Why Ivy League? One of the bigger misconceptions about the college process at Devon Prep is the thought that if no students are going to an Ivy League college that something must be wrong. But the school’s philosophy isn’t about forcing a “name” college on a student to make everyone look good - it’s about making sure a college is the right fit, to set that student up for success. Of course, if Harvard is the right fit, great, but there’s so much more that goes into the decision. “If a student is able to gain admittance to an Ivy League (or other Tier One) institution, it certainly is a great honor and a time for celebration. These schools tend to have single digit or admit rates under 15%. These students not only exemplify outstanding scholarship but also have found a way to differentiate themselves among the tens of thousands of applicants from across the globe,” says Eshleman. And it’s not just about whether or not a student is qualified to gain admission to an Ivy League school. Crucially, finances are a major determining factor - Harvard’s Cost of Attendance for the 2020-21 school year is $72,357. “I have had a student in the past be admitted to an Ivy but turn it down due its cost. He decided to attend the Honors Program at Northeastern University’s College of Engineering with a $27,000 scholarship (which, at the time, was more than a 50% tuition scholarship.) His family did not qualify for any need-based financial aid and the additional cost for the Ivy League school was not worth the extra $100K.” Eshleman recalled. “I had another student decide to attend Villanova Honors Program with a full tuition scholarship over the University of Pennsylvania. I had another student get admitted to Tier One institutions (Georgia Tech, University of Notre Dame to name two) and turn them down. He opted to attend Schreyer Honors College at Penn State University instead and graduate with little to no debt.” Considering the ever-increasing cost to attend, it’s not surprising a student would make the decision to minimize debt, especially if the quality of education received is still excellent. “College is an investment and it is expensive,” concludes Eshleman. “More and more students and families are not willing to take on that kind of debt.” Sometimes the smart move is to plan long-term and allocate resources towards a masters or other advanced degree. “If students are considering an advanced degree, money saved with merit scholarship can be used towards the advanced degree instead.”
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