<p>“they don’t explicitly state that schools in the top 25 are elite”</p>
<p>So in other words, it’s your wording…</p>
<p>I am surprised to read that UCLA only offers 127 undergraduate majors compared to USC’s 150?!</p>
<p>
</snip></p>
<p>Yeah, I’ve got a couple to add.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Best/most parties in the Big 10, hands down.</p></li>
<li><p>Admissions almost as selective as Michigan Tech.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>My state flagship is simply not a fit. I can attend a college with a way better fit for me for equal or less money. Plus, my flagships biggest scholarship for instate is full tuition to only valedictorians. Also, I just really hate downstate.</p>
<p>-------------------------------------------If it is to be, it is up to me…</p>
<p>@annasdad,</p>
<p>"Yeah, I’ve got a couple to add.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Best/most parties in the Big 10, hands down.</p></li>
<li><p>Admissions almost as selective as Michigan Tech."</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Thanks for the addition!! It certainly proves that most MSU students can study hard and party hard at the same time. In fact, State has produced the most Rhode Scholars amongst the Big Ten in the past two decades. </p>
<p>In addition, so far as I am concerned, Michigan Tech (ACT Score 23-29) is a well respected engineering school along with Kettering U. in the state of Michigan. Even though it is ranked at #115 and 12 points lower than MSU in terms of Undergraduate Academic Reputation Score on USNWR. Please visit our sub-forum for additional admission details:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/michigan-state-university/1231818-deferred-seventh-semester-grades.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/michigan-state-university/1231818-deferred-seventh-semester-grades.html</a></p>
<p>Just to make it 10 highlights total for Michigan State since ‘annasdad’ added two more,</p>
<ol>
<li><h1>1 Study Abroad Program in the country.</h1></li>
<li><p>Recognized as Top-100 University In The World both by ARWU and Times Higher Education.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>The list can go on and on… if you want to include Alum such as the current President of University of Virginia, Billionaires - Eli Broad, Dan Gilbert, Nobel Prize Winners,…etc.</p>
<p>P.S. I stand corrected on the best on campus nuclear physics facility in the world. It should be the largest and most advance on campus nuclear sciences facility in the world, not just in nuclear physics as stated in NSCL’s official website.</p>
<p>Go State! :)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Which should impress anybody who considers rankings to have any validity at all, which of course, anyone with a clue realizes they don’t.</p>
<p>Michigan State is a good third-tier state school - about on a par with UIC, Kansas State, or some of the better CSUs.</p>
<p>^^^That is complete nonsense. MSU is easily a top 100 national university in this country and not just some “third tier” state school. The only B1G10 school that might be considered lesser is Nebraska, which is located somewhere in the Rural Midwest…</p>
<p>Is University of Maryland considered one of the better flagships?
I live in Maryland 
Just wondering what everybody’s opinion is of it.</p>
<p>^ lol, what? Buddy, it’s MSU. It is what it is. Don’t get all upset that the school isn’t some elite private school. It is a decent midwest state school that is a pretty good deal when you look at the cost.</p>
<p>Walmart doesn’t try to be high end. It’s happy being Walmart and it’s successful being Walmart. MSU is successful at what it is. Nothing to be ashamed of.</p>
<p>@annasdad,</p>
<p>“Michigan State is a good third-tier state school - about on a par with UIC, Kansas State, or some of the better CSUs.”</p>
<p>Well… if you say so! 
</p>
<p>I, on the other hand, choose to believe the other 2,000+ academics in rating Michigan State as the 28th Top National Public Universities in the nation (MSU’s ranking has been pretty steady since the beginning of USNWR ranking decades ago). Further, not only is MSU part of the CIC (aka. Academic Big Ten), its endowment is nearly 10 times more compared to the schools mentioned by annasdad. </p>
<p>@informative,</p>
<p>“MSU is successful at what it is. Nothing to be ashamed of.” </p>
<p>I agree. As I alluded above, it is only the 28th best national public university in the country. But, I am content.</p>
<br>
<br>
<pre><code>* Rank in the top 5 percent of their high school graduating class.
- Have an ACT composite score of at least 30 or an SAT score of at least 1360 (Critical Reading plus Math sections only). MSU requires an ACT or SAT with a writing component.
