<p>Is the Princeton Review Academic Rating of a school an indication of how difficult it is once you are there or is it more akin to the USN&WR Peer Assessment numbers. I have read the description and am still unsure. For example, Lehigh has a selectivity rating of 97, but an Academic rating much lower whereas UVA, a selctivity rating of 97 and an academic rating of a 98.</p>
<p>Good question. But I dont place a lot of emphasis on Princeton Review...its a real cursory and general rating and its sometimes wrong. Its based on anecdotal information and sometimes gossip. If you are comparing Lehigh and UVa specifically and want to decide where to attend, I will tell you that both are very different from the other. My bias would be towards UVa. But its extremely hard to get into UVa out of state. They have a strong preference for in-state kids and kids with legacy. But you couldnt find a better school in a better location with a more beautiful campus, in my view. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks. I was really looking to extrapolate from this data for my son who is looking at schools that, for the most part, I know little about in terms of actual workload (i.e.Bucknell, Lehigh, Colby, Bates, Union, Trinity and UVA). I already have a daughter at UVA so I have some input from there.</p>
<p>While measures of selectivity and measures of academic rigor/reputation often correlate, they don't always. There are several schools that are more rigorous academically than they are selective. Schools like Chicago, Reed, Rice and Grinnell come immediately to mind. </p>
<p>The methodology behind Princeton Review's academic reputation index is a bit sketchy, but I think they often get it right. Too often, I think we mistake selectivity (an input measure) with academic rigor (a processs measure) and thus focus too much on it in determining an institution's quality and desireability. Given how colleges manipulate application pools to achieve "desirabillity", I applaud Princeton Review's attempt (as incomplete as it is) to focus on measures of academic quality.</p>
<p>jOHNROSS, a way that I read these measures is:</p>
<p>How hard is it to get into?</p>
<p>How hard is it to get through?</p>
<p>Virgina -- Hard to get into; hard to get through</p>
<p>Lehigh -- Hard to get into; less hard to get through</p>
<p>A very interesting place to see the selectivity/rigor dynamic at play is to look at both these measures in Princeton Review for New England and Midwestern liberal art colleges (LACs), especially those in the middle of the back.</p>
<p>Oh....excellent. I hope your daughter at UVa is happy and thriving academically and socially. Its a superb school.</p>
<p>Workload? Hmmmm.......Princeton Review is too generic in my opinion to give you appropriately accurate information. As you know, not all departments and colleges within a university are the same. For example, its a common misconception that liberal arts students in english, history and philosophy have an easier workload. Wrong! They are often burdened with an extremely heavy reading assignment every night and writing papers....many, many papers all four years. My D is at Fordham....Fordham College at Rose Hill....the main campus liberal arts school. She is working her tail off....challenged to a T, but not overwhelmed and frenetic....what I call Just Right Porridge. That is a measure NOT of what Princeton Review says (and what they have published about Fordham is about 180 degrees WRONG!). Its a measure of fact from what the Jesuits give her to do, what her friends are doing and so forth. </p>
<p>Of the schools you listed,I can't say that one or another from what I know, sticks out as more or less rigorous in work load. But they are each unique schools with different strengths and culture. You raise a good question..and it is something healthy to ponder, as you obviously have done. That is a good thing. As you know, some schools are hard to get into but not all that rigorous once you get in. Some are easier to get into but harder to stay.....they work you to death. Some kids THRIVE in that environment and would be utterly bored and unhappy in any less rigorous environment. Some kids do better in less stressful environments. Its something to ponder because "fit" for that particular child of yours...your son, is really important to ensure happiness and success in college. You are to be commended for looking beyond mere SAT scores and GPA's in determining what is the best fit. Whether he needs MORE demanding workloads, or would do better under a less stringent environment is something you and he can discuss. </p>
<p>Also, its not just the demanding workload. Its also the environment...do kids there focus on academics or are they party kids? For example, UNC-Chapel Hill is a superb school...near the top of Public Universities in the US. But its also a notorious party school. If you are immature and weak, you will go there and bomb. Or worse. You can sign up for easy bogus classes or take really tough and demanding courses. </p>
<p>Schools that have a strict core requirement are often the MOST rigorous. But that is also my bias. You have excellent schools in mind. But each is a different social and cultural scene. And that plays a huge role in the demanding nature of the school. </p>
<p>We avoided state schools like the plague because we were concerned there are too many party animals and too much loosy goosy scheduling going on. That was our perspective and bias, right or wrong. We are very happy at Fordham and my D is THRIVING, if that helps.</p>
<p>Does your son have an interest in Fordham? I am happy to extrapolate more information for you if he does. Contary to what Princeton Review says, Fordham is an awesome school. And we turned down some prestigious offers elsewhere to go there.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Well put, Ballet Girl. That is it precisely.</p>
<p>Fordham is indeed a wonderful school but I think he wants to be a bit farther away from home. (Long Island). S and D are great kids but different students. D is a bit more regimented in her studies and can handle distractions better than S. It could just be a maturity thing but, for the moment, I need to keep that in mind.</p>
<p>Ah....I see. My D's boyfriend is from Long Island. Great kid. Most stay on Fordham campus on weekend.....sports, friends, studying. </p>
<p>I dont know your son or what he needs..but perhaps a school with structure and less "freedom" would benefit him....and of course small class sizes. </p>
<p>the big state school...even if it is UVa, may not be what is best for him. </p>
<p>Just a thought. Rigor is a two edged sword.....if its too much it can cause more problems.....you want enough to challenge them but not overwhelm them and have them break. And of course you want a place with fewer distractions.....</p>
<p>As a parent, I only want one thing--that he be happy wherever he chooses to go. The rest is gravy.</p>