Top Colleges

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Let's say I wanna make a list of the truly best colleges. Rather than going exactly by rankings (although they help obviously), we're considering the academic strength, general prestige, and selectivity of the colleges. I have a list of colleges (universities and LACs) that I believe should make up the list. I also have a list of some that I'm not quite sure if they should make the list, but they are definitely close. So I want your help.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Are there any colleges on the first list that really shouldn't be there, as they are just a level below the rest?</p></li>
<li><p>What colleges on the second list should truly be on the first (they have to really be at the same level, no biases here)?</p></li>
<li><p>What colleges not considered at all should be on the top list?</p></li>
</ol>

<p>I know there are tons of great schools, this list just for fun and is for those considered the best. </p>

<p>So here are the lists in alphabetical order.</p>

<p>Best Colleges (40 Total)
Amherst College
Bowdoin College
Brown University
California- Berkeley, University of
California Institute of Technology
California- Los Angeles, University of
Carnegie Mellon University
Chicago, University of
Claremont McKenna College
Columbia University
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Duke University
Emory University
Georgetown University
Harvard University
Johns Hopkins University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Michigan, University of
Middlebury College
New York University
Northwestern University
North Carolina, University of
Notre Dame, University of
Pennsylvania, University of
Pomona College
Princeton University
Rice University
Southern California, University of
Stanford University
Swarthmore College
Tufts University
United States Military Academy at West Point
Vanderbilt University
Virginia, University of
Wake Forest University
Washington University in St. Louis
William and Mary, College of
Williams College
Yale University</p>

<p>Other Contenders (40 Total)
Bard College
Barnard College
Bates College
Boston College
Brandeis University
Bryn Mawr College
Bucknell University
California- San Diego, University of
Carleton College
Case Western Reserve University
Colby College
Colgate University
Colorado College
Connecticut College
Davidson College
Franklin and Marshall College
Georgia Institute of Technology
Grinnell College
Hamilton College
Harvey Mudd College
Haverford College
Holy Cross, College of
Kenyon College
Lehigh University
Macalester College
Mount Holyoke College
Oberlin College
Pitzer College
Reed College
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rochester, University of
Scripps College
Smith College
Trinity College (CT)
United States Naval Academy
Vassar College
Washington and Lee University
Wellesley College
Wesleyan College
Whitman College</p>

<p>So once again, the three questions are:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Are there any colleges on the first list that really shouldn't be there, as they are just a level below the rest?</p></li>
<li><p>What colleges on the second list should truly be on the first (they have to really be at the same level, no biases here)?</p></li>
<li><p>What colleges not considered at all should be on the top list?</p></li>
</ol>

<p>I'm mainly concerned with #2. I'm have a feeling Wesleyan, Wellesley, and Vassar could possibly go on the top list and maybe even RPI, but what do you all think? Thanks...</p>

2

<p>Bump, 10char</p>

3

<p>You forgot list 1A - Truly Best Colleges</p>

<p>Truly Best Colleges (6 Total)
Harvard
Yale
Princeton
Stanford
MIT
Caltech</p>

4

<p>Well that’s a little too subjective, I’m only going for one list and in the end that is all there will be. I’m just wondering if any schools on the second list truly need to be moved up to the first one. I recognize that the schools on the first list are not exactly at the same level (i.e. Brown is stronger than UVA, Harvard is stronger than Pomona, etc.) but this is really the top tier, the best out there. That’s what I’m going for.</p>

5

<p>in with: wellesley, vassar, wesleyan, harvey mudd (maybe USNA)</p>

<p>if I had to pick, out with: wake, UNC, tufts, william and mary, (maybe NYU)</p>

<p>basically I feel strongest about Harvey Mudd (some of the smartest quant students anywhere) and Wellesley (top 5 liberal arts college).</p>

<p>It seems like your list slightly overvalues large universities with recognizable names and undervalues LACs. Overall I think the list is pretty solid apart from this adjustment.</p>

6

<p>Personally I much prefer LACs actually, and most of the schools will stay in- I’m more focused on adding than removing. I realized that Wellesley, Vassar, and Wesleyan have to be there so those will be on the list and probably Harvey Mudd and USNA as well. I’m definitely not going to remove Tufts or UNC and probably not Wake either. Possibly William & Mary but I really don’t feel the need to remove…</p>

<p>Any opinions on whether or not the following specifically should be added to the main list: Hamilton, Colgate, RPI, Case Western, Colby, Bates, Bard, Barnard, Carleton, Kenyon, Haverford. I won’t add all but they are all once I’d strongly consider putting on the list, specifically Hamilton, Colgate, Colby, and Bates. Other than Case, they all have acceptance rates in the high 20s/low 30s, and somehow Case is very academically strong although having easy admissions…</p>

7

<p>I can reduce your list significantly. These colleges are chosen by “Ivy Summer Prep Program” by Revolution Prep and they only accept tutors from these universities.</p>

<p>Here:
Amherst
Brown
Columbia
Cornell
Dartmouth
Duke
Emory
Georgetown
Harvard
JHU
Middlebury
MIT
Northwestern
Notre Dame
Princeton
Rice
Stanford
Swarthmore
UC Berkeley
UNC - Chapel Hill
UPenn
UVA
WUSTL
Wellsley
WestPoint
Yale</p>

<p>My own opinion?
Tier 1: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, MIT
Tier 2: Caltech, Columbia, UPenn, Duke, Dartmouth, Chicago
Tier 3: Brown, Cornell, Georgetown</p>

