<p>Please give examples of universities which are not well known and why you think they are excellent.</p>
<p>Rice University-this school is pretty well known in academic circles. But, it doesn't get talked about nearly enough.</p>
<p>Northwestern . Why? Because its full of awesomely awesome awesomeness, thats why!</p>
<p>Reed (University of Chicago type intellectualism), St. Johns College, Annapolis (the "Great Books" curriculum)</p>
<p>I agree. Rice is a truly excellent school, but it seems that this institution is not highly regarded by most people.
Its middle 50% for the SAT is like 1330-1530.. so the avg. is gonna be over 1400 probably..
86% of its students ranked top 10% in HS..
These stats can be matched only by the very top institutions.</p>
<p>I also believe WUSTL, emory, W&M must be regarded higher for the same reason, since I believe the academic atmosphere prevails at a school with a number of intellectual, studious students (and it's hard for me to believe that students with low test scores and grades at high school are studious, though it is possible they might change in college.).</p>
<p>The University of Chicago is excellent but many consider it a back up to the Ivies so it doesn't get the recognition it deserves, making it an excellent admissions value for top students. </p>
<p>Some state universities are often overlooked but can provide a wonderful education. Some examples: U of Wisconsin, U of South Dakota, U of Kansas, U of Washington. </p>
<p>And, many liberal arts schools outside of the northeast are wonderful schools that do not get the national attention from applicants that they deserve. Examples: Whitman in Washington, Reed in Oregon, St. Olaf in Minnesota, Macalester in Minnesota, Earlham in Indiana, Southwestern in Texas, Trinity U in Texas, St. Mary's College of Maryland. But there are many others out there for people willing to overlook the obvious choices.</p>
<p>ditto on hormesis3 </p>
<p>and also add Carleton (surprisingly many people in my area don't know about it)</p>
<p>INTL85, I don't agree that Rice is "not highly regarded by most people". It always ranks high- doesn't get the attention that the Ivys do, but it is VERY highly regarded.</p>
<p>I think there is a strong local bias that makes many schools underrated and undersubsribed. School in the Northeast tend to get the press and attention despite efforts of Princeton Review, Fiske and other guides to try to give other areas equal press. </p>
<p>I am, like many eastcoaster, not aware of the many excellent local and state schools south and west of Ohio and DC. But a few that have made my radar screen recently are College of Charleson, Flagler, Stetson, Rollings, Eckerd, Elon, UNCAsheville, Mary Washington, St Mary's of MD, Goucher, Wheaton in Massachusetts, Earlham, Sewanee, Rhodes, Grove City, Wash & Jefferson, U of Washington in Wash state, Susquehanna, Ursinus, Juniata, McDaniel, U of South Carolina, Ohio University, Wittenburg, Ohio Wesleyan, Wooster, Lake Forest in Illinois, DePaul, Emerson, Five Towns, the SUNYs, Fairleigh Dickenson, Hofstra, Rider, Widener, Suffolk, Clark, StMichael's in Vermont, Stonehill, just to name a few off the top of my head.</p>
<p>Beloit, Lawrence, Knox, Seattle U.</p>
<p>Birmingham Southern attracts good/great students locally.</p>
<p>Adding a few more to the list: Hendrix (ark), Southwestern U (Texas), and Trinity U (also Texas) are all terrific smaller schools with very strong academics. And, no one has yet mentioned Whitman in Washington, ranked in the top 30 liberal arts colleges, superb academics, great admissions value.</p>
<p>There is a book about this exact topic called "Colleges that Change Lives" by Loren Pope. It is an guide to some lesser-known LACs, and there is a website at <a href="http://www.ctcl.com/index.php%5B/url%5D">http://www.ctcl.com/index.php</a></p>
<p>Pope has also written a great book about the college-search process called "Looking Beyond the Ivy League: Finding the College That's Right for You"</p>
<p>I believe Rice should be regarded as highly as any 'lower' ivy.
WUSTL is up there, as well.</p>
<p>I had never heard of Grinnell in Iowa before our college search, but I think this is a great school. It is also a very rich school and give exceptional financial aid and grants. And it can do whatever it wants and bring whatever it wants to campus. Yet it may not match your criteria since it topped the US News Best Colleges article</p>
<p>Include Washington and Lee University - Lexington, VA on this list - highly ranked but little exposure - a hidden gem!!!</p>
<p>U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY. Many people don't know that this exceptionally fine service academy exists.</p>
<p>I agree with JeepMOM.
I've seen some people regard W&L U. as easy-to-get-into, which certainly is not the case.
SAT range of 1300-1440 and 78% of its students coming from top 10% of HS is certainly not a stat of a low-quality school.</p>
<p>Another LAC many people overlook, as it is in the south, is Davidson. While not particularly unique among LACs, I know a few people who go there and the educational quality is top notch.</p>
<p>Of course I am slightly biased as a current student, but I truly believe that Lynchburg College is growing stronger in both academics and incoming freshmen class stats (though still somewhat low...)</p>