Michigan has over 10,000 posts

[kazz]

<p>Alrighty really quick… I don’t want to knock Virginia as I have alot of respect for the insitution. However, the posters here seem to have quite an inferiority complex.</p>

<p>First of all, as far as academics are concerned, Michigan has the most ranked programs in the nation save Stanford and Berkeley. Virginia? They’re down the list. Don’t believe me? Look them up and count them.</p>

<p>Also, USNews selectivity ranking consistently has Michigan above Virginia. Last year Michigan was 18, Virginia was in the mid 20’s. I don’t know what this years selectivity ranking is. Look it up. The story is probably the same.</p>

<p>Peer assessment, which is how academics across the nation rate an institutions academic quality. For undergrad last year, Michigan was 4.6/5… what was Virginia? 4.4/5.0 Yes, its fairly insignificant but nonetheless its a very important ranking that indicates a school’s reputation to those who matter.</p>

<p>Here’s a Gerhard Casper, former president of Stanford University, writing a letter to USNews critcizing their ranking system. He stated this:</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.stanford.edu/dept/pres-provost/president/speeches/961206gcfallow.html[/url]”>http://www.stanford.edu/dept/pres-provost/president/speeches/961206gcfallow.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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I am extremely skeptical that the quality of a university - any more than the quality of a magazine - can be measured statistically. However, even if it can, the producers of the U.S. News rankings remain far from discovering the method. Let me offer as prima facie evidence two great public universities: the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and the University of California-Berkeley. These clearly are among the very best universities in America - one could make a strong argument for either in the top half-dozen. Yet, in the last three years, the U.S. News formula has assigned them ranks that lead many readers to infer that they are second rate: Michigan 21-24-24, and Berkeley 23-26-27.

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<p>and where exactly does he mention Virginia? Mind you he’s referring to undergraduate education. </p>

<p>How about research? Michigan is #1 in the country in overall expenditure. Michigan is known for ground breaking research. Virginia is not.</p>

<p>Michigan has the largest university run medical system in the nation.</p>

<p>Now would you like me to get into sports? Who has the winningest program in football history? who is a contender for the directors cup year in and year out? I believe Michigan was 2nd or third last year and 2nd the year before. Please tell me where Virginia lands because I know it isnt anywhere close. (for those that don’t know, the directors cup is for entire athletic program performance)</p>

<p>I could go on and on here. </p>

<p>The University of Michigan and the University of Virginia are both phenomenal universities with sterling reputations for academic and athletic excellence. But please, don’t get this overinflated opinion of Virginia vs Michigan because for this one year, Virginia is ahead of Michigan in the football polls. Or think for a second that Virginia is one up on Michigan in terms of academics because that couldn’t be further from the truth.</p>

<p>They’re both fantastic… but they’re different. Virginia may suit one student better while for another student, Michigan is a better fit. Lets just leave it at that.</p>