<p>In Connecticut:
Most Overrated - Yale and UConn (gag).
Most Underrated - Southern CT University. Great nursing and teaching programs.</p>
<p>State: Washington</p>
<p>Overrated: University of Washington, Washington State University
Underrated: Whitman College</p>
<p>The University of Michigan, as an institution, is one of the finest in the entire world. It is home to some of the greatest minds of academia and, to be quite honest, excels in almost every single field. The undergraduate sector of it may not be the best in the world but, as a whole, it trumps some schools that are ‘higher ranked’ than it and, even, some of the Ivy League schools. To claim that the University of Michigan and Michigan State are equals is quite frankly the most ignorant and ungrounded statement that I have ever heard. Michigan State is not even slightly close to the University of Michigan - it is miles away.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Show me someone who has said that. Because if that’s ever been said, then I must’ve overlooked it.</p>
<p>NO! UCB is way better</p>
<p>Overrated: USC
Underrated: Claremont McKenna…actually each of the Claremont Colleges</p>
<p>Alright, so I’m from Vermont, and feel that the schools in my state receive about the right amount of prestige. That said, here’s what I learned from my college searches:</p>
<p>Underrated: Washington & Lee more so than anywhere else. I really see no reason this is so far behind the LACs of comparable SAT scores and accpetance rates, etc. other than that it’s in the south, which, frankly, I think is a plus-better weather and often friendlier people.</p>
<p>Also, I think people have sort of forgotten how amazing William & Mary is-maybe I’m just a sucker for scenery/mystique, though. Also, I think Wake Forest was pretty nice, as was Colgate. I think Colgate should be higher in the rankings. </p>
<p>Though i haven’t been to these places, from what I know of Davidson and the Claremont schools, they seem under-appreciated, especially pomona. Pomona, based on its stats, ought to be up there with Williams, Amherst, and Swarthmore, and yet it’s below Midd and Bowdoin, etc. US News has a hard-core north-east bias.</p>
<p>As for overrated, I think people exaggerate NYU’s merits. Also, Wesleyan. I personally didn’t like Wesleyan nearly as much as any of the very similarly ranked NESCACS like Bowdoin, Tufts, and especially Middlebury.</p>
<p>I’m currently at Cornell and totally think it’s completely overrated. Lets just say there’s a reason we have a disproportionate amount of suicides.</p>
<p>Generally the idea that MSU and UM are equivalent is prevalent in state, yet almost not at out of state. In terms of graduate schools, UM is much better, MSU is a good school, but does has lower test scores (on average). I know several people who chose MSU over UM, so they are not necessarily leagues apart.</p>
<p>“Generally the idea that MSU and UM are equivalent is prevalent in state…”</p>
<p>U-M is regarded as the best public in Michigan, by the vast majority.</p>
<p>Spartan green is more in style this time of year, rjk. :)</p>
<p>California</p>
<p>Overrated: Claremont Colleges. I know I’m going to get killed for this, but it’s true. They aren’t that great. Sorry, but it’s my opinion. Also, it is known that I believe that UCLA is severely overrated. Largely, because it does not offer anything unique to California’s Public Higher Educational system. There is already a top university that provides the same programs, but with better quality and holds a higher rank. Sometimes that university is Berkeley sometimes it’s UCSD or USC (I know it’s private). However, the exception is their pre-med program. Can someone show me a category where UCLA is the top CA public university? Do not include film, because everyone knows that industry is dominated by USC. </p>
<p>Underrated: UCSD. I love love love that school and it holds great promise. Also, Santa Clara. It is a hidden gem in the bay area.</p>
<p>BayBoi10, it is interesting that you say Claremont Colleges are overrated. Would you tell why? Do you have any experience with Claremont? Which colleges, specifically? Thanks.</p>
<p>New Yoooork.</p>
<p>Overrated: NYU, SUNY Binghamton (It looks absolutely depressing), Columbia</p>
<p>Underrated: SUNY Geneseo, Marist College, Vassar College, Hunter College (FREE HONORS PROGRAM ANYBODY?)</p>
<p>Student4ever,</p>
<p>This is based on my subjective opinion and of my friends who go to Mudd and Pomona. You must realize that this fabricated world on College Confidential is quite different from the real world. Most people do not know about the interworkings of higher education and this does include many who hold a college degree. On the other hand, CC attracts the higher education obsessed, which I am a part of. </p>
<p>Simply, the Claremont Colleges aren’t that well-known. It’s a fact that’s reflected on their dismal applicant numbers. Do they offer great academics? Sure. But, they do not offer the same longevity and prestige as research institutions. Again, I must stress, this is my opinion and will not hold true for everyone. </p>
<p>My suggestions for anyone considering higher education in California are these:</p>
<p>Great Overall Education (keep in mind privates and publics have different goals)
Private- Stanford
Public- Berkeley</p>
<p>Technical Focus
Private- Cal Tech
Public- UCSD</p>
<p>Professional Focus
Private- USC
Public- Berkeley</p>
<p>Liberal Arts Focus
Private- Santa Clara, LMU, or Chapman.
Public- UCLA or CSUs</p>
<p>Sorry, I should have said “more prevalent.” Personally, I conisder UM better on almost every level, but I have heard more people disagree with that at school than compared to what I’ve seen people say online.</p>
<p>^^^Naturally you’re going to hear that at school. 18 year old students need to justify their positions as much as anyone.</p>
<p>^ “There truly is a Michigan difference.”</p>
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</p>
<p>rj- I’ll ask you again. Show me someone that said something to the contrary. We have pointed to specific programs that are ranked higher than UM’s, but NO ONE to my knowledge (and again, I ask you to show me otherwise, for the third time) has said anything to the contrary. Shall you continue to argue a point that no one else is arguing?</p>
<p>BayBoi10, I respectfully beg to differ. I completely agree with what you said here:</p>
<p>“Simply, the Claremont Colleges aren’t that well-known. It’s a fact that’s reflected on their dismal applicant numbers. Do they offer great academics? Sure. But, they do not offer the same longevity and prestige as research institutions.”</p>
<p>But, I think that makes them way underrated, not overrated.</p>
<p>They aren’t that well-known, and they don’t have the prestige or popularity of a huge research university like Cal or Stanford. However, for the right kid, getting a liberal arts education at a small school like Pomona would be much better than sitting through 500+ lecture classes for at least the first two years at Berkeley. A lot of people don’t realize that though. A lot of people don’t think as highly of the CC as they do of Cal or Stanford or UCLA or USC, etc.–in fact, a lot of people overlook the CC entirely. This is not to knock any other schools, but just to say that I think the CC are very underrated in CA and not regarded as well as they ought to be. In my opinion this reflects the generally bias in this country against LACs and for larger research institutions.</p>
<p>rj- I’ll ask you again. Show me someone that said something to the contrary.</p>
<p>OK romanigypsyeyes here is the statement by hahalolk:</p>
<p>“Generally the idea that MSU and UM are equivalent is prevalent in state, yet almost not at out of state.” To which i responded:</p>
<p>“U-M is regarded as the best public in Michigan, by the vast majority.” to which hahalolk responded:</p>
<p>“Sorry, I should have said “more prevalent.” Personally, I conisder UM better on almost every level, but I have heard more people disagree with that at school than compared to what I’ve seen people say online.” To which I responded:</p>
<p>“Naturally you’re going to hear that at school. 18 year old students need to justify their positions as much as anyone.” To which YOU responded:</p>
<p>“rj- I’ll ask you again. Show me someone that said something to the contrary…”</p>
<p>I just did. Now are you going to introduce your question AGAIN?</p>