Harvard University

One of the most famous Ivy League Universities in the world, Harvard is every aspiring academic's dream destination. Established in the year 1636, Harvard is the oldest college in the United States by a country mile. Its collegiate school, initially known as 'New College', primarily served to instruct clergy members, and continued in this vein until the early periods of the 18th Century. Throughout the 1700s, 1800s, and 1900s, Harvard's reputation has only grown, as did its offerings and concentrations. Harvard broke with tradition in 1977 when it merged with Radcliffe College, essentially making it coeducational. Today, Harvard remains one of the most prestigious learning institutions in the world, and the red bricks of Harvard Yard are a Boston landmark. Its campus covers nearly 210 acres (85 hectares) and is home to numerous heritage sights such as the John Harvard Statue, Massachusetts Hall, Widener Library and Harvard Yard.