<p>Duke's average SAT score increased and admissions rate dropped for the Class of 2008. Same with Penn. I think the admissions rate at Brown dropped pretty far. Columbia's dropped a bit as well. I wouldn't ever crunch the numbers myself, but some people have and posted results that show Penn and Duke dropping to about 7-8th in the US rankings and Columbia moving up to 6th or so. Pretty much splitting hairs though.</p>
<p>Right, well anyone who choses a college based on a difference of 5 spots is an idiot no matter where they go anyway.</p>
<p>Think of it this way, there are still plenty of state-schoolers that could kick Harvardian ass any day.</p>
<p>thethoughtprocess, you mean the class of 2009?</p>
<p>Is there anyone who can use the data from the previous years to accurately match the lists that actually came out? </p>
<p>Meaning, can anyone correctly derive the 2004 rankings using 2004 data, the 2003 rankings using 2003 data, etc. Maybe then we can more easily see what 2006 rankings should be.</p>
<p>"Californias education system is (so) easy that most people ought to get (in the top) ten percent" You must have studied math with the people behind "No Child Left behind" who want all children at or above average.</p>
<p>California taxpayers during their wisest hours created a University System that outpaces the nation in best public University lists. They even rank high in the top University lists (Public or otherwise) Hopefully these taxpayers will renew their support for this system and other states will work to improve their state school systems from Pre-K all the way up. If you graduated from a state school mail them a contribution today, they need it.</p>
<p>Back to the topic....Discussing the rankings and using the rankings to find out about schools (especially the ones you never heard of like Vanderbilt, for some, or Harvey Mudd, for others) and to get a glimpse of how they are considered by their peers is a useful start in creating an application list. Additional efforts at identifying where their graduates go (and in what proportions) or specific opportunities (research, travel, internships, etc.) and then matching it with your ability to pay or get financial aid, your desire to live in a big or small population....is where the important ranking system lies. Getting a match.</p>
<p>People who know little often rely the most on brands...Companies spend a lot of time and money on their advertising...some get bonus placements in movies and their drives student interest. Applicants will do well to know themselves and which colleges or universities will meet thier learning styles and interests regardless of whether they are number 32 or 47...or whatever.</p>
<p>
thethoughtprocess, you mean the class of 2009?
</p>
<p>US News is always a year behind.</p>
<p>harvard2400, this comment
[quote]
when you look at social atmosphere at Vandy, it blows berkeley away anyday. I do not even mean this in the sense of being a party pooper, but seriously, in all aspect, you will be much happier at Vandy.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>and this comment
[quote]
hahah top ten percent is 98, thats because Berkeley is public and accept mostly in-state students and Californias education system is easy that most people ought to get ten percent. Top ten percent = top 25% at out-of-Cali schools.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>How can you really say these things? To say that one colleges atmosphere is objectivly better than anothers is very rediculous. Some people would hate their lives at Berkeley, some do, and some would hate their lives if they were to attend Vanderbilt, and some do. If you prefer one, i'm glad that you realize this about yourself, but that's about as far as you can go there. </p>
<p>As to the second comment, could you perhaps qualify that? It doesn't make sense.</p>
<p>As to the thread, didn't someone post an article about a decline in yale applications? Was that for this year? If so, then perhaps it will affect the school's ranking, either this year or next.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Firstly, you gave me the link to LSAC.org in order to prove to me that the GPAs are altered, and yet when I ask you to show me where it elucidates this...you can't find it. Thus, do you not dish out bogus websites in order to make yourself feel more intelligent or make your unjustified arguments seem more rational?
* Not to mention you lied to me about not being able to locate Georgetown's 2004 statistics.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>1) The LSAC is not 'bogus'. Tell that to any attorney and they will laugh as hard as I am right now - at your expense.
2) I did not lie. The link I clicked on said '2003'. I apologized for my mistake previously.
