<p>Walk into any bookstore and take a look at the college guide books. If you focus on the so called best of the small schools, let’s say the top forty according to USNWR, it is hard to to ascertain much difference, particularly with the northeastern group. Certainly some are a bit more selective than others. Does that mean that the teaching is any better? I doubt it. J. Crew wardrobes, handsome endowments, BMW’s, close faculty interaction, beautiful campuses, good food, good grad school admit records, aspirations of diversity all characterize these great institutions. If you covered up the name, it would be difficult to identify the school as the descriptions are so very similar. Is it Union or Hamilton or is it Trinity or Colby? It would be an interesting exercise.</p>