<p>Actually, the women’s college, and only one of those ranks in the top ten, have awesome alumni as well. One might argue that this was before coed education, but this isn’t entirely the case.</p>
<p>In the case of Barnard, for example, Jhumpa Lahiri and Edwidge Dandicant are recent alums and winning literary prizes galore.</p>
<p>I do think schools go through fads. Middlebury seems very hot right now for reasons not necessarily having to do with quality, though these reasons do not negatively reflect on its quality. The emphasis on internationalism and environmentalism which it is known for are very appealing to current HS grads, so Middlebury is standing in front of many schools.</p>
<p>Perhaps the serious Quaker tradition of Haverford produces modesty that cause Haverford to go unrecognized as the amazing gem it is. Sad, maybe, but part of what makes it Haverford.</p>
<p>Williams real Yankee attitude makes it refuse to promote itself as well.</p>
<p>I can’t imagine than anyone could go wrong at any of these schools in terms of the education. After that, it is about fit or what a particular student is looking for.</p>
<p>I can’t see the need to assert that one stands before the other. (Not for you HC Alum because I don’t think you’re doing that.)</p>
<p>True love, like love of one’s school, should make us appreciate everything else more and not engender competition and disdain for other schools.</p>