<p>How does one compare the prestige factor between the top LACs and the top universities? I live in the Bay area, and my sampling of college educated friends have barely heard of Williams and Amherst and certainly are unaware of their quality. My son, who is planning to attend Wesleyan, told his friends after spring break and they were "Where????"
He's wait listed at Northwestern and Vandy, both of which are well known out here.
The questions I have are 1.Do professional grad schools regard the #1-10 schools on the LAC rankings similarly to the #1-10 schools on the National University rankings in terms of quality of undergraduate institution?
2. How about the next 10? Wesleyan and Northwestern are ranked about the same (11/14) on their respective US News lists. Would that mean they would be regarded similarly by med or business schools?
I already know there is a large discrepancy in prestige if one asks the average person on the street.</p>
<p>An interesting question.. would love to hear your opinions on that too</p>
<p>I don't know if there is a direct matchup or whatever, but I can tell you that grad schools veiw top schools as top schools...whether they are LAC or Uni. Those in the know know all of these schools.</p>
<p>For example, I have a parent who works at a top univeristy, and when their collegues heard I was applying ED to Wes, they all approved, and several of them said my choice of Wes over Brown was an activley positive one, because they like the education one can get at LACs so much.</p>
<p>Granted, these are people who work in PhD programs and not med and buisness schools, so their evalutation of what makes a great undergrad education may differ slightly. but I think the point is that if you do well at any top school, LAC or Uni, you'll have a shot at top grad schools. Wes specifically has very good med school placement...I'm not as sure about business school, but I'm sure it won't be a problem.</p>
<p>med schools seem to be more straightforward, evincing more interest in gpa and MCAT scores. Law schools seem drawn to brand name schools, and Wesleyan does well according to our Office of Career Counseling:
CRC</a> - What Wesleyan Alumni Do</p>
<p>Note the 6% of Wesleyan alum who are gainfully employed in the entertainment business -- that really sets Wes apart from the average LAC -- and, I think skews the results somewhat. What it may mean is, that a higher percentage of Wesleyan graduates are postponing plans for grad school in an attempt to find jobs as writers, actors, dancers and musicians than at some of its NESCAC peers.</p>