<p>I'm sure this will start lots of arguments, but that's not why I'm posting it. I'm posting it to get some people to think outside the box, and to show that there are many opinions, and many different schools.</p>
<p>^ Thanks for posting this, WUSTL parent. I especially love what the article says about your kid’s school:</p>
<p>“U.S. News and World Report ranks Wash U. as one of the top 15 universities in the country, so it is no surprise that it has long been admired as a Midwestern backup to the Ivies.”</p>
<p>Interestingly, Washington and Lee University & George Washington University also made the list. How do we ever tell the difference between all of these WashU’s???</p>
<p>It’s a pretty good list. No big arguments other than I think Davidson College was a miss here.</p>
<p>Plenty of people know the difference between WashU and W&L / GWU. Just because your crowd doesn’t, interestingguy, doesn’t mean anything.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Actually, they sort of included it as a “see also”. Look at the bottom of #4, Elon University.</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>Of these two schools on the list, which games the rankings more?</p>
<p>WUSTL or USC?</p>
<p>I’m surprised University of Chicago didn’t make the list. Before 2000 it accepted over 60% of its applicants. Now its down to the low 20% and an alternative to the ivy league for many students.</p>
<p>Interesting list. I’m a little surprised that the University of Florida didn’t make the cut, given their incredible athletic successes that have occurred this decade.</p>
<p>I’m applying to four schools on that list…</p>
<p>
Agreed. I think Davidson’s reputation has gone up while W&L’s has stagnated. Going loan-free and having a great NCAA showing in 2008 has helped.</p>
<p>For those wondering what the 15 colleges are, google the thread title. I will post them as well:</p>
<ol>
<li>USC</li>
<li>Vanderbilt</li>
<li>Indiana </li>
<li>Elon</li>
<li>Tufts</li>
<li>Ohio Wesleyan</li>
<li>Colorado College</li>
<li>WUStL</li>
<li>Bard</li>
<li>CSU (apparently all of them)</li>
<li>RISD</li>
<li>St Andrews</li>
<li>Washington & Lee</li>
<li>George Washington</li>
<li>Georgia</li>
</ol>
<p>
I agree on both accounts.</p>
<p>Yup, the 20 smartest college towns round up the list … adds Berkeley, UMich, Notre Dame etc.</p>
<p>Note that the #1 on the daily beast list USC has a C+ on the
sustainability report card.
[University</a> of Southern California - Green Report Card 2009](<a href=“http://www.greenreportcard.org/report-card-2009/schools/university-of-southern-california]University”>http://www.greenreportcard.org/report-card-2009/schools/university-of-southern-california)</p>
<p>Wish they would build a new campus in the OC some day!</p>
<p>The CSU’s as a single bucket is meaningless. The hot CSUs
are SDSU and Cal Poly SLO and Pomona.</p>
<p>You can see the contents of the link by googling Daily Beast Decade’s 15 Hottest Colleges.</p>
<p>I fail to see how a C+ on the sustainability report card has anything to do with whether USC is a hot college or not.</p>
<p>If one wanted to objectively make this list, just look at who has the highest growth in applicants from a pure number and percentage stand point.</p>
<p>“I fail to see how a C+ on the sustainability report card has anything to do with whether USC is a hot college or not.”</p>
<p>Just pointing out that USC is not located in a “smart college town”. Apparently the daily beast looked at it from both perspectives - growth (“hot”) and sustainability (“smart”). :-)</p>
<p>Also, for comparison, UCLA had a B- and Stanford had an A- for sustainability (nothing to do with daily beast, sorry!)</p>
<p>I love how everyone is ignoring InterestingGuy. hahahaha =D</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Interesting point nonetheless, blaw.</p>
<p>BTW, that’s the nickname of a very good, long-time friend (based on his last name). I had to do a double-take when I saw it on this board. :)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Apparently, you didn’t. Neither did she:</p>
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</p>
<p>Enjoy your “Midwestern backup to the Ivies”! hahahaha =D</p>
<p>WUSTL = Washington University, Safety To the (ivy) League</p>
<p>USC = University of Second Choice</p>