but also a membership pass into some of the most interconnected networks

on the planet. Resources exist in all different forms. The Ivy League and schools of equal rank

deserve to be yearned for. The resources at these institutions are unparalleled. However, the Ivy
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League is not merely a meritocracy of boundless potential. In actuality, the process of gaining

admission may be the toughest roadblock for anyone with Ivy League aspirations. Although it

doesn’t detract from the academic quality of these schools, it does call ethicality and

transparency into question. Unfortunately, for many, their Ivy League dreams are struck down

before they were given a fair chance.

The college admissions system is inherently unfair. There are factors beyond grades and

test scores that colleges can opt to manipulate to give certain groups advantages over others.

According to Unz, the Ivy League and its institutions serve as “restrictions to an exclusive club”

(1). Along those lines, the Ivy League’s demographics reflect heavily on America’s capitalistic

society and possess a disproportionate number of students hailing from the top 1% of families in

terms of wealth (Unz 1). Ivy League universities possess an overwhelming amount of prestige

and name-recognition. This factor is the major proponent of the struggles and aspirations of

many to gain admission to one of the said universities. In America, during any competition, it’s

common to see the group with more money being victorious. When you start a race ahead of

everyone else, you have a greater chance of winning. In the landscape of college admissions, this

can be seen in the form of tutors for standardized tests like the SAT and ACT or college

admissions counselors who are paid hefty sums to help students gain admission to their dream

schools. However, even though these practices are effective and, by all definitions, legal, some

individuals and their families elect to disregard any semblance of a loose meritocracy. Large

financial contributions, sometimes upward of six or seven figures, are often doled out by alumni

or parents of prospective applicants to aid the application of their sons and daughters (Unz 2).

Unz contends that schools such as Harvard University and Yale University accept these
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“donations” in exchange for a boost in admit rates for the children of donors (2). This blatant

violation of a strictly merit-based system of admissions is the root of the problem with college

admissions. When the aforementioned behaviors and practices go on with no regulation, this

decreases the chances for those with a lower socio-economic background to gain admission. This

process enables Ivy League universities to pick and choose their student body based on factors

completely unrelated to a moral character or academic performance. Thus, some students possess

an insurmountable advantage in the admissions process while others are relegated to the realms

of luck and hope.

Nevertheless, the Ivy League is empirically and unequivocally attractive to prospective

students. In terms of resources, intangibles, and overall potential to lead to the fulfillment of

future goals, the Ivy League is a sure choice for the select-few admitted candidates. Gittell and

Johnson contend that a shift in future goals is a major catalyst for more attention and focus being

placed on admittance to high-ranking universities. Over time, with more aspirations of

white-collar careers in fields such as medicine, law, or engineering, there has been a

corresponding uptick in applications and certain primary areas of study, or majors (Gittell and

Johnson). Those who aim high in life often do so consistently. As such, the relationship between

career aspirations and dream-colleges presents itself. When selecting schools to attend and areas

to study, those attempting to cement themselves in well-paying, highly-respected careers, often

opt to choose higher-ranked universities when given the option. This major pull factor is

reflected in the numbers presented by Gittell and Johnson who cite extremely low unemployment

rates around 0.4% for those who graduate from Ivy League institutions and pursue jobs in

science, technology, engineering, or mathematics fields. However, facilitating career plans are
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not the only reason people choose top schools. Along with the exclusivity of an Ivy League

degree, according to Vennli, high tuitions are offset by the potential returns on investment. The

quality of an Ivy League education is at least marginally better in some aspects such as facilities

or residential housing but undeniably excels in terms of job-seeking opportunities, connections,

and a more well-rounded education (Vennli). When people attend Ivy League institutions, they

don’t do so under the impression that they will merely receive an education that can justify

nearly $80,000 price tags. Instead, they do so to reap all the ulterior benefits of their schools. The

people they meet, the professors they learn from, and, most importantly, the job offers they

receive are the worthwhile parts of their degree. The Ivy League possesses gravity in name and

quality which is a hallmark attraction for potential students.

Once students enroll at these universities and arrive on campus, a major factor to consider

is how each student may fit in at a diverse campus or how said campus goes about integrating

many different backgrounds into a cohesive, diverse, and aware student body. When people

choose their respective universities, they more than often do so with confidence in their choice.

This confidence may stem from a multitude of areas such as superb resources in a primary area

of study. However, more often than not, campus communities are a core-contributor to the

student’s decision. According to Mata, a major concern for universities all across America is a

disconnect within their communities. He attests that when people hailing from different walks of

life with different views and ideologies are placed together, the outcome is usually divisive

rather than cohesive. This trend is universal at universities. Yet, Ivy League institutions are

actively attempting to increase the engagement and inclusivity of all their students, but with an

extra emphasis on their international students (Mata 1106). As some of the United States’ most
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well-known and globally renowned universities, the Ivy League conglomerate draws the interest

of students from all around the world. As such, these schools have been able to diagnose a

pertinent issue that has grown rampant on their campus; a natural divide exists between

American students and international students. The Ivy League has led the way in finding ways to

remedy this issue. To support this idea, Mata states:

Seminars, workshops, and other activities with outcomes to increase building community

allow international students to feel a part of the campus and university community.

Feeling inclusive of community activities allows international students to see that they

matter in the eyes of university staff and other university students.

When these universities institute programs which prioritize harmony among the university

community, the levels of confidence in finding a suitable community rise among current and

prospective students alike. No matter if the student is American or not, the Ivy League has shown

a commitment to providing a fit for all kinds of people. This sentiment is echoed in the 2020

Alumni Day testimonials of Jaclyn Paston, Makayla Diaz, and other Jericho High School alumni.

