I’m just going to throw in a mention of regional publics and comprehensive master’s institutions (categories with a large but not complete overlap), which are by their nature teaching-first and therefore there’s a pretty solid chance that the faculty will pay attention to and care about their students.
But, you know, generally low USNWR rankings for institutions in those categories, so according to CC dogma they must be horrible, horrible places for students.
US News has separate rankings for these schools.
Not really.
They have separate rankings for “regional universities” and “regional colleges”, but that isn’t what I’m talking about here (though many regional publics and master’s comprehensives do fit into those USNWR categories, of course).
I don’t know if it’s outdated or not, but I do think it has a lot to do with the kid. My hunch is that a kid who goes out of their way to connect and has a bit of chutzpah can do that anywhere. That kid will find resources and get them. My family member who has spent his career in academia, mostly larg publics, call these students “student-entrepreneurs”.
Realistically, some kids may need a bit more of the energy for those connections to vone from the prof. Those kids may need guidance in finding and accessing resources.
Often, although they might not know it or come out and say it, those looking for that accessibility and ease of connection are in the latter group. So the difference will be meaningful to them. For the student entrepreneur, not so much.
I so appreciate you pointing this out (and your input across CC). My dad is a retired professor of Georgia Southern University and South Georgia State College (2-year). He had degrees in EE from GaTech and PhD in mathematics from UGA and found he loved teaching more than working in industry. He was a brilliant and kind instructor who made a difference in his students lives. (He’s god-grandfather to a former student’s kids. That student did not have a father figure so my dad became that. The student now is a PhD in actuarial science.)
So I appreciate your championing of the off-the-radar regional schools that no one on CC discusses.
Seems he missed an opportunity to coin the term “studentrepreneurs” 
I assume everyone else is mentally pronouncing that with a break after the “d”.
Syracuse did not meet the academic criteria.
Not likely. Syracuse ranks far higher than some of the newly admitted members as well as existing members. Some of the members currently ranked above Syracuse were also below Syracuse prior to the methodology change in the USNWR ranking system. Both Syracuse and BC were better fits at the time Rutgers was taken.
I really liked the info session when we visited Brandeis on one of their fall preview days last November. It was really one of the most compelling info sessions I’ve seen. Sounds just about perfect, academically. Our tour guide was bubbly but she annoyed my D25 so much, just not a personality fit, and all my daughter could think was what if this girl was on my floor? There were 2 academic sample classes offered after the tour and they both sounded so interesting to me. But my daughter didn’t even want to stay. I don’t think she found the campus ugly in itself, but didn’t like the relatively isolated location. She really wants to be able to walk off campus and Brandeis felt like it’s in an office park.
And, given the substantial growth in non-teaching administrative staff at many of these schools, the accounting gets complex and it is hard to conclude that the full pay students are or are not covering the cost of their education and that of the partial pay students - it is quite possible that the schools are using endowment income to pay for an expanded administrative staff roster.
UBC…had a friend’s son who went there. Loved it. I tried to get my first two to look…no go. Last chance for my daughter 25. Not happening… enjoy if yours lands there.
Thanks, fingers and toes crossed! 
Not an AAU member. Not enough research focus.
Syracuse quit the AAU and Nebraska was kicked out. Nebraska is trying to rejoin.
Syracuse quit under threat of being expelled.
Because the med school component in Omaha was made a separate admin unit. Without the med school they did not have enough research component. Pretty technical.
Fond memories of Claremont with my wife of 27 years when she was in grad school. It’s definitely a little oasis. If you ride or run there are great trails heading up Mt. Baldy. The ride up gets you up to around 5,000 feet. It’s a quick ride. Really nice up there on a hot smoggy day. That is the downside of the inland empire, but it’s a great spot nonetheless.
@2plustrio my daughter graduated from Stockon ~2 years ago if you have any questions or anything.
@NemesisLead
Hey there-- I have a daughter (junior) at Wellesley and wanted to chime in to say she hasn’t found the ‘mean girl thing’ to be part of her experience there at all. In fact, she has made wonderful friends (and this has not always been easy for her…she has Aspergers so she sometimes struggles with “connecting.”) When we went to accepted students day (along with like visits to Bryn Mawr and Macalester), she knew Wellesley was “the one” and she has continued to feel she made the right choice. Whatever your daughter decides, I wish you both lots of luck!