<p>im not familiar enough with UCLA.</p>
<p>and for Cal, if this were the 80s, then UCB would be in the same group as HYPSM, but unfortunately this is the third millenium.</p>
<p>How has anything significantly changed? Cal is still in possession of just as many top 10 departments as it was in the '80s. </p>
<p>Arguing ad ignorantiam isn’t exactly the best way to go, yet most CCers seem to prefer that route.</p>
<p>You still see numerous Cal undergrads at top programs nationwide, and Cal PhDs fill departments like water through osmosis. It’s hardly an untruth to say that Cal produces some of the finest scholars in EVERY field. </p>
<p>How is it not a top school? </p>
<p>Oh, because USNews says otherwise, right.</p>
<p>it has changed in how its been funded, how up-to-date the facilities are, and the growth of class sizes. im sure that the top 50% of students there are comparable to the entireties of HYPSM, but berkeley has just fallen behind in delivering the overall package.</p>
<p>im sorry i didnt correctly phrase myself about UCLA. i know it well enough that IMO, i regard it as a group II or group III school, but not well enough to place it firmly either way.</p>
<p>Let’s be real, UCLA is not up there with Penn, Duke, and Columbia. That’s pretty insane.</p>
<p>being real, UCLA is better than most east coast people think.</p>
<p>Devil May Cry,</p>
<p>Yet UCLA has just as many top 10 and top 15 departments as all three you listed.</p>
<p>Columbia is maybe the toughest argument.</p>
<p>But it’s still way up there, and much better than people seem to understand.</p>
<p>Here’s top 25 for 1996-2003</p>
<p>Institution 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996</p>
<p>1.University of Virginia: 23 21 20 22 22 21 21 19
2.University of Michigan-Ann Arbor: 25 25 25 25 25 23 24 24</p>
<p>Wow, according to you guys USNWR must get it wrong year after year. lol. I think Umich is a GREAT institution, but some of you really overrate it or underrate other schools.</p>
<p>Overrated: Ivies
underrated: Carnegie Mellon</p>
<p>how is CMU underrated?</p>
<p>for US NEWS i think #22 is a very fair rank for CMU</p>
<p>because he goes there duh</p>
<p>this thread is pointless</p>
<p>haha yes it is. It’s everybody’s opportunity to argue their school is better than everyone else’s, or at least as good.</p>
<p>lol its funny how we all think we know. especially since we all have been through job interviews, have hired people, and are familiar with professors from all the schools.</p>
<p>Well, I have been through several job interviews, I’ve actually been in a position to hire people, and I’ve worked with professors at other schools.</p>
<p>I can offer you this much advice about rankings: It doesn’t matter.</p>
<p>Case Western ahead of Tufts. Interesting. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Woodwork–at least I provide some quantitative backup to my UW support. Highest number of NAS members of any state school outside California–and that includes Michigan if you don’t have a map handy. Highest number of faculty winning major awards–Guggenheim etc, for any state school. #3 or 4 in total research support–all schools. One of the largest libraries of any state school–way larger than UVa or UNC and just behind UM. One of the top producers of corporate CEO’s ties Harvard, most Peace Corp and second most for Teach for America selectees. One of the highest producers of patents and income from same.</p>
<p>I think this whole ranking thing is crazy. College is all about what’s best for YOU! What’s best for everyone is best for none. A person’s success in life is not entirely dependent on what college he/she went to, but on his/her innate abilities and other attributes. I dare say most people who are going to Havard (just an example) dont actually NEED Harvard to succeed. In other words if your brain is wired to be an engineer I doubt going to Rice or UMich will make a hell lot of difference.</p>
<p>ctsurgery, you are right</p>
<p>still, its interesting to talk about what we think the public perception/prestige is like for a school</p>
<p>Underrated: George Washington University, New York University, Georgetown University, Tufts University, and Reed College</p>
<p>Overrated: Michigan(or at least on these boards…it’s not the gem Alexandre paints it as), Penn State University, and Notre Dame</p>