Understanding Ivy Leagues: What It Is and Why It Matters

Waiting to hear back from your dream school is nerve-wracking. You may sail through the application process (with our help), but little can ease the suspense that builds up closer to the day when decisions are rolled out. And when it comes to Ivy League universities, the mystery seems to rise tenfold. There are eight Ivy League schools—Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, UPenn, and Yale. In this context emerges Ivy Day. It is the day on which all Ivies release their decisions for regular admissions to first-year students. In fact, they even put out the decisions at the same time. Usually, Ivy Day is towards the end of March, and the decisions are announced online at about 5 pm or 7 pm EST.

Other top schools not a part of the Ivy League put out their decision on different days or at different times. Therefore, Ivy Day decisions are only for students applying for their first year under regular admissions to an Ivy school. Early decision or early action usually receive their offers earlier than this day. If you have applied to several Ivies, you can expect all their decisions simultaneously.

Ivy Day means that all the students who applied are eager to know the status of their application. Don’t be surprised if the traffic to the online portal of the school’s website slows down or crashes. Check back in some time. Meanwhile, you can work up the courage and expectations to read that awaited “Congratulations!”

Once you access the portal and have finally received your decision, there are a few scenarios that you may go through.

1. Acceptance: There’s nothing like an offer of admission. Once you’re done celebrating with your loved ones, get down to formally accepting the admit. You should have your finances and scholarship in place. The school you got accepted into maybe your top choice or you may still be waiting on other decisions. If you accept, get down to declining the other offers.

2. Waitlist: You may also be waitlisted to your dream school. If you are sure that you want to attend it, accept the waitlist position. Depending on the school’s requirements, start working on the waitlist letter. Feeling disappointed is natural, but take the time to look at the bright side: you still stand a chance at acceptance.

3. Rejection: It is disheartening to receive a rejection. Recognize your feelings and know that it is alright to be sad. As the other decisions come rolling in, accept the one where you want to study. It may not be your dream Ivy League, but consider whether the school offered you an admit is a place where you can reach your true potential. If the answer is a resounding yes, studying there will be worth it.

Ivy Day has come and gone; you’ve made up your mind about where you will be studying. Finally, you’re onto the next big thing. Ivy Day may have been all that you dreamt of or a disappointment, either way, you will end the day having learned something new. More power to you!

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