arcadia

You underestimate the Amherst kids protesting this thread.

kwu

Fine. In the same manner that Yale is more prestigious than Columbia.

Sure. I define it in the same way that you would likely define it--a school well-respected in academia, by both older and younger professionals. Respect earned over a cumulative and consistent history of success manifested in those attending, and graduates of, the institution.

Except the OP was asking specifically about prestige, not repute. Perhaps he or she cannot distinguish between the two. If we're talking about general name recognition, all LACs lose the game, yes.

Keilexandra

^ Then I would agree. Yale is also not "far more" prestigious than Columbia.

middsmith

Said the troll from NYC. ;-)

Yes, but the sky is the limit for S&P. Same thing can't be said about PA. ;-).
There will be correction on the PA thing for Middlebury next year. Just you wait.

But everyone knows Amherst = Williams regardless of what US News said.

I'll set myself on fire that day. ;-).

arcadia

I agree. It'll go from a 4.3 to a 4.4.

Sell tickets for that and you'll be one wealthy Lord Jeff (but not for long). ;-)

ncram65

True, but the concepts are linked--tough for anything to be considered "prestigious" if it is not well known.

And anyway, you'd really advise the OP to turn down Middlebury, a school the OP prefers, for Amherst based on your view of relative prestige?

kwu

Please read my posts. I refuse to quote myself.

tk21769

>>And anyway, you'd really advise the OP to turn down Middlebury, a school the OP prefers, for Amherst based on your view of relative prestige?

I must've missed anything like that advice in the preceding posts. I disagree that AW are significantly more prestigious than M anymore, but kwu's remarks overall are balanced.

The social history of American colleges is interesting. There have been big changes in attitudes about colleges and class in the past few decades. I think it's a good thing for all these schools if a smart kid can seriously consider which one works best for his or her needs, without getting too worked up over which is more "prestigious."

golacs

I agree with kwu.

From every aspect, you compare Middlebury to Amherst/Williams, just like you compare Dartmouth to Harvard/Yale.

Of course, A and W are the most prestigious colleges for undergraduate education, even Harvard took Amherst as a model when they discussed how to improve their undergraduate education in 2007. Yes, they are not well known by the general public, but Ohio State is the most well known, can you claim Ohio State is a prestigious school?

By the way, I am not a student from A or W.

Keilexandra

^Actually, I'd say that AWS--Amherst, Williams, and Swarthmore--are the HYP equivalents in the LAC world. And not only because the acronyms match up neatly in threes; in some academic respects, Swat beats out both A and W.

trollnyc

So would Amherst be the Harvard of the three? There's a big drop from H to Y/P and I don't think that can be said of Amherst with respect to the others.

Keilexandra

No, Amherst isn't really the Harvard of the three. There isn't a Harvard prestige-equivalent among LACs. (Though I wouldn't call it a "big drop," either.)

ghostbuster

Frankly speaking, these threads sadden me. They really do. To see people this obsessed with the minutiae of which is more prestigious or more well known. Going to college ought to be about the academic experience and your personal growth. Pick schools for your own reasons, but please try and examine them in much broader picture than silly USNWR rankings or "prestige." There are brilliant kids at Colby, Bates, Bowdoin and all the LAC's. The campus culture may vary, sometimes by geographical and cultural differences. Sometimes by programs they are famous for, like theatre or languages or pre-med.

In the final analysis, we should not be pitting one school against another and taking "sides" or "teams" like its the Redskins versus the Cowboys. Its silly.

All colleges compete for the best and the brightest. From the first tier elites to the schools in the third tier.

I wish everyone the best, but it would make me happier to see people focused on finding the right "fit" and stop worrying about whether Williams is better than Amherst.

modestmelody

Amongst people who know about LACs, everyone will know all three, most will accept that AW are better (with or without basis), and in the end it wouldn't matter too much which of these schools you went to.

That being said, I think Middlebury's prestige is growing but suffers from the automatic association with language and nothing else. When you say Middlebury, those who know it most often respond "language". When you say AW, they respond "top LAC". Middlebury is probably both propelled forward and held back by this.

d'smom

"Frankly speaking, these threads sadden me. They really do. To see people this obsessed with the minutiae of which is more prestigious or more well known."

Ghostbuster, Best thing I have read in this whole thread.

I mean really, how someone can say that Princeton is a step down from Harvard or that Amherst is better than Middlebury. I mean come on. This is nuts. I am in my middle age and have the experience to tell all of you that it is what "YOU" make of your experience at college.

I think I mentioned in another post on this thread that it's about the fit. Yet people stay focused on rankings and prestige. What a waste of time arguing over such pettiness. One year Princeton has the number one spot and the next it's Harvard, yet we have people saying Princeton is a step down. Huh? It's mind boggling.

Middlebury is a great school. Go there if you feel the fit is best for what you want and need.