<p>D is also an engineering major. She turned down several highly ranked schools to attend a small private on a full scholarship.</p>
<p>Fit was part of the issue. She is not comfortable in highly competitive environments. Interestingly enough, she chose not to attend the gifted magnet for high school and instead attended the local school (a very ordinary urban school.) Had a great experience there, so she must know what what works for her.</p>
<p>"I’ll be honest, after all my time here at CC, I still don’t know the difference between a 1st and 2nd tier school. "</p>
<p>pugmadkate - Any school with a ranking from USNWR is considered Tier 1 (there are three ways a tier 1 is decided based on some mailings I have seen from a local university trying to get there but once it is determined a school is tier 1, you get ranked). So a school can be ranked 150 but is still Tier 1.</p>
<p>^^Thanks tex, I didn’t realize that. ANY school on the USNWR is considered Tier 1? That’s cool to know. I guess I thought the CC “top” schools, along with the ivies and LACs were roughly the top tier.</p>
<p>Unless things have changed, I don’t believe what texpg states is accurate. Read this [College</a> Search Second Tier Colleges - college-search - College Confidential](<a href=“http://www.collegeconfidential.com/college_search/second_tier.htm]College”>http://www.collegeconfidential.com/college_search/second_tier.htm) and this <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/515557-top-tier-2nd-tier-3rd-tier.html?[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/515557-top-tier-2nd-tier-3rd-tier.html?</a></p>
<p>from usnews:</p>
<ol>
<li>What are First and Second tiers, and why are the schools listed alphabetically in the Second Tier and not number ranked? U.S. News publishes the numbered rankings of approximately the top 75 percent of schools in each of the categories. The remaining schools are placed in the bottom, or Second Tier, based on their overall score in their category, and listed alphabetically.</li>
</ol>
<p>Tier 2 is approximately the bottom next 25 percent of schools that are just beneath the numbered ranked schools in the top three fourths in terms of their rankings in that category. In other words, schools listed in Tier 2 are ranked lower than all those that numerically ranked. In that particular ranking category of schools the Tier 2 schools are the lowest ranked.</p>
<p>We believe that the data are complete enough to numerically rank schools in the top 75 percent of each category, given our robust methodology. Another key reason we can rank that many schools numerically is that the quality of the data we collect has improved over the years including our ability to get a school’s data from other public sources, such as the U.S. Department of Education, for schools that don’t report their data to U.S. News voluntarily. These extended rankings also reduce ranking volatility, since far fewer schools will now drop in and out of the numerical rankings in any given year. </p>
<p>Schools in Tier 2 are not numerically ranked since the data is not as complete and we want the numerical rankings to emphasize the top schools.</p>
<p>My D is set on taking the LSAT regardless of all the gloom and doom. However, unless she gets into a very top school with a scholarship or financial assistance she will not go to Law School. I think kids who have been following law, and planning on being a lawyer since second grade still want to be a lawyer in spite of the current climate. </p>
<hr>
<p>My D is the same way … she wants a very top school for her masters, and she felt that way when considering law school, as well. I think that is a reasonable consideration for grad/law school.</p>
<p>JYM - I don’t believe the CC threads you are citing to be accurate. It is just the perception of people what they think a tier means which has no bearing on how colleges are measured in terms of Tier 1, Tier 2 etc.</p>
<p>The message above from parent56 roughly approximates what I mentioned. Tier 2 schools are not ranked by USNWR. </p>
<p>Our local school is trying to obtain Tier 1 Status. They think they have achieved it but have not made it to USNWR rankings yet.</p>
<p>[Tier</a> One FAQs](<a href=“http://www.uh.edu/about/tier-one/tier-one-faq/index.php]Tier”>http://www.uh.edu/about/tier-one/tier-one-faq/index.php)</p>
<p>I have a relative who was accepted to all schools applied, except one where wait listed, and accepted a full ride (tuition, room and board, plus stipend.) to state flagship.</p>
<p>My D turned down two HYPS schools for another top 25 school with merit scholarship. We would have paid full price for HYPS and have saved forever for all our children, but it was her choice. She also turned down UCB, which would have been the same price as her choice (after scholarships). We all knew that UCB would be more expensive in the future years and her choice provided many more opportunities for her. She’ll have money for med school, yea!!</p>
<p>just so no one thinks this is always easy :)</p>
<p>the instate schools were my S2’s safeties…which he toured very early in the college search process… oos schools were looked at between junior and senior year. He liked his safeties, and the one he attends now was perfect for what he wants to do and he liked it…UNTIL… he saw some out of state schools…then the safeties “SUCKED”…so it wasnt easy at first when the decision had to be made…he understood the financials, his brain couldnt give a good reason as to why the oos was “better” but his “heart” wanted a different school… So essentially he wasnt the happiest person when he first went…but it didnt take long …i felt guilty at first… but glad we didnt give in to emotions… he now recognizes the school is great for what he wants/needs and really likes that he has more money to spend and more money for grad/med school as well as excelling where he is…and no debt</p>
<p>Not sure of the comparative reputations, but our S turned down Brandeis for UMASS Amherst in part for financial reasons. After one month at UMASS he’s very happy so I think it’s worked out quite well so far.</p>
<p>I think I may have made a mistake when I said in my original post that my daughter turned down Carnegie Mellon for a “2nd or 3rd tier school”. Her school (Univ of MD Baltimore County) has been ranked as the #1 Up and Coming School for 3 years in a row by USNEWS, #4 for Best Undergrad Teaching, but #157 on their list of national universities. CMU is ranked #23. In my mind, there is a big difference between #23 and #157. I wouldn’t consider them to be in the same “tier.” But perhaps they are. This whole tier thing is terribly confusing.</p>
<p>It gets really interesting to see discussions related to Ivy lower and upper tiers!</p>
<p>Yes, my daughter turned down Yale, because they did not offer her any financial aid.</p>
<p>umd i agree its very confusing… schools can be ranked so many different ways…one program at a school might be ranked very high, but the school ranked lower, may be ranked by type also, like national, vs research</p>