8

<p>Yeah sorry bud I’m looking for a slightly more comprehensive list…yours didn’t even have Vanderbilt. I’m capping it at 50. From that original list I got rid of William & Mary and added Wellesley, Vassar, Wesleyan, Harvey Mudd, Navy, Haverford, Colgate, Hamilton. For the last three spots I am deciding between these six: Bates, Carleton, Barnard, William & Mary, Colby, and Bard. Can someone help me pick the best 3 of those 6? They are pretty similar in terms of SAT, acceptance rate, etc. I know this sounds absurd and meticulous but I’m going somewhere with this.</p>

9

<p>Tufts is tied with U of Chicago and Northwestern in terms of selectivity…just fyi (and that ivy prep is silly—UNC by not Tufts or Vandy?).</p>

<p>I think your list is unique, but it’s your own preference. USNWR has a lot of arbitrariness. You should gather things on objective basis. Personally, I would add Wesleyan.</p>

10

<p>Right I agree so pick 3 of 6 to fill the last spots…
-Colby
-Bates
-Barnard
-Bard
-William & Mary
-Carleton</p>

11

<p>^^^Carleton is way above the others</p>

12

<p>Ok, why not use IvyPlus web?</p>

<p>Air Force Academy
Amherst College
Berkeley (University of California)
Brown University
Caltech
Columbia University
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Duke University
Georgetown University
Harvard University
Johns Hopkins University
MIT
Naval Academy
Northwestern University
Williams College
Princeton University
Smith College
Stanford University
University of Chicago
University of Pennsylvania
University of Virginia
Washington University in St. Louis
West Point
William & Mary
Yale University</p>

<p>Combining the results with revolution prep…</p>

<p>Amherst College
Berkeley UC
Brown University
Caltech
Columbia University
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Duke University
Georgetown University
Harvard University
Johns Hopkins University
MIT
Northwestern University
Williams College
Princeton University
Stanford University
University of Pennsylvania
University of Virginia
Washington University in St. Louis
West Point
Yale University</p>

<p>I would personally remove WUSTL and add UChicago and remove West Point and add Pomona. But that would be contradictory if I did so. So I’m leaving the things the way it is.
Seems pretty comprehensive to me…Vanderbilt wasn’t included here so obviously its not considered cream of the crop.</p>

13

<p>I would not say way above, but it is definitely the best one on the list. Don’t know much about bard, William and Mary, or Barnard, but Bates and Colby are very similar, although I would give the nod to Colby. ;)</p>

14

<p>Vanderbilt is considered at the top, pretty much on level with Tufts, Emory, UCB, UCLA, CMU, USC, Notre Dame, and Northwestern. That group is slightly below Cornell, Georgetown, Rice, Chicago, JHU, WUSTL, Williams, Amherst, Midd, and Swat. I divided them into tiers and I’ll post that another time. </p>

<p>Basically what I need to know now is which three of the six should round out the top 50.
-Colby
-Bates
-Barnard
-Bard
-William & Mary
-Carleton</p>

15

<p>

</p>

<p>First off, Northwestern is definitely on par with Cornell…
Erm…new guy, you sure are brave on claiming UC Berkeley is below JHU, Chicago…even WUSTL?? Wow…<em>waits for RML</em></p>

16

<p>Dude you needa chill. I dont post often cause I dont have too much to say but Ive been reading for years. They keyword was SLIGHTLY. I divided the top 50 list I made into tiers and the way I figured it was…</p>

<ol>
<li>Harvard, Yale, Princeton, MIT, Caltech, Stanford</li>
<li>Brown, Columbia, Dartmouth, UPenn, Duke</li>
<li>Cornell, Georgetown, Rice, Chicago, JHU, WUSTL, Williams, Amherst, Midd, Swat</li>
<li>Northwestern, Notre Dame, USC, CMU, UCLA, UCB, Emory, Tufts, Vanderbilt.</li>
</ol>

<p>And it continues but the rest is irrelevant to this issue. I admit that the difference between tiers 3 and 4 is slight and that no person can truly decide what is right. Sure maybe a couple schools in 3 belong in 4 or vice versa, but who gets mad over that stuff? I was just defending Vandy because those people were saying it shouldn’t even be in the top 50 which is absurd…</p>

17

<p>Georgetown beats notre dame, USC, all UCs even Berkeley, an northwestern. Georgetown is definitely second tier.</p>

18

<p>Yes it does beat ND, USC, UCB, Northwestern, etc. That’s why those schools are in the 4th and G-Town is in the third. I’d say its on par with Cornell, Chicago, and the others, but slightly below Brown, Columbia, Dartmouth, Penn, and Duke. Of course there is a lot of room for movement between the third and fourth. Sure, maybe UCB should be in the third and Rice or WUSTL should be in the 4th…I’m open to the opinions cause I’m trying to get it perfect but don’t be defensive and rude about it like Mr. Prince…no point whatsoever.</p>

19

<p>Look, I’m sorry for being defensive. I have to be. These kinds of threads have ended very badly in the past…I’m surprised I haven’t seen lesdiables, RML, Alexandre, UCBChemE, and of course rjkofnovi and xiggi. These people will debate and question your thread to death. </p>

<p>My habit gets in the way lol.</p>

20

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</p>

<p>What sort of weird flame is this??</p>