Is Stanford considered Ivy League?

Hey y'all, I've been hearing people talk about the Ivy League a lot. I know that Stanford is a prestigious school but is Stanford actually considered Ivy League? If not, are there any differences between the two when it comes to applying? Thanks in advance!

Stanford is not considered an Ivy League school. The Ivy League is a group of eight private institutions located on the East Coast of the United States, which consists of Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Dartmouth, Cornell, Brown, and the University of Pennsylvania. These schools are known for their rigorous academics, prestigious reputations, and competitive admissions processes. Stanford, on the other hand, is a private research university located in Stanford, California.

While not an Ivy League institution, Stanford is considered to be as prestigious and selective as Ivy League schools, often referred to as a "peer" or "comparable" institution. In fact, many students and families include Stanford in their discussions of highly selective schools alongside the Ivy League.

When it comes to applying, there isn't a significant difference between Stanford and the Ivy League schools in terms of the application process. They all have highly competitive admissions processes, which look for students with strong academic records, excellent extracurriculars, and well-written essays. Most of these institutions, including Stanford, utilize a broad platform like the Common Application or the Coalition Application, and have a school-specific section with their own supplemental essays and questions.

Remember that each school has its own unique culture, programs, and campus life - even the most selective ones can be quite different in terms of overall vibe. It's essential to do your research and get a sense of what each university offers to find the best fit for your interests and goals, rather than building your list based solely on prestige.

If you end up determining that Stanford is a good fit for you and want tips on how to maximize your chances of acceptance, check out this blog post from CollegeVine, which breaks down how to tackle their school-specific supplemental essays: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-stanford-university-essays/. After all, at the most selective colleges, like Stanford and the Ivy League institutions, the essays are often just the thing that distinguishes one talented applicant from another.

Good luck with your college process!