Ivy League Admissions: Controversies, Policies, and the Future of Higher Education

It's March 28, and it's "Ivy Day" - the day when the nation's top schools, known as the Ivy League, release their long-awaited admissions decisions. While a fascination with these eight private colleges has spanned decades, there's a growing sense of skepticism among students.

A Rocky Road to Admission

Last fall, Harvard University experienced a sharp decline in early admission applications following multiple incidents of antisemitism on campus and backlash over Harvard President Claudine Gay's congressional testimony, leading to her resignation. However, in a surprising turn of events, Harvard was later named the ultimate "dream" school by a Princeton Review survey of college-bound students. This tumultuous experience has left many students with conflicting feelings about these prestigious institutions.

The Impact of Affirmative Action

In June, the Supreme Court ruled that the affirmative action admission policies of Harvard and the University of North Carolina were unconstitutional. This decision dealt a blow to efforts aimed at boosting the enrollment of minorities through race-conscious policies, raising questions about legacy preferences and standardized test score requirements, which have been shown to perpetuate race and wealth gaps.

Shifting Policies

Following the ruling, some colleges decided to end legacy preferences, while others, like Princeton University, opted to continue considering legacy status in their application process. Additionally, there has been a fluctuation in the reliance on SAT and ACT scores, with some schools, including Dartmouth and Brown University, reintroducing standardized testing requirements after temporarily relaxing them during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Challenges of Access and Equity

Yale recently made a notable policy change, allowing students to submit Advanced Placement (AP) scores to fulfill the testing requirement. This shift may impact socioeconomic and racial diversity, as experts argue that it could provide an unfair advantage to certain students, particularly those from low-income and minority backgrounds.

The Cost of Prestige

Cost is a significant consideration, especially at the highest level. The average annual cost for tuition, fees, room, and board at a four-year private college was $56,190 in the 2023-24 school year, substantially higher than the cost at four-year, in-state public colleges, which averaged $24,030. The soaring costs of higher education have led to a broader questioning of the return on investment.

The Ever-Present Allure of the Ivy League

Despite the challenges facing higher education, demand for Ivy League institutions remains robust. As Connie Livingston, a former admissions officer at Brown University, notes, these schools are perceived as "untouchable" and akin to the coveted Birkin bag - perpetually in high demand.

Value of an Ivy League Degree

Studies have consistently highlighted the value of earning a college degree, and a recent report from Harvard University-based nonpartisan, nonprofit research group Opportunity Insights underscored the significance of an Ivy League education. The study found that an Ivy League degree carries substantial weight in the workforce, with attending an Ivy League college significantly increasing the likelihood of attending an elite graduate school and working at a prestigious firm. Additionally, it raises the chances of ultimately reaching the top 1% of the earnings distribution by 60%.

Privilege and Access

However, the report also shed light on the perpetuation of privilege within these elite institutions, as students from high-income families are admitted at substantially higher rates than those from lower-income families with comparable academic credentials, thereby further entrenching social and economic disparities.