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I formed these from what I've heard from attendants to these schools, Studentsreview.com, articles, college books, et cetera. They may not be entirely correct, but I based them on what I knew.

Overrated:

Princeton University
Duke University
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
Syracuse University
Rutgers - New Brunswick
University of Connecticut
Tulane University
University of Florida

Underrated:

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO!!!
Brown University
Case Western Reserve University
New York University
Purdue University – West Lafayette
University of Miami
University of Colorado – Boulder
University of Oregon

By Crazyandy (Crazyandy) on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 06:50 pm: Edit

IMO Rutgers-New Brunswick is way underrated! Oh, if only their football program were halfway decent ...

By Constellation35 (Constellation35) on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 06:55 pm: Edit

I've only heard bad things about Rutgers - New Brunswick. Maybe the whole "we have to take buses to get from class to class" just pisses its attendants off...

By Ozmaweez7 (Ozmaweez7) on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 06:57 pm: Edit

I think NYU is way overrated

By Lvdad (Lvdad) on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 07:01 pm: Edit

Having attended Rutgers back in the 80's, I can tell you from firsthand experience that taking the buses from class to class, and the various campuses made for a frustrating experience at times. Having said that, Rutgers is very very underrated, and is one of the better public universities in the country. Unfortunately it lacks any type of national or even regional recognition. State funding is also a problem. The football did win 5 games this past season, so maybe a few winning seasons will help change that.

By Constellation35 (Constellation35) on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 07:03 pm: Edit

Look at the reviews of it on:

www.studentsreview.com

That gave me a bad impression of it.

By Constellation35 (Constellation35) on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 07:06 pm: Edit

How come it says you attended NJIT for both your graduate and undergraduate degree?

By Voigtrob (Voigtrob) on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 07:20 pm: Edit

I don't see how it's possible that Princeton is on your overrated list, and Harvard/Yale is not. IMO, Princeton is the least overrated of the three, if it's overrated at all.

By Xyz155 (Xyz155) on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 07:36 pm: Edit

I think that list is so far off. First of all, UCONN is wayyy underated along w/ a few others you had as overrated. Schools like NYU, BU,Syracuse, Villanova, Penn for undergrad, UVA, and many more deserve to be on the overrated list.

By Lvdad (Lvdad) on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 08:56 pm: Edit

I attended Rutgers first two years, then transferred to NJIT for rest of undergad and grad school. In retrospect, probably not a great move, but was necessary at the time to remain close to home, allowing me to commute. Rutgers had much to offer then and now, but it needs more national recognition.

By Slayer (Slayer) on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 10:13 pm: Edit

I don't think UNC is over-rated. If you live in state it's a great deal and it provides a lot of opportunities. I also don't think Duke is over-rated. And I think of University of colorado-boulder as a party school. Anyway, just my opinion .

By Constellation35 (Constellation35) on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 10:34 pm: Edit

You think Duke deserves to be ranked 7 spots higher than University of Chicago and 12 spots higher than Brown!?

By Haon (Haon) on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 10:42 pm: Edit

I'd put most LACs on the underrated list...the top 10 USNWR at the very least.

By Savedbythebell7 (Savedbythebell7) on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 11:09 pm: Edit

underrated:
University of Arizona, especially for Business.

By Spiffybrownboy (Spiffybrownboy) on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 11:31 pm: Edit

The fact that Rutgers gets bad reviews is PROOF that it is underrated. Besides, the reviews don't always discuss academics If you examine the quality of academics there, you'll find that it is an excellent institution. I know people who graduated in the top 5% of their class in HS and are now struggling in some of their classes at Rutgers! As an NJ resident, I can tell you that Rutgers is anything but overrated.

I don't know about the other schools in as much detail as I know Rutgers, but I have heard of all of them and know of their reputation. I simply cannot see how Syracuse, UConn, UF, and Tulane are overrated. Princeton, also, takes a backseat to Harvard and Yale when you get right down to it. As for the "underrated" schools you've listed, many people think that NYU is overrated, and in some ways, it is.

This list makes no sense at all, sorry.

By Tunan_Fish (Tunan_Fish) on Tuesday, January 27, 2004 - 11:39 pm: Edit

Overrated:
- Harvard (perennial #1)
- Duke
- University of Colorado
- Yale is starting to get overrated, right now it's not that bad though

Underrated:
- UC San Diego
- Reed
- Harvey Mudd (probably the most underrated in the nation IMO)
- University of Delaware
- Rice
- University of Vermont

By Argilospsychi (Argilospsychi) on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 - 04:21 pm: Edit

anyone: explain a bit more about Tulane's underrated/overatedness

thanky

By Constellation35 (Constellation35) on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 - 04:23 pm: Edit

You can get much better schools for less $$$ than Tulane. Plus it's thought of by many people to be as good as Emory, when in reality it's ranked more than 25 places below Emory.

