It might seem like Ivy League schools should not be taken as seriously as they are, and you might be right on a few points. However, Ivy League schools still carry a lot of weight and are at least worth looking into. Consider the following reasons why Ivy League schools are still relevant.
There Are Many Ivy League Alumni in High Places
These days, it is not always about what you know, but who you know, and for Ivy League schools, that is a given, especially with their network of alumni. If you already know what your dream job is and you know exactly where you want to work, it pays to look up where your potential future interviewers and bosses went to college. As long as you have the know-how and the ability to either get scholarships or pay the outrageous tuition fees yourself or with the help of your family, you will be able to get into the school and therefore be one step closer to what you want to do. For instance, if you want to be a fund manager and are looking to work at Fayez Sarofim & Co. among the likes of Christopher Sarofim, you might want to consider going to Princeton University, as that is where Sarofim went to school. Bear in mind that this mainly applies to the worlds of finance and business consulting. Ivy League schools do not necessarily offer the best opportunities across the board, so make sure you want to work in what the alumni are most known for if you are going to choose an Ivy League school.
Ivy League Schools Have a Very Strong Reputation and Presence
Though people and the schools they attend should be considered equally, that is unfortunately not the case. Because Ivy League schools have been around for so long, they have an almost indomitable reputation and presence in the highest echelons of various industries across the world. You could put two equally capable people with similar work histories and reputations side by side, and if one of them is from an Ivy League school, they have a much better chance of being hired than the other candidate does. Ivy League schools have a ton of power, and they also know how to use it.
However, attending one does not guarantee that you will immediately be hired. In fact, if you go to an Ivy League school for just the reputation it gives, it might backfire on you. Ivy League schools are also seen as pretentious, and if you are seeking a job where most of the workers are blue-collar or a few rungs above that, they may not appreciate the kind of reputation that comes with an ivy league education.
Ivy League Schools Are Great For a Challenge
If you are worried that you will not be able to be challenged enough academically, you do not need to worry about that with most Ivy League schools. Because of their extensive network and intimidating reputation, Ivy League schools have to walk the walk in addition to talking the talk, and they do this by only accepting students who can keep up with the overwhelming expectations and mountains of work that are heaped on them from day one until graduation day. Ivy League students are immediately put into the fast lane and are not allowed to get out of it, no matter what happens. If that sounds like your speed, it is definitely worth it for you to look into pursuing an Ivy League education. However, if you are looking to challenge yourself in more of a trade school career, an Ivy League school is not for you. Instead, try looking at highly respected trade schools or an apprenticeship.
Ivy League schools are a double-edged sword, and it can be frustrating when you are trying to decide whether you should go to one. Keep this article in mind and think about whether an Ivy League school, while still relevant generally, would be relevant to what you want to do.
