Ivy League Schools Overview

General Facts

• All 8 Ivy League schools are in the Northeast.
• Known for: colorful autumns, cold winters, world-class cities, and prestigious Ivy League schools.
• Increasingly low acceptance rates due to rising applications.
• Video covers interesting facts about each school.

University of Pennsylvania (UPenn)

• Founded: 1740 by Benjamin Franklin
• Acceptance Rate: 4.4%
• Notable Alumni: Warren Buffett, Elon Musk
• Location: 2 miles from downtown Philadelphia
• Schools Offering Undergraduate Studies: College of Arts and Sciences, School of Engineering and Applied Science, School of Nursing, Wharton School
• Features:
  • Over 10,000 students
  • Exhaustive curriculum
  • Known as the "social Ivy"
  • Active student life and "Work Hard, Play Hard" attitude
  • Rigorous academics

Columbia University

• Founded: 1754
• Acceptance Rate: 3.73%
• Achievements: Produced 101 Nobel Prize winners
• Location: New York City
• Career Fields: Finance, Media, Tech, Healthcare, Entertainment
• Investments: Significant endowment in land, second-largest landowner in NYC
• Core Curriculum: Literature, history, philosophy, music, art, science
• Class Size: Small, fostering faculty-student relationships

Harvard University

• Founded: 1636 (Oldest Ivy and U.S. university)
• Acceptance Rate: 3.19%
• Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
• Features:
  • Exemplary academics
  • Rich traditions
  • Tight-knit community
• Popular Majors: Economics, Government, Computer Science
• Notable Alumni: Barack Obama, John F Kennedy, Bill Gates (dropout), Mark Zuckerberg (dropout)
• Honorary Degrees: Given to notable dropouts

Brown University

• Founded: 1764
• Acceptance Rate: 5%
• Location: Providence, Rhode Island
• Academic Features: Open curriculum allowing exploration without strict requirements
• Prestigious Programs: Dual degree program with Rhode Island School of Design, Liberal Medical Education
• Student Life: Greek life prominent, athletics less so

Yale University

• Founded: 1701
• Acceptance Rate: 4.46%
• Location: New Haven, Connecticut
• Features:
  • Renowned arts programs
  • Focus on undergraduate teaching
  • Extensive financial aid
  • Residential colleges for fostering community

Dartmouth College

• Founded: 1769
• Acceptance Rate: 6.2%
• Location: Hanover, New Hampshire (most rural Ivy)
• Designation: College, not university
• Features:
  • Small size, intimate liberal arts college vibe
  • Rigorous academics
  • High participation in fraternities and sororities
  • Oldest and largest outing club in the nation

Princeton University

• Founded: 1746
• Acceptance Rate: 4%
• Location: Suburban New Jersey
• Notable Alumni: James Madison, Woodrow Wilson (graduates); John F Kennedy (transferred)
• Focus: Undergraduate education and academic research
• Highlighted Program: Princeton School of Public and International Affairs

Cornell University

• Founded: 1865
• Acceptance Rate: 8%
• Location: Ithaca, New York
• Undergraduate Enrollment: 15,000 (half of Ithaca's population)
• Features:
  • Tight-knit student body
  • Known for engineering, agriculture, hotel management
  • Recognized for excellent food quality
  • Close ties with local farming industry