The August 26th issue of U.S. News and World Report was dedicated to Americas best colleges. The scores are based on many different things including; peer assesment, graduation rate, percent of classes with more then 50 kids, alumni giving rank etc. I will include some of the results and I encourage you to comment on wether or not you would agree with this. Many times i believe that the colleges ranked the best are ranked this way from tradition in psat generations. They are stereotypically good. If you attend one of these schools please sharee why you agree or disagree with the ranking, it may help others to choose colleges in the future.
Best National Universities
1. princeton university
2. Harvard university
3. Yale University
4. California Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Insitute of Technology, Stanford University
7. University of Pennsylvania
8.Duke University
9. Columbia University, Dartmouth University, University of Chicago
12. Cornell University, Washington University in St. Louis
14. Northwestern University
15. Brown University
16. Johns Hopkins University
17. Rice University
18. Emory University, Vanderbilt University
20. Notre Dame University
21. Carnagie Mellon University, University of California-Berkely
23. Georgetown University
24. University of Michigan-Anne Harbor, University of Virginia
26. University of California-Los Angeles
27. Tufts University, University of N. Carolina-Chapel Hill, University of Southern California
30. Wake Forest University
Best Liberal Arts Colleges
1. Williams College
2. Amherst College
3. Swarthmore College
4. Wellesley college
5. Middlebury College
6. Carleton College
7. Bowdoin College, Pomona College
9. Haverford College
10. Davidson College, Wesleyan College
12. Claremont McKenna College, Vassar College
13. Grinnell College, Harvey Mudd College
16. Colgate College
17. Hamilton College, Washington and Lee University
19. Smith College
20. Bryn Mawr College, Colby College
22. Oberlin College
23. Bates College
24. Macalester College, Mount Holyoak College
26. Barnard college, Colorado College, Scripps College
29. Bucknell College
30. Lafayette College, Trinity College
Hope you find this information useful if your debating between a top college. This may help you to see which were rated better. Good Luck.
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Notice there's no "top Fine Arts school" lists... Everybody's against the fine art schools... *sigh*
The arts always get left out!
But, I did see a list of top fine arts graduate schools somewhere. I can't find it though.
I've been searching for a list like that for a while and haven't found any. I've talked with a few art instructors and various other artists and discovered that there probably isn't a good list out there cause departments like art are always changing. Especially now, cause the teachers from one generation are retiring and we are getting new ones.
Sincerely,
Ashleymarie Sey DeBondt
visit my art website Behind the Brush
or for my photographic work my deviantart page
I didn't see any non-traditional schools listed either :(
I have spent the summer in Massachussetts Institution of Technoloty (MIT) for a high school summer engineering program. While I was there I had the opportunity to speak with some of the chemical engineering professors who are currently doing research. There are mass numbers of research going on everyday in these universities. Students are given the opportunity to participate in these research, or conduct their own. There are also co-op opportunities with the big named companies. So, basically the opportunities given in these universities are amazing. They are also very COSTLY!!!!!!!!!!
man dont I sound like a college rep.
I never let my schooling interfere with my education. - Mark Twain
I read in Newsweek (I think) a few weeks ago that a lot of students are choosing smaller, less known schools now than in the past because in so many fields, the school doesn't matter any more and the pricing is much more in *this* world. People that go to a state university are making as much and did just as well as those who went to Harvard or another Ivy League school.
It was a pretty interesting read.
I think a lot of the time people shoot for the big schools is because of their reputation. I mean theres a lot of weight in saying "I graduated for Princeton", than is some other school that is not well known.
I never let my schooling interfere with my education. - Mark Twain
It's funny how things in society always seem to be about reputation. Being able to say I graduated from college just isn't enough to some people, and therein lies the problem. The educations provided at these reputation schools aren't really any better than those provided at the lesser known schools.
I opted for a non-traditional school because of health related issues and I absolutely love it. But I get a lot of "that's not really college" comments from people. I study a lot harder doing it this way and am doing a heck of a lot better than I'd probably be doing had I went the traditional route. And I'll be receiving the same accredited degree in 2 years as the rest of the traditional students studying CJ and Forensic Psychology. So, how it's not really college I don't know. The only thing lacking is a campus crowded with other students and I got enough of that in high school!
I am surprised to see UCLA and UC Berkeley so far down the list. Personally the areas weather has a big effect on my decision of which colleges are my top choices since I am so used to good weather here in San Diego. So I would probably put Stanford UCLA and UC Berkeley on the top of my list.
For example the coach at Brown offered to get me in if I go ealy decicion but I declined mostly because of the weather. I like the school but east coast weather really turns me off.
Columbia needs to be bumped up to number one! =)
I used to make a really big deal about a university's rank on U.S. News, but then I realized that there's a lot more important things to consider besides the prestige. Those applying to Princeton, #1 on the list, should be aware of the grade inflation policies that are implemented, where there are only a limited amount of "A"s given out, even if your work was "A" material. And of course tuition plays a VERY large factor (unless you're ridiculously rich). Even with financial aid, students at those top universities still probably needed to take out a huge chunk of loans.
I don't think college ratings really mean anything. What's number one for one person can't possibly be the best fit for everyone. You should go to the place that is the best fit for you, and not worry about ratings.
When I went to MIT, the admission officer was talking about a concept about "best fit". As in they only take those that match the personality of MIT. I think that is what we all need to look in, a college that matches our personality.
I never let my schooling interfere with my education. - Mark Twain
what are the top party schools? I know there is a list of those out there somewhere...=) lol!
I would like to know that. I know Michigan State University if probably in there somewhere!!
I never let my schooling interfere with my education. - Mark Twain
It really depends on the person for the top schools.
Most colleges specialize in a subject and are the best in that regards so it is hard to chose your top colleges off an over all list. You have to find out what you want to do and then look at the lists according to the majors you are interested in.
Northwestern University is one of my "dream" choices. Sonoma University didn't make the cut, but is my next top pick. And Columbia University would come in as my third dream choice is also on this list at #9. Why are these my top choices? Their journalism programs go above and beyond what I find regularly at most schools. So, I cannot give you a complete answer to how and why they are ranked so, but there is indication that in part, at least some of them might be as they are offer unique and top rated programs for students in some majors -- opportunities not found elsewhere.
Citizen Press Revolution
People also chose schools for their sports I don't think schools should be ranked for overall.
No NYU?
"Men become civilized, not in proportion to their willingness to believe, but in proportion to their readiness to doubt."
"Freedom of press is limited to those who own one."
H. L. Mencken
in fact it is, amherst is always my first choice while i am off their pool
i got a CR 610 and a nightmare it is
hope could get in night and day
i really wish i could get into those schools. ive seen the campus in pictures and they are beautiful. theres way to much competition for those schools these days. is there any possible way i can transfer to those colleges? after like 2 years at another? or is it still impossible to get into?