Deciding which college to apply to in the U.S. is mired with confusion. The dream of studying at Ivy League colleges is so great that often students make unrealistic decisions without considering the implications. In Spring 2024, a piece of news doing the rounds was how Malena Galletto, a Washington Heights teenager, was accepted to all eight Ivy League schools—along with all 20 other colleges and universities she applied to. These stories, although inspiring, can result in a lot of misinformation.
One big misconception students have is that by applying to all Ivies, they can increase their chances of admission. Applying to U.S. colleges is a complicated process; if it is to the prestigious Ivies, it is challenging too. The standards expected by the Ivies are very high, and with admission rates dipping every year, the chances of admission are reducing. Hence, starting your application process on the right foot is very important. Students feel that with high grades and a good profile, they are a fit for every Ivy. Many students feel that if they apply to all of the eight Ivies, their chances of getting into one are very high. This surely is a damaging assumption.
Ask any college admissions counselor, and they can vouch that a lot of time and effort is put into each application. Emotional reasons for wanting to apply to all Ivies can prove detrimental. What is important is to plan and strategize your application, which ultimately increases your chances of admission. At Ivy Central, we discourage our students from taking a cookie-cutter approach to their college applications, and here is why we want them to make informed decisions.
Let us explore some other assumptions people make when it comes to Ivy League colleges.
Myth: Ivy League colleges are similar
Reality This assumption can serve as a death knell for students and parents who are targeting to apply to Ivy League colleges. Each of these colleges is distinct, hence making the decision-making process a tough one. Research the colleges, and you will find that even Ivy Leagues are ranked every year. Harvard, Princeton, and Yale are the hardest to get into. Though officially not an Ivy, Stanford also falls in this category. Dartmouth, Brown, and Columbia make up the second tier, and Cornell and U Penn are the easier of the Ivies to get into.
Every student flourishes in a particular learning environment. Columbia’s Core Curriculum is not for everyone, and neither is Brown’s open curriculum that encourages inter-disciplinary studies (Navigating College Curricula: Open vs. Core Options Explained | Ivy Central) while, U Penn’s hyper-competitive pre-professional atmosphere prepares students to have a global mindset, and transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries. Thriving in U.S. College Classrooms: A Guide for Students | Ivy Central
Myth: All the Ivies are located in similar environments.
Reality: Located just across the Charles River from Boston, Harvard is in a historic city known for its rich academic atmosphere and vibrant cultural scene. Students visit the Harvard Art Museums, attend performances at the American Repertory Theater, or explore the Harvard Museum of Natural History. Yale is in a city with a mix of urban and suburban elements.
Princeton offers a serene and academically focused environment. Brown’s campus sits atop College Hill and is situated in the Finger Lakes region, Cornell’s campus is known for its stunning natural beauty, including gorges, waterfalls, and extensive green spaces.
U Penn students enjoy the diverse food scene at Reading Terminal Market, dine at the trendy restaurants in Rittenhouse Square, or shop at the King of Prussia Mall. The activities each of the Ivy League college students undertake are very different.
Dartmouth students hike the Appalachian Trail, ski at the Dartmouth Skiway, or kayak on the Connecticut River while enjoying farm-to-table dining at local eateries. Columbia students walk or bike through the bustling Central Park. You can notice how the landscape of each of the Ivies is distinct from each other.
Myth: All the Ivy League colleges require similar profiles.
Reality: Further from the truth, applying to all eight colleges with single-digit acceptance rates will only result in application fatigue. Everyone applying to these colleges has a similar GPA, and SAT scores but is differentiated by their achievements and extracurriculars. Each application is to be tailored to what the colleges are looking for in their incoming batch.
Every college requires students to write several essays. The essays need to be structured, answering the prompts unique to each college. This means they need to focus on nuance, detail, depth, context, and perspective. Students have to dedicate a lot of time to finding the correct narrative. This may lead students to compromise their authentic story, wanting to fit into college.
Rather than spreading their application to overwhelming levels, applicants should spend considerable time researching colleges and applying only to the one that matches their aspirations. It is important to remember that every student is not a fit for every Ivy League school, just as every Ivy League school is not a fit for every student.
Myth: Ivy League colleges are the only prestigious options.
Reality: Think again! Innumerable colleges and universities in the U.S. offer excellent education. Rather than spending time weaving their supplemental essays to each Ivy institution, students must spend time researching other colleges that might be a better fit and choice. Recently, Rice University has been recognized as among the new Ivies. Rice was recognized among ‘New Ivies’ by Forbes | Rice News | News and Media Relations | Rice University.
Joining Rice are institutions like Boston College, Carnegie Mellon University, Emory University, Georgetown University, Johns Hopkins University, Northwestern University, University of Notre Dame, University of Southern California, and Vanderbilt University. Students from these universities also thrive in workplaces because they are motivated learners, team players, and problem solvers. Similarly, there are some excellent public institutions that are known for imparting excellent education. The Movers & Shakers in the latest Forbes College Ranking-2025 | Ivy Central
Strategy plays a very important role in the application process. Getting accepted into a college by leveraging the Early Decision application cycle is gaining a lot of traction. If one has to apply to all the Ivies, it has to be in the Regular Decision cycle, by which time the number of seats left to be filled is fewer, thereby diminishing your chances.
In conclusion, Ivy Central advises students not to get blindsided by the name and prestige of the Ivy League colleges, but rather to create a balanced list by answering a few pertinent questions:
- Would you like to attend a small, midsized, or large school?
- Do you want to attend a public or private school or a liberal arts college?
- Would you like classroom experience or prefer working in labs conducting research?
- Do you want to live in a city, semi-urban, or rural setting?
- How would you like to spend your free time?
Reflecting on these questions and answering them with integrity will help students create a list that will satisfy their personal and academic ambitions.
