Ivy Leagues = No Homers Club???

[Dr. Donkey]

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I was wondering if anyone else had a similar experience to mine. I've applied to about 9 top-tier schools (~top 10 in those obscure rankings, US news and something or other) with 4 of them being Ivies and 5 being non-Ivies. I haven't heard an interview peep from any of the Ivies but have gotten interview offers from 4 of 5 of the non-Ivies (the fifth was Johns Hopkins which is basically as Ivy as you can get without actually being so), which are more highly ranked anyway. I went to a state school and I was wondering if there might be some kind of bias against public schools (I know people from state schools DO get into Ivies, but maybe not that many). Does anyone think there might be something to this, or is it just a coincidence?

 

[Law2Doc]

I was wondering if anyone else had a similar experience to mine. I've applied to about 9 top-tier schools (~top 10 in those obscure rankings, US news and something or other) with 4 of them being Ivies and 5 being non-Ivies. I haven't heard an interview peep from any of the Ivies but have gotten interview offers from 4 of 5 of the non-Ivies (the fifth was Johns Hopkins which is basically as Ivy as you can get without actually being so), which are more highly ranked anyway. I went to a state school and I was wondering if there might be some kind of bias against public schools (I know people from state schools DO get into Ivies, but maybe not that many). Does anyone think there might be something to this, or is it just a coincidence?

I'm betting on coincidence. You cannot really infer anything based on your own one experience. Plus, since the Ivies are all in the northeast (meaning, they have commonalities beyond just being Ivies), perhaps for all you know you are facing stronger competition from people who want to stay in that certain geographical region (i.e. maybe its a factor other than your undergrad).
If a couple hundred more people with top tier stats from state schools had the identical experience with the Ivies then I'd say you might be onto something, but unless that happens I think its healthier not to assume a conspiracy...

 

[Nutmeg]

Love the thread title. 😀 👍 👍

 

[jeffsleepy]

sample size of 1

 

[DianaLynne]

I went to a state school in the West and have invites from two Ivies, and rejections from one Ivy and haven't heard from the other. Of course, none of the Ivies I've interviewed at are announcing their class til March, but I'll keep you posted.

Now we have a sample size of 2.

 

[Dr. Donkey]

I talked to Cochran. He thinks the way we've been treated is "perturbing, petty, and preposterous," and he wants to take our case. He I come, Harvard [cue banjo music].

 

[nabeel76]

I was wondering if anyone else had a similar experience to mine. I've applied to about 9 top-tier schools (~top 10 in those obscure rankings, US news and something or other) with 4 of them being Ivies and 5 being non-Ivies. I haven't heard an interview peep from any of the Ivies but have gotten interview offers from 4 of 5 of the non-Ivies (the fifth was Johns Hopkins which is basically as Ivy as you can get without actually being so), which are more highly ranked anyway. I went to a state school and I was wondering if there might be some kind of bias against public schools (I know people from state schools DO get into Ivies, but maybe not that many). Does anyone think there might be something to this, or is it just a coincidence?

Seems like you are doing well for yourself. 4 out of 9 top schools is not bad, don't worry about IVY or Not they are all top 10. Hope your interviews go well. 👍

 

[Dr. Donkey]

Oh, trust me, I'm not crying myself to sleep at night or anything. I was just wondering if there is some kind of Ivy culture (a la fortress of solitude) that you need inside knowledge to penetrate. I mean, I know I'm being conspiratorial here, but I was just curious to see if any other people felt an inkling of this phenomenon.

Seems like you are doing well for yourself. 4 out of 9 top schools is not bad, don't worry about IVY or Not they are all top 10. Hope your interviews go well. 👍

 

[QueenofCryptic]

Actually, I am curious about this too, for my own reasons. I'm an Ivy grad, and I'm wondering if Ivy med schools (like say Columbia) will look more favorably on the fact that I'm from an Ivy than will schools like UMich.

Anyone care to offer their opinions on this?

 

[IndyZX]

im a lowly state student and have had a reasonable amount of success with interviewing at those schools.

 

[mdsadler]

I'm at a Canadian public university and have an interview at an Ivy. I wouldn't necessarily think they limit the number of public school students.