3) I provided a link to the GPA conversion part of the LSAC (<a href="http://www.lsac.org/LSAC.asp?url=/lsac/faqs-and-support-lsdas.asp#9%5B/url%5D">http://www.lsac.org/LSAC.asp?url=/lsac/faqs-and-support-lsdas.asp#9</a>) in reply 359.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I'm truly apologetic that I want evidence for your worthless theories. However, keep in mind that being an attorney is more than just dishing out unwarranted criticisms; it actually requires proof.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>How was my argument worthless? </p>
<p>
[quote]
Once again, nothing negates the fact that the admit rate at Georgetown, which is ranked lower, is higher; moreover, since Georgetown also does not give a GPA above 4.0, one must logically assume that such students also obtain a 'boost' in their GPA. Taking into account the relative increases realized by converting the GPA through LSAC, it is pellucid that a Georgetown graduate requires a substantially less GPA to be admitted into Top 15 law schools than a UCB grad.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>This is the third time I have mentioned this response.</p>
<p><a href="Call%20me%20illiterate;%20I%20call%20you%20mathematically%20deficient.">quote</a>
[/quote]
</p>
<p>The text I am studying on Quantum Mechanics tells me otherwise.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Nsped..it doesn't specify what it does with different schools. How do its methods differ with each university? That still doesn't answer my question.</p>
<p>To clarify, I want to know exactly how much the GPAs change and when that method is applied.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>The conversion chart is on the website I provided.</p>
<p>I am not going to spell everything out for you. I have provided the links and already performed more work than I should have; I expect the person with whom I am arguing to possess a modest intellectual capacity. All the information is provided on the LSAC website. My sole argument, that Georgetown has an better placing students into top law schools than UCBerkeley, has already been demonstrated.</p>
<p>This is not to say that UCB has atrocious placement; as Alexandre mentioned, the school performs well. My only argument is that if I were deciding between UCB and Georgetown, and I were a prospective law student - even though UCB is ranked higher - Georgetown would be a better bet. </p>
<p>I do not mean this only statistically; there are many more students at UCB and though not all want to attend law school, nearly all want a high GPA (I think this assumption is justified). There is going to be a curve, not every student will earn an A, and you can bet every student will be vying for one. The competition is fierce and it is more difficult to stand out, in my opinion.</p>
<p>Harvard2400--I didn't attend a California high school and I'm in Berkeley now. So where is your argument now?</p>
<p>And wow, this is an off-hand comment, but I just got 1 warning from a moderator. Did you guys get a warning too, or is it just me?
(Maybe I should stop posting sardonic remarks... )</p>
<p>Nspeds--I linked to your website. How old are you exactly and what do you do? </p>
<p>Well ok, so we do have the curve. But frankly doesn't competition help you improve yourself? Isn't that what law school is about anyway? So if people get a head start in college, then why not?</p>
<p>And honestly Nsped--it's summer break.</p>
<p>this is one of the most asinine threads [ever].</p>
<p>holla, the only good schools are Duke and Stanford, the other are way too nerdy</p>
<p>Lets be honest here. Vanderbilt isn't better than or worse than Cal. Yet students who live in California brag too much about their school being one of the best in the world. That on the other hand is truly sad. California isn't too great with the number of earthquakes and fires that occur yearly. Too be honest Nashville is also much more safer than Berkeley. I don't see too many categories in which the atmosphere of Berkeley is better than Nashville.</p>
<p>Well, certain people are going to MUCH prefer San Fransisco, and certain people are going to MUCH prefer Nashville. They're very different places and one is not objectively better than the other. That being said, I think California is the best place in the country and I'm from the other coast.</p>
<p>Nashville has the Grand Ol Oprey.
Yeah.
Good Ol' Oprey</p>
<p>LOL! Too many fires or earquakes! Let's have a STATE vs STATE BATTLE !RAWRR! </p>
<p>everyone just needs to stop talking about stupid ****.</p>
<p>Although we all realize you are being facetious, let me offer my opinion.
Firstly I want to elucidate that while I study in California, I'm not actually from it. </p>
<p>And thus, my opinion:</p>
<p>I've visited the South before, and it is the most unbearably humid place I have ever been. It feels like a spa walking around at 9 at night. Everything is at a slower pace than on the coasts--which may be rather frustrating to people who live in a quicker-paced society. If I had a choice to live in either Nashville or Berkeley after graduation, I think I would pick Berkeley (although I would prefer neither). </p>
<p>Ok, sure California has plenty of earthquakes, but every region in the country has its own problems- tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, fires. </p>
<p>All in all, I prefer California over anywhere in the South. However, if I had a choice to live in ANY state in the country, I would probably live neither in Cali nor in the South, but on the East Coast.</p>
<p>johnnyQ, why did you start off neutral and then diverge into something as superfluous as earthquakes and fires? What does that have to do with the school's caliber? Berkeley IS one of the best schools in the world. and Nashville over Berkeley/San Francisco? Nashville will never match the beauty, weather, diversity, dining, entertainment, and culture, that SF has to offer.</p>
<p>On that note, Duke closes whenever there's snow or frozen rain.
I guess every state has its problems.</p>