Let's play rank California universities...

College Search & Selection
261

<p>Wow! Hardcore forum. </p>

<p>My first question comes from the notion of CalTech. Is it really that great? Perhaps for engineering, but outside of that small bubble other universities in the state dwarf CalTech in the number of strong programs they offer. </p>

<p>I would say that there is a Big 4 in California including the following:
USC
UC Berkeley
Stanford
UCLA (I am being a rational Trojan)</p>

<p>Like every Trojan I've met, I proudly turned down Cal and UCLA. At this point, the three schools are comparable institutions, each with its own strengths. USC's strengths were most compatable with my interests; therefore, if I had to choose a BEST in CA it would be USC. But being rational, I'll go with the Big 4.</p>

262

<p>Also, those of you putting down Cal Poly San Luis Obispo should realize that it is a great school, especially for architecture. Cal Poly SLO definitely deserves a place somewhere near UCI or UC Santa Barbara.</p>

263

<p>1) Stanford
2) CIT
3) Berkeley.</p>

<p>THE END.</p>

264

<p>Utilizing Alex’s Grouping Technique, I’d group em as follows:</p>

<p>Group I (World-Class)
Berkeley
Stanford
Cal Tech</p>

<p>Group II (Top National Schools)
UCLA
USC
UCSD</p>

<p>Group III (Good Schools)
The rest</p>

265

<p>
[quote]
My first question comes from the notion of CalTech. Is it really that great? Perhaps for engineering, but outside of that small bubble other universities in the state dwarf CalTech in the number of strong programs they offer.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>uhhhhh, what programs do the "big 4" "dwarf" Caltech in exactly? You do realize that Caltech is known more for its pure sciences than its engineering. To answer your question, YES, Caltech really is that great. To say that UCB, UCLA, and USC are better institutions than Caltech is absolutely laughable. Obviously no one would go to Caltech to major in something like business, but that doesn't make Caltech a worse institution.</p>

266

<p>At the undergraduate level...no, Caltech blows away Cal, UCLA, and USC. At the graduate level, Cal is clearly just as strong as Caltech in...well...almost everything.</p>

267

<p>I'm just saying that the diversity of offerings at CalTech, particularly in the arts and humanities, business, communication, journalism, education, and other fields in addition to the sciences and engineering is not as broad as the offerings at other CA institutions. It is really up to a particular student to decide which is best. CalTech might be the best for some, but is that to say that it offers the Best undergraduate experience for a person who wants to major in Comparative Literature or International Relations? Based on the nature of this forum in addressing education for undergrads as a whole, I feel that other schools better suit the designation of "best."</p>

268

<p>The average student graduating from Caltech/Mudd/Pomona is much more heavily endowed with human capital than the average student leaving 3 out of you "Big 4" (Especially Mudd & CalTech)</p>

269

<p>You can't really compare a school like Caltech with Stanford, Cal, UCLA, USC, etc - Caltech is an entirely different experience academically. </p>

<p>A word on merit moneys - USC does indeed hand out a lot of financial incentives to attract top students, many students don't get any merit money and pay full price (if it were not for need-based aid). </p>

<p>On the other hand, many of my friends who attend UC's say that the dirt-cheap tuition was, at minimum, a somewhat significant factor in their decision. After all, I can't blame them - UCLA/UCSD/Cal offer world-class education for incredibly little money.</p>

270

<p>So this thread was brought back to life because a poster wanted to say:</p>

<p>BLAH BLAH BLAH</p>

<p>How interesting</p>

271

<p>Precisely. Takes so little to revive a thread. HA HA HA</p>

272

<p>Here you go, not including LAC's:</p>

<p>Tier 1:
Stanford
Cal Tech
UC Berkeley</p>

<p>Tier 2:
UCLA
USC
UCSD</p>

<p>Tier 3:
UCSB
UC Davis</p>

<p>Tier 4:
Pepperdine
USD
UC Irvine</p>

<p>Tier 5:
UC Riverside
UC Santa Cruz
Santa Clara</p>

273

<p>Actually, it might be better to differentiate between public and private schools because the kids who apply to each type of school is usually very different</p>

<p>Public:
1. UC Berkeley
2. UCLA
3. UCSD
4. UCSB
5. UC Davis
6. Cal Poly SLO
7. UC Irvine
8. UC Riverside
9. UC Santa Cruz
10. UC Merced/SDSU</p>

<p>Private (Not LAC):
1. Stanford
2. Cal Tech
3. USC
4. USD/Pepperdine
6. Santa Clara
7. Chapman
8. LMU
9. Pacific
10. USF</p>

274

<p>Undergraduate Engineering:
1. Caltech
2. Mudd
3. Stanford
4. Berkeley
5. UCLA</p>

275

<p>Undergrad Business Schools:</p>

<ol>
<li>UC Berkeley (#3 in country)</li>
<li>USC (#19 in country)</li>
<li>Santa Clara (#37 in country)</li>
<li>USD (#46 in country)</li>
<li>Pacific (Honorable Mention, outside Top 100)</li>
</ol>

276

<p>"Private Schools:
1. Stanford
2. Cal Tech
3. USC
4. USD/Pepperdine
6. Santa Clara
7. Chapman
8. LMU
9. Pacific
10. USF"</p>

<p>..finally accuracy! but i would put Pepperdine as #4 above USD.</p>

277

<ol>
<li>Cal Tech</li>
<li>Stanford</li>
<li>Berkeley (barely)</li>
<li>UCLA</li>
<li>Pomona/Claremont McKenna</li>
<li>UCSD</li>
<li>USC</li>
<li>UCSB</li>
<li>UCI/UCD/Cal Poly SLO</li>
</ol>

278

<p>if you are gonna add SLO to a list, I would suggest that one specifies engineering & architecture (and, perhaps Ag) only, but SLO's humanities and social sciences are NOT on a par with the mid-tier UCs, IMO.</p>

279

<p>lol, I love how joshua007 doesn't even include Pomona, HMC, and CMC. There goes any credibility of your ranking right there.</p>

<p>
[quote]
1. Cal Tech
2. Stanford
3. Berkeley (barely)
4. UCLA
5. Pomona/Claremont McKenna
6. UCSD
7. USC
8. UCSB
9. UCI/UCD/Cal Poly SLO

[/quote]
</p>

<p>What's with putting Pomona and CMC at 5, while HMC is no where to be found? Hell, Scripps is better than those schools ranked 9th.</p>

280

<p>You're right, I forgot about Harvey Mudd. All of the Claremont colleges are nearly identical - some are better than others for certain majors.</p>