Ivy League Schools

Kimmy · Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 8:56 pm Post subject: Ivy League Schools

Has anyone tried applying to any of the Ivy League Schools in the United States/or considered going there?

I want to get into Yale, but it's a very difficult school to get into and very expensive. When I checked its profile, I found out that the admission rate was only 10% as of last year.

I'm currently in grade 10, and I am working harder to push my grades up and join more extra-curricular activities for the next three years.

What do you think?
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lemondiva · Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 10:07 pm Post subject:

I'm in grade 12 this year and I'm going to apply to a few. Just remember that American schools look at your grades from grades 9 - 12, and take your SAT's early! I procrastinated and now I have to take all my tests in november and december. My life right now is seriously a huge cram session hell.

It is REALLY expensive though, so I don't know if the Ivy League education is worth it. But I'm just going to apply and see what happens. I won't be too disappointed if I don't get in.

boarderlinefrenzy · Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2007 4:50 am Post subject:

^What do Canadian colleges/universities do?

(American? guilty)
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Meg-san · Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 8:06 pm Post subject:

^I'm not sure about out east-but I know UBC and SFU are pretty easy/straightforward as long as you have the marks. For Arts at UBC they just look at your top 4 provincially examinable classes (one has to be english). SFU they look at your top 5 but one of them is a "non-academic" class (I used media arts when I applied there). You just enter the marks online and they tell you if you're accepted or not right away. They don't care about extracurriculars or anything. So as long as you have the marks, it's very easy!

mike · Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2007 12:18 pm Post subject:

^^In Ontario they use your top 6 grade 12 University/Mature courses (one has to be English) to calculate your average, and pay special attention to prerequisites (if any) of the program you're applying to. Some programs require leadership experience (like Schulich at York) or a supplementary application, but most don't. You have to apply online through an application centre, which then sends requests to all the universities you applied to, and can take anywhere between 1-4 months to expect a response.
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lemondiva · Posted: Sun Oct 28, 2007 6:51 pm Post subject:

^^^Most Canadian universities calculate your admissions average based on five academic Gr 12 courses, usually including English, Math, and three others that vary depending on the program you're applying into. They probably will also look at your final Gr 11 marks, and some programs have supplemental applications based on extracurriculars, leadership, and community service. On the other hand, most, if not all, American universities (especially the Ivy Leagues, obviously) consider marks from Gr 9 - 12, extracurriculars, leadership, community service, reference letters, SAT's, and who knows what else.

Kimmy · Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 2:35 pm Post subject:

dbee · Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 2:48 pm Post subject:

a guy i know got into harvard. amazing i know, if you want to get in id recommend you get involved in TONS of extra curriculars, pull up your marks to be super high (at least 95 id probably say) and get studying for your SATs!
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boarderlinefrenzy · Posted: Sat Nov 10, 2007 4:06 pm Post subject:

to fashion_boy, mag-san, and lemon diva: thanks for all that information!!!! wow.

to Kimmy: Most non-American's look down Americans for being ignorant. (most aren't) my question did sound quite ignorant, though.
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Kimmy · Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 9:57 pm Post subject:

electricpearls · Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 7:47 pm Post subject:

IMO, Ivy League schools are not worth it for your undergrad education... they are probably better for grad schools.

There are plenty of great Canadian schools, and if you're looking for prestige, McGill is sometimes called the "Harvard of Canada", though other prestigious/good schools are UofT, Queen's, UBC, etc.
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Kimmy · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 5:49 pm Post subject:

Well I just feel it would be an honor to attend any one of the Ivy League schools, whether I'm an undergraduate student there, or not. But I will also consider other schools in Canada and I will apply to McGill for sure.

Although I remember reading somewhere that the undergraduate students at Ivy Leagues don't get much support from their professors and the schools are essentially focused on research... Are those the reasons that make you think graduate schools are better?

But it would be nice to get accepted into Yale, or Harvard.
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seasunsky · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 7:30 pm Post subject:

^^no, Harvard is America's McGill!! ...sheesh.
haha.

I agree, though. I think an Ivy League for your undergrad is a little bit ridiculous, unless you actually have the money for it. UBC, UofT and McGill are definitely just as good, and undergrads honestly aren't that different from place to place.
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Kimmy · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 8:10 pm Post subject:

Maybe I just want to get a certificate with some kind of Ivy League name on it, or proudly wear a sweatshirt that says, "Harvard" across it???
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st3ph · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 8:34 pm Post subject:

While I see what you're saying and that I would love to boast an ivy league name on my sweatshirt or a nicely framed certificate, I think you should decide on a school based more on the programs it offers and the quality of learning rather than the name. Sort of like shopping for clothes? I dunno. Although obviously Harvard is a great school, there are many others you can go to and get what you need. Myself? I'm thinking of Guelph, McMaster, Queens, McGill, or Waterloo. I know, long list. Harvard is in my dreams though Happy

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greenism · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 8:36 pm Post subject:

A girl in my school got into PRINCETON! Crazy!!
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Kimmy · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 8:38 pm Post subject:

Kimmy · Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 8:40 pm Post subject:

st3ph · Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 8:46 am Post subject:

^^ yes i know, i wasn't saying ivy league schools aren't top schools to go to, but that there may be other places you can get an equal education depending on what you want. yes harvard has high quality learning, but so do many others. it kind of seems like you want to go there just to say you go there. but if you can do it...go for it! go big or go home ! : ]
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emcee · Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 12:02 pm Post subject:

Ivy League schools are crazy expensive. By crazy, I definitely mean it. American universities are already super expensive in comparison to Canadian universities (we pay around $5000 per year, not including things like room & board and meal plans if you live on campus or away from home), whereas for Ivy Leagues, you could easily pay around $30 000. For one year. I looked at a chart online and for Yale, average out-of-state fees are $26 100, plus $7930 for room & board.

