Richmond vs. Tulane vs. Tufts?

<p>Victor, I just touched base with my friend at Vandy. Her prof’s daughter just enrolled at Richmond. Is not a Richmond Scholar - they are paying more to send her to UR. Vandy prof believes UR will give a better undergrad science education with more research opportunities (based on his experience with my friend and a visit to UR campus/science building).</p>

<p>I’ve heard profs say it a lot, but especially if you’re planning to go to grad school, the name of your undergrad institution doesn’t matter so much as the experiences you have there. My friends from Richmond have gotten into some of the top grad schools in the country (incl. Stanford, MIT, Duke, and Harvard). My grad friend at Vandy had first pick of biochemistry labs over students who did their undergrad at Harvard and UPenn because she did three years of grad-level research at UR, was published, presented at two biochem conferences, and had science profs who knew her incredibly well and wrote really strong recs. In her case, that kind of background won out over the “prestige” of Ivy League undergrad degrees.</p>

<p>UR specializes in undergrad education. IMO, there are few reasons not to take a Richmond Scholar award.</p>

<p>Best of luck to your D - wherever she ends up!</p>

<p>I wish I knew how to post quotes, as the big takeaway for me from the above is “UR specializes in undergrad education.”</p>

<p>I never stepped foot in the science building after my gen ed requirement, as the sciences just isn’t for me, but it was amazing to me the hands on research that some of my friends were doing. The ability to begin doing research during summers and beginning freshman year allows for some great experiences.</p>

<p>stressd, found his article in the student newspaper this week and felt like it may help you a bit. This student will be graduating shortly and attend MIT to work on his PhD. His thesis was on Schrödinger operators applied to quantum mechanics. I’m not even going to venture to guess what the heck that is…</p>

<p>[Senior</a> thesis explores relationship connection between math and physics | University of Richmond Collegian ? University of Richmond News](<a href=“http://thecollegianur.com/2011/04/27/senior-thesis-explores-relationship-connection-between-math-and-physics/20604/]Senior”>http://thecollegianur.com/2011/04/27/senior-thesis-explores-relationship-connection-between-math-and-physics/20604/)</p>

<p>“…it’s low national ranking (#51st ) and internal issues seem to indicate otherwise. The number of students, again is a personal preference but the student-teacher interaction is much less at a large school like Tulane…”</p>

<p>Tulane was ranked in the mid-30s for national research universities a few years before Katrina. The list of national research universities includes the most competitive schools in the nation including the Ivies. Let’s agree it is harder to be in the 30s in that group than in the 30s in the Liberal Arts group. Everyone knows Harvard, Princeton, Standford and Chicago, but few have ever heard of Williams, the best USNWR LA school in the country.</p>

<p>USNWR factors in 6-year graduation rates and HS guidance counselor and other university prof “impressions” in their rankings. Graduation rates suffered because some percentage of students decided not to come back after Katrina. And, as one student tour guide said recently, “I still have to correct the impression among people back home that Tulane is underwater.” S’s guidance counselor thought pretty much the same thing. So, Tulane had dropped almost 20 spots on the USNWR list because a natural disaster caused some to change schools and left the impression among guidance counselors that the university is suffering, not because of any change in quality.</p>

<p>Also, Tulane only has 7,000 undergrads. It has an 8:1 student teacher ratio. It is not big by any means.</p>

<p>armynavy, if you’re going to us TU’s undergrad only population (when 38% of total students are grad students), it may be best to use the undergrad faculty as the basis for you 8:1.</p>

<p>TU’s site says they have 12,622 total students (62% undergrad) and 1,100 faculty for an 11.5:1 ratio. TU also has TA’s, which again cuts into student/professor interaction.</p>

<p>One of the best parts of UR is the focus on the undergrad education and the lack of TA’s.</p>

<p>Actually, TU was ranked #44 in 2004, the year before Katrina struck in '05. Therefore, the post-Katrina drop was 7, not 20. TU dropped from the mid/upper 30’s to 44 before Katrina.</p>

<p>stressdma trust me if ur going for scienvces, U of R is no place for you. probably top late since u might have commited already. but science here sucks, if ur doing anything but business, u are at a loss. go to a school where these programs are more developed, vandy or duke, either one of them would be better for math
Im math and business major at UR</p>

<p>I wasn’t a science student at Richmond, but I have many friends who were and are. I’m not sure why @chestercheese would say it’s not a good school for sciences. Research opportunities are plentiful, etc.</p>

<p>URWHAT: Just wanted to let you know that based on admissions from my daughters very competitive nyc private school to both Tulane and U Richmond, I can say it was less difficult to get accepted to Tulane; lower SAT scores and grades, no honors classes or AP classes. Tulane was actively recruiting “applications” via e mail requiring minimal information, “quick and easy”. This allowed for greater number of applications which meant a lower admission rate.
God bless all these seniors for making it through the most difficult admissions year on record!</p>