<p>I'm looking at Virginia Tech, James Madison University, University of Colorado at Boulder, and Colorado State (Ft. Collins). The problem is, the rankings vary so much between US News and Businessweek. how do you think they rank against one another?</p>
<p>Ask on the B-Forum, but my $0.02…</p>
<p>University of Colorado at Boulder
Virginia Tech
James Madison University
Colorado State (Ft. Collins)</p>
<p>Those all seem like regional schools as far as business goes. What are your academic or professional goals and where do you want to live/work post grad?</p>
<p>thanks for the response. question though: what criteria did you use in your ranking?</p>
<p>^Personal knowledge from USNWR, B-Week, and being a prospective B-student myself here on CC.</p>
<p>Virginia Tech Academics:
Students at tech schools don’t typically brag about their quality of life, but then again, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, otherwise known as Virginia Tech, is not your typical tech school. Here, students happily discover that they can enjoy “a diverse community,” “an accepting atmosphere,” “a football program that takes priority for all but the most dedicated students,” and the opportunity “to have a blast in college while still staying focused on their education.” Without losing access to “a great science program” (in which “undergraduate research is huge”), strong engineering programs, and outstanding offerings in architecture, agricultural science, forestry, and business. Throughout this large school, undergrads are pleasantly surprised to find this school offers a well-rounded experience. Profesors “who are always willing to help answer questions,” although they warn that “there are a few classes where you can’t understand anything the professor says, and he can’t figure out how to explain it.” Sometimes the result of a language barrier, other times the result of the difficulty of the concept being taught. Fortunately, “even if your teacher can’t help you understand something, is not very hard to find someone who can.” About 1 in 5 students here pursues engineering, a degree that “provides a mixture of practical and theoretical teaching in the classes, experimental labs, a design capstone” and “a cooperative education program that places great value on applying knowledge in the real world.”</p>
<p>James Madison University Academics:
Offering “great facilities and great prospects for the future” through “tons of valuable experiences such as a great study abroad program and internships,” Virginia’s James Madison University “prepares students for the future” with a mix of broad-ranging, general education requirements and career-oriented majors. Students grumble about the “gen eds,” which require classes in the arts, humanities, and sciences and consume about one-third of all undergraduate credits. But students also admire the school’s commitment to “educating students in all areas, not just a major concentration” and concede that the classes provide “foundation knowledge every graduating student should have.” Standout offerings here include undergraduate business, education, and music programs; the School of Media Arts and Design; and the School of Communications. Students also tell us that “The study-abroad program at JMU is fabulous” and that “A large number of students study abroad” thanks to an “absolutely flawless” office of International Programs. JMU’s “very good and unique” Integrated Science and Technology (ISAT) program emphasizes cross-disciplinary problem solving and innovation that are “applicable to the real world.” All students here benefit from “great recruitment fairs and internship opportunities, small classes,” professors who “go out of their way to help you understand a concept,” and administrators who "strive to meet the demands of students. Many on the faculty have undertaken projects around campus to help with the overwhelming expansion of the student body.</p>
<p>University Of Colorado - Boulder Academics:
It is all about the total college experience at the University of Colorado; students enjoy both “excellent academics and a great social atmosphere.” “The University of Colorado is all about getting an education for five days and spending the other two in the mountains,” students repeatedly tell us, noting that “CU is an amazing place because you can find an array of challenges and opportunities whether your drive is research, the arts, sports, a job, or tough class work. However, at the same time, you can find a great social life outside of school being in an amazing place like Boulder.” The sciences “are a huge strength” here, with students singling out chemistry, biology, and engineering for praise. “As an undergraduate student at CU-Boulder, I am able to research in one of my professor’s labs while receiving a great education,” one student explains; another points out that “being in a class taught by a Nobel laureate is not something everyone gets to experience.” Business studies also excel. As at most large schools, CU has “a wide range when it comes to the quality of professors” but “for the most part [they are] very engaging in their lectures and encouraging of discussion. They are also very good about returning e-mails and [hanging] office hours.” The administration can be cumbersome, but students generally appreciate how "In a tough economic climate and a gross lack of state funding, CU’s administration does its best to make cuts without hurting the student body’s quality of education</p>
<p>Colorado State University Academics:
Colorado State University offers a breadth and depth of quality academics, especially in career-specific disciplines. Students here heap praise on the university’s programs in such diverse fields as engineering, social work, math, business, interior design, health and exercise science, and music therapy. Topping many students’ lists are agricultural and other natural sciences; one student explains, “Science-oriented classes are definitely quite challenging and a huge strength of our school, considering we have the second-highest-ranked veterinary college in the nation.” Given its size and research mission, CSU surprisingly satisfies many students with the level of one-on-one service; many here insist that CSU “is big enough that people have heard of it but small enough that you don’t get lost in the numbers” and that it “has a small-school feel because professors are always available and not everything is taught by TAs.” This sense strengthens considerably once students clear the hurdles of underclassman requirements. Students warn that “entry-level courses have very large class sizes and not many opportunities for personal interactions academically in class or out of it,” but add that “as you progress through your field of study, class size becomes a lot smaller and more intimate.”</p>