<p>wesleyan isnt exactly 'hidden'</p>
<p>Texas:
im not sure if its "hidden", but Rice University</p>
<p>also, the University of Houston has a great engineering program and is definatley on the rise academically</p>
<p>I would say Harvey Mudd College</p>
<p>The hidden gem of California is Pomona College. It's reasonably well-known here on CC and in academic circles, but if you say "Pomona College" to people walking down the street in California, 90% of them will think you meant Cal Poly Pomona.</p>
<p>I have found that catholic colleges can be real gems for a number of students. They often offer generous merit aid, there are some in popular cities where other choices are highly selective, many have athleic programs and scholarships for those who are not top D-1 athletes. Their sticker prices tend to be lower than other private schools in the area. The exceptions to this are a handful of highly selective schools such as ND, BC, Georgetown.<br>
My cousin's daughter wanted to go to the Cal state in San Diego in the worst way. Her mother was an alum and she loved the city and the school with a number of close relatives living in the area. Not being a CA resident, made the school not only pricey, but much more selective for her. Also, her parents felt a smaller school would really be a better match for her. She is loving her experience at San Diego College (not sure if that is the exact name) which is a catholic college in a superb location that gave her bit of merit aid as well. For someone who loves LA but the UC is just too tough a go for admissions especially out of staters, Loyola there is worth a look--a beautiful location. I mentioned Manhattan College in NYC which can be a great choice for someone who really wants to be in NYC, but does not have the stats for NYU or Columbia. Also slightly less pricey and some nice merit aid.</p>
<p>My definition of a "hidden gem" is a school with top quality education that rival the best schools which get the most publicity, but one you almost never hear about. Some posters here have been posting schools which, in my opinion, aren't as popular with applicants as some others school simply because it's not as good (let's face it, especially on CC, Ivy League schools and the rest seem to be most popular).</p>
<p>With that said, two really stand out in my mind. The first is Olin. Even though it's very young it has a very good program that rival MIT's for engineering, and even on CC I almost never hear about it.</p>
<p>The other one is Deep Springs College. You can see how obscure it is when everyone names the hidden gems of California, the Claremont College, yet no one brings up Deep Springs! Now that's a REAL hidden gem! With a very selective and tough program and most students transferring to Harvard and company after two years of education (it's a two-year college) Deep Springs definitely seems to fit the bill for this thread.</p>
<p>One of the smartest kids in my class is going to Olin. It is a very prestigious school.</p>
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<blockquote> <p>You can see how obscure it is when everyone names the hidden gems of California, the Claremont College, yet no one brings up Deep Springs! ...(it's a two-year college)<<</p> </blockquote>
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<p>As you point out, Deep Springs is a two year school requiring transfer to a college to finish your degree. When people on CC and people in general talk about looking for a college they usually mean four-year BS/BA-granting schools, not junior colleges. There are many fine JCs out there, Deep Springs among them, but as a groups they usually stand outside of most of these discussions.</p>
<p>Deep Springs is indeed a gem, and though a 2 year school is often included in 4 year "Best College" guides because it is such a good deal. However, if the criteria for a hidden gem is to rival an ivy, is not reasonable as the main attraction for the top schools is the reputation and name appeal. Also though this board attracts more top school candidates, with the increasing number of apps to the most selective colleges, it has become important to research other schools. The old "safety" school is really the school that requires the most research. Any one can loll the names of the top schools and dream their preference between Princeton and Yale. It's a heck of a lotharder to find a school that is not selective and is a good deal in many respects. Finances are also playing a heavy role with the middle class as financial aid tightens and loans have become the main funding vehicle for those in that category. Also, Deep Spring and Olin are highly selective. The two kids I know who were accepted there also got into the top engineering programs. Those who were also good candidates did not get into the school. I don't know their stats, but the ones I know who did get in did not go, opting for a program with a track record. Other schools in that category of "free" would be Webb and Cooper Union, again very selective schools. The SUNY Merchant Marine Academy is an excellent alternative for those who do not have ROTC scholarship stats, and the academies are out of reach as well. It is the most flexible regarding graduation employment choices, and yet guarantees a pretty good deal. Beautiful location, and free for most kids. Not as rigorous as some of the Armed forces programs, and you are not likely to sent into combat. </p>
