<p>@doubleeternity : Unfortunately academic rigor is largely up to the student and the major they choose (and the courses. Like if your son or anyone randomly chooses or simply chooses courses based upon requirements, then the person is not really exercising any discretion with regard to choosing rigorous courses or instructors. They are simply choosing based on other things that don’t take being challenged into account. I understand that you should expect rigor from schools like Emory and Vandy or any top school, but in the days of the “consumer” based highered that we lived in, it won’t be the norm and generally courses will only be a medium level of rigor or be underwhelming unless you are at a very, very, very top school in one of the more rigorous academic programs (like econ., physics, or math at places Harvard, Chicago, or Yale or something). Sorry that your son didn’t enjoy it that much. They should have chosen more of a place with a stereotypical college experience I guess. Just don’t expect rigor levels to be different. I’ve kind of compared syllabi and coursework across several top schools in certain disciplines and often Emory was similar and came out on top in certain cases (especially when compared to closer ranked institutions). </p>
<p>However, at a departmental level, if I compared natural science courses to those at Emory, I would give Emory the edge (even if only slight, because Emory has a great deal of inconsistency, but so do other schools) over Vandy (I’m talking biology, chemistry, and neuroscience). I don’t know about other disciplines (like I would imagine physical sciences being more rigorous). Also, if your son is business, business schools are generally not that rigorous compared to programs in the sciences and social sciences, even at top schools. </p>