By Spiffybrownboy (Spiffybrownboy) on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 - 05:14 pm: Edit

Money does not determine overrated/underratedness. It's the reputation that counts. Many people consider Tulane to be a good school (and that it is), but never have I heard that it is on par with Emory. Most people can distinguish between their academic calibers. There are private universities ranked lower than Tulane and costing the same, so I don't know how you figured that (just look at BU).

I think you are making assumptions with little knowledge/research. Making lists like these are pointless, especially ones that are so far off from the truth. IMO, of course.

By Benjamin (Benjamin) on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 - 05:30 pm: Edit

No, Tulane does not compare very well with other good southern schools like Emory, Vanderbilt, Duke, or UVa....

By Timpcrk87 (Timpcrk87) on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 - 05:35 pm: Edit

Overrated:

All Ivy League schools
Duke
UNC
ALL UC schools
NYU

Underrated:

Purdue
Wisconsin
Chicago
Carnegie Mellon
Washington U. in StL

By Constellation35 (Constellation35) on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 - 05:36 pm: Edit

Many people think Tulane is on par with Emory, so wouldn't it be fair to say if many people held this view, that Tulane is overrated?

By Haon (Haon) on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 - 08:18 pm: Edit

WashU is overrated...it's an excellent school but it's currently rated among the top 10 in the country by USNWR...it probably shouldn't be quite that high (thus, it is overrated).

By Musefinity (Musefinity) on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 - 08:33 pm: Edit

UNC isn't overrated. Bah, your face is overrated.

By Constellation35 (Constellation35) on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 - 09:52 pm: Edit

Indeed.

By Chrisy (Chrisy) on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 - 09:56 pm: Edit

overrated:
upenn
duke
northwestern

underrated:
chicago
rice
LACs, such as harvey mudd

By Chrisy (Chrisy) on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 - 09:59 pm: Edit

some professional opinion from a college admissions book, whose name i forgot.
overrated:
harvard
cornell
upenn
u of michigan
stanford
duke
emory

underrated:
washington & lee
c of william & mary
new college
northwestern
st. john's
haverford
chicago
usma

By Bigtmushett (Bigtmushett) on Wednesday, January 28, 2004 - 10:01 pm: Edit

Who are the "many people" who think Tulane is as good as Emory? I have yet to meet one.

By Argilospsychi (Argilospsychi) on Thursday, January 29, 2004 - 12:08 am: Edit

Muse, lol.
I'll overrate your face!

So, for Tulane:

Why exactly is it overrated? Is it simply that the academic quality of the courses is not as good? The professors? The intelligence or interest in academics of the students? Is it the school as a whole? Or is it more complex than that. If you guys could explain this in detail, it would totally help me out cuz I'm looking at Tulane. Also, in reference to all top schools, not just the ones in the south.

And forget the money part because Tulane has really good financial aid and scholarships, so that actually makes it a bargain if you qualify.

THANKS

By Spiffybrownboy (Spiffybrownboy) on Thursday, January 29, 2004 - 12:44 pm: Edit

I always thought Cornell was underrated...

By Barbh2 (Barbh2) on Thursday, January 29, 2004 - 03:00 pm: Edit

Underrated:
UNC-Chapel Hill
Cornell
Tulane

By Mcreek05 (Mcreek05) on Thursday, January 29, 2004 - 05:19 pm: Edit

Purdue is definately underrated, their engineering program is just as good as some of the other schools for half the price, a sixth if you live in Indiana, and it 's not as hard to get into as the other schools, Purdue also has a great pharmacy school and a good business school

By Voigtrob (Voigtrob) on Thursday, January 29, 2004 - 05:22 pm: Edit

I think Cornell gets the short end of the stick as the 'worst' Ivy... I mean I've even heard kids in my area compare it to our state school (UMaryland)... there is just absolutely no comparsion... Cornell is a world-class school that is looked down upon simply because it's the 'easiest' Ivy to get into, which is a joke because it's obviously awesome since it's Ivy in the first place.

By Constellation35 (Constellation35) on Thursday, January 29, 2004 - 09:03 pm: Edit

Cornell is a GREAT school, and I don’t really think it’s too hard to get into judging from the people I know who’ve gotten in. It’s ranked higher than Brown (rightfully or unrightfully I can’t say). If only they could make it a reasonable price so people like me could attend...

By Argilospsychi (Argilospsychi) on Thursday, January 29, 2004 - 09:42 pm: Edit

What's their finaid situation?

I hear Cornell is very challenging. I know a guy at Princeton who said that the workload at Cornell was much larger at Cornell.

It's probably less selective because it is simply larger! It's also a little less popular...being extremely selective begets popularity begets a more applicants begets higher selectivity begets more popularity...it's a cycle.

