Rank The Ivies

<p>you clearly know nothing about any of those schools, bruster, considering that your list of best undergraduate experiences follows no logical order whatsoever. id very much enjoy seeing some justification for that.</p>

<p>I'm kinda feeling like people here are too quick to put Harvard at the top of their lists.</p>

<p>Sure, it's probably the most prestigious of the Ivies, and definitely has the most international recognition, but if you really look at the schools, there are a lot of things it lacks. I know several people at Harvard (you get a lot in there from my MA public school) and then I've spoken to a few at Yale, and my general impression is that at Harvard, professors simply aren't there for the undergraduates. You've got classes taught by TAs, and a lot of the best Professors at the school teaching strictly graduate classes and off doing their research with grads only. Even all the guidance counselors at my school agreed that when it comes down to the best -education-, Harvard falls a little short. It's got a lot of truly amazing graduate schools, but the undergraduate school isn't at the same level as those.</p>

<p>In comparison, at Yale, all professors are REQUIRED to teach undergraduate classes--they're not just there for the grad students. And, from what I've heard from friends, you get fewer classes taught by TAs--if any at all, really. And, at Princeton, you've got way more of a focus on the undergrads than grad students.</p>

<p>Of course, going along these same lines, I'd personally argue that when it comes to the best education, Williams is probably right up there with the Big Three as well. Definitely the most individual focus per student (hell, you've got some classes that are just you and a professor), and a school that offers so much given its significantly smaller size.</p>

<p>But, of course, I think for the most part, the bottom line is, if you get into Harvard, you definitely think twice before turning them down (other than for FA reasons) regardless of whether or not you think another school may have a better overall educational experience, because sacrificing a bit of quality in education can sometimes be made worth it for a Harvard diploma. There's a reason why Harvard has the highest accepted student enrollment rate.</p>

<p>I'd be interested to hear other people's reasoning at keeping Harvard at the top of their list, though, other than for its name and prestige.</p>

<p>Harvard's reputation lately has allowed it to draw more talented students so it's a self-augmenting process. But yea, harvard won't make you any smarter than a comparable school. And most ppl don't realize that harvard's monopoly as one of the top schools has only been for the past 20 or so years. Before then (specifically before USWNR) no one really cared too much. The gap between the top 4 ivies really widened in the 90's as harvard's endowment grew by leaps and bounds due to the dot-com boom. in 1990 btw, 4 ivy leagues had $1bn+ (HYPC) and none had over $4bn. And today, harvard has 30 billion, columbia once again 4th with 6 billion with Y and P in between. I wouldn't be surprised to find rankings different in 20-30 years from now as institutions expand and find smarter ways to invest.</p>

<p>StuckatUofT, you're right, Penn Engineering isn't tip-top, but it's still a good education. The main reason people go to M&T is the prestige; the enigineering degree is just another part of your application to a company.</p>

<ol>
<li>Princeton</li>
<li>Yale</li>
<li>Harvard</li>
<li>Penn</li>
<li>Columbia</li>
<li>Brown</li>
<li>Dartmouth</li>
<li>Cornell</li>
</ol>

<p>hey huntsmaniac
what do you mean?
the prestige of going to upenn?
or the prestige of wharton?
or the prestige of getting into a 60 people program?
I've had friends turn down princeton and harvard for M&T program
(one of the reasons why i actually looked into penn)</p>

<ol>
<li>Harvard</li>
<li>Yale</li>
<li>Princeton</li>
<li>Penn</li>
<li>Columbia</li>
<li>Brown</li>
<li>Dartmouth</li>
<li>Cornell</li>
</ol>

<p>But Penn's Wharton and M&T Program are to me are tied with HYP in terms of prestige and academics (recruitment, academics, payroll...etc)</p>

<p>Penn cas > columbia college? =O</p>

<p>again. somebody tell me why you place cornell last</p>

<p>While Cornell's engineering program is top-notch, its CAS is less well-regarded and selective than that of other schools. And the ag and hotel schools up its accept rate and lower its prestige, in some people's eyes at least. </p>

<p>Remember, these are all subjective. Two years from now, it may be back at number one. This is all a product of fads.</p>

<p>Cornell isnt actually any worse than Brown or Dartmouth on the whole, especially in research.</p>

<p>The problem cornell has is that it's fell behind in recent years for some reason or another and lower in the USNWR rankings (which do not mean jack)--- BUT... ppl are using it as an Ivy safety but usually do not matriculate = lower yield. Lower yield forces Cornell to admit more = +%admit = lower selectivity = lower "prestige". </p>

<p>It's extremely circular and unjustified- but what does it matter, you'r getting a world class education at Cornell anyways.</p>

<p>I know this is off topic but truazn8948532, those numbers in your name sound like a phone number. lol</p>

<p>lol why don't you give me a call? ;)</p>

<p>i think that depends on each individual's perception of the school's fit for him/her. after visiting the schools, my order was 1) dartmouth, 2) brown, 3) princeton, 4) yale, 5) harvard, 6) columbia, 7) penn, 8) cornell. this is not from facts and figures on overall resources, endowment, or nobel laureates, but based on the environment and the resources that i felt best fit my personal interests. i think your order is something you have to find out on your own.</p>

<p>^
|
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100% agree.</p>

<p>It's been said before, but what does ranking Ivys arbitrarily do for anyone? Different people will be attracted to different schools. It's just stupid. Stop.</p>

<p>Ehh..I think it's all good fun. Let the pre-frosh and anxious high schoolers relieve some stress through this rather meaningless, but amusing activity.</p>

<p>Actually i don't think this thread is "fun" at all. It's just creating semi-arbitrary/nonexistent delineations between already top-tiered schools. This thread should just die.</p>

<p>Where does duke rank among the ivies (obviously I know its not an ivy, but do you think its in the same tier.)</p>

<p>Rankings are all pointless. no matter what school is listed last, someone will get upset.</p>