LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL

Many high school students dream of attending a school like Harvard, Dartmouth or Princeton. These prestigious universities are America’s pride and joy of college education. They offer amazing benefits for career opportunities and classes taught by experts (Koba). Undoubtedly, getting into an Ivy League school is quite a difficult achievement and many students don’t make the cut. 30,489 applied to attend the Harvard University and of this large number, only 2,110 were accepted for the graduating class of 2014. The overall acceptance rate of that year was 6.9% (“Ivy League Admissions Statistics”). This brings up the question, “Is going to an Ivy League college worth it?”. Between the miniscule acceptance rates, the effects the schools can have on one’s confidence and the high rates of depression observed in these campuses, many will answer no.

 

Harvard’s small acceptance rate is among many for several schools. All universities take notice of several factors for applications. They want to see schedules filled with accelerated courses and transcripts with exceptional grades. Without a doubt, AP and Honors Courses are expected but just getting credit for one of these classes won’t get you into Princeton. Ivy League colleges want to see the highest grades and test scores in these courses (Taylor). As many high schoolers know, getting a 5 on an AP Exam or receiving an A+ each semester requires a large amount of studying and hard work. Although, if you are among the very lucky, small population which does get accepted, there are still more hurdles to jump, including the enormous costs. For example, to attend Stanford for four years, the average cost is $250,000 (Noer).

 

Being accepted and paying for admission at an elite university is not easy. In many cases, the actual experience of attending that prestigious school, isn’t any easier due to the rigorous academic schedule. In fact, many Ivy League colleges and other elite universities have seen a high number of cases of mental illness in their students. Most frequently, they observe depression in attendees. The mental health center at Harvard assists about two-thousand students, thirteen percent of the school’s student body, many of whom are on antidepressants (Dana). The University of Pennsylvania’s Director of Counseling and Psychological Service, Bill Alexander, describes an Ivy League school as “a pressure cooker” within a huge group of highly educated people living in a small community (Shtrakhman). Now imagine this environment during final exams.

 

Ivy League schools deserve recognition but there are still those who find fault. Many suggest that prestigious schools can create a limited learning environment. William Deresiewicz argues that schools of this academic magnitude stop their students from thinking outside the box and being creative (Workman). Malcolm Gladwell, author of David and Goliath, writes that students who attend elite schools may be less successful than those who attend average universities due to the effect on one’s self-confidence. He compares this idea to being a small fish in a big pond (Maslin). More students can easily thrive when they don’t live in a constantly stressful and competitive atmosphere. Smaller, average schools can make students feel like a big fish in a small pond, where they will be confident in achieving their goals.

 

If you’re a high school student, who has your heart set on attending an Ivy League school, it’s important to understand that these elite schools have pros and cons just like any other college. Many Ivy League graduates have had successful future, but it’s also common for students to succumb to the pressure and stress. High costs, slim acceptance rates and stressful environments are only some of the negatives for Ivy League colleges. Ultimately, no matter where you’ve applied, making a final decision is a difficult for any senior. By reflecting on yourself and determining where you will be happy and thrive, you may be able to discover your real dream school.

 

 

Works Cited

Dana, Rebecca. "Ivy League Students Flock to Therapists." Yale Daily News. YALE DAILY NEWS, 2014. Web. 11 May 2014.

"Ivy League Admissions Statistics." The Ivy Coach. The Ivy Coach™, Inc., 2002. Web. 11 May 2014.

Maslin, Janet. "Finding Talking Points Among the Underdogs." The New York Times. The New York Times, 02 Oct. 2013. Web. 11 May 2014.

Noer, Michael. "America's Top Colleges." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 01 Aug. 2012. Web. 11 May 2014.

Shtrakhman, Darina. "Cornell Suicides Raise Concerns across Ivies." The Daily Pennsylvanian. The Daily Pennsylvanian, 24 Mar. 2010. Web. 11 May 2014.

Taylor, Bev. "AP Tests and Ivy League Admission." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 24 Oct. 2012. Web. 11 May 2014.

Workman, Amber. "Ivy League Schools: Are They Worth Getting In?" Guardian Liberty Voice. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2014.

Koba, Mark. "Ivy League Diplomas Still worth Price of Admission?" Ivy Wise. IvyWiseTM, LLC., 5 Mar. 2011. Web. 17 May 2014.