<p>I just think it's a mentality to always want more. First you want to do well in school, check. Then you want to get into a good school, fine. But now you're so nervous about getting into an Ivy... but you finally make it. And now you want your school to have one of the higher rankings -- Rank 2 or Rank 4 or 8 just doesn't seem to cut it anymore. Sure, a Harvard guy could kick someone's ass from Duke, but there are plenty of people at Duke that could dominate on that same note. </p>
<p>People whining about their school rank when they are in the top 10/top 20 etc reminds me of some spoiled 6-year old kid whining because his drink of some premium one-of-a-kind orange juice isn't exactly 9.6 degrees Celsius.</p>
<p>Eh I guess these rankings give people something to talk about and debate over, I guess. Carry on?</p>
<p>It appears to me that MIT like Columbia gets hit by its alumni giving ranking and rates. WUSTL is the one that always surprises me apparently it's stong all around and is a much better school than it's peer assessment score alludes to.</p>
<p>I just wanted to comment that the US News current ranking system is unfair to public universities. Schools like UMich/Berkeley/UVA have to admit more students from their own state so they aren't anywhere close to private schools in selectivity. I was under the impression that this year US News would eliminate selectivity from their rating process but, correct me if I'm wrong, that isn't the case.</p>
<p>alumni money. That is a large factor in moving up in the ranks. Who tends to attend the Ivies and especially Duke (a ridiculously expensive school)? Rich Kids and legacies. Hence the large donations, hence the high number.</p>
<p>I would put a top student from a state u against any student from one of these schools and I'm sure they would come out even. (except the state U student would not be saddled with loans).</p>
<p>I don't understand why you are mixing the quality of a student with the financial opine. And regarding the debt.....I don't get that part either.</p>
<p>I was not at all mixing quality of student and financial means. I was simply stating that a wealthier student is more likely to donate money to his alma mater, which is a large factor used in US News rankings. The state U grad is far less likely to donate so the state rankings will never be as high as the private schools.</p>
<p>As far as student quality, my point is that any top student at a state university is as good as any student in an IVY. In my opinion, the education is just as good without all the hype, expense and loans.</p>
<p>The point I am trying to get across is that students should go where they feel comfortable and where they feel that the school is a good fit. Many of the posters focus way too much on prestige.</p>
<p>As far as sour grapes- I must say that I have attended or taught at IVIES,private colleges and State Universities. Besides the all the hype, I see little difference for those who want to learn. One should not feel that by not going to a US News top ranked school that they have failed in some way. Opportunities abound everywhere for those who seek to find them.</p>
<p>olddoc, the average state school student isn't of the same quality with the average top private school student, but the smartest kids at state schools are just as good as those at private schools - thats what you were trying to say right?</p>
<p>Duke isn't more expensive than the Ivies and other similar schools.</p>
<p>Students should go where they feel the most comfortable. As for the alum donation.....I guess my feeling about that is more toward the privates marketing and soliciting more successfully for I don't believe that state school students cannot/do not achieve monetary reward at an equal rate as Ivy counterparts.</p>
<p>The number of state grads attending medical, law. and graduate school are increasing at an astronomical number. However, since these students tend not to come from money, it takes them longer to earn it before they can spend it.</p>
<p>I would really like to hear from collegeparent regarding the statement that Middlebury is underrated and Bowdoin, Hamilton & Wellesley are overrated. In what areas?</p>
<p>olddoc, WUSTL is way more expensive. Duke is what....45 thou? Moreover, students are assigned a Duke Card, eliminating the use of money altogether on campus. It's actually quite a good deal.</p>
<p>"Bowdoin, Hamilton & Wellesley are overrated. In what areas?"</p>
<p>She won't have too much trouble with at least one of those schools, as it is the poster child for being overrated. As far as areas, check scores, admissions, class quality. No need to check graduation rates, fluff classes and grade inflation take care of that. :)</p>
<p>Cash or money? I guess this could be symantics. So you are saying that one doesn't have to pay anything if you have the "magic card"? I have a Penn card and I get a bill monthly for items I have swiped the card for. I don't understand you point about the cash.</p>
<p>olddoc, i compared prices myself back in April, its cost is similar to other privates (cheaper than WUSTL if you didn't get one of the scholarships there, same with Columbia and Brown, but slightly moreso than Dartmouth) - I just went to collegeboard to check, its in the regular range of prices for most top privates</p>
<p>Its much more expensive then state schools and smaller private schools; if thats what you mean, than agreed</p>
<p>however, I totally agree that lots of people who are already wealthy attend places like Harv, Pton, Yale, Duke, and so on</p>
<p>"(except the state U student would not be saddled with loans)."</p>
<p>If a student's family doesn't have that high of an income, they can get a ton in grant money. The best case is at Yale---there is only a $4,000 student contribution and a $0 parent contribution for families who make $45,000 a year or less.</p>
<p>No....my point about that cash is that it derides the need to carry money around on campus and allows for students to set aside money for certain things before they get on campus. Restaurants around campus also allow you to pay with the Card as it gives you a couple hundred for pocket money. If this is not a plus in your book, then I don't know what to tell you. :confused:</p>
<p>Duke is around the same as the ivies in terms of costs.</p>