<p>Funny some of the same names are popping up here as in the overrated thread. </p>
<p>In the USnews rankings, nearly all the publics are underrated.</p>
<p>The United States Merchant Marine Academy at King's Point. Many see this school as just another maritime school which is not hard to get in to. But it is a U.S. Service Academy and it's acceptence rate is lower than places like BC and Cornell.</p>
<p>I think that acceptance rate is due to low self-selection since it has free tuition/room/board.</p>
<p>Chicago, UCSD, and Rice are at the top of my list of underrated universities.</p>
<p>Cal Poly Pomona ?</p>
<p>or</p>
<p>Cal Poly San Luis Obispo ?</p>
<p>CM8333 - I was just about to bring up W and M as underrated with all the talk of UVa. Honestly, I would say that although in the past UVa has always been regarded as the gold standard in Va, W and M is definitely catching up. Admissions wise, we (I live in Va) noticed it was about as competitive for both this past year, as one person noted some got rejected from W and M and accepted at UVa, and rejected at UVa and accepted at W and M. Equally strong students more or less, it was coming down to what the individual had to offer to the particular school's needs.</p>
<p>However, in terms of reputation, most people I know, all things being equal (they didn't have a reason they liked W and M particularly), if they got into both, would choose UVa.</p>
<p>The most underrated university is the University of McDonalds.</p>
<p>Prince: I also have lived in Fairfax, VA all my life and the stats show UVA is actually pulling ahead with more % of increase in apps this year which actually means a lot more considering UVA's applicant pool is larger. More and more kids are applying to UVA at a faster rate than at William 'n Mary. </p>
<p>However I agree that both student bodies are strong and similar though the ones at William are more intellectual. It is also true that UVA wins the cross-admit battle. </p>
<p>Hopefully William can raise its endowment (only at a pitiful 300+ million) and increase the diversity of its top notch programs in order to gain some recognition. Without doing these things it will always be viewed in UVA's shadow.</p>
<p>Given the amount of effort its undergraduates put in (as well as the opportunities the school gives them), I'd have to say Caltech.</p>
<p>Trump University....hahaha...pretty underrated to me..lol</p>
<p><a href="http://www.trumpuniversity.com%5B/url%5D">www.trumpuniversity.com</a></p>
<p>I agree that UVa has the edge in some ways. But it seems like more and more, they are losing that edge in certain ways. Maybe gains in others. W and M spots are coveted too. And I know people rejected from W and M and accepted at UVa. Conversely the same is true. And yet UVa seems disproportionately regarded higher...IMO, it's probably just because it's always been that way. Basically, I think the edge you have with UVa over W and M is a lot prestige/reputation value, which is granted still an edge, and can account for the app numbers. For example, I know people who apply to UVa on a long shot hoping they'll have a certain need, because they'll go if they get in, but they don't apply to W and M as well because they aren't seriously considering their chances at that tier of schools. Like I said, all things being equal, I think most would choose UVa if they had the choice. Whether that will hold true 10 years from now, who knows. I think the gap is closing. And that's a good thing, to have two such highly regarded institutions in our state. I mean I don't have a personal stake in either of them really (at least not yet) so this is all just observation.</p>
<p>Oh yea definitely; I agree with your observation. Hopefully Virginia's other schools can start to progress and improve as well(George Mason, Mary Washington, etc).</p>
<p>I'd say Virginia's college system is 2nd after California's.</p>
<p>George Mason certainly seems to be on the rise after the whole basketball thing. Actually I'll be really interested to see next year...apparently they get a lot of requests for applications even though the deadline was passed. I bet a lot of people who wouldn't have known it existed are considering it now. It was already on the way up before, but now even more so. It has some definite perks; obviously one of the top ones is proximity to DC at a price that is far less than America, GW, or Georgetown, schools that are ending up out of reach for some families. It's also in a very safe area, the above three aren't really in the bad part of town, but the Mason campus is probably safer. They also have some attractive programs, and a ton of diversity.</p>
<p>Yeah, GMU is like the most diverse school in america.</p>
<p>Isn't Liberty in Virginia as well?</p>
<p>The most underrated schools in virginia goes as follows:</p>
<ol>
<li>Washington and Lee </li>
<li>University of Richmond</li>
<li>William and Mary</li>
<li>James Madison</li>
<li>Mary Washington</li>
</ol>
<p>Richmond is overrated if anything....expensive private for rich boys that couldn't get into places like UVA</p>
<p>
[quote]
Yeah, GMU is like the most diverse school in america.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>What does that even mean?</p>
<p>20% asian
20% african american
20% international??
40% white?</p>
<p>Something like that...</p>
<p>Northeastern and American, imo, are tied for most under-appreciated.</p>