<p>Many years ago, the hot new things were Hampshire College and New College of Florida (am dating myself). Initially there was quite a rush to those schools, Hampshire because it was put together by the Amherst/Smith/MH consortium and shared their priviliges. New College was touted as Florida's Honor College, and it too, was free. Neither are particularly selective any more. New has been swallowed by another state school. So it is difficult to see where a start up school is going to go, particularly one that needs a lot of money since it does not charge tuition. I am even dubious of schools that do charge tuition and are brand spanking new. You just don't know where they are going to be in a few years. That was, by the way, the concern both families whose kids got into Olin was, and it is a justifiable one.</p>
<p>In CT I have to say Quinnipiac even in state people look at it as a step up from community college but all my friends who go there (some from as far away as New Trier, IL which disproves the it's all CTers reputation) love it.</p>
<p>Quinnipiac is a hidden gem, and will continue to grow for a short while longer. UConn, though, is capturing the spotlight and taking the best students away from schools like Quinnipiac and Fairfield U. If you live in CT or anywhere else for that matter and choose Fairfield U. or Quinnipiac over UConn for business, science, or engineeing your retarded.</p>
<p>I don't know that I would consider Davidson "hidden"--think it is well known and well respected. I would submit Elon for hidden gem in NC.</p>
<p>I agree, William and Mary gets enough love in Virginia, and JMU is hardly "hidden", therefore my opinion on a true hidden gem would be University of Mary Washington and Christopher Newport, both publics. For private, I'm going to have to say Hampden Sydney (all boys, but great school) and Hollins.</p>
<p>In regards to Deep Springs, 99.9% of CCers aren't interested in a single-sex college of 20 students. And I don't think even 0.1% of CCers are interested in a school where manual labor is a course requirement. Put the two together and you have zero audience for Deep Springs of CC.</p>
<p>How long has Olin been around? When I went to college in Mass. in the 70's I don't remember ever hearing about it, or meeting anyone who went there.</p>
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Also though this board attracts more top school candidates, with the increasing number of apps to the most selective colleges, it has become important to research other schools.
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<p>Of course, I agree. However, I don't think that's what this thread was asking for. Hidden gem pretty much means a gem (i.e. a very good college) that is "hidden" (i.e. rarely heard about).</p>
<p>
[quote]
In regards to Deep Springs, 99.9% of CCers aren't interested in a single-sex college of 20 students. And I don't think even 0.1% of CCers are interested in a school where manual labor is a course requirement. Put the two together and you have zero audience for Deep Springs of CC.
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<p>That's a pretty horrible statistical analysis. By your logic, I could say that 90% of high school seniors don't think they can get into MIT so they don't apply, and 10% don't apply because they don't like the weather and the tech environment. Put the two together and no one applies to MIT. Obviously this is not true. If you want evidence that there are people on CC who care about Deep Springs, just go look at the forum.</p>
<p>Besides, if everyone cared about it, it wouldn't be a "hidden" gem would it? ;)</p>
<p>There is no way William and Mary is a "hidden gem" in Virginia. Everyone knows about it. Richmond is debatable because it is getting quite a reputation and as someone pointed out is quite expensive, so I would give that honor to Mary Washington.</p>
<p>They've already been said, but the hidden gems of NC: Davidson and UNC-Asheville</p>
<p>hidden gem in GA: probably Georgia State...they have a really good business program, but no one ever hears about it. Most would rather go to UGA or Tech.</p>
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<blockquote> <p>How long has Olin been around? When I went to college in Mass. in the 70's I don't remember ever hearing about it, or meeting anyone who went there.<<</p> </blockquote>
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<p>It wasn't around then. Olin just graduated its first class this year.</p>