<p>Wake and UR are pretty similar schools, in fact Wake's largest benefactor is the Robins family (at least it was 2 years ago). Wake is more of a full fledged research university, whereas UR is focused primarily on the undergraduate experience. The $1.15 billion endowment Wake has goes towards all their programs (including the expenses of having a medical school), while UR's $1.65 billion endowment goes towards the undergrads and the law school (~500 students). I think that helps with the undergraduate experience. </p>
<p>Again, it's not about attending the school that has the strongest reputation, it's about selecting the school that's the best fit for you and will offer you the best opportunity to get the best out of your collegiate experience and prepare you for the future. I turned down two top 10 LAC's to attend UR.</p>
<p>Spiders05, in response to your 4/11/08 response, how could you possibly feel that you know the reasons that students did not return to UR. When my son decided not to return for his second semester in January, there was no exit interview of any kind with any impartial party. Just stonewalling and silence from the administration, including multiple scheduled meetings where the administration did not even show up, and unreturned phone calls and emails. And what was his crime? Simply requesting a housing situation where he could get some sleep at night.</p>
<p>Secondpick, I have a few questions. Firstly, housing situations don't go directly to the "administration" do they? People change roommates all the time, if that's what you are referring to. I don't see why your son's situation would be any different. Also, it's amazing to me that your son was in Dr. Ayers' class, around him on a regular basis, and yet you still complain about inaccessible administration. Why is that?</p>
<p>second, when I was there, the dean's office spoke with individuals about their reasons for leaving so that they could try to improve the retention. If they no longer do this or if they didn't do it in your son's case, I'd hate to hear that because I felt it was beneficial to find out what UR was lacking that would want to make students leave. The sophomore living/learning program is something that came out of the retention meetings as a way to keep sophomores engaged.</p>