<p>Overrated: Wash U, Northwestern, Boston University, NYU</p>
<p>Underrated: U of Chicago, Cornell, the Claremont Colleges.</p>
<p>This is a very debatable topic isn’t it? If I were to give me $0.03 (worth more than $0.02 mind you), here it is:</p>
<p>According to the USNWR:
Overrated:
Duke (top 10 but not top 5)
Penn (top 10 but not top 5)
Washington University (top 25, but not top 10)</p>
<p>Underrated:
Cal (top 10 university, not out of top 20)
Michigan (top 10 university, not out of top 20)</p>
<p>According to CC:
Overrated:
- The “Ivy League” (yes, they are excellent and all of them deserve to be ranked among the top 15 or so universities, but some make it seem like is a ranking could only include 1-8, you would only have Ivies listed!)
- Private universities.
- LACs: Ok, we get it, smaller classes are a plus, but many people forget the disadvantages that come siwth LACs. </p>
<p>Underrated:
- State Universities</p>
<p>This is a recurring thread on cc. I hope potential applicants take it with a grain of salt. I am surprised to see a moderator jump in (Alexandre) with unsubstantiated opinions.</p>
<p>The conclusions are generally the same:</p>
<p>Underrated: The school that I attend, or attended, or the one that my kid attends.</p>
<p>Overrrated: Maybe I got rejected from it (or wish I had applied to it) or maybe not. Most probably it is “ranked” above the school that I attend, I attended, or my kid attends. In addition, I may know nothing about this school other than what I have “heard” or read about. I just know it is overrated. :)</p>
<p>Sokkermom, I did not ask to be a moderator…I was asked to be one. I would gladly give it up. I personally prefer roling up my sleeves and chatting with the students. I see no glamour in being a moderator. And I think it is quite cynical to assume that a person’s opinion is shaped only by personal experience. For instance, I am 6-0 (4 undergraduate and 2 graduate) when applying to Ivy League Schools. My only two rejections were UNC-Chapel Hill and Cambridge (England).</p>
<p>Michigan in the top 10?? Give me a break. I got into Michigan and I barely had a 1200 SAT…out of state.</p>
<p>“Michigan in the top 10?? Give me a break. I got into Michigan and I barely had a 1200 SAT…out of state.”</p>
<p>Selectivity does not necessarily equal prestige and quality. Academically and as far as prestige domestically, Michigan is definitely up there. If it’s not a top 10 school, then it would definitely be a top 15 one.</p>
<p>The whole SAT thing is garbage. I know plenty of kids who got into UPenn and Cornell (I am attending this place, so you can see I am not afraid to admit that) with low 1300s, but does that say anything about the quality of education at Penn or Cornell.</p>
<p>Umm be happy with top 22. Michigan is a great school but seriously, top 15 is out of its league. Do you seriously think UM is on par with University of Chicago and Johns Hopkins?</p>
<p>My point about SAT scores is that I would never consider even applying to JHU or Cornell, but I applied to UM and got in without a problem.</p>
<p>Top 15 is not out of Michigan’s league. Yes, the University of Michigan is on par with the University of Chicago and John Hopkins. The only reason why you are stating that Michigan isn’t is because of Michigan’s selectivity. However, selectivity does not equal prestige. Academically and with prestige domestically, Michigan is indeed a top 15 institution.</p>
<p>Hoo weren’t your ACT scores higher than your SAT?
And didn’t you say you were in top 10 % of class with lots of APs and ECs?
I would think that would make a difference</p>
<p>I would say that a JHU graduate would have a better chance at graduate school or in the job search than a UM graduate but that’s a baseless assertion…just my opinion.</p>
<p>Alexandre:</p>
<p>I actually agree with much of what you say. However, I do not think it is cynical at all for people to base strong opinions on personal experience. You yourself seem to be very positive about Michigan. I actually respect your opinion about that particular university more than someone who knows nothing about it. I would much prefer to hear comments / reviews from students and alumni who actually have experiences (good or bad) to share from a particular institution. This information is much more valuable to prospective applicants and their parents, than sheer heresay from someone else who may know noting about a school, other than a “gut” feel that it is overrated or underrated.</p>
<p>I would also like to comment on the fact that I think it is great that you had sucess in applying to a bunch of schools. It seems that you applied to these schools, and made your decision as to where to attend undergraduate school more than ten years ago. It is possible that the admissions climate at some of the schools you applied to may have changed…</p>
<p>Yeah…I had a really strong resume and I was ranked in the top 5% when I applied. I also applied right when the apps went out. I was shocked to get in.</p>
<p>“I would say that a JHU graduate would have a better chance at graduate school or in the job search than a UM graduate but that’s a baseless assertion…just my opinion”</p>
<p>Hoo, I highly doubt that.</p>
<p>I like to think of this tired old debate (selectivity/prestige) in sporting terms (both in etiquette and competition). </p>
<p>A good ball-team must have good players and good administrators/coaches/facilities; although, players are probably the more important component to an enlightened and successful outcome: education/maturation/graduation…win/loss.</p>
<p>Me: Go Blue
Daughter: Big Green</p>
<p>Umm…okay. I feel like I’m on Aim right now lol</p>
<p>"I like to think of this tired old debate (selectivity/prestige) in sporting terms (both in etiquette and competition). </p>
<p>A good ball-team must have good players and good administrators/coaches/facilities; although, players are probably the more important component to an enlightened and successful outcome: education/maturation/graduation.</p>
<p>Me: Go Blue
Daughter: Big Green"</p>
<p>Michigan students are very bright, but they just don’t compare as a whole to JHU. That’s all I’m saying. And selectivity is extremely important in evaluating institutions. The students make up the school.</p>
<p>Nonconformity, the editor of USNEWS actually got in a little trouble a few years back for saying if Dartmouth were ranked with the LACs it would likely be #1 every year, over Amherst and Williams. It IS a LAC for all intensive purposes, and its overall prestige + academic attention makes it an amazing feeder into grad schools and a great academic experience. Basically you get a lot more of the research opportunities than a typical LAC with all of the attention, a great balance in my book. In my classes at Columbia finding professors was like reading “Where’s Waldo”. At Dartmouth I was invited to professors houses for dinner, etc all the time. “Strength in major” is much more relevant to sciences than liberal arts at the top level, and that only for hardcore would be scientists. Otherwise the LACs wouldnt be such strong feeders into the top grad/ professional schools. Additionally, Dartmouth excels in English, languages, history, etc, although it has to compete with graduate programs like Michigan, which is why it isnt ranked. No Dartmouth liberal arts majors even have grad students, so how can they be ranked!!</p>
<p>Dartmouth happens to be very unique , yet top-notch, hybrid institution and that it is so hard to classify.</p>
<p>In my opinion the most underrated school in the country is Brown.</p>
<p>Good for you Hoo. Despite having a more welcoming admissions policy, schools like Michigan and Wisconsin continue to lead the nation in producing quality graduates which is really the important thing. They also are among the top 4 schools for producing scientific research. Wisconsin tied Harvard for the most CEO’s in recent study, UM and UW are the top schools for students getting admitted to the highly competitive Teach for America program which accepts only 16% of applicants including many from Ivy schools.
In both states many highly qualified top instate HS grads choose to go to UM and UW over other schools.</p>