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Home > Articles > What are Ivy League Universities: Know the Top Universities, Eligibility Requirements, How to Apply online and Unknown Facts
Updated on 29th December, 2023 , 8 min read
The Ivy League universities are renowned for their exceptional academic standing, and their historical legacy significantly contributes to this prestige. With a long and distinguished history, these institutions have consistently drawn the brightest minds. Notably, more than one-third of U.S. presidents received their education from an Ivy League school, and together, these universities have produced a substantial number of Nobel laureates.
This article will give a closer view of the concept of the Ivy League, the qualifications required for admission to Ivy League universities, intriguing insights, and key considerations before submitting your application.
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The Ivy League represents a group of eight private universities situated in the north-eastern region of the United States. These universities were initially part of the NCAA Division 1 athletic league, which came into existence during the 1950s.
These eight esteemed American institutions earned recognition for their exceptionally competitive sports programs. Their consistent athletic excellence led to increased financial support, grants, and the recruitment of distinguished educators from various parts of the world. Consequently, these establishments swiftly established a notable standing for academic excellence in conjunction with their sporting achievements. Today, they are not just prestigious universities in the United States but also around the world.
The eight Ivy League universities all have a rich historical presence, boasting ancient buildings and captivating tales that have endured through time. Some folks say the term "Ivy League" started in 1937 when a sports writer named Caswell Adams was writing about a football game between Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania. He called these schools "ivy-covered," and that's how they got the name "Ivy League."
The Ivy League universities are renowned not only for their academic excellence but also for their distinguished participation in athletics. This tradition dates back to the late 19th century, with these institutions actively engaging in athletic conferences and competitive sports.
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The most sought-after colleges and universities in the United States and around the world are Ivy League universities. The 2020 QS World University Ranking lists about eight Ivy League universities. Ivy League colleges have a global reputation that no other university can match.
The Ivy League members in the United States are primarily located in the country's north-eastern part and include the following eight universities:
Ivy League schools are famous for several reasons:
Ivy League colleges are extremely selective, yet thousands of students still apply every year to some of America's finest universities, and these are among the biggest.
Across the eight colleges, there are about 150,000 enrolled students. With little more than 30,000 students, Harvard is the biggest college. Interestingly, though, given their emphasis on graduate school and variety of graduate programs, several Ivy League universities have significantly greater graduate enrolment than undergraduates. In certain instances, nearly twice as many graduate students attend Harvard and Columbia as undergraduates—roughly 8,000 at each school. Approximately sixty percent of students’ at all Ivy League schools are alumni.
It's also important to remember that, because of their size and reputation, their student body is usually varied. The Ivy League is a worldwide university, even though, like many universities, it attracts a large number of students from nearby regions. Every university has a larger percentage of foreign students than the national average, and Harvard is once again at the top of the list, with five percent of its student body consisting of international students.
All of this suggests that, even with the intense competition for Ivy League spots, the chances of success can be significantly raised by doing a little research to select the best subject at the best university before submitting an application.
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Ivy League universities in the United States consistently rank as top-tier institutions worldwide. Whether you aspire to pursue a bachelor's, masters, or even a doctorate, American universities are often at the forefront of academic excellence. As admissions season approaches, students embark on the comprehensive application process. To aid your preparations, here is a checklist of essential documents you must gather before commencing your application to American universities.
Getting into an Ivy League university is a highly competitive endeavour. While the specific enrolment process can vary from one university to another, there are common requirements that most of them share:
It's important to note that Ivy League institutions don't evaluate applicants based solely on academic performance. They also value involvement in societies, diverse interests, and active participation in the community. Although these universities receive a high volume of applications each year, each has its own admission capacity and acceptance rate. On average, the acceptance rate across all eight Ivy League institutions is lower than 11 percent.
What sets Ivy League universities apart from others is their exceptional reputation. These institutions have nurtured the academic journeys of numerous prominent figures, including US Presidents, actors, authors, politicians, and business leaders. Notable alumni such as Barack Obama, Emma Watson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Meryl Streep, and Toni Morrison exemplify the caliber of individuals associated with these universities.
The robust alumni networks affiliated with Ivy League schools serve as invaluable resources for students. These networks offer students opportunities to cultivate their professional connections and seek recommendations within their chosen fields.
Many graduates have experienced that holding a degree from an Ivy League institution can be a significant advantage, particularly when pursuing competitive careers like medicine and law. Such degrees can serve as a gateway to exclusive professional pathways.
Here are some intriguing and lesser-known facts about Ivy League universities:
The term "Ivy League" wasn't initially a mark of distinction. It began as a way to describe the sporting rivalry among the eight universities. Interestingly, a sports journalist who coined the term had graduated from Fordham, a university with a strong football reputation. Frustrated while covering a Columbia-Pennsylvania match, he used "Ivy League" in a somewhat disparaging manner, implying that these institutions were better known for their ivy-covered walls than their football prowess.
Despite the name, the Ivy League colleges are not as ancient as you might assume. They are around 500 years away from being among the eight oldest universities globally, and they don't even rank as the eight oldest in the United States. For example, Harvard, America's oldest university, predates Cornell by 96 years. Other American universities, such as the College of William and Mary (founded in 1693), predate some Ivy League members.
Seven of the eight Ivy League universities (all except Cornell) were colonial colleges, established prior to the Declaration of Independence. The University of Pennsylvania, in fact, has Benjamin Franklin, one of America's founding fathers, as its founder. Columbia University, originally known as King's College, received its start through a Royal Charter and later changed its name after the American War of Independence.
Brown University takes an innovative approach to education. It encourages individuality and creativity by allowing students to design their own courses. Students are only required to complete a minimum of 30 courses and choose one concentration (or major). During each semester, students can sample courses during a "shopping period." Many courses have no prerequisites, and even some master's courses are open to undergraduates. This flexibility allows students to craft unique academic paths.
In the 1960s, Harvard students had a unique pre-exam stress-relief ritual known as the "primal scream." They would open their windows and shout for ten minutes before exams. Over time, this practice transitioned to streaking, but it remains a part of Harvard's historical traditions. Cornell also has its pre-exam tradition, where the university band takes over the library for an hour before exams, making last-minute revision challenging. Each Ivy League school has its peculiar customs; for instance, at Penn, they throw bread and baked goods onto the sports field to "toast" their team.
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By - Nikita Parmar 2024-09-06 10:59:22 , 6 min readThe Ivy League consists of eight prestigious American universities in the northeastern part of the United States. They are well-known for their strong academic and athletic programs.
The term "Ivy League" was initially used in a somewhat disparaging way by a sports journalist in 1937 to describe the athletic rivalry among these universities.
The Ivy League includes Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth University, Harvard University, Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University.
Ivy League schools are famous for their academic excellence, rich history, selectivity, and notable alumni who have made significant contributions in various fields.
There are about 150,000 students across all eight Ivy League universities, with Harvard being the largest, enrolling over 30,000 students.
Ivy League institutions have an exceptional reputation and notable alumni who excel in various fields. They offer strong alumni networks and open doors to competitive careers.