Treetopleaf

Here is an updated list that shows Rugg's number of recommended departments, followed by the number of those departments that are non-mainstream, or less common, departments. For instance, Chemistry is common but Forensics is not. I guess this sort of list shows the breadth of these schools. Rugg goes into a little more depth than this list shows.

UIUC - 47 (21)
UIC - 31 (11)
SIUC - 25 (12)
NIU - 20 (6)
EIU - 16 (3)
WIU - 16 (8)
ISU - 6 (2)
SIUE - 5 (1)

Northwestern - 32 (12)
Depaul - 25 (7)
Knox - 23 (6)
Loyola - 20 (4)
Beloit - 19 (5)
Wheaton - 19 (2)
Bradley - 18 (6)
Lake Forest - 17 (1)
Elmhurst College - 15 (5)
North Central - 14 (4)
Illinois Wesleyan - 13 (2)
Augustana - 8 (1)
Colombia Chicago - 8 (4)
IIT - 9 (5) *

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* (Engineering counts as a single department in Rugg's lists - departments like Civil, Electrical, etc. aren't separately identified.)

Treetopleaf

I guess all the above really lists is the schools with more quality departments. Obviously DePaul isn't better than Knox.

dbwes, your post was great. My impression regarding the student body at Loyola vrs. DePaul is that you'd have more diversity (including diverse academic preparedness) at DePaul. I wonder how UIC would fit in to that comparison, and whether you'd agree?

idic5

tree, thanks. I noticed you gave Beloit, too. that is one one interesting school less than two hrs from chicago. Can you give rugg stats on Lawrence U? I know op mentioned state school, or lac if merit aid is given, but these are closeby, too.

op, do you need ILL school, or are you looking for something that is within a certain radius from chicago? As you know probably, that puts Beloit and LU within a 3-4 hr radius, shorter than SIU, for example. it also puts some uw schools within snapping range , flgship madison as well as oshkosh.

It also lassos Valpo for moderate private, and ND for selective private. IUB wd be yielded, too. i think Iowa might get in this radius, too. We're from the chicago area, and we wanted something around less than 3-4 hrs from home.

Treetopleaf

Lawrence - 20 (4)

idic5

thanks, tree. Do you know what rugg uses as criteria? If it is *total number* of resources per subject, you would think that the big uni's wd always come up ahead. Do you know if it attempts to normalize per the total student population?

It is curious that knox is about the same number as depaul, tho less than 10 pct the size.

Treetopleaf

You can look at Rugg's site for some more info. They take surveys, listen to HS guidance counselors, consider departmental balance (professors from several colleges), note the percent of college graduates from that department, etc. They list departments that they consider strong and don't normalize for college size.

I got the book to try to gain an understanding beyond average ACT scores, general reputation and self-proclaimed strengths. It's interesting to see differences, like the one re: Knox and DePaul that you noted.

MadeInIllinois

Do you know what, I've decided to add some OS schools - more specifically Wisconsin - to my list.

Revised list so far in no particular order:

ILL -
UIC
UIUC
ISU
NIU
NW
Bradley
DePaul

WISC -
UW-Madison
Beloit
Lawrence U.

Iowa -
Grinnell

Again, the private schools that are listed, I will only consider them if I receive enough financial aid. My parents agreed that they will pay equal the amount of in-state tuition for a private, the rest is up to me to pay. So while seeking schools outside of ILL is fine, I'll gather my gas money and my parents energy and time for mostly in-state schools, since my mother is affiliated with the University of Illinois I get half-off any ILL state school.

MadeInIllinois

Quick question, how do you calculate your weighted and unweighted GPA?

I'm taking a mixture of APs, Honors, and an A-track class (for normal kids).