<p>I know that George Washington University is a good college, but why is it not ranked higher in the U.S News list of rankings?</p>
<p>It's a pretty one-dimensional school IMHO.</p>
<p>please explain eng_dude</p>
<p>Cuz it's not renowned for its sciences, engineering, business, communications, most liberal arts majors. Its known for IR, poli-sci, pre-law/law and although it does these subjects well, thats pretty much it. Which is great, but thats why I (and it's just one person's opinion, mine, and I'm hardly infallible!) consider it pretty one dimensional. A great university has many outstanding fields, I just don't see it with GWU.</p>
<p>personally i think the rankings (USnews) are a little one-dimensional, esp. since that's what a ton of informed students go by (come on they include how hard it is to get in(average scores on SATs ACTS), but not how well they educate you (average scores on LSATs GMATs etc.)---they are much more university rather than student serving- but kids eat them up)---
i didn't pay for the USnews rankings thing so i don't have the full numbers but if i were to gander using collegeboard to cross reference i would say that GWU ranking is not higher because of :
1) average test scores (even though gwu admits only 38% alot of weak applicants must apply because their average test scores are way below whatever you consider top schools with comparable admit rates)
2)financial aid(does this need explanation?)
3)peer assessment (GWU is not yet a strong name brand nationally at the UNDERGRAD level)
4)graduation rate within 4 years (72% ouch for those people not graduating in 4 years at 50,000 dollars a pop)
5)average class size perhaps?
anyways i think US's ranking if you MUST go by that is actually pretty accurate</p>
<p>these are good points----i know that the engineering program is lacking----but their med. school (hence by association undergrad biology, etc.) is pretty well known</p>
<p>GWU is a good school and probably deserves to be ranked where it is +or - several spots. Part of the appeal of GWU is the location and opportunites for internships. It obviously has a top notch IR program and fine law and med schools. GWU also is known for poli sci although there are many schools with higher ranked grad programs.</p>
<p>Rankings are certainly not the definitive comparison, but there is some accuracy to US News. The peer assessment, financial resources and graduation rate are holding GWU from joing the US News top 50 universities.</p>
<p>Actually, if you look at the rankings, GW is higher in student retention, peer assessment, and graduation rate than many other institutions that are ranked higher than it is.</p>
<p>The two main reasons that pop out for why it is rated where it is, is that 1) it has a high percentage of part time faculty; and 2) it has a relatively low level of alumni giving.</p>
<p>You can certainly decide for yourself how important those criteria are for you. </p>
<p>But some of your points are well taken - it does not have a great reputation for its engineering school, except I believe its biomedical engineering is doing well. It's also pretty weak in the arts, except ceramics and dance, I hear. </p>
<p>I'm not an expert, but from what I hear, areas where it is particularly strong (not exhaustive): archaelogy, IR, political studies, media, interior design, Asian/Mid Eastern language & culture, Psychology, and pre-med studies. It's in the process of trying to ramp up its business school.</p>
<p>eng_dude, your argument makes sense... except wouldn't all colleges be one-dimensional then? every college in the country is obviously stronger in some majors than others, save perhaps for the ivy league schools such as princeton, yale, stanford, etc.</p>
<p>i don't think i'll pay much attention to the US News ranking system. some of the schools ranked higher than GW admit students on a rolling basis so i don't their ranking system is very reliable. of course, the list is probably only accurate for the ivy leagues/top colleges.</p>
<p>I am going to agree with eng_dude that GW is a one-demensional school. My brother was an '05 grad with a double major in International Relations and Philosphophy. While he commented on is IR education being excellent, he could not say the same for his Philosophy (liberal arts major) classes. If you want to major in the humanities or classics, GW simply isn't the best choice.</p>
<p>let's face it though, elliot is one of the best spots in the world to study IR (if not THE best).</p>
<p>WHAT? three other schools just in the dc area traditionally have more pretigious IR programs for undergrads---1) Georgetown 2) Hopkins 3) American-- i mean GWU is better than your state U beacuse of its location etc. of its IR program----emiprically you are wrong, but as far as the GWU love i'm right there with you---if i got into all four of these (except hopkins, including hopkins if GWU was cheaper) i would be at elliot</p>
<p>Georgetown yes, but American's SIS is rather.. lets say lacking, they have ONE program that is truly recognized and that has such a small enrollment only their best could be in the program. Hopkins more known for its Med school that their SAIS, but I do concede our rival to the north beats our Elliott.</p>
<p>i'm glad you concede- actually Hopkins is the most respected name in the country when it comes to grad school international relations---i think that would be more than a concession- g-town= second---american is also several places above GWU in this unofficail ranking (it was done this past year on a peer assesment basis only) as well---just from experience i can tell that you hear more about teh American undergrad school in the D.C.- i would say G-town undergrad schools is the most intense though</p>
<p>Personally i think GWU should consider American its main competitor in D.C. G-town is most definitely more than a notch or two above</p>
<p>i mean Hopkins has permanent research campuses for it SAIS on three different continents--- i mean if you think about it the resources there are freaking amazing-----however, i guess i realize that if i get in to Hopkins and go there i won't be in SAIS (i really don't think the connection between teh undergrad deaprtment and the school is that strong as comapred to G-town or GWU)-----however, GWU is the only school that can boast that if you get a internship at the stat dep. or the World Bank and IMF--Gdub owns the IMF's land----(if you can get iternships at the last two)----that you only have to walk three feet to get there in the morning</p>
<p>Well its OFFICIAL i'm an idiot and GWU has proved me wrong again--GWU ranked 1 place above American on the master's program survey----funny story- the University of Kentucky placed 18th on this list ( i wonder how many master's programs actually are, but in anyways i from Kentucky and when these ranking came out Uk's rank was ran in the papers and they touted this stat around like they were the shiznat (they even announced at a b-ball game)---(only 2% of instructors listed Uk in the top five choice do you think these instructors were the etire Patterson school at UK---haha oh good ol' pretentious UK---what ****es me off is that they don't even have an undergrad major)</p>
<p>---anyways here's a link to the study -what pertains is on p.26 ( don't confuse the ranking with the PHd programs--completely different story there)</p>
<p>walsh at GT is decent but they simply don't have the professors/resources/technology of elliot. alas, the course requirements at Walsh are extremely rigid - your schedule is pretty much dictated by the school. </p>
<p>armcp - i think its really funny that once you did some research you discovered that your opinion was totally inaccurate. but, no matter.</p>
<p>I'm in the business school and I came to GW a bit worried about the rankings. All my classes, with only 2 exceptions out of 13, have been amazing so far both Business and liberal arts. The math department seems weak but the business school is strong. The course also seems very similar to an MBA so is useful that way. I am really glad I came and will almost certainly not transfer.</p>
<p>Elliott right now is my choice over Walsh but i think Walsh is better recognized as having the superior program in IR (both are top notch though)</p>
<p>interesting article. so i'm bumping it.</p>