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Ivy Day 2025: Everything You Need to Know and Expect
25/03/2025•14 minute read
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What is Ivy Day?
When is Ivy Day 2025?
What To Do After Ivy Day
Ivy Day 2025 is just around the corner, and applicants are both excited and nervous the admission results. But what exactly is Ivy Day? When is it? What should you expect on Ivy Day?
In this blog, we'll look at what Ivy Day is, when it occurs, and what to expect on this big day. We'll also discuss all the potential courses of action and emotions after results arrive, and tips on what to do next.
What Is Ivy Day?
Ivy Day is the annual date when students discover if they've been accepted to an Ivy League university, with all eight Ivy League universities releasing admissions results to regular decision applicants on the same day. These schools are:
- Brown University
- Columbia University
- Cornell University
- Dartmouth College
- Harvard University
- Princeton University
- University of Pennsylvania (UPenn)
- Yale University
Originally, “Ivy Day” was an annual ceremony held at some schools in the northeastern part of the United States, including the Ivy League, and even the Little Ivies. Students would place an ivy stone on a residential or administrative building to honour academic excellence.
Today, Ivy Day specifically refers to the date all eight Ivy League universities release their regular admissions decisions. Since they share similar educational philosophies, they determined it best to share their admissions decisions on the same day.
When Is Ivy Day 2025?
Ivy Day typically occurs in late March or early April. For the 2025 admissions cycle, it is expected to fall on March 27th.
If you applied for early decision or early action, you should have already received your Ivy Decision in December or January, depending on the university.
What Time Do Ivy Decisions Go Out?
All eight Ivy League universities announce results on the same day, around 7 pm EST.
Ivy Day Over the Years
| Year | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Thursday, March 27th | 7pm ET/11pm GMT |
| 2024 | Thursday, March 28th | 5-7pm ET/9-11pm GMT |
| 2023 | Thursday, March 30 | 5pm ET/9pm GMT |
| 2022 | Thursday, March 31 | 7pm ET/ 11pm GMT |
| 2021 | Tuesday, April 6 | 7pm ET/11pm GMT |
| 2020 | Thursday, March 26 | 7pm ET/ 11pm GMT |
| 2019 | Thursday, March 28 | 5pm ET/ 9pm GMT |
| 2018 | Wednesday, March 28 | 7pm ET/ 11pm GMT |
Since all the universities release results on the same day and simultaneously, it's common for websites to crash or load slowly. If you encounter this problem, consider walking away from your computer, listening to calming music, or calling a friend for a few minutes.
Ivy Day can be exciting but also stressful. Staring at a frozen screen isn’t going to help the problem, so if you wait for it to clear up, you’ll have more success and less stress!
What To Do After Ivy Day
After hearing your Ivy League decision results, you’re bound to have many emotions.
Especially if you’re waitlisted, you may feel hopeful but unsure of what needs to happen next. Students who are rejected from their top schools may also feel disappointed or frustrated.
Whatever happens on this day, remember you still have lots of options. Here’s a breakdown of each potential outcome after Ivy Day.
You Got Accepted!
Congratulations! Top Ivy League schools only accept about 4% of applicants. Before you eagerly respond, take a moment to think about your next steps.
Evaluate the university's financial aid package and consider all other acceptance offers. If you’re still 100% sure you want to attend this school, reply with an enthusiastic YES.
If you’re not entirely sure this university is your top choice, you may want to wait to hear from the other universities, both in and out of the Ivy League, that you applied to. To help you make your decision, consider trying the following:
- Make a pros and cons list of the universities that accepted you.
- Think about what you hope to gain from your university experience.
- Talk to your family about financial aid.
- Reach out to former or current students and see what they like or dislike about their university.
- Tour the campuses that you’re most interested in attending.
Once you decide which offer is right for you, formally accept the offer, and don’t forget to decline offers from all other schools that accepted you.
Also, remember to send in your deposit on time. Most Ivy League schools ask for the deposits around May 1. Check with the university you were accepted to for the exact date.
You Were Waitlisted
While being waitlisted doesn’t mean rejection, it can be one of the most stressful answers because it leaves you in limbo.
If you know the waitlisted university is the one you want to attend and you’re willing to wait it out, you need to tell the school immediately. Write a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI) to the university's specific regional admissions officer.
Here are some tips to keep in mind as you write your LOCI:
- If this university is your first choice, say it in the letter.
- Stay positive and express gratitude for being considered.
- Give specific reasons why you think you’ll be successful at that university.
- Talk about anything that has changed since you applied. Maybe you have a higher GPA or won an award or honour?
- Don't repeat information from your application.
- Limit the letter to one page.
Additionally, if you're on your top university's waitlist, you should strongly consider your second-choice university since you might not receive an admissions decision from the waitlist university until right before the academic year starts.
Make a deposit on your second-choice university, so you'll have a confirmed spot for the fall semester in the event you don’t get into your waitlist university.
If you get into your waitlist university, you’ll likely lose your deposit at the other school, but you’ll be able to attend your first-choice uni!
You Were Rejected
If you don’t get into your first-choice university or any of the Ivy League universities, it’s ok to feel disappointed, sad, or angry. Acknowledge those feelings, then shift your focus to the great opportunities ahead!
Keep in mind that the sooner you can move on from the rejection, the sooner you'll be able to move forward charting your path to another great institution!
Remember, the Ivy League is so competitive that many of the brightest students in the world do not get accepted. Even the most straightforward Ivy League university, Cornell, has an acceptance rate of just 8.4%.
The good news is that there are so many great US universities not in the Ivy League. If you apply to reach, target, and safety unis, you’ll have options. If you got accepted into your second-choice university and you’re sure you want to attend, accept it! If not, choose a university that accepts you!
Taking Your Next Steps
Once you've resolved where you will go, there’s so much to get excited about and discover at your destination, both on and off campus.
Research the university's extracurricular activities, courses, and surrounding area. Tour in person, ask questions, and talk to current and former students about why they would like to study there.
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Final Thoughts
The Ivy League universities are some of the best schools in the world. It’s no wonder so many students apply to these prestigious universities. Regardless of the outcome of your application, you should find a variety of options and university counseling resources available to help you chart your next steps.
If you’re interested in getting into an Ivy League school, Crimson Education can help! Our admissions advisors can help you choose classes and extracurriculars that pair well with your future major and answer any questions you have about the Ivy League application process.
Schedule your consultation and discover how our strategists can help you make a personalised strategy for admissions to your dream schools.
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Crimson Education Strategists
Our Crimson strategists are top graduates from the world's most prestigious universities, including Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Oxford, and Cambridge. They put their firsthand experience and deep insights to work helping students around the world stay ahead of the curve in college admissions by providing the most up-to-date strategies for success.
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