Is MIT better than the Ivies?

Neither MIT nor the Ivies are definitively "better"; they offer different strengths, with MIT often leading in STEM and Ivies providing broader liberal arts, though both are top-tier, highly selective institutions with global prestige and excellent outcomes, with rankings varying by publication and focus. For tech, engineering, or science, MIT is arguably superior, while Ivies offer wider program variety and a traditional university experience, with both consistently ranked among the world's best and highly sought after by employers.

Is MIT better than Ivy League?

Beyond Ivy: Stanford, MIT, and Duke

When the Ivy League was established, these institutions didn't have notably robust athletic programs, hence their exclusion. However, their academic performance is often at par with, and sometimes even surpasses, their Ivy League counterparts.

What is the #1 hardest school to get into?

There isn't one single #1 hardest school, as it changes slightly by year and criteria, but Harvard University, Stanford University, MIT, and Caltech consistently rank among the top with extremely low acceptance rates (often 3-4%) and intense competition for spots, though other top global universities like Oxford and Tsinghua are also incredibly selective. Harvard is frequently cited as the hardest due to its high volume of applications and focus on global leadership potential, while Caltech is known for its extreme difficulty in STEM. 

Which is more prestigious, MIT or Harvard?

Neither MIT nor Harvard is definitively "more" prestigious overall; their prestige depends on the field, though both are globally top-ranked, with MIT often leading in STEM (Engineering, CS) and Harvard often seen as stronger in fields like Law, Business (MBA), and humanities, though rankings vary by publication, with recent surveys showing MIT as a top "dream school" for students. Both are elite, highly selective institutions in Cambridge, MA, with slightly different strengths and reputations. 

Who is MIT's biggest rival?

MIT and Caltech are both highly competitive science institutions, and applicants must meet minimum GPA requirements. While grades and accolades are important at both of these top universities, both consider applicants holistically, beyond academics.

Every IVY league explained in 10 minutes

Where do top 1% send kids to college?

The "top 1%" of students, referring to those from the highest income brackets, tend to attend elite universities like MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, and Yale that consistently rank high in national and global lists, with some even having more students from the top 1% income bracket than the bottom 60% combined, according to The New York Times data. Top-ranked institutions like MIT, Princeton, Harvard, and Stanford are frequent top contenders in various 2026 rankings from U.S. News & World Report and Times Higher Education. 

Why did Bill Gates quit Harvard?

In 1975, the MITS Altair 8800 was released based on the Intel 8080 CPU, and Gates and Allen saw the opportunity to start their own computer software company. Gates dropped out of Harvard that same year. His parents were supportive of him after seeing how much he wanted to start his own company.

Is MIT surpass Harvard as a dream college?

A 2025 survey by The Princeton Review reveals MIT now tops the list as the most desirable "dream college," pushing Harvard to No. 2. The survey, conducted with over 7,000 high school students, highlighted other popular schools like Stanford, Princeton, and Yale in the top 10.

Which ivy is easiest to get into?

While all Ivy League schools are highly selective, Cornell University is generally considered the "easiest" to get into due to having the highest acceptance rate (around 8-9%), partly because it's the largest Ivy with diverse colleges, like the less competitive Agriculture and Life Sciences, though its engineering programs are tough. Dartmouth College and Brown University often follow as the next most accessible Ivies, while Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Columbia are typically the most difficult, with lower acceptance rates. 

Where do the 1% go to college?

The 1% of the wealthiest Americans disproportionately attend highly selective, elite universities, particularly Ivy League schools (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth, Brown, Penn, Columbia) and other top institutions like MIT, Stanford, Duke, and UChicago, where they make up a large percentage of the student body, often outnumbering students from the bottom 60% of income earners combined. Liberal arts colleges and prestigious public universities also attract many wealthy students, with specific examples including WashU St. Louis, UVA, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Vanderbilt, and Johns Hopkins.
 

What is the hardest ivy academically?

