<p>waddupwaddup and Princeton2014: I completely agree with you. But I think this was meant to be subjective and just for fun. At least, I hope that’s was the purpose of this thread. If this was meant to “rank” a group of schools from “better to worse” then I immediately regret my decision to participate.</p>
<p>These are all excellent universities, and ranking them based on arbitrary factors, such as acceptance rate, is really useless and a little silly. (Example: I got into Harvard, Stanford, Yale and MIT. I was rejected by Cornell, which according to that line of thinking, would be the “least selective” Ivy.)</p>
<p>And how in the f— is “it’s in HYP” used to justify any sort of ranking?</p>
<p>You could have said something about the top tier math department, the top tier econ department, the top tier engineering school, the top tier humanities departments, the top tier international relations school, the top tier polisci department, the top tier (major field [sorry no Egyptology]) department, the numerous and important achievements of students, faculty, and alumni…but you chose an acronym as your argument…</p>
<p>After being in college, I suppose my opinion has changed:</p>
<p>1st Tier - Harvard, Yale, Princeton. Literally, very little distinguishes them academically, except that Princeton’s engineering and physics departments destroy the other two. Princeton has about half of its departments ranked 1st or 2nd for undergrad (history, french, classics, philosophy, math, economics, physics, etc. etc.), and Harvard and Yale academically excel, too, with tons of departments being 1st or 2nd, or in the top 5. That’s why HYP are consistently ranked top 3 - because on the whole their academic departments are the strongest.</p>
<p>Next tier - Stanford or MIT, depending on whether you’re more tech-y or not. Also Wharton can fall in here given the caliber of its business program.</p>
<p>3rd Tier - Columbia, UChicago, Caltech, rest of Penn.</p>
<p>Though I am a little biased, I would say that decillion’s above ranking is accurate. Though I would just lump Stanford and MIT in with the 1st tier school’s because nobody really argues that Stanford and MIT aren’t on par with the top Ivies. I mean, MIT obviously focuses in another area, but its engineering program is unparalleled.</p>
<p>My ranking based on personal experience with prestige:</p>
<p>Harvard
Yale
Princeton
Columbia
Brown
Cornell
Dartmouth
Penn</p>
<p>Ever since I was 5 or 6, I’ve heard of the big 3. But the rest, I didn’t hear much about until quite recently; I ranked them based on how early on/how often I heard about them in my life. Penn is last because I never even knew it was an Ivy (or that there were actually 8 Ivies) till about a year ago.</p>
<p>My subjective ranking:</p>
<p>Princeton
Yale
Harvard
Dartmouth
Columbia
Cornell
Brown
Penn</p>
<p>This ranking is based on my own experiences at college visits this past month. I ranked them based on how much I liked each of them overall, taking into account the academics, the campus feel, and the location.</p>
<p>There are no rankings for undergrad, so how can declillion claim PRinceton has top ranked “undergraduate” departments. Total BS. Princeton is NOT better than Stanford in any science, engineering, comp sci, economics, etc. So not sure where this false info is coming from…</p>
<p>Princeton’s graduate department rankings are virtually indistinguishable from its undergraduate programs. Many of the same professors teach both levels of classes. Not only that, but top-ranked graduate programs mean top-ranked undergraduate programs because the same grad students/professors will be teaching the undergrads. </p>
<p>Kalorama, can you substantiate your claim that “Princeton is NOT better than Stanford in any science, engineering, comp sci, economics, etc.”? If not, as I suspect, then if decillion is spewing out “Total BS”, then you’re doing the exact same.</p>
<p>This is kind of pointless since us newd has done this already and since i would be honored to get accepted to any of these schools. My list is in the order that i learned there names from a kid.</p>
<p>1 Harvard
2 Yale
3 Princeton
4 Cornell
5 Penn
6 Brown
7 Columbia
8 Dartmouth</p>
<p>My point here was to give you back the same sort of BS that is constantly spewed out on College Confidential. You cannot substantiate anything in your commentary about rankings. And if you and others are now citing the USNews grad school rankings as a source of undergraduate rankings, then your comments are even more ridiculous. In my opinion, Stanford is in a whole other league from Princeton in all the sciences collectively. That is just as valid as your opinion. The rankings of the world’s great university start with Stanford…not any Ivy League School. Stanford raised more money in one year than any university, it basically founded the sIlicon Valley economy, has premiere med, law and business schools on top being superb at grad level in humanities and sciences. Lowest admit rate for the latest admissions cycle and second highest yield rate. Princeton is a fine school, but it is not number 1 by any means.</p>