 

[Wiggy73]

My undergrad is a wannabe Ivy, if you will. I've gotten interview love from Duke and WashU, which are both actually ranked higher than several Ivies, but only from one Ivy. Sample size of 3! Of course, I've just flat had a crazy application season, so maybe I don't really count.

 

[lightnk102]

i'm ivy-educated, and the ivy med schools have shown me no love. come on! i'm one of your own!

 

[stinkycheese]

My undergrad is a wannabe Ivy, if you will. I've gotten interview love from Duke and WashU, which are both actually ranked higher than several Ivies, but only from one Ivy. Sample size of 3! Of course, I've just flat had a crazy application season, so maybe I don't really count.

I want to ask an honest question, completely not intending this as a flame, but why did you choose the schools you did without any state schools or mid-tier safeties? I hope you get in somewhere, but reading your mdapps profile made me think, "Wow, that's going out on a limb". I dont have the numbers to apply to any of those schools, so my voyeur is wondering, when you have high stats, what the thought process is for picking schools.

 

[Wiggy73]

I want to ask an honest question, completely not intending this as a flame, but why did you choose the schools you did without any state schools or mid-tier safeties? I hope you get in somewhere, but reading your mdapps profile made me think, "Wow, that's going out on a limb". I dont have the numbers to apply to any of those schools, so my voyeur is wondering, when you have high stats, what the thought process is for picking schools.

Totally fair question, no offense taken. 🙂 In short, I'm from Arkansas and UAMS, while perfectly good for training GPs who mostly stay in state, isn't going to get me into academic medicine away from Arkansas, which is what I want to do. I chose only to apply to schools that I would love to attend. And I only need one to come through for me!

 

[stinkycheese]

Totally fair question, no offense taken. 🙂 In short, I'm from Arkansas and UAMS, while perfectly good for training GPs who mostly stay in state, isn't going to get me into academic medicine away from Arkansas, which is what I want to do. I chose only to apply to schools that I would love to attend. And I only need one to come through for me!

I didn't know anything about Arkansas state schools 🙂 Thanks for answering my question. I think its easy to see from your numbers that any of those schools would be lucky to have you. Good luck!

 

[Psycho Doctor]

My undergrad is a wannabe Ivy, if you will. I've gotten interview love from Duke and WashU, which are both actually ranked higher than several Ivies, but only from one Ivy. Sample size of 3! Of course, I've just flat had a crazy application season, so maybe I don't really count.

wow, whereas you did apply to basically all top schools i'm actually surprised that you haven't gotten more invites and i'm very surprised at your rejections and waitlist Your scores are fabulous and it makes no sense that i could have gotten invites at schools that you haven't yet when your application appears soo much better than mine.

 

[10minutes]

Seeing how Ivy med schools have higher percentage of Ivy graduates compared to other top privates, you may be right. But remember most schools also give a little preference to their own graduates.

 

[twicetenturns]

I never went to an Ivy (unless you count the harvard extension school which isn't the same) and the Ivy's have shown me nothing but love. I went to a mid level liberal arts college. So Ivy's don't just go for Ivy grads. They do seem to have a serious preference for them though.

 

[10minutes]

wow, whereas you did apply to basically all top schools i'm actually surprised that you haven't gotten more invites and i'm very surprised at your rejections and waitlist Your scores are fabulous and it makes no sense that i could have gotten invites at schools that you haven't yet when your application appears soo much better than mine.

From what I see, you never know what will happen especially at top schools. I really hope that Wiggy will hear a good news soon but applying to only top schools even with great stats is kinda risky. One of my classmates is a really nice guy (2nd year) and had great stats & research experiences but was waitlisted at a bunch of top schools (yale, duke, hopkins, columbia, cornell, ucsf, and uva). He, however, applied to a lot of schools and had 6 acceptances (vandy, emory, pitt, mcv, usc, and later got off waitlist at uva). His only weakness was volunteering experience (1 year at JHU hospital). It's really a tough process.

 

[bidster]

Actually, I am curious about this too, for my own reasons. I'm an Ivy grad, and I'm wondering if Ivy med schools (like say Columbia) will look more favorably on the fact that I'm from an Ivy than will schools like UMich.

Anyone care to offer their opinions on this?

Although mdapplicants isn't a completely representative sample, if you run a search for interviewed or accepted students at UMich vs Ivy med schools, all of them have a range of schools represented.

