<p>US News rates national universities and then also rates other schools it lists as 'regional' schools (Midwest, South, North, West). I've noticed that several of these latter schools are also mentioned in the vatious 'best college' books, while others are not. Can someone please explain what makes school A a national college and school B a regional college? And in the world of school rankings, how would a top-ranked regional school match up to one of the national schools?<br>
We visited Drake this week, with the view that it would be an out of state safety or at least a match for DD. It is a high-ranked regional school and a 'best buy' but I couldn't find it on any 'national' listings. A non-sectarian private school, it offers a law school and pharmacy school as well as LAS, business, education, journalism and large arts program. It has a Phi Beta Kappa chapter, about 3200 undergrads (and 2000 grad students), small classes, no teaching assistants, interested and approachable professors and advisers, first yr seminars and senior capstones, many internship opportunities, comfy dorms. Both D and I were rather impressed by the school and the city (Des Moines--big enough to give an urban experience and cultural opportunities without the mega metropolis headaches).
Drake may not be quite 'liberal' or diverse enough for my dtr, but she felt good about it-even though we have 7+ more schools yet to visit. She did admit the student atmosphere wasn't as 'intellectual' as Grinnell, for example, but she also admitted it might be good to be a 'big fish' in a less stressful (challenging?? mom thinks) setting where there would be time for outside activities than be one of many with the same high qualifications and very high-stress environment (gifted D doesn't cope well under high stress).
Am I being an elitist about the 'regional' label? There are some institutions in the 357 best, etc books that I wouldn't consider a 'best' school but DD's other school visits are all to top LACS and CTCL schools so I have to consider why 'regional' schools might not be 'best' schools.</p>