@citymama9 , re going to foreign universities, it’s a sound financial investment. In many cases, foreign universities cost tens of thousands less than American ones. Case in point, Bath University in the UK costs about $20,000 a year in tuition. Housing and food will probably be much less than that, maybe $15,000? Seems very competitive, plus you will have a degree in 3 years as opposed to four. Smart decision for a lot of people.
I’ve never considered Denison underrated, those of us from Ohio have always known the Denison and Kenyon are excellent schools.
We are originally from the east coast, so steeped in east coast stereotypes about small schools, and Denison did not seem well known or appreciated. Perhaps starting with the move in the '90s to make greek life non-residential and now under leadership of Pres. Adam Weinberg, Denison seems to be getting its message out there, articulating its vision, strengths, and community. Applications have risen more than 10% each year for a number of years (even when they were dropping at other midwest LACs), with over 8,000 this year. The acceptance rate has dropped in the last several years from around 48% to current 34% and mid range ACT was 27-32 last year. I am very impressed by Denison – great faculty, strong community feel, diverse – economically, racially, ethnically and politically – plus set in a picture perfect village with easy access to Columbus, a neat city.
Northeastern has been on the hunt for high stats kids for a while. I know 4 ORM or white males that have perfect (or near perfect) stats and very very very high end ECs that are going to or graduated from there. (Ivy+ rejected plus a half merit scholarship from NE, makes it an easy decision). Regular people (outside the CC world) are starting to realize NE have some crazy smart kids.
It looks like they are doing the Vandy thing from the early 2000s except it is for anyone with high stats. Not just a certain high performing ethnic group.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB102003890421804360
…and before the usual posters (with kids in or graduated from the Ivy+) say no one is guaranteed Ivy admissions, take your humble-brag elsewhere. I’ve heard it all before.
Please remember that this thread is about UNDERRATED colleges, @NoKillli . No one is talking about Ivy league schools, or schools with low acceptance rates.
One of the main reasons NE is on the way up is they are intentionally targeting Ivy+ Stats kids just like Vandy did 20 years ago. That was my main point.
Also “Regular people (outside the CC world) are starting to realize NE have some crazy smart kids.” is a significant accomplishment for NE. Outside CC, NE is underrated in the general population. Many remember it as a commuter school or “NW was the good one, NE was the bad one with the coop”.
My disclaimer at the end was to stop the usual comments I get by certain posters…Hmmmm.
Other up-and-comers depending on what you’re looking for: Rhodes College and Worcester Polytechnic.
Not terribly familiar with either, but hear great things.
Mathmom, CMU has always had a top notch rep. Always highly and deservedly prestigious. But like peers (MIT, CalTech) a pressure cooker.
@lostaccount I think the non CS/Engineering/arts majors are perking up at CMU. Particularly Dietrich &Tepper.
It’s amusing to see that CMU is referenced so much as an underrated, on the rise school. It was ranked 13 in 1983, and has maintained a position in the mid 20’s in the rankings for 2+ decades. SURPRISE!
When you consider tenure, school size, and infrastructure, things change very slowly in performance. The ONLY thing that changes fast is the opinion of those who have encountered new schools during their (or their friends/family) search for options. CMU is a great school because it’s been a great school. Up and coming it is not, because it didn’t have anywhere to go.
I’m not sure this counts as “under-rated”, but it seems to me that more of the state flagships/big state schools are getting top applicants, especially for their pre-professional programs such as Engineering and Business. Similarly, schools that have top ranked pre-professional programs in general seem to be picking up speed. It takes really high stats to get direct admit to a lot of these programs. I think applicants are not only looking for good career prospects, but also a lot of school spirit and many of these schools offer both, unlike some of the Ivies and other top schools that are smaller and more liberal arts focused.
Like others, echoing Denison. It’s increasingly popular at D19’s school over the past few years. Knox too.
Earlham has increased selectivity (2016- 61%; 2017- 58%; 2018- 52%) and yield 16% → 20% in the same period. I know a couple of high stat (34-35 ACT; 3.8-3.9 UW) Chicago-area students who chose Earlham over more highly ranked colleges this year. The new president is an interesting and inspiring person. It has always been an academically strong (and nurturing… and underrated) college, but there’s reasonable evidence that Earlham is on an upswing.
Rochester Institute of Technogoly
Olin seems to be doing a great job of attracting amazing engineering kids. It is TINY, but really punching above its weight!
And yes Earlham!! Another small but mighty school. They do a great job with kids who were high-achieving in high school (and almost always get a “wow” kid from our school) but also with kids who needed to get engaged with their studies. The teaching there seems to be good at creating that spark.
Earlham and Knox do a fabulous job with the very good student who maybe didn’t get all the oohs and aaahs in high school for their achievements. Kids really do blossom there.
@Midwestmomofboys I agree and I’d add Beloit to that list.
@EllieMom I don’t know Beloit as well, but everything I’ve read certainly puts it in that group!
Already mentioned before but JMU and Virginia Tech got incredibly more difficult this past year.
@Midwestmomofboys @EllieMom I’d add Lawrence U in WI to that list of underrated midwest LACs as well.
Just saw where someone posted that U Rochester had their most selective year ever (and most apps). They’re already Top 30 something, so hardly underrated, but still getting more popular.
I haven’t seen Eckerd’s stats yet, but each year since my son started there (he graduated this year) they’ve been more popular then before too - affecting student housing (same as URoc) when they guessed incorrectly about yield.
Both schools are becoming more loved vs less.
Maybe my two lads were at the start of or leading the trend? 