All Ivy League schools are not the same. If you already know what you want to study, look at the actual program before deciding which names belong on your list. My video gives you schools to start researching by subject. Here is the longer version, with the important distinction between a starting shortlist and a universal ranking.
Engineering or computer science: start with Princeton, Cornell, and Columbia
These are the three schools I point to in the video. Start by comparing the engineering fields or computing courses that interest you. Do you want a broad technical foundation, a particular specialization, or room to study something else alongside it?
Check the route into the degree too. At Cornell, for example, computer science is available through Arts and Sciences and Engineering. The CS requirements are shared, but the college requirements differ. That is the kind of detail you want in your college spreadsheet before you apply.
Business or finance: compare the actual undergraduate programs
In the video, I mention Penn, Columbia, and Cornell. Do not treat them as three interchangeable business degrees. If you are interested in Wharton, look at its undergraduate curriculum and concentrations. It awards a Bachelor of Science in Economics with a business-focused curriculum.
For every school, write down the exact degree, the courses you would take, and which undergraduate college you would apply to. A graduate business school’s reputation does not tell you what an undergraduate student can enroll in. Being in a major city also does not guarantee an internship.
Pre-med or biology: separate your major from your preparation
Harvard, Columbia, and Penn are the starting points from my video. If medicine interests you, look for advising, prerequisite planning, and realistic ways to explore the field. Compare biology programs separately from the support for students planning to apply to medical school.
Harvard does not have a pre-med concentration. Students can complete medical-school prerequisites while studying different subjects. So ask two questions: what do I want to major in, and how would I complete my pre-med preparation alongside it? Do not assume a college name promises medical-school admission.
Economics or the humanities: look at what you would spend four years doing
For economics, my video suggests Harvard, Princeton, and Yale. For English, history, or other humanities interests, I mention Yale, Princeton, and Brown. These are places to begin your research, not a claim that the other Ivies are weak in those subjects.
Open the department pages and read the requirements. Which seminars would you want to take? What kind of independent work or final project is involved? How much room would you have for another interest? You should be able to explain your interest in the curriculum without relying on the school’s name.
Turn the video into a better college list
Pick two or three programs from your subject area and compare them using the same questions. Then research options beyond the Ivy League with that same level of attention. A good list includes academic fit, affordability, and a realistic range of admissions possibilities.
The useful takeaway is simple: apply somewhere because you can explain why the education fits you. Save the courses, requirements, and opportunities that made you interested. Those details can help you make a decision and later write a much more specific college essay.
- What degree would I earn, and how do I enter the program?
- Which required courses and electives interest me?
- What opportunities are actually open to undergraduates?
- What would it cost my family, and what aid information should we check?
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