Ivy Leagues Need to Go:

Behind pillared architecture with ivied walls, and masterful brick paired with lush green trees is a rarely acknowledged fact: the Ivy Leagues are overrated. 

Laced with elitism, these schools convince willing applicants that the prestige of their institution will translate to their students’ stature. It won’t, but that doesn’t stop thousands of students from submitting their applications to the Ivies. 

It makes sense that a school of Creek’s academic and financial caliber would have a pipeline to the same overzealous community in college. It doesn’t make sense, however, that students intelligent enough to get into these schools actually apply there, as the Ivies are riddled with problems money can not fix. 

Because of said  academic prowess and tenacious students, Creek has appeared to be a funnel to the Ivy Leagues. But don’t be tricked by the success of your peers into thinking the Ivies are the pinnacle of education. Here are three reasons why they aren’t

1. Price

Ivy’s are the most expensive institutions in the United States. The average cost of the big eight each semester is $62,203.43. Compared to the national average of $27,560 for out of state students, makes Ivy Leagues ridiculously expensive in comparison. This would mean little if the quality of education was twice as good at Ivy Leagues, but it’s not

2. Education

Four of the eight Ivy’s were in the top ten best universities according to US News rankings. Above most of them are M.I.T.(#2) and Stanford University (#3.) Brown is 13th, Cornell is 17th , and Columbia is 18th. Above those three is Washington University in St. Louis and Northwestern University. The idea that the path to success needs to be defined by an Ivy education is incorrect and the notion should be removed from everyone’s mind.

3. Experience

Ivy Leagues are riddled with problems, from Yale’s involvement in the 2019 Varsity Blues Scandal to the continuous acceptance of under qualified students under the reasoning of legacy. But with these old institutions come old problems, namely racism and prejudice. In one instance, 300 Dartmouth College students and faculty members wrote an open-ended letter to the Dartmouth College Board of Trustees, asking them to address and unravel the institution’s systematic racism. If these ancient schools are unable to adapt to human decency, then students should not apply to them. 

Community Colleges Are In:

Just as the Ivy League schools are overrated, community colleges are their underrated counterpart. When a student announces they are going to attend a community college, frowns and whispers of laziness follow. But these schools are so grossly criticized for providing bad education, while there are so many benefits to attending one.

While major college students are paying over $50,000 per semester for their education, community colleges offer an average semester tuition of only $1,865. Cost of education is a major factor when thinking of post-grad plans, and community colleges should be praised, not belittled, for their ability to provide a low price. 

The Ivy’s are commended for amazing classes and teachers, but it’s not like you’re learning nothing at a community college. You can get a more-than-decent education at a local school that can get you a well paying job. The problem is, when a resume is decorated with a community college diploma, it’s who went to more notable schools. 

Community colleges serve a second purpose, though, providing a stepping stone to another university. 30% percent of students will transfer to a four year university after they’ve graduated. More than 67% will go on to be employed. These two year schools are useful for giving students that extra nudge to get the success we should all have a shot at.

This story won Honorable Mention Staff Editorial from CSMA.

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