The 8 Ivy Leagues

Let me introduce you to some of the top universities in the world - the eigth members of the Ivy League in the US. These are Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Brown, Dartmouth, Cornell, and UPenn. Not only are they among the most elite (and expensive) universities in the world, but they also have very low acceptance rates. Today, we'll take a closer look at each of them - and maybe you'll even discover something new about your dream school.

Yale University (my dream university):

Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut

Founded in 1701, Yale is the third oldest university of the United States and one of the most famous Ivy League schools. It's known for its secret societies like Skull & Bones, its beautiful gothic campus, and strong programs in law and the arts. Famous alumni include five U.S. Presidents!

Infos:

Acceptance rate: 4,5%

Tuition fees: $64.700

Mascot: Handsome Dan

Motto: "Lux et Veritas" (Latin for "Light and truth")

President: Maurie D. McInnis

Founding: October 9, 1701, New Haven, Connecticut, United States

Famous alumni:

• Taft, Ford, Bush sr. & jr, Clinton

• 19 Supreme Court judges

• Paul Krugman (Nobel Prize winner)

• Meryl Steep (actress)

• Jodie Foster (actress, director)

• Paul Newman (actor, director, philanthropist)

• Sonia Sotomayor (judge at the Supreme Court)

• J.D. Salinger (author)

Secret Societies:

Yale is famous - or rather infamous - for its senior societies with their own magnificent architecture ("Tombs").

• Skull & Bones (1832):

World famous, members include Bushs, Taft, Kerry. Even owns Deer Island as a retreat.

• Book & Snake (1863):

First podium to welcome women and minorities, uses occult-inspired symbols.

• Berzelius, St. Elmo, Elihu and many more continue to shape campus life today - with magnificent tombs, rituals and an elite sense of community.

Traditions:

• Midnight organ concert for Halloween from the Harkness Tower.

• Christmas banquet à la Hogwarts for freshmen.

• Yale graduates symbolically break an arrow as a sign of graduation.

Steam Tunnels:

Historic steam tunnels run beneath the campus, originally designed for heating and power supply and even as Cold War fallout evacuation tunnels. Students explore them secretly - officially taboo.

Harvard University:

Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Founded in 1636, Harvard is the oldest university in the United States - and probably the most famous Ivy League school. It's known for its top law and business programs and its beautiful old campus near Boston. Fun Fact: eight U.S. Presidents studied here, and Harvard's huge library system is one of the largest in the world!

Infos:

Acceptance rate: 3,5%

Tuition fees: $59.076

Mascot: no official mascot

Motto: "Veritas" (Latin for "Truth")

President: Alan Garber

Founding: October 28, 1636, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

Famous alumni:

• John F. Kennedy (35th US president)

• Barack Obama (44th US president)

• Franklin D. Roosevelt (32th US president)

• Mark Zuckerberg (founder of Facebook; dropout)

• Bill Gates (Microsoft; dropout as well)

• Natalie Portman (actress)

• Tommy Lee Jones (actor)

Traditions:

• Housing Day:

On this day, freshman find out which of the famous Houses (dormitories) they will be living in - there are parades, costumes, and lots of hustle and bustle.

• The Hasty Pudding Club:

The oldest theater company in the United States. Known for its satirical shows and an annual celebrity awards ceremony.

• Primal Scream:

Students run naked around Harvard Yard to relieve stress before final exams.

• Harvard-Yale Football Game ("The Game"):

Legendary sporting event between the two rivals - since 1875!

Fun Fact:

The statue of John Harvard is often called the "Statue of Three Lies". It bears the wrong founding year, John Harvard wasn't the founder, and the statue doesn't even show his real face!

Princeton University:

Princeton University, Elizabeth, New Jersey

Founded in 1746, Princeton is famous for its beautiful campus and strong focus on undergraduate teaching. It's known for top programs in politics, economics, and the humanities. Fun Fact: Albert Einstein once worked there - and students still love to sit under the same trees he walked by!

Infos:

Acceptance rate: 4,5%

Tuition fees: $59.710

Mascot: The Tiger

Motto: "Dei Sub Numine Viget" (Latin for "Under God's Power She Flourishes")

President: Christopher L. Eisgruber

Founding: October 22, 1746, Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States

Famous alumni:

• Albert Einstein (was a professor there)

• Jeff Bezos (founder of Amazon)

• Michelle Obama (former First Lady)

• F. Scott Fitzgerald (author of The Great Gatsby)

Traditions:

• P-rade:

Alumni march at the reunion weekend, huge costume party.

• Nassau Hall:

Was once the seat of US government (1783).

Columbia University:

Columbia University, New York City, Manhattan

Founded in 1754, Columbia is right in the heart of Manhattan. It's known for journalism (the Pulitzer Prize is awarded by Columbia!) and its core curriculum, which every student has to take. Fun fact: You could study in a huge city but still relax in the beautiful campus gardens in Morningside Heights.

