Deciding on Ivy League Colleges

I'm fortunate enough to be considering Ivy League colleges for my applications. Any tips or insights on which are the best Ivies to apply for? I'm leaning more towards a strong arts and humanities program if that helps.

Each Ivy League has its unique strengths and culture, and it might help to consider these variations alongside your academic goals in arts and humanities.

Harvard, for instance, is known for its tight-knit residential community and broad humanities programs. Notably, Harvard's History and Literature program often allows for a more personally tailored humanities education than many traditional departments.

Yale is renowned for its arts and humanities. Programs such as English, History, and Art History consistently rank among the top in the world. Additionally, the university has an immense library system, and its residential college system creates a small-community feel within the larger university.

Brown offers an open curriculum which means you're free to explore courses across a wide range of fields without worrying about general education requirements. This can be particularly beneficial for humanities students, as it offers the flexibility to develop a broad interdisciplinary understanding and to create unique combinations of courses that suit your intellectual interests.

Columbia's Core Curriculum is a unique aspect of its undergraduate education, providing a shared academic experience in literature, philosophy, music, art, and science, which can offer you a comprehensive grounding in the liberal arts.

While not as traditionally strong in the humanities, Dartmouth has an intimate learning environment due to its focus mainly on undergraduate education. The smaller class sizes often lead to more interaction with professors and more discussion-focused classes.

Remember, it's not just about the rankings or prestige, but also about the fit. Get to know the campus culture, location, and extracurriculars, and visit if possible, to see what might resonate with you. You'll spend four formative years at college, so think about where you'll thrive not just academically, but also personally and socially. Good luck!