There are of course exceptions and name/prestige may matter or translate into a preference, but I think those cases are much more readily found in law and business than in medicine. That said, if you're apathetic, insensitive, unmotivated, or an unbearably arrogant prat, that's not going to change beacuse of your region, your school's rep, or because US News ranked your school a certain number. If you genuinely care about whatever you're doing, excel at it, and make use of whatever opportunities you have available, that translates anywhere.

 

[ellia08]

Im from the midwest and I've been doing as well at ivys as non-ivys, maybe even better. (but then I didnt really apply to that many ivy league schools so take that as you will.)

 

[CanuckRazorback]

Totally fair question, no offense taken. 🙂 In short, I'm from Arkansas and UAMS, while perfectly good for training GPs who mostly stay in state, isn't going to get me into academic medicine away from Arkansas, which is what I want to do. I chose only to apply to schools that I would love to attend. And I only need one to come through for me!

That is so true about UAMS. It seems that every single family doctor around here graduated from there. I hope some other school will show me some out-of-state love!

 

[monstermatch]

Don't worry, good students always have the opportunity to leave a humble school for greener pastures. If you apply to competitive specialties you may be limited geographically to a certain region, but if you go into a normal/less competative field you can go far and wide.

 

[18laguna]

Does Darthmouth or Brown really count as an Ivy?

I am a Canadian and have an interview at Dartmouth next week and when I tell people I have an interview at Dartmouth, its like they never heard of it?

Is Darthmouth meds a top 10 school?

I hope I have not offended anyone, but I'm a bit confused. Thanks

 

[Law2Doc]

Does Darthmouth or Brown really count as an Ivy?

I am a Canadian and have an interview at Dartmouth next week and when I tell people I have an interview at Dartmouth, its like they never heard of it?

Is Darthmouth meds a top 10 school?

I hope I have not offended anyone, but I'm a bit confused. Thanks

Ivy League is a term based on the schools original football designation, not based on quality (although they are all quite good). The schools in the Ivy League are Harvard, Yale, Princeton (no med school), U of Penn, Columbia, Cornell, Brown and Dartmouth. Hope that helps.

 

[lightnk102]

Rumor is, "ivy" originally came from being Division IV athletics. The fact that they're also some of the oldest schools in the country, they all offer above average educations, and they're covered in ivy, sort of became coincidental.

"Ivy league" (due to history and common perception) became synonymous with "good education", though these days - as Duke and Stanford and Hopkins (and many other schools) are evidence of, good education doesn't necessitate being in the ivy league.

 

[Dr. Donkey]

Let it be known: DMS and Brown don't count as Ivies for medical school (haha, just kidding, but for the purposes of this thread they don't since they are considerably less desirable than many other schools, whatever that means). Also, superstars from state schools don't count. Blind eyes of Ivies cannot ignore your blinding light. It's more like slightly better state school applicant vs. slightly worse Ivy applicant and who gets the preference, and I think there might actually be a leaning towards Ivy applicants in the hopes to maintain the purity of their academic blood line.

 

[sweatybrain]

another data point from another lowly state school grad:

interviews: cornell, columbia, harvard (and schools at a similar tier: duke/wash U)
haven't heard from: yale (and similar tier: hopkins)
rejected: penn (not officially, but as good as gone) (similar tier: stanford)

I did my grad at an ivy so maybe I don't really count.

 

[Dr. Donkey]

Let the perspiring brain be struck from the record. You're already in the Fortress of Solitude, so you don't count. And don't give me any of that "but I got into an Ivy grad program from a state school," the Thread Nazi denies your inclusion!

another data point from another lowly state school grad:

interviews: cornell, columbia, harvard (and schools at a similar tier: duke/wash U)
haven't heard from: yale (and similar tier: hopkins)
rejected: penn (not officially, but as good as gone) (similar tier: stanford)

I did my grad at an ivy so maybe I don't really count.

 

[Dr. Donkey]

Haven't you heard? They are no HomerS club, plural. They're allowed to have one Homer.

Also, the elite liberal arts colleges (e.g., Williams, Amherst, Swarthmore, etc.) don't count either. They are bascially prestigious Ivy league community colleges (you know, good community colleges, like where you learn to read and write and such).

Im from the midwest and I've been doing as well at ivys as non-ivys, maybe even better. (but then I didnt really apply to that many ivy league schools so take that as you will.)