</code></pre>
<p><a href=“http://honorscollege.msu.edu/admissions/index.html[/url]”>http://honorscollege.msu.edu/admissions/index.html</a></p>
<p>P.S. $2.5 billion fundraising campaign is set to kick-off next year as well. Currently endowment stands at roughly $1.5 billion. Go Green!! :)</p>
<p>Nebraska isn’t really “lesser” either - particularly if you’re interested in agricultural/natural resources fields, because they have excellent programs and research in that sector.</p>
<p>This idea of general “ranking” is nonsense because it all depends on what you want out of a school. A college “ranked” 90th might have a much better program in underwater basketweaving than a college “ranked” 20th." If you want to major in underwater basketweaving, then you really should go to the place “ranked” lower, because your major is what matters.</p>
<p>Any state flagship university is going to be a fine place to get an education. I’ve attended three, in three widely varied parts of the country (University of Alaska Fairbanks, University of Idaho, Indiana University) and while they each have their strengths and weaknesses, they all had a baseline level of quality - million-volume library (at least), extensive research resources, great faculty.</p>
<p>At my school, I’m pretty sure about half of the school went to our state flagship…sure, the school has 13,000 students, but it’d be too tempting to hang out with the same old people. I just think I’d have better success elsewhere, especially when my state has one of the highest unemployment rates while having high population density. Other than RISD or Brown, there’s nothing going on here. Also, they’re increasing tuition by another $1100 soon…so, I could pay almost 12 grand (plus another 10 if I didn’t want to do the 35-40 minute commute…and some students 15 minutes from the school ARE willing to pay) to go to a school that isn’t good with anything I want…OR I could go to a wonderful, smaller, well known school for probably half the price. Also, since I live in New England, there are so many wonderful private college options. I love Mass and CT, but RI’s falling apart. </p>
<p>For the OP, though, I’d say stick with your college. Consider yourself blessed to have a fantastic flagship.</p>
<p>Our state flagship, the University of Minnesota, is outstanding in some fields. It’s got a very strong engineering program (top 25 for sure, and Chem E is consistently in the top 3 or 4), a very strong business school (top 20, roughly), the College of Biological Sciences is first-rate, and at the graduate/professional level the Law School, Medical School, and Vet School are all highly respected, with some other departments, like Econ and Poli Sci, among the best in the country. But there’s a certain unevenness to it. Some of the top students in the state prefer to go to our “other” flagship, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which as Minnesota residents they can attend at in-state tuition rates under our tuition reciprocity agreement.</p>
<p>My own D1 and D2 are electing to attend neither because they feel small LACs are more conducive to their own learning styles. My net worth (and their eventual inheritance) suffer for it, but it’s an investment I’m happy to make.</p>
<p>To the OP I’d say the University of Washington is a very strong university. I think it should be a contender for any Washington resident, and probably even the default choice. You may find there are financial, academic, or social reasons you’d prefer to be someplace else, but if you don’t have such clear reasons, I’d go with UW.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Way to offend the Bryant folks.</p>
<p>Misinformative Quote: *MSU is successful at what it is. Nothing to be ashamed of. *</p>
<p>Oh really…so are you now claiming that MSU grads won’t have the doors shut on them?</p>
<p>Misinformative Quote: With the exception of a few states (California, Michigan), most state schools have horrible reputations that will open zero doors for its graduates.</p>
<p>No, they won’t have the doors shut on them. Maybe on wall street or some of the bigger corporate of positions right out of school, but come on, MSU is not a bad school.</p>
<p>^^“but come on, MSU is not a bad school”</p>
<p>Appreciate it!! I think I’ve just heard a huge sigh of relief from those 3,000 highly selective Honors College students (Ave ACT 32) as well as the more selective 4,000 Residential College students (LBC, JMC & RCAH with Ave ACT 29). The overall Freshman ACT Composite for 2011 was 24-29.</p>
<p>Last but not least, MSU was also selected as one of the Public Ivies in Greenes’ Guides.</p>
<p>[Public</a> Ivy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Ivy]Public”>Public Ivy - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>Just an FYI, every university is an “ivy” of some sort these days. Doesn’t mean anything.</p>
<p>^^ Np. I am content with #7 Public University in the Midwest. :)</p>
<p>[Top</a> Public Schools | Rankings | Top National Universities | US News](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/top-public]Top”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/top-public)</p>
<p>LOL, want any more qualifications?</p>