<p>Muppet:
Let me simply tell you that you are mistaken about Penn's history and tolerance of diversity in the not so distant past. In light of that history, it shouldn't be hard to see discomfort with your statement.</p>
<p>Fine. I appologize that anyone is offended by something I didn't say. I don't appologize for not saying it.</p>
<p>While I'm at it, I appologize for the next time Jon Stewart refers to himself as "Jewy," A Black person refers to themselves as the "N-Word," or Carlos Mencia refers to himself as a beaner. Oh, or a Christian person says that there is a conspiracy in this country against them. Also, for all of the times you have been discrimintate against by the University of PA. </p>
<p>Lord.</p>
<p>(ETA: In the meantime... can we please get back on topic of how much Penn, you know, the school I go to and love, sucks so much worse than Brown?)</p>
<p>Actually Muppet, I believe the topic was that Penn was equivilant to Brown, not 8 spots or whatever better.</p>
<p>But truthfully, I just think that USNews rankings are too easy to alter one or or the other over an arbitrary factoid. As it is, I think it's crazy that people would look that closely at spots. School is in the top 50"? It's good. Top 25, it's great. Done.</p>
<p>A lot of people have been saying that Brown is under-ranked because of its lack of graduate programs and its relatively small size. However, Princeton is considered to be a small school, too. In addition, Princeton is decidedly focused on undergraduates and has a miniscule graduate school. Yet, for some reason, Princeton is ranked #1.</p>
<p>Now, I know Princeton is objectively a stronger school, but I really, really like Brown, too. Even though it is silly to judge schools by their rankings, it is a bit disconcerting to see Brown so low on the list. Brown is lower than JHU? Come on!</p>
<p>Do you think Brown is rated so low because of it's uber-hippie reputation? Maybe because it has a small endowment?</p>
<p>I agree. Us Jews are more fun.</p>
<p>Preguntas, there are several examples in this thread if you read it, of categories that USNews uses to rank that clearly are at a disadvantage to Brown.</p>
<p>But again, WHO CARES. JHU is a very different school and different environment than Brown is. If that fits you, that's where you should go. MY friend is going there, he's perfect for the place. They rejected him at Brown though, and rightfull so-- Brown University isn't the place for the type of student he was. That's what admissions is all about on the top level-- not whether you're smart enough, because nearly everyone at that level is, it's whether you fit the attitude of the school, whether you are set to thrive in the environment they create, and whether you can contribute to that environment in a unique way.</p>
<p>I don't imagine much of an overlap between JHU and Brown students....no way</p>
<p>Exactly, which is why the difference of a few spots in ranking makes no difference in the college search.</p>
<p>I think this study is heartening; regardless of rankings, people are still choosing Brown.</p>