A group of
colleges that are
ancient enough to have
ivy grow on the walls of its
buildings, hence
ivy league. In
Cornell (the
college I attend),
ivy can only be found on the
administration building (they keep the
ivy there for looks and
reputation), a couple of
arts and sciences halls, and on the
engineering buildings, because they get no
maintanence (hence the
engineering quad of
Cornell is referred to as "the
shithole quad" by
bitter engineers).
The reputation of Ivy League schools is that they excel in academics. Which is probably true, but the administrapo (I mean administration) of these colleges feel that because of their association with the Ivy League they can charge you an extra ten grand every year. Since they become so filthy rich by charging exorbitant fees these schools tend to give out generous amounts of financial aid (a good thing, because I'm poor). Cornell is by far the most challenging school I've attended, and because I'm not used to busting my ass studying all day, I'm getting shitty grades. Everything 2 might have something to do with it too.
Another reputation of Ivy League schools is that they are filled with rich people. Which is probably also true. From what I've seen in Princeton, Harvard, and Cornell, rich white society is heavily entrenched in Ivy League schools. However, that does not make the student bodies of Ivy League schools conservative.
Why do I pay the extra money to attend an Ivy League school? Because I get a first-class education, a nice place to spend 4 years, and I get out with a degree emblazoned Cornell University, which looks really good on a resume.