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- I went to Columbia for grad school and had to take out a loan to afford the high tuition.
- The classes, professors, and student life alone weren’t worth the amount of debt I now have.
- But being an Ivy League alumni has granted me special access to job fairs and other privileges.
Growing up in Mexico allowed me to live the American culture in a unique way: I could choose exactly which facets to experience. For me, there was nothing quite like attending a US college.
I did some research and discovered the prestigious group of universities known as the Ivy League schools — some of the oldest and most renowned educational institutions around the globe. I was sold. However, I also discovered the high cost of attending one of these schools. Pursuing an undergraduate degree was not financially feasible.
So, I completed my undergraduate studies in Mexico and postponed my US college experience for a graduate program. When the time came, I applied to a master’s program at Columbia University, was admitted, and took out a substantial loan (and a big leap of faith).
Now that it’s over, I can’t help but wonder: Was the price worth it? Yes, but not for the reasons you might think.
The academic aspect: courses and professors
One of the reasons people choose to attend an Ivy League institution is their academic excellence. Since I received the acceptance letter, the university has not missed an opportunity to inform me about its distinguished faculty and cutting-edge classes. And they were not wrong.
I was surprised by the professors’ extensive resumes and the variety of teaching methods in my classes, but I wasn’t incredibly impressed. Having completed my undergrad in Mexico, my point of comparison allowed me to understand that my Ivy League professors didn’t fully justify paying three times as much.
It truly depends on your specialization, but we can’t pretend that in a globalized world, the best classes are exclusively found at a dozen universities in the US. I’m not saying there isn’t any added value, but I’m certain that a professor from a reputable university around the world can provide a similar educational experience.
The extra-curricular aspect: campus and activities
An important part of the Ivy League experience is what’s offered outside the classroom. In fact, the term “Ivy League” originates from the college football division.
For this particular aspect, you might think my opinion is biased because I did my master’s degree in 2021 during the pandemic — and you wouldn’t be entirely wrong. We missed out on many activities, conferences, and trips because of the pandemic.
But this made me think afterward: Were there any events or things the university could have organized to make this experience worth the thousands of dollars paid? The answer was no. There wasn’t a match, concert, or symposium that could justify the debt I was in.
If the academic and extracurricular aspects didn’t make it for me, what did?
The professional aspect: job hunting, impression and networking
The value of the Ivy League degree came from what it could do for me outside the university. And no, I’m not talking about bragging rights; we all have that Harvard friend whose personality only revolves around their Harvard years. I’m talking about everything that comes after you study there.
Did you know there are exclusive job fairs for Ivy League schools? Did you know most prestigious banks, firms and companies use universities’ names to filter resumes? I went to one of these job fairs, secured a job in London, and when I got there, I found out all of my colleagues across the board held an Ivy League degree. Yes, of course, there are exceptions, but that’s all they are — exceptions.
Not only that, people see you differently. Once, I was on a date, and their interest suddenly (and drastically) changed when they found out about my Ivy League degree.
The reasons mentioned above might come with an element of luck. But there is one thing that is guaranteed in your journey through an Ivy League degree: networking. You can be an introvert or an extrovert, but you will meet people. From all kinds of backgrounds, races, and ethnicities. All with something in common: ambition.
It depends on your professional goals, but to me, if you’re looking to participate in the rat race, unfortunately, an Ivy League degree is not an extra but a must.
Editor’s Note: Columbia University did not immediately respond to Business Insider’s request for comment.
