Back in 2012, our founder, Gail Sexton Anderson, shared her thoughts on the elusive Ivy League egg donor. Now, over a decade later, our Director of Case Management, Bonnie Douglas, revisits this topic, shedding new light on the realities and dispelling the myths surrounding Ivy League egg donors. Join us as we explore how the landscape has evolved and what it means for intended parents today.
Intended parents frequently reach out to Donor Concierge in hopes of finding an Ivy League egg donor. As Gail noted, it is not surprising, nor is it a case of people seeking a "designer baby." In fact, most intended parents we work with have advanced degrees from prestigious universities and they often seek donors who resemble themselves in terms of academic achievement. However, the reality is that very few egg donors are women from Ivy League schools.
There are several reasons why women attending Ivy League schools typically do not choose to become egg donors:
Lack of Financial Incentive: Women at Ivy League schools may not need the financial compensation that comes with egg donation.
Time Constraints: The demanding schedules and rigorous academic commitments leave little time for the egg donation process.
Family Influence: Their families may not support the idea of egg donation.
Social Perception: Egg donation may not be socially acceptable among their peers.
As was the case a decade ago, and is even more relevant today, Ivy League donors tend to be more stressed than the average egg donor. High stress levels can negatively impact an IVF cycle, causing donors to respond poorly to medication. It’s also important to mention that donors in top schools and/or with very high test scores can typically garner extraordinarily high compensation.
While it is possible to find a donor with exceptional SAT scores attending a Top 100 university, such donors are rare. Instead, what is more commonly available are college-educated women who are bright, look like they could fit into your family, and who are eager to help you build your family. At Donor Concierge, we have access to more egg donors than anyone in the world. If these Ivy League donors are out there, we will find them.
In most cases, however, if we take an egg from a reasonably intelligent female and fertilize it with sperm from a reasonably intelligent male, the resulting child is likely to be intelligent. Raised in a family of high academic achievers, this child is likely to thrive.
Still, finding an egg donor involves relinquishing some control, control over how you envisioned having children, and allowing the process to unfold with the support of many people: your Donor Concierge case manager, your egg donor, the agency, fertility clinic staff, and your doctor.
Ultimately, you will be the one to raise, educate, and love this child. While genetics plays a role in intelligence, the influence of loving and supportive parents is immeasurable in shaping a young mind.