This blog post is part of a series where our writers, current students and recent alumni of Ivy League institutions including Columbia, Princeton, and Yale, discuss their firsthand experiences attending top colleges. Which schools are on your target colleges list? In this installment, they answer the question below.
What are college academics like at a top school? What are one upside and one downside of college academics at a top school?
Answer from Colton (Columbia University, Biology & Philosophy Double Major)
In a word, intense.
The professors do not pull punches (unless you’re an athlete), and “easy-A classes” are like an endangered species. At Columbia, that intensity is baked into the culture, especially through the Core Curriculum, which requires all undergraduates to engage deeply with foundational texts in literature, philosophy, history, and science.
In many ways, the difficulty is a blessing. The rigor of Columbia’s college academics has given me a professional and intellectual competence that I carry everywhere I go. I learned how to read closely, think clearly, and defend ideas under pressure.
But it was a painful process.
There were late nights. Panic attacks. Tears. For many students.
That said, I think the “anxiety hype” around elite-college-level classwork is overblown. Yes, it’s hard. Yes, it’s stressful. But it’s also 100% possible to graduate from Princeton or Yale with your psyche in one piece (but maybe not your dignity).
Upside: You graduate sharper, tougher, and more intellectually agile.
Downside: The emotional and time-management pressure can be very real.
Answer from Cory (Ivy League Humanities Major)
Oh yeah! It’s definitely intense.
I think it kind of depends on what major you’re in, but I always hear the pre-med Biology majors complaining about the horrendous organic chemistry sequence, and the engineers rioting over some thermodynamics problem they can’t crack.
I don’t know if being an English major is just the easiest thing ever, but other than being drowned in like 300 pages of readings a week (which no one really holds you accountable to), it’s actually not that bad.
That’s the strange part: no one is checking your homework the way they did in high school. The accountability shifts from external to internal. You either learn to manage your time—or you fall behind quickly.
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Is STEM Harder Than Humanities at an Ivy League?
Answer from Colton
Cory is being modest. Do not believe the STEM-major propaganda that humanities are easy.
After studying both science and humanities (I was a Biology and Philosophy double major), my philosophy classes were some of the hardest I ever took. Writing a high-level philosophy paper is mentally exhausting in a completely different way than solving problem sets.
There is often a more subjective grading system in humanities classes. I once took an entire seminar on Immanuel Kant. For my final paper, worth 70% of my grade, my professor literally wrote, “I don’t think this is at all true.”
She gave me an A.
But let me tell you: I worked relentlessly for that class. She was not afraid to tank your grade if you slacked.
Don’t assume that:
- “Humanities” = easy
- “Chemistry” = impossible hell march
Both can be brutal. Just in different ways.
How Much Work Do Top Colleges Assign?
Answer from Matt (Ivy League Undergraduate)
Jumping off Cory’s point about no one holding you accountable for readings, it still blows my mind how much reading some professors assign, while knowing that almost nobody will finish all of it.
I once had a TA essentially tell me I shouldn’t be doing all the readings. Which made me wonder: why assign it in the first place?
Here’s what I wish someone told me freshman year:
Do not feel pressured to complete 100% of the readings unless you’re explicitly told you’ll be tested on it.
Time is your most precious resource in college. You have to learn how to allocate it strategically.
STEM vs. Humanities: A Workload Comparison
Based on our experiences across science and humanities majors, here’s a rough comparison of academic demands at elite colleges:
Academic Factor | STEM (e.g., Biology, Engineering) | Humanities (e.g., English, Philosophy) |
|---|---|---|
Weekly Reading | 50–150 pages + textbook problems | 200–400+ pages primary texts & criticism |
Problem Sets | 5–15 hours per week common | Rare, focus on long-form analytical essays |
Grading Style | Objective, curve-based exams | Subjective, thesis-driven evaluation |
Final Assessment | Cumulative exams or technical projects | Major paper (40–70% of final grade) |
Collaboration | Study groups common | Independent argumentation emphasized |
The work is heavy in both tracks. The difference is cognitive style, not difficulty.
Is It Hard to Get an A at an Ivy League School?
Here’s where things get interesting.
Academics at a top college are simultaneously difficult and easy. That sounds odd, but through the many courses we took, it felt persistently true.
On one hand:
- Professors assign hundreds of pages of reading.
- Problem sets can take 10+ hours.
- Competition is stiff because your classmates are brilliant.
On the other hand:
- Grading is often surprisingly generous.
- The average grade at Columbia, for example, hovers around an A-.
- It’s practically unheard of to receive below a C- unless you skip assignments or exams.
In short:
The work is hard. Getting a decent grade is not.
If you put in a reasonable amount of effort, earning an A- in many courses is very achievable. An A is also possible with strategic effort.
Summary of College Academics at Top Schools (TL;DR)
- Workload: Heavy, often overwhelming at first.
- Competition: High-achieving peers raise the bar.
- Grading: Frequently generous at elite institutions.
- Stress Level: Real, but manageable with discipline.
- Skill Development: Exceptional preparation for professional and academic life.
Elite academics demand resilience, but they reward it.
How This Fits Into the Bigger Admissions Picture
Understanding college academics matters when building your application strategy.
If you’re crafting your list, read our guide on College Admissions Guide 2025: How to Get Into Top Universities to align your academic goals with admissions strategy.
With standardized testing returning at many institutions, you should also review Testing Returns to Top Colleges: A New Era in Elite Admissions to understand how SAT and ACT scores factor into this increasingly competitive landscape.
Curious how student life extends beyond academics? Explore College Extracurriculars at Elite Schools: What to Expect to see how leadership and clubs amplify academic intensity.
For families seeking direct mentorship:
- Parents in New York often start with Top Questions for Ivy League Tutors in Brooklyn.
- West Coast families may prefer our guide: Top Rated Tutors in Beverly Hills: 5-Step Parent Guide.
Elite academics begin long before freshman year.
For more guidance on how to make your college list, get in contact with a Dewey Smart tutor today!
Frequently Asked Questions
Are academics at Ivy League schools really that intense?
Yes—academics at Ivy League and other top-tier colleges are widely described as intense. Students face heavy reading loads, multi-hour problem sets, and high expectations from professors. However, while the workload is demanding, many students adapt quickly and find the challenge intellectually rewarding rather than overwhelming.
Is it harder to major in STEM than in the humanities?
Not necessarily. STEM majors often spend long hours on technical problem sets and lab work, while humanities majors handle extensive weekly reading and high-stakes analytical essays. The difficulty differs in style, quantitative versus interpretive, but both paths require discipline, critical thinking, and sustained effort.
How much reading or homework do students at elite colleges typically have?
Workloads vary by major, but students commonly report: 200–400+ pages of weekly reading in humanities courses 5–15 hours per week on STEM problem sets Major exams or final papers that can determine a large percentage of the final grade Time management becomes one of the most important academic skills.
Is it difficult to get good grades at a top college?
The coursework is rigorous, but grading at many elite institutions trends generous. Average grades at some Ivy League schools hover around an A-. Students who consistently complete assignments, prepare for exams, and engage in class typically earn strong grades—even if the path to those grades feels challenging.