USNA. Annapolis would win, hands down.
It should be noted that the Ivy League took decades to establish itself as a thing, at least academically. Using the above examples, Reed students once (circa 1960) profiled at a level higher than those of Brown, as well as two levels higher than those of Penn.
I’d go back to Beloit. If I had to pick someplace different then I would go to Juniata
Even with a full ride and guaranteed admission to all schools, an overwhelming majority wants to go back to their own schools or their children’s schools. This group isn’t brave or ambitious enough to venture out of their comfort zone towards greener grass on the other side. ?
“#55
Publisher
@Riversider: My answer depends upon whether the colleges & universities would be as they are today or as they were decades ago when I was in college.”
@Publisher As they are now.
As long as we’re dreaming, I’ll pick another fantasy school: Florence Academy of Art in Florence , Italy. I’d love to learn to draw, paint, and sculpt like the old masters.
@Riversider I’m confused. I thought you wanted us to pick somewhere we thought would be our best fit - something we’d love. Since “Comfort Zone” isn’t it, what exactly do you consider greener grass? I looked at a fair number of places when I was heading to college and picked my favorite, affordable one. It was Choice #2 at the time if money hadn’t been an object, but in hindsight I’m pretty sure I loved my time there better than I would have at Choice #1.
We’ve looked at even more with my three lads as they were picking. The only one that even remotely attracted me over my own Alma mater is the one I mentioned. There aren’t any others I would consider to have greener grass by my definition - hence - the confusion. Do you want us to pick something we don’t think we’d like? Or someplace we know nothing about from a visit - just from comments on CC?
You can pick any school you like but as people as well as colleges change and grow with time, I didn’t expect so many to pick a do over.
What a fun thread! If I had to do it all over again, I would attend my top choice: NYU. My 17yo self dreamed of escaping my sleepy hometown for the bright lights and big city, but as a first-generation college student I had no idea how to turn my dreams into reality.
Attend the colleges as they are now, or as they were back when I attended my undergraduate?
It’s heartening to see how many are so happy with the college they attended!
That’s a bit of a buzzkill, @Riversider . I don’t see an issue with people fantasizing about what was obviously a great time. I also disagree that the grass is greener comment, because if they want to go back to the same place, the grass was clearly pretty green right where they were!
I’ve changed my mind again. I’m allowed to, because this is just fantasy. Forget boring old Brown, Bates, and Cambridge. I’d like to be educated by Socrates, hanging out with those rabble-rousing youths in the agora. How’s that for stepping out of the comfort zone?
“I’d like to be educated by Socrates, hanging out with those rabble-rousing youths in the agora.”
Two cups of hemlock please 
I had similar thoughts. My answer would be different, depending on the specifics on how the miracle to be young again works. Do I go back in time to when I was in HS? Do I maintain all the adult knowledge I currently have, like swapped bodies while retaining mind? Is this a one time event or do I have some kind of lasting special ability/opportunity? Are fictional colleges allowed?
Without thinking about this type of detail, I am happy with my decision to attend Stanford and would gladly do so again. I truly believe Stanford was the best option for me at that age. However, if I could attend again, I’d do many things differently while in college the 2nd time around. It would be a completely different experience.
Williams. Classic North Eastern liberal arts experience. Phenomenal resources, inspiring campus, how could you not want to learn there? Stunning location, splendid isolation, plenty of time for the big city after school. Small class sizes, even the opportunity to take tutorial style classes. Genuine sporting rivalries. Seasons. I love the winter months, hate the heat. Opportunity to study at Oxford for a year, should you be so inclined. Amazing art gallery and art department. Alumni network. And, seen as we’re firmly in the land of fantasy here, I’m on the cross country team. Not the captain, that would be ridiculous. . I’m assuming I do well and it’s off to Yale for grad school…
12 months ago, I would have said Haverford.
I never went to college.
“Not the captain, that would be ridiculous. . I’m assuming I do well and it’s off to Yale for grad school…”
It’s your fantasy. Go for the captainship!
Haverford has the better cross country team and coach, though. 
Haverford has the better cross country team and coach, though.
Only in the real world.
Probably a different topic/thread but it’s interesting to think about how this could change the entire path one’s life has been on.
I’d go back to my university - Cal - but I would take different classes. Way more science for non-majors, more languages, more world history, more art history. I might have a different major.
@Riversider – I did it right the 1st time and found the ideal mix of work hard and play hard. Why would I want to someplace different