By Ibne Tamim
NAME: Cornell University
FOUNDED: April 27, 1865
LOCATION: Ithaca, NY
ACCEPTANCE RATE: 10.9 %
AVERAGE SAT/ACT SCORE: 1400-1560 SAT, 32-35 ACT
ACADEMICS: Cornell’s undergraduate experience is made unique by its seven undergraduate schools, including its highly ranked agriculture and engineering schools, as well as the completely distinctive School of Hotel Administration. Cornell’s specialized and often unconventional programs in a variety of fields allow undergraduates to pursue an education tailor-made to their interests. Boasting 80 majors and 122 minors, Cornell describes itself as a pioneer in education.
SCHOLARSHIPS: Cornell Grants are available to students with financial need, as determined by the Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment. The aid comes from several sources – university endowments, alumni gifts, and a general fund. Things to keep in mind:
- There is no minimum or maximum amount of grant awarded.
- There is no standard “income bracket” or cut-off for grant aid recipients; eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis.
- University grants are awarded after non-university funds, work-study, and loans.
- You are automatically considered for these funds when you apply for financial aid; there is no separate application process.
TOP 5 MAJORS:
- Biology
- Computer Science
- Business
- Hospitality and tourism management
- Agricultural business
FUN FACTS:
- Cornell is the only public Ivy League school. Four of the seven schools that make up Cornell University receive state funding. They include the New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Human Ecology, School of Industrial and Labor Relations, and College of Veterinary Medicine. The schools receive over $130 million every year to support teaching and research.
- There are hundreds of notable alumni. Cornell has many notable alumni including Jane Lynch, Bill Maher, Bill Nye the Science Guy (pictured at Cornell), Keith Olbermann, Christopher Reeve aka Superman, Ann Coulter, Huey Lewis, Harry Chapin, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
- Students refer to their traditions and legends as “Cornelliana.” The most famous is the superstition that if a virgin crosses the Arts Quad at midnight, the statues of Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White will step off their pedestals to shake hands in the center of the quad.
NAME: Dartmouth College
FOUNDED: December 13, 1769
LOCATION: Hanover, NH
ACCEPTANCE RATE: 7.9%
AVERAGE SAT/ACT SCORE: 1440-1560 SAT, 32-35 ACT
ACADEMICS: Dartmouth is renowned for its commitment to and emphasis on undergraduate education, as evidenced in its decision to refer to itself as Dartmouth College despite being host to four graduate schools. As an undergraduate student at Dartmouth, you can be sure that you will receive ample attention and resources, without worrying that your needs are being put second to those of graduate students. Dartmouth is also unique in that it is the only Ivy that uses the quarter system as opposed to the semester system, in which there are three grading periods in a typical school year (four year-round) as opposed to two.
SCHOLARSHIPS: Dartmouth Scholarships are need-based and are given without expectation of repayment. Amounts range from $1,000 to over $50,000, depending on our determination of your eligibility.
DARTMOUTH ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS:
Some Dartmouth students will be selected as recipients of one or more of our over 750 endowed scholarship funds. These awards are not additional money, but indicate that the aid already awarded will come from a specific endowed fund. No separate application is required. Students receiving these scholarships write their donor a note of thanks annually. Many even meet their donors, which can lead to amazing networking opportunities.
TOP 5 MAJORS:
- Humanities
- Studio art
- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender studies
- African and African-American studies
- Art History
FUN FACTS:
- Dartmouth’s Latin motto “Vox clamantis in deserto” translates into “the voice of one crying out in the wilderness.”
- In another well-known tradition, hundreds of students plunge into the icy water of Occom Pond for the annual Polar Bear Swim that takes place during Winter Carnival.
- Tea and cookies are served at 4pm each weekday at Sanborn Library, home of the English Department. It is estimated that around 1000 cups of teas are served every year!
NAME: University of Pennsylvania
FOUNDED: November 14, 1740
LOCATION: Philadelphia, PA
ACCEPTANCE RATE: 7.7%
AVERAGE SAT/ACT SCORE: 1450-1550 SAT, 33-35 ACT
ACADEMICS: Penn features 4 undergraduate schools: The College of Arts and Sciences, The School of Engineering and Applied Science, the School of Nursing, and the Wharton School of Business. The School of Nursing and the Wharton School set Penn apart from other Ivies, which tend to focus more on a liberal arts education. The College of Arts and Science’s curriculum requires instruction both in various disciplines as well as specific skill sets, evidencing Penn’s emphasis on a practical, worldly education.
SCHOLARSHIPS: Like other Ivy League schools, Penn undergraduate aid is entirely need-based. The University does not award scholarships based on academic or athletic merit. Penn is committed to meeting your full demonstrated need for eight academic semesters with grant-based aid.To be eligible for federal aid, you must file a FAFSA, make satisfactory academic progress, not be in default on a Federal loan, and not owe a refund on a Federal Pell Grant or Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG). International students are generally not eligible for federal funding.
To be eligible for institutional funds, you must complete a CSS Profile and the Penn Financial Aid Supplement (PFAS), as well as submit the required federal income tax return information.
TOP 5 MAJORS:
FUN FACTS:
- It is a freshman myth to never cross the compass that is embedded into the center of Locust Walk or else you will fail your first set of midterms. Rumor has it, a fraternity came up with the myth as a conversation starter with freshmen girls.
- The Penn Relays hosted every year are the largest and oldest track and field event in the United States – it started in 1895. It attracts hundreds of participants annually.
- From 1756 to 1898, U Penn’s motto used to be “Sine Moribus Vanae…” until someone pointed out that the motto could be translated as “Loose women without morals,” The current motto is “Leges sine moribus vanae,” or “Laws without morals are in vain.”
NAME: Brown University
FOUNDED: September 15, 1764
LOCATION: Providence, RI
ACCEPTANCE RATE: 7.1%
AVERAGE SAT/ACT SCORE: 1440-1550 SAT, 32-35 ACT
ACADEMICS: Brown has a reputation for having the least competitive academic environment in the Ivy League. This is evidenced by Brown’s open curriculum, which doesn’t include any required or core classes and allows students, for the most part, to take whatever they want (besides one required writing class). Additionally, students at Brown can take as many classes as they want Pass/Fail, essentially making grades optional. In general, the academic culture at Brown encourages exploration and experimentation, and it is specifically designed to allow students to branch out to areas outside their majors without fear of their GPAs suffering as a result.
SCHOLARSHIPS: Brown University does not offer aid based on academic achievement, athletic ability or any other form of merit. Financial aid eligibility is determined solely on financial need. However, assistance from outside sources may be based on a variety of things including merit and/or financial need. Several sources exist for grants and scholarships, such as:
TOP 5 MAJORS:
- Computer Science
- Economics
- Biology
- Computation and Applied mathematics
- Entrepreneurship
FUN FACTS:
- Brown was the first Ivy League school to accept students from all religious affiliations, a statement to the spirit of openness that still embodies Brown today.
- Brown University was originally named “The College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations”, but was renamed after Nicholas Brown donated $5,000 to the school in 1804 when tuition was only $5.
- While the Annmary Brown Library resembles a tomb since it has no windows, it is actually rumored to be the burial site of Rush and Annmary Brown Hawkins. You can actually see their graves through a gate at the library.