The Ivy League unites 8 elite educational institutions of the United States: Harvard, Columbia, Brown, Yale, Princeton, Pennsylvania and Cornell universities, as well as Dartmouth College. It is from here that the most famous politicians of the world come out.
Previously, this name was worn by sports teams of students, but now the "Ivy League" is called the universities themselves. It is believed that the name originates from the American tradition - planting ivy in educational institutions, braiding buildings of buildings. Thanks to this tradition, the plant eventually became a symbol of the most authoritative universities in the United States.
Harvard is the leader in the number of graduates who later became presidents of the country: there were eight of them, among them - Barack Obama. Five more American presidents graduated from Yale University, including George W. Bush.
Currently, a real confrontation has arisen between these two elite universities. In fact, the opinion of voters does not depend on the diploma of which university the presidential candidate has. On the contrary, it is believed that only the arrogant elite study at Yale and Harvard. Indeed, the cost of training in the educational institutions of the Ivy League is very high, so not everyone can study in them, the bulk of students are "golden" youth. Skin color also matters – there are no more than 6% of black students in the League, despite all the modern political correctness.
Entrance exams to prestigious educational institutions of the League are not easy to pass, for this you need to have an extremely high level of training. As a rule, the knowledge gained in a public school is not enough. And education in private schools can only be afforded by wealthy people.
Secret societies in universities
The most reputable graduates of elite universities were members of secret societies during their studies. What students do in their secret meetings, no one really knows. Yale's most famous student community is Skull and Bones: its members were not only presidents, but also future businessmen, governors and ministers. After graduation, members of the Skull and Bones community continue to communicate and periodically gather in certain places. And at Yale University, the members of the secret society have a whole building, the so-called "Tomb", built at the beginning of the XX century at their own expense.
To get membership of "Skulls and Bones" can white Anglo-Saxon Protestant, whose family is not only rich, but also necessarily influential in the States. However, students-athletes with outstanding achievements can also get into the secret community. Women were able to become members of this elite association only in the last decade of the last century.
"Skull and Bones" is surrounded by such a veil of sinister mystery that sometimes causes ridicule. But, despite this, if there is even the slightest opportunity to get membership in a secret association, few students will refuse it.
In addition to this society, there are other secret associations at Yale University: "Wolf's Head" and "Scroll and Key". Communities are in a state of constant competition with each other.
Elite educational institutions in the UK
The choice among English prestigious educational institutions is not as large as in the United States. Initially, there were only 2 elite universities in the country - Cambridge and Oxford, now having the common name Oxbridge. Twenty-seven British prime ministers have an Oxford diploma, and fifteen have a Cambridge diploma. Almost all English heads of government graduated from Oxford, among them David Cameron, Tony Blair and Theresa May.
In general, Oxford education was received not only by british politicians, but also by other foreign leaders and even monarchs. British universities are especially appreciated by former colonists - representatives of Pakistan, India and Canada.
French National School of Administration
The initiator of the creation of this educational institution was Charles de Gaulle. Its purpose was the transparency of the process of selecting civil servants in the country. There are no secret student communities and associations in the National School, and any gifted and interested young person can enter here.
Most members of the French state apparatus graduated from the National School of Administration. Its students, as a rule, receive a second higher education, and immediately after entering the School, they are appointed to the position of an official in any field of activity.
Education in this educational institution takes place on a budgetary basis, that is, it is paid by the state, but after receiving a diploma, graduates must work in their position for 10 years. If the official leaves his post ahead of schedule, he will have to reimburse the state for the money spent on his training. Thus, President Emmanuel Macron worked in a bureaucratic position in the Ministry of Economy for four years, after which he left his post. Since he worked in office for less than 10 years, he had to return the funds spent on his training to the Budget of France.
Nevertheless, there are also French people who are dissatisfied with this education system, who believe that NSHA students represent a kind of elite that has nothing to do with ordinary people.
