When you hear the phrase "Ivy League," what do you think of?

Myths and misconceptions plague the eight schools of the Ivy League and their students. Many people equate schools like Yale with the concepts of arrogance, wealth, and elitism. Students at Columbia forsake the social scenes of other schools to devote their time to studying. The way to guarantee admission to Dartmouth is to have a parent who attended—preferably a parent who knows the president and is willing to finance a new library. It is a rare person who can name all eight Ivies, but it is a rarer person who does not have notions about them.

The eight schools of the Ivy League—Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, and Yale—are among the most selective and academically rigorous institutions in the world. Each Ivy has its own history and personality, and each attracts brilliant and accomplished students from around the world. These students flock to idyllic campuses in the northeast to learn, live, and party with their peers.

In the 2004-2005 academic year, Sean-Michael Green is conducting research for a new book, tentatively titled, What I Learned in College: A Year in the Ivy League. He is spending approximately 30 days at each Ivy, sitting in on classes, speaking with students, and participating in activities. He joined the freshmen as they arrived on Cornell's campus in August, and he will be at graduation at Princeton in May. Along the way, he will maintain a travelogue of his adventures.

Sean-Michael's goal is to spend time with students—in class, at home, and across campus—so that he can accurately write about the people who make up the Ivy League.

What the book is:
Funny! It is a narrative nonfiction account of Sean-Michael's travels and encounters throughout the year. The work will be funny, smart, and factually accurate. The book is intended for alumni, students, and anyone who wants to see what life is like at these institutions.

What the book is not:
The book is not an exposé, nor is it seeking scandal. The administration is aware of—and, in some cases, receptive to—the project. The privacy of students will be protected, with names and other identifying information changed. The book is not a how-to book or college guide.

The Research Schedule:

Cornell University
August 24 - September 20

Brown University
September 20 - October 20

Dartmouth College
October 20 - November 15

Yale University
November 15 - December 19

University of Pennsylvania
January 17 - February 17

Columbia University
February 25 - March 20

Harvard University
March 20 - April 20

Princeton University
April 20 - May 31

For Ivy League Students:
I need your help! The new book is about Ivy League students, and without the input of those students, the book will not exist. At each school, I want to shadow as many different students as possible. I want to go to classes, participate in activities, and live in student areas. I am friendly, professional, and very interested in student life. I will work hard to make the experience painless and interesting for everybody involved.

If you are a student at an institution that I am planning to visit, and if you would like to discuss the project, please write to IvyLeague@SeanMichaelGreen.com.

Travelogue
Many of the people with whom I have talked since I started this project have expressed great curiosity about my adventures at other schools. The students at Dartmouth want to know what I think of Brown; people at Cornell want to hear what happens when I am at Harvard.

Thus, I am keeping a travelogue. I will try to update this travelogue weekly, so that students can keep track of my project, and my friends and family can find my body if I disappear.