I went to an Ivy League university. The education alone wasn’t worth the price tag, but the special privileges I now have are priceless.

• I went to Columbia for college and had to take out a loan to pay the high tuition.
• The classes, professors, and student life alone were not worth the amount of debt I now have.

Growing up in Mexico allowed me to experience American culture in a unique way: I could choose exactly which facets I wanted to experience. For me, there was nothing more fun than going to an American university.

I did some research and discovered the prestigious group of universities known as the Ivy League schools – some of the oldest and most renowned educational institutions in the world. I was sold. However, I also discovered the high cost of attending one of these schools. Pursuing a bachelor’s degree was not financially feasible.

So I completed my undergraduate studies in Mexico and postponed my American college experience for a graduate program. When the time came, I applied to a master’s program at Columbia University, was accepted, and took out a sizable loan (and made a huge leap of faith).

Now that it’s over, I wonder: was the price worth it? Yes, but not for the reasons you might think.

The academic aspect: courses and professors

One of the reasons people choose to attend an Ivy League institution is for their academic excellence. Since I received the acceptance letter, the university has not missed an opportunity to inform me about its distinguished faculty and groundbreaking classes. And they weren’t wrong.

I was surprised by the professors’ extensive resumes and the variety of teaching methods in my classes, but I wasn’t overly impressed. After completing my studies in Mexico, my point of comparison helped me understand that my Ivy League professors didn’t fully justify paying three times as much.

It really depends on your specialization, but we can’t pretend that in a globalized world the best classes can only be found at a dozen universities in the US. I’m not saying there isn’t added value, but I’m sure a professor from a renowned university around the world can provide a similar educational experience.

The extracurricular aspect: campus and activities

An important part of the Ivy League experience is what is offered outside the classroom. In fact, the term “Ivy League” comes from the college football division.

On this particular aspect, you might think my opinion is biased because I completed my master’s degree in 2021 during the pandemic – and you wouldn’t be entirely wrong. Due to the pandemic, we have missed many activities, conferences and trips.

But this got me thinking in retrospect: were there any events or things the university could have organized to make this experience worth the thousands of dollars? The answer was no. There was no competition, concert or symposium that could justify the debt I owed.

If the academics and extracurriculars don’t cut it for me, what will?

The professional aspect: looking for work, making an impression and networking

The value of the Ivy League degree came from what it could do for me beyond college. And no, I’m not talking about bragging; we all have that Harvard friend whose personality is all about their Harvard years. I’m talking about everything that comes after you study there.

Did you know there are exclusive job fairs for Ivy League schools? Did you know that most prestigious banks, firms and companies use university names to filter resumes? I went to one of these job fairs, got a job in London, and when I got there I discovered that all my colleagues across the board had Ivy League degrees. Yes, of course there are exceptions, but that’s it: exceptions.

Not only that, people see you differently. I was on a date once and their interest suddenly (and drastically) changed when they learned about my Ivy League degree.

The reasons mentioned above may involve an element of luck. But there’s one thing that’s guaranteed on your Ivy League degree journey: networking. You can be introverted or extroverted, but you will meet people. From all backgrounds, races and ethnicities. All with one thing in common: ambition.

It depends on your professional goals, but for me an Ivy League degree is unfortunately not a perk, but a must if you want to join the rat race.

Editor’s note: Columbia University did not immediately respond to Business Insider’s request for comment.