<p>I think I’ll answer this way. While I wouldn’t argue that Vandy (or WUSTL) are “better” than Brown or Cornell, I think a kid getting admitted to Vandy and Cornell or Brown and WUSTL look at that choice differently than they would have 5 years ago, 10 years ago, and certainly 20 years ago. Aside from head-to-head comparisons, and however you slice the numbers, schools like Vandy, WUSTL and Rice have very strong student bodies. Is this the USNWR effect. Perhaps. But how did they get ranked that high in USNWR? Even if deeply flawed, there must he something there. And I don’t think you are exactly saying this, but it’s not like USNWR should be put entirely to the side, and it’s not like USNWR is the only media outlet or guide that rates these schools very, very highly.</p>
<p>I think we do run into the category problem. It’s easier when we separate Ivies, elite public universities, elite mid-size non-Ivies, elite LACs. I see Vandy and WUSTL as very much very belonging to the same family along with Duke, Rice, Emory, CMU, etc.</p>