<p>Well I’m obviously potentially biased, but I think Berkeley, Michigan and Virginia should hover around the mid-teens instead of early-to-mid-twenties.</p>
<p>Carry on.</p>
<p>If you accept the USNWR criteria, then it is hard to argue that any of their ranked schools are overrated or underrated unless you can show they’ve made an error in their data-gathering or their calculations. Unlikely.</p>
<p>So, to make a strong case, you really need to challenge the USNWR criteria.
What important factors does USNWR underweight, overweight, or neglect to consider?</p>
<p>The Peer Assessment component, accounting for 25% of the USNWR rank, might be worth challenging. With over 3000 institutions of higher learning in the USA, how can “peers” come up with a fair, well-informed assessment of the quality of education at schools where they do not teach? What happens to the rankings when you take PA out, and base it solely on “objective” factors?</p>
<p>The StateUniversity.com rankings ([Top</a> 2000 Ranked Universities for Highest Overall School Score](<a href=“USA University College Directory - U.S. University Directory - State Universities and College Rankings”>Top 2000 Ranked Colleges - Highest Overall School Score)) apparently do not have a PA component. Their web site does not clearly explain their formula, but they claim to use “objective” criteria, most importantly the school’s ACT/SAT scores, its student retention, faculty salary, and student / faculty ratio. That seems like a good set of metrics to me, because it focuses on what arguably matters most: the caliber of students and teachers, and the quality of their interaction (to the extent that 4 little numbers can capture those features). One important missing factor, though, is the quality of the facilities.</p>
<p>I’ve noticed some wild factual errors on their site and the rankings are relatively new, so I’d give it some time to get ironed out. Is it believable that the US Military Academy (West Point) actually has a 3:1 student-faculty ratio? Still, it’s interesting to see how much some of their ranks differ from USNWR’s. It’s also interesting to see LACs and research universities all together in one list.</p>
<p>^^^^Then just look at departmental rankings tk21769. Schools like UCB and UMich are top 5-15 in so many disciplines.</p>
<p>How are departmental rankings compiled? By peer assessment, right? </p>
<p>I would agree, a peer assessment by department is more likely to be well informed than a peer assessment of an entire school. It’s still problematic, especially if you highly value the quality of undergraduate instruction. But yes, it might be more useful than the generalized PA to a student who has a clear sense of academic direction.</p>
<p>How do you compare the value of having a truly brilliant scholar and excellent teacher, one who actually teaches undergraduates, with the value of well-funded research programs and a heavy output of publications? Does the PA fairly, accurately balance those values?</p>
<p>Okaaaaay… Lots of people feel that WUSTL is overrated… That’s where I’ll most likely be going this fall… It’s still one great school no matter the ranking. From what I’ve heard students love it there. =)</p>
<p>It also one of the most dangerous cities, or so I heard.</p>
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<p>Um… probably not… Professors are hired out of merit and also based on the publications or research breakthroughs they are able to bring to university. A Professor can win 5 or 10 teaching awards and be fired because they are not living up and producing quality research that is equal to the university’s stature. Teaching is usually not the primary task of a Professor at a major research university… it’s usually research that trumps everything else because the university’s reputation is derived from hiring the best and brightest minds possible (doesn’t necessarily equate to good interpersonal communication speaking skills…)</p>
<p>i meant overrated/underrated in terms of respect or prestige. chicago has an amazing ranking (8th us) (9th world), but it still has less than half the prestige many other schools have. but it is getting better.</p>
<p>i know plenty of people who still think u of c is another state school in illinois.</p>
<p>i think the us news rankings should use percentiles…</p>
<p>although they’d probably be going to the hundred trillionth place or thereabouts</p>
<p>What about overrated/underrated LACs?</p>
<p>Personally, I think UW-Madison is overrated in Minnesota/Wisconsin, but underrated elsewhere. As for LACs, I think that Drake is underrated.</p>
<p>Boston College is the most overrated…but you already knew that</p>
<p>^ I’m from Boston, BC is a top school… I thought it was underrated… I can see how it can be Duke’s overrated little ACC brother up in the northeast… I’m not sure what it delivers outside quaint and quiet little campus in Chestnut hilll… great academics?? and basketball and football… lol</p>
<p>I thought BC was a great school 
Prestige wise… Why is it overrated?</p>
<p>How has no one else mentioned Whitman College? I seriously think it is intensely underrated (due to location in Walla Walla, obviously), but I think it is going to become very popular in the next few years, appearing on all the “look at these 20 ‘new ivies’ you’ve never heard of but are amazing!” lists, etc.
It is a truly intellectual student body, similar to UChicago, Swarthmore, etc., just not quite in the same league of selectivity (yet).</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/701373-most-overrated-underrated-colleges-nation.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/701373-most-overrated-underrated-colleges-nation.html</a></p>
<p>Phead consensus is BC is overrated. UT and UF are better at sports and academically. BC CANNOT be compared to Duke are you serious?</p>
<p>I think NYU is really overrated and UNC-CH is underrated.</p>
<p>Overrated: Ohio State University, Washington University (ST. Louis), Notre Dame, Rice, Carleton, Holy Cross, Boston University, Tufts</p>
<p>Underrated: Northeastern University, George Washington University, University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin</p>
<p>BC is probably right where it should be. 20-35 range seems about right. (I’d say the same thing about where they should rank in football usually, but this year they are horrible).</p>
<p>Yes, you can get tickets to BC-Virginia game for $3.00 each my D said.
We already went to BC-Maryland at $7.00 apiece.</p>
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<p>Rice is not overrated. Its a very very strong school academically. Neither is Wash U or Notre Dame, and no way is GW underrated.</p>