The Most UNDERRATED Colleges on this Forum.

okwhatisgoingon · 03-28-2010, 08:25 PM

Hey,

Well I have been looking through these forums a lot for the part two months or so and I began noticing a general trend on some schools that are overrated and certain school that are underrated in these forums.

From what I noticed, I would say the following are underrated on this forum:

a)Tufts University: great academics, great location, very good especially in IR, high admission standards...I think it should not be ranked as low as it is by USNEWS...also it does not seem to get a lot of love or consideration from current CC members.. relatively speaking.

b)Emory University: One of the best schools in the South and in the country. Extremely good for Pre-med, business, psycology etc. excellent location, good weather and extremely well endowed. Only one of two top 20 universities listed in USNEWS's list of up and coming schools. Once again, does not get as much love and respect as it should.

c) College of William and Mary: I personally love this school but I have no clue why its ranked so low and I rarely see it being mentioned on this forum. In my opinion, this institution is as good as uVa and should not be overshadowed by it.

d) Pretty much all the LACs ranked outside of the Top 10 (includes Colby, Bates, Hamilton etc.) great schools and provides a great, intimate environment.... extremely happy student bodies and facilities are state of the art.

I also think that some schools like Caltech, Penn (as good as they are) are overrated on this forum. This is all just my opinion and what I have felt from my observations. Anyone agree (or disagree)?

silverturtle · 03-28-2010, 08:27 PM

Quote:

also think that some schools like Caltech, Penn (as good as they are) are overrated on this forum.

What, specifically, makes you say that about Caltech?

okwhatisgoingon · 03-28-2010, 08:30 PM

Caltech, unlike MIT(which people often compare to Caltech which I never understood because MIT I think is much better), is a good choice for math/science/ engineering students. I get that it is amazing for what it is known for, but that seems to be it. On the other hand, MIT excels at subjects across the board. People here say that the two are equally as good, which I find odd.

Grape1 · 03-28-2010, 08:41 PM

MIT is better across the board than Caltech, but in the science/math/engineering department they are about equal. Most people who are comparing those schools are interested in those fields because if they weren't then they wouldn't be applying to Caltech in the first place and they'd be comparing MIT to the Ivies.

okwhatisgoingon · 03-28-2010, 09:52 PM

bump 10 char

wittywonka · 03-28-2010, 10:40 PM

University of Richmond doesn't get the credit it deserves, often, in my opinion.

JohnAdams12 · 03-28-2010, 10:43 PM

You are correct, Hamiltion College just doesn't get the talk it should for such an incredible institution that it is...

Jaddua · 03-28-2010, 10:59 PM

Bowdoin and Amherst are almost never mentioned among the nation's top colleges, although they really are up there. Maybe not in the top 10, but they're up there. (I don't mean strictly liberal arts)

Endicott · 03-28-2010, 11:48 PM

Cornell definitely gets a bad rep.

ADHDFTL · 03-28-2010, 11:52 PM

"Cornell definitely gets a bad rep."
Partly because Cornell often attracts people that apply just to be in the ivy league. Cornell offers a similar education experience to many state flagships for more money in many cases. It definitely a good school, it just is often compared to other ivy leagues and doesn't stand up.

Amandarin · 03-29-2010, 12:00 AM

Penn state in my opinion

ADHDFTL · 03-29-2010, 12:02 AM

Almost all public schools are underrated, especially by USNWR.

ChasingRabbits · 03-29-2010, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Caltech, unlike MIT(which people often compare to Caltech which I never understood because MIT I think is much better), is a good choice for math/science/ engineering students. I get that it is amazing for what it is known for, but that seems to be it. On the other hand, MIT excels at subjects across the board. People here say that the two are equally as good, which I find odd.

There are other subjects?

ncmentor · 03-29-2010, 12:27 AM

Elon University in NC - gets a good amount of love here in CC and from people in the know.

But because they only offer undergrad and some master's programs but few doctoral programs it is included in the Master's Universities and not the National Universities category by US News and World Reports. When people are looking at school rankings they almost always refer to the National Universities category no matter how good the Master's Universities programs are rated. Elon was named more often than any other school in the US News feature on excellence in academic programs that are linked to student success, but because it can't be on the "National Universities" list many people don't fully investigate the school.

I am also surprised at the lack of love for Tufts University. Perhaps because it's so close to Harvard geographically but it defiantly attracts a different kind of very talented student.

swish14 · 03-29-2010, 08:33 AM

Def agree that Tufts and W&M are way too underrated. I would add Davidson, Wake Forest, & Rice who also deserve more respect. Some of the big research State U's get more credit than they deserve for undergrads.