Ivy obsession

rbouwens · 07-08-2012, 11:58 PM

***CAUTION: FIRST-WORLD PROBLEM***

Yup, I freely admit that I am obsessed with the Ivies. It's everything about them that I love - the prestige, academics, students, architecture, exclusiveness, the "wow" factor, the students' pride/loyalty, residential colleges (in the case of Yale,) the towers, the fireplaces. I know this is SUPER shallow and all, but I'm telling the truth. I'm only human.

I don't know how many times I've watched the Yale admissions singing video - it's catchy, "cool," and appealing. Their housing system makes their college sound so neat! (yes, their advertising techniques are WORKING!! I'M HOOKED!!)

I'm being blatantly honest here, but I envy the Ivy students. I didn't apply to any Ivies, but if I hear of anyone going to one, I wish I was him/her. I don't even know why I think this way. It isn't logical at all so please don't tell me I'm being crazy - I know that!!

This nonsense aside, I love my school. I've been chatting with the students in my class on Facebook and we seem to get a lot of traffic on our page - one thread started over 300 comments! We have a LOT of pride for our school and its students. They're so down-to-earth and they all seem like the coolest kids. There are also many people that prefer LACs for undergrads, but wouldn't the residential systems at larger schools make up for that?

And yet, my obsession remains....blech. Idk why. I don't wanna be rich someday, I don't even wanna own a house or a car. I just wanna travel from place to place. I mean, I wanna live in many places, so I don't see how having a mortgage on a house would fit into that lifestyle. Why are others Ivy-obsessed? Trust me, I'm not the only one!

Regardless, I'm gonna try to shoot for an Ivy for grad school. I'm just afraid that I would miss out on all of the cool, fun experiences from Ivy undergrad life. Not that they won't be present at my school, but I'll just miss the Hogwarts-esque turrets. *dramatic tear*

If this thread is stupid (it is, I'm just rambling on for my own sanity), then please get a mod to delete it so I don't embarrass myself any more. Who wants to read about my pathetic life

?

melody10511 · 07-09-2012, 12:23 AM

I don't think this thread is stupid. I'm 100% sure that there are many many more people on this forum who are as ivy-obsessed, but they're just not as honest as you are.

I also have keen interest in the Ivies, but not really an obsession. I mean, if I don't get to attend an Ivy undergrad, I wouldn't lose my hope or life's goal, but I admit I would definitely feel like, "aw, man. I'm pretty sure I'm missing a lot."

However, I don't think there's any choice in the world that does not come with some regret. Even if I do get to attend an Ivy, I would still wonder how I would be like in another Ivy, or Stanford or MIT, or even UChicago. So well... life goes on. :P

Alliancedude1 · 07-09-2012, 12:26 AM

I read it, was interesting : ). Years down the line its really not going to matter that much where you went to college, unless you try at every chance to bring it up in conversation, and people would notice and get turned off by it.

GL on getting into grad school at those places : )! You can still get to where you want to go without being in an ivy league school, so you can look at it as anything else that you aren't/haven't/won't be granted-- be thankful for the things you do have, which are a lot if you are going to college : ). It would be cool to win the lottery, but if I don't, I'm still thankful for the things I have, and with your obsession for those schools, if you don't attain them, there is much more to life and you aren't being limited!

I wouldn't say you are embarrassing yourself if you state you are going to put in the effort to get into grad school at an ivy... if you stated your obsession, but came off as unwilling to work hard and wanted them to be given to you, I would say you would be, but that isn't the case. You had reasons, are willing to work, and for something that can be considered a good thing, I would say its not shame worthy in itself. An examination of your personal motives and goals/purpose in life can revert that though, but I'd have to know you : P.

Pizzagirl · 07-09-2012, 12:27 AM

Oh good grief. These places are just schools. People there have bad hair days, fights with roommates, boring classes, and the whole range of human experiences. Stop idealizing them.

polarscribe · 07-09-2012, 12:28 AM

Just a reminder that graduate student life at any school is dramatically different from undergraduate life. You're working a lot more, studying much harder and are largely disconnected from the realm of students outside your department.

lookingforward · 07-09-2012, 12:31 AM

You're in love with the myth or the image. Like loving some movie-star from afar.

Ivygolfer · 07-09-2012, 12:34 AM

Agree with most everything you said, but the part about the Yale admissions song, that invalidates the entire post for me. WHAT SANE PERSON CAN LIKE THIS?????? That's Why I Chose Yale - YouTube Warning: the link may cause suicidal thoughts and a deep animosity towards bull dogs.

rbouwens · 07-09-2012, 12:55 AM

^I loved the video!!! Yeah, some parts were cheesy, but who cares?? It's all good! They put a lot of work into it and I think it's very original!!! And I didn't think the one Harvard made in response to it was very funny, even though it was meant to be. It's like Yale can't do anything creative (like making a cool admissions video) without Harvard mocking it. I know it's all good fun, but still.

One complaint I have however concerns the people in the video - they're all good-looking. And they all have MacBooks and seemingly-perfect residential lives.... Not that that's a bad thing, but.....I mean, they didn't show any negative sides to campus life, not that they should haha.

And the whole motive behind it (probably) is to lure in more potential appliers in order to decrease their acceptance rate....sad, but true.

Still, I can't stop watching it, so it's doing its job!

xiggi · 07-09-2012, 02:04 AM

That video is awful. Every second of it. Could expect such crap from Broadway's Tisch, but not from Yale.

flower161 · 07-09-2012, 02:29 AM

Well I applaud the OP for the post cuz Im 99% sure that the majority of people on this site are obessed as well (including me but my feelings arent too superficial towards the Ivies).

But at the same time we kinda have to be realistic when it comes to realizing that they are not the only schools that people should set their heart on cuz the Ivies are not perfect by any means and its a crapshoot when it comes to admissions

OsakaDad · 07-09-2012, 04:36 AM

Hilarious video! Ivy obsession? -- that is pretty funny too.

PAGRok · 07-09-2012, 05:12 AM

I was once obsessed, mainly cause of the history of the League and I love tradition and heritage. It felt powerful to me when I walked through Yale knowing what an incredibly place it was and how the ground is almost hallowed because of the incredible people who have walked there. But I felt this at many other schools! I still love Yale (and Brown) even though I wasn't accepted and I dream of working as an admissions officer at an Ivy or UChicago. Anyways, I love that video too! It's great, always makes me smile.

melody10511 · 07-09-2012, 05:22 AM

Harvard Still Sucks 2011 - YouTube This is a much better promotional video imo :P

lookingforward · 07-09-2012, 09:13 AM

Harvard University: rejected commercial - YouTube

Pizzagirl · 07-09-2012, 10:25 AM

Quote:

I'm just afraid that I would miss out on all of the cool, fun experiences from Ivy undergrad life.

What makes you think that the "fun" at Ivy League (or similar elite schools) is, at the core, fundamentally much different from most schools? Hanging out with people is hanging out with people. Parties are parties. Participating in XYZ extracurricular is participating in XYZ extracurricular. There are nice people and jerks everywhere. What makes you think that the cool, fun experiences from Ivy Leagues are in a world apart from others?