<p>FSratford,</p>
<p>I’d certainly agree with that, except, especially with a range of posters on this board, UChicago’s direct competitors/peers would be Harvard, Stanford et al. They’d point to increasing selectivity figures as evidence that UChicago is “closing the gap” with these other schools.</p>
<p>A far more important figure to a major research university, dollars brought in, however, indicates otherwise. If we’re to celebrate that UChicago is probably in the second tier of fundraising (a place with very good company - Duke, Cornell, etc.), that’s well and good. Many, however, don’t lodge UChicago in that place.</p>
<p>(Additionally, the institution itself is strongly aspirational, and, at least in rhetoric I’ve heard, fancies itself as a major center of learning perhaps only rivaled by the tippy top schools I mentioned above. The most recent fundraising figures indicate that the gulf between UChicago and these other institutions may, in fact, be widening.)</p>
<p>To close, UChicago is a wonderful institution, and a comprehensive research university that is probably one of the top 15-20 centers of learning in the country. Purporting to be one of the very big heavy hitters, though, may be off base.</p>