Similar to the claims made by Mata, these speakers cited their respective university communities

as integral to their college enrollment decisions, especially in the case of Paston, a freshman at

Cornell University. In comparison to the testimonial of Diaz, a freshman at New York

University, Paston offered more praise to the diversity of her university’s community while also

harping on the ease at which she was able to assimilate with peers of different backgrounds.

Considering this, it is easy to conclude that the Ivy League’s insistence on forming diverse yet

collaborative and cohesive communities has paid off. However, some concessions must be made

in terms of the validity and universality of these statements. As mentioned before, the perception
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of college communities is purely subjective. But, it is undeniable that the Ivy League is ahead of

the curve in terms of handling its diverse student bodies. These eight schools have invested time

and resources into attempting to cultivate more balanced, inclusive, and distinctive communities

that are easily accessible for more students.

Lastly, quite possibly the most important aspect to consider when evaluating a school’s

merits is the ironically subjective aspect of student opinion. No one can describe the atmosphere

and communal values of an institution better than its students. Additionally, said students are

great resources for prospective students who seek more information. As such, the reactions,

beliefs, and testimonials these students share hold enormous weight. According to a video

produced by Jubilee, the range of experiences between the Ivy League and various community

colleges is extremely vast with different perceptions associated with each. Each of the three Ivy

League students in the video (two from Yale University and one from Princeton University)

describe high levels of civic pride and communal camaraderie exuding from their schools.

Contrastingly, the students hailing from various community colleges cite very low levels of

school-spirit and almost non-existent amounts of community engagement (Jubilee). With this

being considered, a clear advantage lies in the Ivy League. Much of the traditionally

quintessential college experience is defined by how the student can invest themselves in their

community, be it socially or otherwise. This stark contrast brings forth the debate over which

education is better. While Ivy League schools and community colleges are, for all intents and

purposes, foils of each other, they each hold advantages unique to themselves. For example, the

Ivy League may ring supreme in terms of quality of education, but community colleges are

usually the more affordable option (Jubilee). Therefore, the viewpoint of the students who attend
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these schools is invaluable when determining which path is more worthwhile to follow. While

some Ivy League students may undyingly praise their respective schools, others, including those

who don’t attend an Ivy League school, may opt to harp on its shortcomings (Morton). Morton’s

argument is centered around the notion that a strict focus on attaining an Ivy League education is

detrimental to the educational process for a majority of students. She attests that instilling the

values held dear at Ivy League institutions are not conducive to educating a population of good

learners. Rather, they are perpetuating a cycle through which a truly diverse society is

unattainable. However, it is difficult to discount the prospect of a well-educated populace being

an indication of a successfully positioned society. As such, it is difficult to truly come to a

consensus on the true quality of the education provided by the Ivy League from either a

first-hand or expert standpoint. The topic of an Ivy League education is undoubtedly the center

of an opinionated and, sometimes, polarizing debate.

The debate over the efficacy of Ivy League institutions in comparison to other

universities of lower-ranking in providing worthwhile and fulfilling education at a reasonable

cost still rages on. This topic is confounded by a myriad of different perspectives, opinions, and

ideas which blur the true picture of the merits of the Ivy League. Although negatives exist in

forms such as an admissions process that disregards transparency and high tuition prices which

may prove to be unaffordable, the verifiable advantages of receiving an Ivy League education far

outweigh any concerns of possible shortcomings. Each of the eight Ivy League schools possesses

a unique combination of name-recognition, prestige, exclusivity, viability, diversity, confidence,

and value which coalesce to set them apart from most other American universities. While these

schools lead the way in innovation and ideals, the Ivy League banner is not necessarily the
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distinguishing factor between a subpar university and a great university. Considerably, there still

exist viable alternatives in universities such as Stanford University and the Massachusetts

Institute of Technology which offer similar experiences to the Ivy League schools. However, the

core values of the Ivy League are the gold-standard on which most other universities attempt to

emulate. Although the Ivy League is enticing on the surface-level, a deeper dive into the nuances

of its construction reveals the true value in pursuing eight of the best universities in the United

States and the world.

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Works Cited

Diaz, Makayla, et al. "Alumni Day 2020." Creative Writing Symposium, 3 Jan. 2020, Jericho

High School, New York. Speech.

Gittell, Ross, and Julie Johnson. "Connecting Across the Community College and Ivy League

Divide." ​Inside Higher Ed,​ 18 July 2018,

www.insidehighered.com/views/2018/07/18/benefits-greater-connections-between-comm

unity-and-ivy-league-colleges-opinion.

Ivy League vs Community College: Which Education Is Better?​ Jubilee, 2019.

Mata, Silvester G., Jr. "Ivy League Experience: Increasing Care, Increasing Engagement."

Journal of International Students​, vol. 7, no. 4, 2017, pp. 1104-12. ​Complementary

Index,​ files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1160732.pdf.

Morton, Jennifer M. "The False Promise of Elite Education." ​The Chronicle of Higher Education,​

vol. 65, no. 29, 5 Apr. 2019. ​General Reference Center Gold​,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsggr&AN=edsgcl.604316311&site=

eds-live.

"The Student Choice: How do Ivy League, Private, Public, and Community Colleges Stack Up?"

Vennli​, 6 Apr. 2016,

www.vennli.com/blog/the-student-choice-how-do-ivy-league-private-public-and-commu

nity-colleges-stack-up.

Unz, Ron. "The Myth of American Meritocracy: How Corrupt Are Ivy League Admissions?" ​The

American Conservative,​ vol. 11, no. 12, 1 Dec. 2012, pp. 14-38. ​Gale in Context: High
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School,​

link.gale.com/apps/doc/A310866378/SUIC?u=jeric34891&sid=SUIC&xid=4be6f52d.