O_o

And plus, we do have some pretty good universities here in Canada. UBC and McGill, U of T all have international reputations as excellent universities.
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lemondiva · Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 8:37 pm Post subject:

Kimmy: No, I didn't get into any of the Ivies I applied to. Sad

Out of all the American universities I applied to, I only got into Berkeley. I was pretty bummed, but now I'm fine with going to UBC. I knew that it was really hard to get into any of the Ivies - grades are definitely not everything for them. Just to give you my stats: I have a 98% average, 2270 SATs, 770, 770, and 790 for SAT IIs, lots of extracurriculars. The thing is, I probably didn't have amazing teacher/counsellor recommendations, just good ones like everyone else, and my essay also wasn't that great. Plus if you don't have a 'hook', which is something really special about you that the schools can identify you as, as well as excellent grades/SATs/recs, there's no guarantee that you'll get in.

I was pretty depressed when I found out. I didn't expect to get into any, but it is not very fun to get 6 rejection letters in one day. Even if I got in, I wasn't sure that I wanted to go. As emcee said, it is crazy expensive. You'll need about 50k per year, which I think is way too much for an undergrad degree. Of course, you can get financial aid, which can be easy, such as for Princeton, but also hard, considering we're from Canada, which is why Berkeley is out of the question for me, cause you have to be American to get any money. As well, I don't really see myself enjoying living in the States... I defs like Canada better!

Anyway, good luck with preparing for applying! You never know what could happen, you could be that lucky 7% to get into Harvard!

missally · Supermodel Joined: 06 Dec 2006 Posts: 687 Smiles: +6 415

^ 98% average in your grade 12 year? Shocked

what courses did you take?

st3ph · Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 6:54 pm Post subject:

^^ 98

that's amazing.
teach me your study habits.
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lemondiva · Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 11:39 pm Post subject:

English 12, Math 12, AP Calculus, Chem 12, Physics 12, and French 12. I also take Peer Tutoring, but that doesn't count. I'm not super smart and I don't have a tutor, I'm just good at taking tests I think. I just study about a hour before each test the day before, take good notes during class, and procrastinate in the best way possible. Happy

It's my one talent haha.

st3ph · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 9:15 am Post subject:

^ I will have those classes next year, except exercise science instead of physics. Hmmm my goal is 95 % Happy

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boarderlinefrenzy · Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 10:09 am Post subject:

This is a very foriegn concept to me, people thinking Ivy Leages are the only thing that are very prestigous. Really, big name school is hard to get into, probably just as hard to get into as Harvard or Yale. UF (U of Florida), for example, is impossible to get into these days. Alot of state universities are hard (not all, but alot). Alot of the reason is because people from different countries like the idea of American colleges. Which makes sense because America is the Roman Empire, anyone that is of high class know English it seems, just like everyone spoke Latin back in the days of Caesar. Anyway, yeah. I'm settling for a simple state univeristy that isn't as prestigous as say... Johns Hopkins (Baltimore, Maryland) or Standord. But I probably would get into JOhn Hopkins because my Mom used to work there, not because I am appealing through my high school experience.

Heres what looks nice to awesome schools (this is just a general outline):
A high SAT score
Awesome grades, like 3.5 unweighted (that may mean nothing to you guys since I think you guys do grades differently than we do them)
Challenging courses
Leadership activities
Varsity sports look real nice, especially if you were a captain or got a letter
National Honors Society Member
Extracariculars
Community Service
Any unique niche you developed (eg Drama, Art, music, debate team, MUN, football, cheerleading, Student Government, communtiy clubs, etc.)

yeah, so that's what I have to say about America.
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Kimmy · Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 8:30 pm Post subject:

SUGARR* · Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 10:23 pm Post subject:

^ why race/ethnic background? =[
veryy curious.
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emcee · Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 10:53 pm Post subject:

^ Affirmative action, maybe?
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Kimmy · Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 4:30 am Post subject:

Well people say that it's easier to get accepted if you're black or hispanic, but it would be harder if you're white or asian.
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boarderlinefrenzy · Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 3:33 pm Post subject:

Puddingcup. · Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 4:46 pm Post subject:

okay, well, I'm in grade 9 and I've started to plan my future courses in high school...
but I want to get into the arts, photograhpy and design and try SFU and UBC.

but in grade 12, I'm not planning on taking many real courses, socials probably, english, of course... psychology, draft and design. and... I can't think of much more
and my electives will most likely be all around art and maybe phys ed and phys ed tutoring..

so will that lessen my chances of getting into SFU or UBC?
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emcee · Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 7:10 pm Post subject:

^ I don't think so, as long as you have 4 (that was how many I needed) provincially examinable marks, including English. Other than that it depends on the program you are interested in, some require certain courses (ex. science requires Physics 11 and Chem 11, and 2 science 12s).
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