Are you considering applying for admission to an Ivy League school from India? If so, we figured we at Ivy Coach would open up a discussion about a couple of common misconceptions that students in India, and their parents, have about the U.S.’s highly selective university admissions process.

Defining the Highly Selective U.S. University Admissions Process

First, let’s address what we mean by the U.S.’s highly selective university admissions process. We refer to earning admission to a university ranked among the top 25 “Best National Universities” in U.S. News & World Report, which releases what is widely regarded as the most influential annual college ranking.

2024 Ranking of the Best National Universities

In the 2024 U.S. News ranking of “Best National Universities,” the list is as follows:

College/University	2024 US News Rank
Princeton University	#1
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	#2
Harvard University	#3
Stanford University	#3
Yale University	#5
University of Pennsylvania	#6
California Institute of Technology	#7
Duke University	#7
Brown University	#9
Johns Hopkins University	#9
Northwestern University	#9
Columbia University	#12
Cornell University	#12
University of Chicago	#12
University of California, Berkeley	#15
University of California, Los Angeles	#15
Rice University	#17
Dartmouth College	#18
Vanderbilt University	#18
University of Notre Dame	#20
University of Michigan	#21
Georgetown University	#22
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	#22
Carnegie Mellon University	#24
Emory University	#24
University of Virginia	#24
Washington University in St. Louis	#24

Most American Universities Enjoy Little Brand Recognition

One common misconception in India, as ridiculous as this may seem to students and parents from here in the U.S., is that attending a university in America is a win in itself and it doesn’t matter all that much which one they choose.

But the reality is that most universities in the U.S. aren’t particularly selective, and most offer little benefit to international applicants, including applicants from India, since they enjoy little brand recognition. Some U.S. universities even have to stoop to paying admissions agents in India (and in China, we might add) to help sway students from within these countries to apply. The very best schools — the schools listed above — don’t need to resort to such questionable tactics.

America’s Top Universities Enjoy Worldwide Brand Recognition

Attending one of America’s most prestigious universities from India is an outstanding investment and one of the best decisions a student can make. But, with a few exceptions (like some of the schools ranked highly on US News’ “Best Liberal Arts Colleges” ranking — among them Williams College, Amherst College, Swarthmore College, and Barnard College), enrolling at a university in the U.S. far down the U.S. News rankings often isn’t worth the investment. Simply put, there are over 900 universities in the U.S. But only attending a small percentage of these schools is meaningful and worth the time and energy of an applicant from India. So choose wisely!

Ivy Coach’s Assistance Optimizing Admission from India

If you’re interested in optimizing your child’s case for admission to a highly selective U.S. university from India, fill out Ivy Coach’s consultation form, and we’ll be in touch to outline our college counseling services.