Ivies talking to each other

DJ_Mack
Sun, 02 Jan 2005 22:21:42 +0000

specifically, i heard that if u apply to a majority of the ivies, u have a greater chance of being rejected



I have heard that this is the case, and I’m pretty sure that the info came from a reliable source, although I do not remember what source at the moment… The ivies do share information, and when someone applies to every ivy, it probably seems to each individual school that there isn’t a great probability that he/she will attend since he/she has so many other options. The schools may assume, “Oh, some other ivy will accept him-- he doesn’t need us.”

Generally if any school’s adcoms feel there is a very low likelihood of you attending, they will be less likely to accept you. And I mean any school. I know someone who applied to several ivies and other top schools-- he was accepted to all of them but rejected from his so-called “safety school”. Not because he wasn’t qualified, but because the school realized that he was so over-qualified and had so many other options that he wouldn’t go there even if he was admitted. The school could instead accept someone who would be more likely to attend.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t apply to as many schools or as many ivies as you want. Sure some people are just looking to count their acceptances, but some have somehow lost their confidence and just want to get in somewhere, and still some (you guys here) are just undecided. It’s important to keep your options open. And chances are if you do apply to every ivy and are qualified, you’ll get in somewhere. But it may not be your ideal choice. So my suggestion is to try to narrow down your schools a little bit before you apply. Just my $0.02.