Infos:

Acceptance rate: 4,2%

Tuition fees: $69.045

Mascot: Roar-ee the Lion

Motto: In lumine Tuo videbimus lumen (Latin for "In Thy light shall we see light")

President: Claire Shipman

Founding: May 25, 1754, New York City, New York, United States

Famous alumni:

• Barack Obama (bachelor)

• Alexander Hamilton (Co-founder of the United States)

• Jake Gyllenhaal (actor)

• Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Supreme Court Justice)

Traditions:

• Bacchanal:

Campus music festival.

• Orgo Night:

Marching band students storm the library before the Orgo (Organic Chemistry) exam.

Fun Fact:

Columbia awards the Pulitzer Prizes.

Brown University:

Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island

Founded in 1764, Brown is known for its Open Curriculum - students design their own courses with lots of freedom. It's a very creative and artsy Ivy! Fun fact: Emma Watson (also known as Hermoine from Harry Potter) graduated from Brown.

Infos:

Acceptance rate: 5,2%

Tuition fees: $68.230

Mascot: Bruno the Bear

Motto: "In Deo Speramus" (Latin for "In God We Hope")

President: Christina Paxson

Founding: September 15, 1764, Providence, Rhode Island, United States

Famous alumni:

• Emma Watson (actress)

• John Krasinski (actor)

• John D. Rockefeller Jr. (philanthropist)

Traditions:

• Spring Weekend:

Music festival where Jimi Hendrix has performed.

• Naked Donut Run:

Naked students hand out donuts during exam time.

Dartmouth College:

Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire

Founded in 1769, Dartmouth is the smallest Ivy League school - famous for its close-knit community and beautiful setting in nature. It has strong programs in the liberal arts and a very active student life. Fun Fact: Dartmouth inspired the movie "Animal House" because of its fun (and sometimes wild) traditions.

Infos:

Acceptance rate: 6,2%

Tuition fees: $65.739

Mascot: no official mascot

Motto: "Vox clamantis in deserto" (Latin for "A voice crying out in the wilderness")

President: Sian Beilock

Founding: December 13, 1769, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States

Famous alumni:

• Dr. Seuss/Theodor Geisel (children's book author)

• Mindy Kaling (actress, author)

• Nelson Rockefeller (former Vice President of the United States)

Traditions:

• Winter Carnival:

Legendary snow festival with ice sculptures, races, and parties.

• Homecoming Bonfire:

Huge bonfire in the middle of campus.

Cornell University:

Cornell University, Ithaca, New York

Founded in 1865, Cornell is unique because it combines Ivy League academics with practical programs like hotel management and agriculture. Its campus is huge and surrounded by waterfalls and nature. Fun fact: Cornell students say, "If you can survive the Ithaca winters, you can survive anything!"

Infos:

Acceptance rate: 8,2%

Tuition fees: $66.014

Mascot: Touchdown

Motto: "I would found an institution where any person can find instruction in any study"

President: Michael Kotlikoff

Founding: April 27, 1865, Ithaca, New York, United States

Famous alumni:

• Ruth Bader Ginsburg (bachelor)

• Bill Nye ("The Science Guy")

• Toni Morrison (Nobel Prize winner in literature)

Traditions:

• Dragon Day:

Architecture students build a giant dragon and carry it through campus.

• Slope Day:

End of the academic year with open air concert.

Fun Fact:

Cornell is an Ivy League AND Land-grand university - a mix of elite and public education.

University of Pennsylvania (UPenn):

UPenn, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Founded in 1740 by Benjamin Franklin, UPenn is famous for its strong business school - the Whartan School - and for mixing practical learning with academis. Fun fact: It's the Ivy League that feels most "entrepreneurial" and many start-ups come from Penn students.

Infos:

Acceptance rate: 5,9%

Tuition fees: $66.104

Mascot: Quaker

Motto: "Leges sine moribus vanae" (Latin for "Laws without morals are useless")

President: J. Larry Jameson

Founding: 1740, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Famous alumni:

• Elon Musk (Tesla, SpaceX - studied there)

• Donald Trump (Wharton School)

• John Legend (musician)

Traditions:

• Spring Fling:

Huge music festival on campus.

• Toast Throwing:

At football games, fans throw toast onto the field while singing "Here's a toast to dear old Penn".

Fun Fact:

Penn has one of the world's first business schools - the Wharton School.

A Note for Dreamers:

Since I was 13, I've been dreaming about studying at a university like Yale. I love the idea of studying abroad at a beautiful, historic university with old-world charm and a bit of a Hogwarts vibe. And of couse, I'm also excited about all the things I could learn there. One day, I hope to study psychology or literature and grow even more. I've always been drawn to goals that seem alost impossible - and I'm determined to reach them, no matter how small the chances are. If you have a dream like that, don't give up! The chances might be slim, but they're not zero. And every dream strts with one small step - start now. Good luck!

XOXO,

Seraphine