<p>Stanford fills in pretty much all of the OP’s requirements. I would put UT-Austin after that due to the fact that Austin is like a steam room in the summer (Way too much humidity). I would put USC at #3 after that.</p>
<p>UT isn’t tier 1 though. Tier 1 is top 25, Tier 2 is top 26- 50. It’s barely scrapping by in Tier 2.</p>
<ol>
<li>Stanford</li>
<li>Cal</li>
<li>UCLA</li>
<li>USC</li>
</ol>
<p>are the only schools that absolutely fill his requirements.</p>
<p>Stanford owns Michigan in all categories. </p>
<p>Northeastern? Seriously?</p>
<p>Like I said stanford is my dream.</p>
<p>Duke!</p>
<p>Others that come to mind are Stanford, UNC Chapel Hill, USC, UVA, UCLA, and Vandy.</p>
<p>I would say BC and UMich would belong on the list if weather weren’t a factor.</p>
<p>Stanford OWNS Michigan in ALL categories!! What the—</p>
<p>Yes, you have to give more consideration to Football and Basketball. No one really cares about Stanford’s… uh… squash titles.</p>
<p>Until recently Stanford had a hard time even filling their student section at football games… I was part of a 114,00 person wave this Fall.</p>
<p>Not to mention the greatest rivalry in sports… OSU v. Michigan</p>
<p>@lonesoul: hahah don’t hate. 
The OP just asked for OPINIONS on good college experiences. To each his own. I happen to love the school. </p>
<p>Obviously Stanford is perfect and on another level. 
But pretty sure the OP already stated that Stanford would be a reach anyway.</p>
<p>Full disclosure, I am a USC alum. If the OP wants his requirements filled, the only schools that really meet this criteria are the top 25 California schools – Stanford, USC, Cal and UCLA. </p>
<p>“Safety” and “area” are, at least in my opinion, pretty stupid things to judge a school in as safety is relative. Would you turn down a full ride to Penn or Duke or USC or Georgetown only because you were afraid of living in communities where the average income is much lower than what you’re personally used to and the racial makeup of the surrounding neighborhood isn’t a majority “white”? If so, I’d think you have more things to worry about than your “safety.”</p>
<p>It’s not like crime only happens in big cities; you can get robbed, raped and murdered ANYWHERE at ANYTIME if you are careless. In any big city, if you are aware of your surroundings and learn to not become someone who stands out as an “Easy target” you WILL be OK. Just a thought.</p>
<p>Honestly, I can’t really suggest UCs as wholly “great” college experiences because of the California budget cuts and all the red tape UC students are running into. Taking that into consideration, Stanford and USC are your best bets. Two extremely different environments, but two very great and very selective schools with their own sets of strengths.</p>
<p>I have a hard time believing Michigan is a “better” school than either USC or Stanford with these specific criteria. 50% acceptance rate is hardly “selective” and the student to faculty ratio is significantly higher than either of the two California schools. Also, anyone who thinks the weather in the north Midwest is better than California is seriously delusional. UT is also just too large for me to really think it has the “complete” experience the OP was asking for.</p>
<p>I do think UVA is a very good candidate for this list, as are Duke and Northwestern (minus weather and sports?)</p>
<p>Usc has always been my favorite school but I can’t afford it.</p>
<p>Pretty much all East Coast schools are automatically eliminated because of the weather tbh</p>
<p>Wow, elitism still prevails on cc. Tier I is top 25? Really? Are you delusional? When did Michigan or UNC become “Tier 2”?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Yeah but the director’s cup puts equal weight on women’s water polo and football. Sure, Stanford’s football team was very good this year, but Michigan football Saturdays still bring in 110k while Stanford can’t come close to a sell out all year and they just lost what was the best college coach in the nation. You simply can not beat the feeling in Ann Arbor anywhere, even in Palo Alto. Obviously Stanford has the academic edge, but Michigan is still a top 15 school by any reasonable standard (not USNWR) with a top 3 b-school that is an IB target and a top 5 engineering school. There’s nothing bad about it (at least for me, being from MN the weather will be a little better).</p>
<p>“Not to mention the greatest rivalry in sports… OSU v. Michigan”</p>
<p>lol that’s barely a rivalry… Michigan just WISHES it was.</p>
<p>TN vs Alabama, Florida
Alabama vs Auburn, Florida</p>
<p>Those are better.</p>
<p>Personally, I really enjoyed my short visit to UW Madison so I would vote that.</p>
<p>University of Texas at Austin.</p>
<p>I think UT-Austin needs to be considered because you really can’t beat Austin in terms of nightlife (In regards to students)</p>
<p>Wow I did not think this thread would be this popular…</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>So San Francisco and Los Angeles are sleepy nightlife towns? Hah! </p>
<p>Austin is great, though – but a lot of really amazing schools that have been brought up in this thread also are located in culturally diverse and exciting cities. I think this point is moot.</p>
<p>@CGeresti ITT: CC’ers have big ego’s when it comes to their Alma Mater.</p>
<p>Perfectly normal thing, it’s just far easier to spot in a place like CC.</p>
<p>@Zelda</p>
<p>After academics, social/cultural diversity and a great nightlife is IMHO the most important part of a University.</p>
<p>Unless you’re a recluse of course :)</p>
<p>Facts :</p>
<p>Michigan beats Stanford in sports</p>
<p>Michigan is ranked the 15th best school IN THE WORLD, how is tier 2.</p>
<p>OSU v Michigan IS the greatest rivalry in sports. A few down years does not override over 100 years of game.</p>