<p>Mini is right. I think one should try to find the best fit. One could get a good education anywhere if one tries hard enough. However, surrounding yourself with other top quality students will create a better environment for one to study/learn in. Also, job opportunities arise with higher prestige. No one overestimates the value of a HBS or Wharton degree.</p>
<p>true, plus some universities bring better resources to the table for their students, there's a clear distinction between a school with top faculty and money to spend on research and one that doesn't. Its a combination of the opportunities, the quality of the faculty, the quality of the students and the overall atmosphere. I think there are definately distinctions to be made in their level of academic prowess</p>
<p>I'm not a parent, but UChicago was always one college that stuck out to me as being underrated acedemics-wise. Despite the fact that its admissions aren't as tough as an Ivy because it is not as well known, the acedemics are (without grade inflation to boot); Chicago also has one of the best rates of students going on to grad school in the country.</p>
<p>ohnoes...did you read my comments in the other thread about UChicago, JHU and Gtown being part of a club with the Ivies? i think definately Chicago is a fantastic school despite the admiss. #s for exactly the reasons you cited; strong, strong academics, no grade infaltion, and i think its a very effective preparation for the real world.</p>
<p>I agree that Chicago is prolly one of the most underrated schools...it's freakin' awesome. But, ok, I pulled this out of a book on College admissions ("College Admission Trade Secrets" by Andrew Allen...great book...not a lot of ppl here seem to have read it). See if you agree w. the author's picks for everything/anything/some things.</p>
<p>Best: Yale, Amherst, Williams, Washington and Lee, Georgetown, UChicago, Boston U., St. John's College (MD), College of William and Mary, New College (FL), Pomona. </p>
<p>Most Underrated: Washington and Lee, College of William and Mary, New College (FL), Northwestern, St. John's, Haverford, UChicago (the author seems to be personally in love w. UChicago...says it's the BEST undergrad education you can get in the US), USMA (west point) and Vanderbilt. </p>
<p>I basically summarized his list. What do you guys think?</p>
<p>his picks are consistant but he leaves out a bunch of schools and a few i disagree with. 1 thing i picked out right away, a lot of the schools he calls the "best" dont really belong there IMHO. BU is a great school but i certainly wouldnt put it on the same list as Amherst Yale and Williams. I disagree that Princeton is overrated, having been there many times and talked to people at levels from prospectives through senior faculty, i feel its really as good an insitution as we have. I basically agree with all of his underrateds, i think those are all very accurate...As JHU 09 profros, im dissapointed that a school of the caliber of JHU is left out of the discussion (more often because people forget it, rather than dismissing it).</p>
<p>ASU???!! No...no...no...........no. I live in AZ...and seriously, NO. UofA is pretty good. But...ASU....NO, unless you are talking about the best party school in US.</p>
<p>Catch 22 and JOEV, I don't know how you guys can say that Michigan is overrated. It is ranked out of the top 20 in the nation, depsite being ranked #9 by academe and #6 by corporate recruiters.</p>
<p>JOEV, I often travelled to Cleveland for work...nice city. My company's headquarters was at 1111 Superior (Eaton). I used to stay at the Ritz and eat at Johnny's and Lola's! Man...those were fun days.</p>
<p>I would say no. The kids who go to ASU are like...below below the par. The good kids all go to UofA in AZ. I have friend who goes to ASU and UofA, and seriously, the ASU kids are making a major effort to transfer to UofA's honors college. ASU is just...bleh.</p>
<p>Interesting to see ASU there. I've become very interested in ASU's Barrett Honors College after they promised me $20K/year due to National Merit Status, so it has become a safety for me. I applied there last week, the application was easy and required no essay, so I'm hoping to hear from them soon.</p>
<p>"I would say no. The kids who go to ASU are like...below below the par. The good kids all go to UofA in AZ. I have friend who goes to ASU and UofA, and seriously, the ASU kids are making a major effort to transfer to UofA's honors college. ASU is just...bleh."</p>
<p>Sorry, fellow. Checking a few facts about the Honor's College and the number of National Merit Finalists might present a different viewpoint.</p>
<p>PS CollegeHopeful, Barrett does require a personal statement of 500 words.
"For ALL Applicants: Your personal statement will add an important dimension to your application. It will help us to see you as a whole person and it will help us to assess your ability to write effectively. On a separate sheet, please write an essay less than 500 words that answers one of the following four questions.
State the number of the question you have selected:
1. Describe a moment of decision in your life. If you could, what would you change about your decision and why?
2. Describe one of your accomplishments or a risk you have taken. Why is it important to you?
3. Describe a fictional or historical figure, or a creative work, or a scientific achievement. Why is it important to you?
4. Describe an issue ? local, national or international, social, moral or political. Why is it important to you?"</p>
<p>Message edited to remove overly nasty response.</p>
<p>Well, Xiggi, I know you are respected here and all, and I guess ASU's honors college is ok...and I know their whole spiel about NMF (their admissions rep spent a whole two hours pounding that fact into our head when he was at my school)...but, the quality of the school is NOT GOOD. I've taken classes there, summer seminars, my friends go there, my friends' friends go there, and it's not a very good school. Not to diss my state's fine eduational institution or anything, because UofA is truly a good public school, ASU is just ASU.</p>