<p>I think I agree with cptofthehouse on most points. (The Loyola I immediately thought of was the one in MD. ) I’m not as certain that I would pick American, although it would be in the top group. For me, the ones with name recognition–not the same thing as prestige–are Pepperdine, American, SMU, Elon, and Hofstra.</p>
<p>Here are my highly-personal reactions to the names. I cannot imagine travelling across the country to attend Hofstra. (I know the name because a) a cousin of mine was the dean of their law school, and b) I come from the tri-state area.) Pepperdine has never had any academic distinction that I’ve heard of, although it is respectable: it’s mostly known for its beautiful location. One gets the impression of a campus full of vaguely Christian blondes. I’ve only recently started hearing this stuff about SMU being full of obscenely wealthy students. (The person I know who went there was not.) I mostly think of football. American I actually know nothing specific about except that it is in DC and therefore probably more interesting and more appealing than a lot of similar schools elsewhere. The prestige school in DC is Georgetown. GWU is next, and then American.</p>
<p>Elon is a school that I hadn’t heard of at all until about 2007. Since then I’ve known at least 5 kids who went there. It seems to be popular with families that are full pay with kids who are middling students. (Children of doctors figure prominently.) The guys have been interested in business-oriented majors. They seem very happy with their experience.</p>
<p>I might pick Elon, especially for a business-oriented kid, but I have no idea how that would play in California, should he wish to stay there after college.</p>
<p>Several of the schools have religious affiliations, with various religions and various levels of religious influence on the campus environment. Your son may want to consider the religious aspect carefully to ensure that he does not choose a school that is a mismatch for him on that front.</p>
<p>Small correction. The latter is correct as there are many wealthy students at SMU. It is, however, not in a suburban part of Dallas, but smack in the middle of what could be considered the true center of Dallas. It is located in University Park that is a city surrounded by Dallas. As some might know, SMU is also the location of the Bush Presidential Library and its related foundation. George Bush lives a few blocks from SMU. </p>
<p>TCU is in Fort Worth, about 30 miles away from Dallas. </p>
<p>Regarding reputation, SMU leaves few without an opinion in Texas. Many see it as a bastion of power and lauds its business school (and its law school) while others deride its very active Greek life and overwhelming “rich kids” school where one pays the fees and collect the Bs. </p>
<p>In order of name recognition (but not prestige): American, Elon, Hofstra, Pepperdine, SMU, TCU, University of San Diego and Loyola Marymount. </p>
<p>Like another poster, I thought of the Loyola in Baltimore, MD first but really I have absolutely no idea what either one is like. I’ve lived in the DC area, Philly and NC, so that’s why the first three names are familiar to me. I would say American is the best known but I’m on the east coast; I see someone else say Pepperdine has the best nationwide recognition. I’ve heard of the school but I know nothing of it.</p>
<p>^ Name recognition is almost always regional, safe and except the handful of colleges and universities discussed in April when admissions’ decisions come in (Ivy League, MIT, Stanford, Duke, etc) and most importantly when athletic seasons are in full bloom. I would venture that this second part is what carries the biggest recognition and perhaps the related prestige. </p>
<p>For instance, which one is most known Penn (as in Wharton) or the rather infamous Penn State? Even before the Paterno’s and cover-up scandals, I think that it is not close. Football fans might also know quite a bit about SMU or TCU’s Horned Frogs. Getting close to the top of NCAAF or doing well in the March Madness carries a bigger stick than the USNews’ rankings. </p>
<p>And, fwiw, when one ventures away from the local or regional scene, it becomes hard to form an objective opionion. Is American University really “that” well-known or prestigious because it is located in DC? All in all, that is entirely in the eyes of the beholder. </p>
<p>On a personal basis, while I have heard of Hoftra and Elon (thanks to reading this forum) I would be absolutely unable to locate the state or the city where they are and the type of schools they are. And, for the simplest of reasons: I really have zero reasons to know anything about those schools. Not in my region and I am decades away from having to look at schools again. And, of course, while I know that the Texas schools carry some prestige in Texas and Pepperdine and the Toreros are known in SoCal, I would not be able to offer any kind of reasonable ranking of prestige and recognition.</p>
<p>And I doubt that there are many (if any) who really could improve on my record! </p>
<p>I must be in a unique position here. I have been on all of these campuses except TCU. I still say, their name recognition and prestige are regional. Outside of their region, not so much so. </p>
<p>This student obviously applied to these schools for a reason or two. He needs to review THOSE reasons…not some random feeling of “prestige” or “name recognition”.</p>
<p>Thumper1 we will be spending much time in the next 2 weeks examining all written notes and materials (we’ve been to all the schools, except American, and are considering a quick trip there). We are revisiting (and attending admitted student events) at Loyola, USD, and Pepperdine (as we live in California, so not a big deal). We are trying to go to all admitted student events that we can.</p>
