Cambridge, MA – Corporate recruiting has become a dominant feature of campus life at Ivy League universities, raising questions about whether students are abandoning their dreams for lucrative job offers. The Economist recently visited Harvard to explore what it’s like to be an Ivy League student these days.
Admissions brochures paint a picture of these institutions as sanctuaries for personal growth and intellectual exploration. However, the reality is often different, with portrayals of the Ivies focusing on out-of-control woke politics and protests against issues like the war in Gaza. The presidents of four Ivy League schools have stepped down since late 2023 after being accused by politicians and alumni of excess sympathy for these protests.
Students find themselves caught between the allure of high-paying corporate jobs and the pressure to engage in campus activism. This balancing act has led to a growing debate about the true purpose of higher education and whether the focus on corporate recruiting is overshadowing the core mission of these prestigious universities.