The Ivy League  consists of eight schools:

Brown - Harvard

Columbia - Princeton

Cornell - University of Pennsylvania

Dartmouth - Yale 

While all eight elite schools have been in existence for more than 150 years, and most for well over 200 years (Harvard was founded in 1636!), did you know that  that the term IVY LEAGUE was born in 1954, when the eight schools formed a Division I Athletic league?

I don’t have to tell you that these eight schools are among the most competitive in our nation to earn an offer of admission. But to me the most intriguing about nearly any institution across the country is their traditions. 

Here is a flavor of what you’ll find at three Ivy League schools.

A Visual and Symbolic Tradition comes from BROWN:

The Van Wickle Gates at Brown University are opened only twice per year. The gates open inward towards the campus as new freshmen walk into the campus and are welcomed home. At commencement the gates turn outward as the graduates step out of the comforts of campus and are ready to take flight. 

PRINCETON Tigers: Have a Tradition of a Fierce and Fiesty Competition 

Known as Cane Spree –  This event was literally was born out of street riots between freshmen and sophomore Princeton students in the 1860s.  Over time the event resembled more of a Freshman-Sophomore Field Day – competing in a variety of sports. Today the battle for class supremacy takes place each fall on  Powers Field.

YALE: Tradition of Celebration 

The Freshman Holiday Dinner takes place each December in Commons Dining Hall.  All 1300 freshmen dress up and enjoy lights, ice sculptures, and overabundance of sweet savory food choices and decadent desserts. Food is enough to make any college student ravenous. This is quite a celebration for completing their first semester of college. 

So let’s talk some numbers: 

Located in Ithica, NY, Cornell is the largest of these institutions with a total of over 14 thousand total students and a freshman class of over 3300. The smallest is Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, with a total of 4300 students and 1100 freshmen.

The number of high school seniors applying to these eight schools range from 20,000 to over 45 thousand applicants at any one college – with 5 schools well in the 30 thousand range. The acceptance rate  at these schools has dropped to under 10%

You can apply to each of the Ivy League colleges through the Common Application at Commonapp.org

I cannot emphasize enough just how competitive these schools are to get into. HOWEVER – students everywhere DO in fact get in each year – and that too could be you. My advice is simple: make a plan sooner rather than later that includes meeting with your college counselor. If you are a freshman – make an appointment before the end of the year and get to talking and planning.  If you are a junior – please go see your counselor – decide now on steps you can take immediately to make your application more compelling between today and the fall.

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