<p>Also, if you’re referring to AWRU, the World Rankings, for why Stanford is ranked #2, and Princeton as #7, look at the methodology for the rankings list:</p>
<p>Heavily influenced by the accomplishments of alumni/researchers at the University, in addition to the academic resources brought on by large conglomerate professional schools. Even if that Stanford Nobel Laureate with a dozen Science and Nature publications gives 0 ****s about the undergrads (because at schools like Stanford, professors don’t “have” to care about undergrads), that Stanford Nobel Laureate will boost Stanford up to the tippy top of this rankings list.</p>
<p>So, since you like to cite rankings lists that place Stanford higher than Princeton based almost entirely on GRADUATE SCHOOL influence, let’s take a look here:</p>
<h1>1 in Math for the last four years? But I thought Stanford was in a world of its own for Math?</h1>
<p>I’m not trying to say Stanford isn’t exceptional and isn’t better than Princeton in some fields. Just don’t try and accuse Princeton of not being a number 1 university by any means, one that is inferior to Stanford in all the respects you described.</p>
<p>“And if you and others are now citing the USNews grad school rankings as a source of undergraduate rankings, then your comments are even more ridiculous.” Yes, I am citing Princeton grad school rankings as indicative of its undergrad departmental rankings. I am using a clear line of reasoning here. Undergrads are taught in the same departments as the ones that are ranked in US News Grad Schools, and by the same professors. Not only that, but our preceptors are cr</p>
[quote]
Yes, I am citing Princeton grad school rankings as indicative of its undergrad departmental rankings. I am using a clear line of reasoning here. Undergrads are taught in the same departments as the ones that are ranked in US News Grad Schools, and by the same professors. Not only that, but our preceptors are cr</p>
<p>I love how some of you are ranking arguably the best schools when some of you don’t even go to or didn’t even get accepted to one. This is pathetic. They are all great schools, and this would only happen on CC. This whole thread is pointless. From what I’ve seen, its just people saying “here is my subjective ranking of the ivy league universities and other top schools”. Yes, because Princeton is so much better than Stanford. WHO CARES! One should be lucky that they even got accepted into a great school.</p>
<p>I attended an Ivy undergrad and law school and my daughter goes to Stanford. I also have two close friends who attended Princeton and hated it. My daughter was admitted to Princeton, and my friends told her not to go. Sick elitist environment, stifling administration and boring uncreative students.</p>
<p>Then I object to your very first post for assuming facts not in evidence! At least we are following a clear line of reasoning grounded in graduate school rankings. You can disagree with the premises of the rankings, but that does not obscure the fact that the rankings are still there. It seems to me that your argument rests primarily upon your own empirical evidence and opinion. If you can introduce a reliable source from which you build your argument, then we can have an informed discussion. </p>
<p>Your opinion seems extremely skewed - your opinion seems, from your last post, based primarily upon your two friends’ opinion. I can list a number of people I know personally who love and loved Princeton. </p>
<p>The last part of your comment is offensive, bigoted, and makes unsubstantiated generalizations. Put your money where your mouth is, counselor - show me the proof. I come from a lower class family and Princeton made it possible for me to be the first in my family to go to college. In my time here, I have never felt belittled or intimidated because my family is poor. I am also interested in how you think the administration is “stifling.” Finally, in my time here, most people I’ve met are very interesting, bright students who are on their way to change the world. I have met and conversed with some of the most intelligent and creative people I’ve ever seen. So how are students “boring” and “uncreative”? Or is that just part of your generalization?</p>