<p>I started another thread on this, but someone said it belonged here, so it goes. i have been accepted by both Michigan and Emory (both Oxford and Emory Colleges). I want to decide where to go based only on the academics and reputation and really don't know what to do. I would like to hear as many informed opinions as possible before choosing. What wpuld you do and why? I don't care about the whether or the big town/small town or even cost issues, I want to focus my decision on the best possible education I can get.</p>
<p>Well, that would depend on what you’re studying.</p>
<p>You can get an excellent education at both universities. I am assuming you are interested in a traditional discipline such as a Social Science, Humanity or Hard Science. In such disciplines, departmental rankings do not matter that much and both universities excel at providing undergraduate students with an excellent education. </p>
<p>Reputationally, both schools are highly regarded in academe and in industry.</p>
<p>I would actually recommend you focus on the things you say do not matter to you, such as setting and campus environment. </p>
<p>Congratulations on the great acceptances.</p>
<p>Sorry, my discipline is economics.Thank you very much for the comments, I am of course still very much divided :)</p>
<p>Univ of Michigan has the largest alumni organization membership of all universities, so if by economic you mean getting a job post-graduation, then keep in mind the enormous value of an active alumni network. All major cities have U of MI clubs…</p>
<p>[Best</a> Economics Programs | Top Economics Schools | US News Best Graduate Schools](<a href=“http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-humanities-schools/economics-rankings]Best”>http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-humanities-schools/economics-rankings)</p>
<p>Granted this is a graduate school ranking, but still there is a substantial difference here. In terms of only academics and reputation, it seems Michigan is definitely stronger.</p>
<p>Michigan is tied at #12 and Emory is at #56.</p>
<p>This always makes me smile:
[Fun</a> at Emory - YouTube](<a href=“Fun at Emory - YouTube”>Fun at Emory - YouTube)</p>
<p>Point being the cultures/dynamics of the two schools are very different. Both will provide great educations. I’d choose for the environment you prefer.</p>
<p>That was a low blow UCB. How could Michigan compete with the Hokey Pokey?<br>
:-(</p>
<p>^ True. In the interest of fairness:
[Pure</a> Michigan: U of M Football - YouTube](<a href=“Pure Michigan: U of M Football - YouTube”>Pure Michigan: U of M Football - YouTube)</p>
<p>:D</p>
<p>LOL. I don’t even have to look at it. I know what it’s all about…</p>
<p>
While it may be beneficial internationally, the size of an alumni network doesn’t really matter domestically since pretty much every university will have a decent sized alumni network in every major American city. Private schools take the cake domestically since their alumni groups tend to be more close-knit since often graduates have had a shared liberal arts education and lived on campus for more years than at a state school.</p>
<p>Williams, Dartmouth and Princeton have much, much stronger alumni networks than big schools like UT-Austin, Michigan, Arizona State and Penn State. These private schools have extensive databases with detailed alumni listings in every industry in every city. The state schools don’t have the coordination nor the resources to put together a complete resource like that for their alumni base.</p>