The Kindergarten Ivy League

The Class of 2009 may be a distinguished group, but they don’t have anything on the Play-Doh masters of New York City’s private preschools.

After braving entrance exams and interviews, only a select number of New York toddlers proved themselves worthy of acceptance to the elite institutions. At the cost of an economy-sized car, families can provide their erudite youngsters with a year of the finest quality preschool education. Many Manhattan parents see this instruction as a fast track to the Ivy League for their brilliant young minds.

And there’s even a hierarchy among these potty-training institutes.

The 92nd Street Y was dubbed “The Harvard of Nursery Schools” by Victoria Goldman, author of the Manhattan Directory of Private Nursery Schools. “The admissions are just as difficult,” says the mother of super-preschoolers herself, and “the facilities are probably better than Harvard’s.”

But can the big Y really go head-to-head with Harvard? You can decide.

Harvard Location: Cambridge

92nd Street Y Location: Manhattan

Harvard Founded: 1636

Y Founded: 1938

Harvard Admissions Rate: 9%

Y Admissions Rate: 6%

Harvard Tuition: $32,097

Y Tuition: $17,200

Harvard Endowment: $22 billion

Y Endowment: $43 million

Harvard Admissions Criteria: Perfect SAT's, GPA, Legacy status

Y Admissions Criteria: Potty training, Sharing skills, Legacy status

Harvard Biggest Scandal: Larry Summers' remarks at the NBER conference

Y Biggest Scandal: Who ate the glue?

Harvard Most Popular Class: Justice

Y Most Popular Class: Snack Time

Harvard Facilities: Finest college library

Y Facilities: Finest rooftop playground

Harvard Literacy Rate: 100%

Y Literacy Rate: 0%

Harvard Career Choice: Investment Banker

Y Career Choice: Superman

Harvard Stereotypical Student: Arrogant overachiever

Y Stereotypical Student: Arrogant overachiever

Harvard Motivation: Goes to Harvard

Y Motivation: Wants to go to Harvard

Harvard Favorite Music: Bob Dylan

Y Favorite Music: Raffi

Harvard Biggest Challenge: What comes after senior year

Y Biggest Challenge: What comes after 9