<p>The reason is because this sophomore’s mother is a law professor at Cal’s Bolt Hall, and a brother at Harvard Business school right now. </p>
<p>So unless you grew up with a professor from Cal, I think I do have some good insights into the school. Not an expert, but definitely well informed.</p>
<p>And you can debate where HMC stands in terms of prestige. Academia and admission standards obviously have came to a firm consensus on HMC’s standing. And I am not sure what you mean by “competition” on the master’s only list. I didn’t know students and the respective institutions of HMC, Cooper Union, West Point, Naval Academy, Swarthmore, Bucknell are somehow academic laggards in your eyes. Given what you said, you probably don’t hold the little Ivies, or the Claremont colleges in high regard either? They are all undergrad only schools. </p>
<p>Finally, Federal research funding cuts are not a debate. Neither are the victims and the negative repercussion of these cuts, i.e. the prime victims being public research universities.</p>