<p>I’ll take a stab at Colorado, for my first post on this forum:</p>
<p>1) University of Denver (DU)–doesn’t blow the other schools away in a ton of categories, but I think it’s the best overall school, and its reputation is gaining by the year. Amazing facilities built on campus in the last 10-15 years. Really tremendous progress in that respect–amazing new law school building, new business school, the Ritchie Center, etc. DU is known for small class sizes, which gives it an advantage over the big state schools. DU also allows students to study abroad, for the same price as it is to study on campus. Huge benefit, in my opinion. Top notch hockey and lacrosse teams (both top 5 nationally) provide something to cheer for. DU is comfortably ahead of CU and CSU in overall rankings, and its business school is known as the best in the state. Law school doesn’t rank as highly as Colorado (65 vs. 45?), but recent trajectory indicates that DU law could catch CU law over the next 4-5 years. DU’s reputation is hurt by being known as a rich kids’ school. This may come with the territory with a big price tag and ski resorts close by. DU also needs to do more work in building a national, rather than a regional, reputation. I might send my child elsewhere if finances are an issue. But if not, then DU would be the top choice in Colorado. The private school prestige doesn’t hurt. Seems to be the choice of our top students in Colorado–I think I read that more Boettcher scholars (cream of the crop Colo. students who can attend any college in Colo. for free) attend DU, than any other Colorado school. DU is really on an upswing over the past 15 years, and doesn’t appear to be slowing down.</p>
<p>2) Colorado College (CC)–an excellent liberal arts school. Fantastic reputation, also comes with the private school prestige, and the block plan is an intriguing way to get an education. One course taken at a time during each block. Nice campus in the middle of an older part of Colorado Springs. Always ranked highly amongst small liberal arts schools, but reputation gets a bit lost in the shuffle, due to the school being so small, and due to its being nestled in Colorado Springs. If my child knew he or she wanted a strong liberal arts education, CC would be the choice. Not as well rounded of a school as DU or CU, but enjoys an excellent reputation for what it does well–a rigorous liberal arts education. Good hockey team, too. </p>
<p>3) Colorado School of Mines: known as having the highest admission standards of any school in Colorado, except perhaps the USAFA. If you have always wanted to be an engineer, it’s hard to imagine a better choice than Mines. If you’re not sure about that, it may not be the best place to explore your options in life. Also known for it’s unfavorable (to men) male-female ratio. Great salary upon graduating may make up for that.</p>
<p>4) CU-Boulder–has some excellent programs, and a well-regarded law school. A nice campus, too. However, its reputation takes a big hit due to the party school factor–and this is a case where the reputation appears to meet reality. Recent scandals on campus have not helped, as the ranking seems to be falling with every year. CU has some cache with out of state students looking for a nice campus near the mountains. But it does not strike me as a daring place for graduating Colorado high school students to go to college with everyone that they knew in high school. The price is right by attending an in-state school, but if I wanted my child to focus on academics, I would choose one of the schools listed above. </p>
<p>5) Colorado State (CSU): a good school, in the great town of Fort Collins. May suffer reputationally a bit because its admission standards are not as rigorous as the schools listed above. Sometimes seems to play 2nd banana in the large school competition with CU. I get the sense that you get a good education for the money here, and I am completely guessing that a student would have more focus as a Ram than as a Buffalo. But CSU gets a bit lost in the shuffle, due to middling admission requirements and a location in northern Colorado. Should be said that the location offers many benefits, as well, for students who enjoy the outdoors. Rooting for CSU to step it up a bit. </p>
<p>I don’t include AFA in this list–obviously, wonderful reputation, incredibly rigorous admission requirements, but a bit of a specialty school for obvious reasons. University of Northern Colorado has a great reputation for its music school and teaching programs, but just doesn’t get the name recognition and reputation as other schools in Colorado. The location in Greeley is nice, but remote.</p>