<p>Overrated: I think almost every Texan in this thread will agree that TAMU is overrated. Personally, I never found its attraction, and I’m pretty much the only one in my school who didn’t.</p>
<p>Underrated: Rice (Top 20 school, but almost everyone in my school is underestimating its selectivity) & St. Mary’s University (a hidden gem in San Antonio; it’s size is almost the same as Williams despite it’s “university” brand, and from what my cousin tells me, it’s a great school).</p>
<p>It’s EVERYONE in cali’s top pick. They are most noted for their film school and biology. Even tho bio at cal is better people seem so obsessed with UCLA. Cal isnt underated, but UCLA is. </p>
<p>Underrated: </p>
<p>Claremont McKenna isn’t underated for those who know people who go there and hav noticed how they are usually highly intelligent and well rounded people with amazing stats and ECs. The only person who got into Pomona from my school this year is insanely qualified and probably had a chance at some ivies. But a lot of people don’t even know what Claremont McKenna is which is sad…</p>
<p>UCSD is also very under rated at times. A lot of people just look at the rankings on US news and see its not as high as LA. As a matter of fact their engineering was ranked the same as UCLA and it also excels in many popular fields like CS, biochem, and biology. People are silly and call it their back up for LA and Cal and then they are shocked when they don’t get in to even UCSD. </p>
<p>Cal poly is also pretty overrated for their engineering. Ill concede that they do have a very good program for getting a decent job right after college but they are not as good at theoretical and graduate work ( that’s just my bias opinion since I plan to persue a more theoretical degree in engineering )</p>
<p>Overrated: Yale, Quinnipiac, Fairfield U
Underrated: Connecticut College, UCONN (I think the best Public College Education you can get in Connecticut, and the storrs campus is pretty)</p>
<p>Overrated-SMU/TCU/Baylor
All these schools have decent academics, but it makes no sense to pay full price for them when there are better, cheaper state universities like UT, A&M
Texas Tech-Takes the UT/A&M rejects (generally speaking) and has no highly ranked programs of note, especially when comparing to its in-state, public rivals</p>
<p>Underrated-UT-Dallas/UT-Austin Honors programs+BHP/TAMU
UT-Dallas has awesome STEM programs and is in Dallas, which is attractive to employers
UT-Austin’s BHP Program is arguably as good as wharton (the average BHP student has higher stats than the average whartonite); In addition, its other honors programs as well as its Engineering and Business programs are amazing
TAMU gets a lot of flack for not being as good as UT, and there is some truth to that. But its hard to take away from its top 20 engineering program and its top 25 business program; Employer recruiting is awesome given the Aggie network, and the demand of A&M grads.</p>
<p>andy09, I don’t know about Baylor instate, but I think OOS it’s a great school. Probably one of the top 5 Christian schools academically, great Financial Aid (or so I’ve heard, especially for NMS), and their colors are pretty cool too :-D</p>
<p>Overrated: Northwestern (at the undergrad level)</p>
<p>Underrated: University of Illinois (for programs other than engineering)</p>
<p>I just recall so many of my classmates (who weren’t competitive enough for NW or UChicago) running off to Iowa, Indiana, and Purdue thinking that, because UIllinois is an in-state school, it must not be worth even a first glance. Or that’s it’s only worth it if you’re in engineering.</p>
<p>Baylor definitely isn’t a bad school. I just don’t see the sense in an in state student paying full freight or even more than instate tuition at UT or A&M to go there.
It’s student body is notably weaker then either mentioned public schools. Basically, if you’re willing to be full pay you’re in.</p>
<p>Overrated: Santa Clara, Loyola Marymount Univ and univ San Diego.
Underrated: cal poly SLO and Claremont Consortium, specifically Scripps College.</p>
<p>Philo, Clemson is good at Engineering, Architecture, and Forestry type stuff. Otherwise, not that great. For Liberal Arts, Furman is way better, and for Journalism, Business, etc. USC is better.</p>