<p>TO ALL, I am throwing Franklin and Marshall in the mix, as well as Bentley University, as those just came in. PS I am purposely not putting in cities/states on my posts as part of my info seeking on recognition. We purposely spread out applications to test merit money in the South, Texas, the East Coast, and California, and just to spread our wings. We also have another child, so this will help when she applies. THANKS SO VERY MUCH!</p>
<p>Heard of F&M (because it’s close to Philly) as a good school. Nothing exceptional but very good. I’ve only heard of Bentley here on CC (like so many other schools). Again, I really have no idea where these schools fall on the “prestige” continuum. </p>
<p>I’m with xiggi. Most of my familiarity with any of these schools have more to do with sports than academics. Being a Penn alumnus, I have lived the “Penn State” versus “Penn” thing. Penn may have the prestige (with those who ‘know’) but Penn State has the name recognition.</p>
<p>I live in Maine, so Elon’s reach is considerably farther north than NJ. </p>
<p>Interestingly, the one kid I knew who went to Elon who <em>didn’t</em> like it was Jewish, and an URM (an adoptee). She heard a lot of antisemitic remarks and was upset by racial/ethnic issues also. It was important to her to fit in, but apparently found that groups were very divided and she didn’t fit anywhere. She came from an environment where diversity was welcomed.</p>
<p>None of the other kids I know of who have gone there felt this way, so it may just have been an unlucky group of associates. (Of course, they were all white and none was Jewish.)</p>
<p>I admit, I stalked some of your past posts to be more informed in giving an answer.</p>
<p>If your son was turned off by the social clannishness of USC, he would be horrified by SMU. As a New York upstater, I would also recommend against Hofstra given the other choices on the list - too much of a community college feel to it comparatively. </p>
<p>So, if he considers the Christian vibe a plus, then I would say Pepperdine. Many of the complaints are from students who didn’t expect it to be quite so encompassing. If not, even though it is Catholic, I would suggest USD. I know a couple of girls through my daughter’s lacrosse, both good students, that went there and absolutely love it. </p>
<p>If he is set on leaving the West, American for business is a really good choice. It loses some prestige points due to its proximity to Georgetown and, a little farther, UVA, but still has a decent reputation.</p>
<p>"As an Easterner, I would say that Franklin and Marshall has more prestige than Bentley, probably about on a par with Elon. "</p>
<p>As a Midwestern, this is like saying that XYZ has more prestige than ABC, probably about on a par with DEF. They are all kind of “whatevers” to me. I’ve heard of F&M just from growing up near Philly, I <em>think</em> Bentley might have been in the preppy handbook, and never heard of Elon til CC.</p>
<p>F&M is a very good LAC. Whether it has name recognition among the general population or not, the school is known for academics and tends to have a high calibre of students in terms of academic stats. It’s school that shows up a lot on selective independent school lists. I give F&M very high points in terms of getting a very good education. </p>
<p>I believe you said Bentley was also now in the mix. It is a great school IF your student is quite certain he wants to major in business. It is particularly strong in entrepreneurial business. And of course, the location is terrific! But again…most folks outside of the New England region will not recognize Bentley. </p>
<p>It is well known in the greater Boston area.</p>
<p>If Bentley appeared in The Preppy Handbook, it was probably a reference to the car. :)</p>
<p>I never heard of Elon until around the time I joined CC, either. </p>
<p>From Wikipedia:</p>
<p>“In the early 1970s, Elon was an undergraduate college serving mainly local residents commuting from family homes,[2] attracting “regional students of average ability from families of modest means.”[3] By the start of the 21st century, however, about 68 percent of Elon’s students came from out-of-state and were only accepted if they met high academic standards.[3] Elon is a selective university[4] and, as of 2013, 82% of incoming students were from out of state.[5] Elon’s transformation was the subject of an academic study by George Keller of the University of Pennsylvania titled Transforming a College: The Story of a Little Known College’s Strategic Climb to National Distinction. The study, published by Johns Hopkins University Press, depicted how Elon successfully transformed itself from an unimpressive college to a selective, nationally recognized university.[6]”</p>
<p>Indeed. When I lived in DC (back in the dark ages), the local American grads did not consider it “prestigious” so not sure that its name travels too far.</p>
<p>I also would rank F&M a cut above Elon academically. Unfortunately I’ve heard that Lancaster has crime problems. American is up-and-coming. Its DC location is a big draw for solid but not top students who want a traditional campus in a city.</p>
<p>The problem with Bentley is that your son would have to be very sure of a business major, because that’s pretty much the entire focus. If he changed his mind, he’s be stuck or have to transfer. </p>
) I’m not as certain that I would pick American, although it would be in the top group. For me, the ones with name recognition–not the same thing as prestige–are Pepperdine, American, SMU, Elon, and Hofstra.</p>