1. Harvard University. The most challenging Ivy League school to get into is Harvard, established in 1636 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. According to Harvard Admissions (Class of 2029), only 2,418 (including Regular Decision and Early Action) out of 42,765 candidates were accepted to the college.

Is Princeton or MIT harder to get into?

Both schools are extremely selective, with acceptance rates around 4–5%. MIT tends to attract more STEM-heavy applicants, while Princeton receives a broader range across humanities and sciences. Neither is “easier” or “harder” to get into—it depends on your profile and fit.

Is MIT or IIT harder?

Both MIT and IIT are incredibly tough, but in different ways: IIT is known for its notoriously difficult, single-shot entrance exam (JEE Advanced), making admission extremely competitive based on exam performance, while MIT has a highly holistic review process that is also very hard to get into due to global competition and rigorous academic/personal profile demands, though its coursework emphasizes practical application and may feel less theoretically punishing than some IIT grading curves. Getting into an IIT might be statistically harder due to the low acceptance rate from a massive applicant pool, but MIT's admission process tests a broader range of skills and creativity. 

What are the 63 hidden Ivies?

The 63 "Hidden Ivies" are a list of excellent, selective colleges outside the traditional Ivy League, known for strong academics, often with liberal arts focuses, broken down into Northeast (37), South (12), Midwest (11), and West (3) regions, including schools like Amherst, Williams, Carleton, Duke, Emory, Stanford, Pomona, and UChicago, offering Ivy-level education without the traditional Ivy League name. 

What is the nickname for MIT students?

MIT students are commonly called Engineers, referring to the school's athletic teams and its focus on technology, while also having internal nicknames like "Tools" (diligent students) or "Hackers", and identifying with the beaver mascot (seen on the "Brass Rat" class ring).
 

Which college has the highest IQ students?

College ranking in the U.S. by student SAT score 2020

With an average SAT score of 1545, the California Institute of Technology was the smartest college in the United States in 2020.

Why is MIT so close to Harvard?

Both Harvard and MIT are located in the urban city of Cambridge, Massachusetts — across the Charles River from Boston. The campus is a few steps away from the T, allowing students to explore the different nooks both Boston and Cambridge offer. It is also home to many prestigious universities.

Is MIT for geniuses?

And I'll let you in on a little secret: Most of us at MIT aren't inherent geniuses, gliding by on the strength of a vast, extraordinary intellect.

What is Bill Gates' IQ score?

Bill Gates' IQ is estimated to be around 160, placing him in the "genius" category, though he has never publicly taken an official IQ test, making this a widely cited estimate rather than a confirmed fact, often linked to his exceptional problem-solving skills, voracious reading, and ability to grasp complex topics. While a high IQ suggests strong cognitive abilities, it doesn't capture creativity or emotional intelligence, and scores like his 1590 SAT score (pre-1995) also highlight his intellectual capacity. 

What did Steve Jobs accuse Bill Gates of?

Later, Steve Jobs accused Bill Gates of stealing the idea from Apple. Gates said, "Well, Steve, it's like we both had this wealthy neighbor named Xerox.

Who is the most famous Harvard dropout?

The most famous Harvard dropout is widely considered to be Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, who left in 1975 to build the software giant, becoming a titan of technology and philanthropy, though Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook) and media mogul William Randolph Hearst are also prominent figures who left the university for massive success.
 

Is MIT free if you make under 200k?

Yes, MIT offers tuition-free education for undergraduate students from families with an income below $200,000 per year, starting with the 2025-2026 academic year, thanks to expanded financial aid that covers full tuition for most U.S. families. For families earning under $100,000 (with typical assets), parents are generally not expected to pay anything towards the total cost, including housing, dining, and books. 

Which US university has the most Indian students?

Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon has the highest number of Indian students in the USA, with around 1,700 Indian students enrolled. Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the university has a total student population of about 16,600 to 17,000 students from over 100 countries.