A part of the US News rankings is selectivity. I'm sure you can infer the rest.

By Argilospsychi (Argilospsychi) on Thursday, January 29, 2004 - 09:44 pm: Edit

I wouldn't agree that UOregon is underrated. It's not that great.

By Barrett (Barrett) on Thursday, January 29, 2004 - 10:21 pm: Edit

OK, I can't resist: The following lists are of course completely subjective (I won't pretend otherwise); nevertheless, make no mistake that I am basing these picks on some personal, first-hand knowledge (however inaccurately it may represent the institution as a whole).

Overrated (i.e., if you are an undergraduate at one of these schools: Sorry 'bout that!):
Bowdoin College
Middlebury College
Northwestern University
Oberlin College
Tufts University
University of Notre Dame
Washington University in St. Louis

Underrated (a.k.a., the "Aren't you special?" category):
Kenyon College
Knox College
Macalester College
Marlboro College
Occidental College
Reed College
Tulane University
University of Southern California

By Barrett (Barrett) on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 04:47 am: Edit

Oh, and two more awards (again, just from personal experience, mind you):

Most overrated Ivy League school:
University of Pennsylvania

Most underrated school period (omitted from my previous list because it kind of eclipses any other school that could possibly be compared with it -- and for the record, that would be about three places in the world which you won't find on any ranking):
St. John's College (Santa Fe/Annapolis)

By Lmsgoodgirl (Lmsgoodgirl) on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 10:39 am: Edit

A lot of people think about Cornell this way: easy to get in to (compared to like Princeton or something) but once you get there its very difficult. Of course it depends on your college and major.

By Argilospsychi (Argilospsychi) on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 03:30 pm: Edit

"(a.k.a., the "Aren't you special?" category): "
what?


what are some reasons you guys put the above schools into the underrated/overrated category?

By Good_Gal (Good_Gal) on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 03:32 pm: Edit

Underrated-

University of Rochester
Macalester

By Ariesathena (Ariesathena) on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 04:15 pm: Edit

I really think that Tufts is underrated - academics are top-notch, professors are accessible, caring, and just awesome, and the people are phenomenal. Academically and socially, it's an amazing experience, but it gets slammed as an Ivy-reject school or other nonsense.

By Ariesathena (Ariesathena) on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 04:18 pm: Edit

Barrett:

Just as a side note, it's interesting that you have more universities as "overrated" than LACs, and mostly LACs or small universities as "underrated." Is this because you think that the small-college experience is amazing and not given appropriate credit as such... or do you see that universities generally have a higher visibility than liberal arts schools of the same caliber? Either way, it's interesting to note that.

Addenda: none of your "underrated" schools are located in New England, whereas several of your "overrated" ones are.

By Barrett (Barrett) on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 04:48 pm: Edit

For me, it comes down to the people. Usually, I've been lucky enough to come into contact with several persons who are associated with a given institution, and the overrated/underrated categories represent the distinction between either finding myself pleasantly surprised by a person whose school I hitherto hadn't known anything (or at best very little) about, or being turned off (for whatever reason -- a decidedly difficult result, though, as it goes without saying that I'm a very tolerant person indeed) by those who 'represent' (badly, it seems) a reputed place. My choices also (in a couple of cases) reflect the first-hand knowledge of peers whose opinions I respect very much. To be sure, college guides and other forms of propaganda don't hold any water at all for me.

If such an explanation sounds too vague, well, I've already disclaimed any pretense that these selections have been objectively arrived at; I only hope that the reader has arrived at her/his place of learning through a more profound endeavour.

By Ariesathena (Ariesathena) on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 05:02 pm: Edit

Barrett:

LOL... that's understandable. It is odd though that your choices follow certain trends - but then again, you might gravitate towards the type of people who are intelligent and look beyond New England universities for higher education.

By Mcreek05 (Mcreek05) on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 05:19 pm: Edit

i'm from Indiana and noticed IU and Purdue aren't mentioned very often, is this because they are ranked high and people think they deserve it or because they are low and you agree or is it because you don't think of them

By Thekev (Thekev) on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 05:47 pm: Edit

Overrated:
Brown
Stanford
UNC
Michigan
UC-Berkley
Princeton
Swarthmore
Duke

Underrated:

Pittsburgh
University of Tulsa
Truman State U(Average SAT-though a horrible benchmark=like 1300s)
Ohio State
Michigan State
Loyola New Orleans
Oklahoma State
Purdue
Marist

By Argilospsychi (Argilospsychi) on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 06:05 pm: Edit

Barret:

Can you explain a little more specifically what turned you on or off to the place? Like, e.g. the people I met were snobby, or the professors uninteresting, etc...

By Voigtrob (Voigtrob) on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 06:54 pm: Edit

Thekev: For the second time in this thread, I say, again... how can you possibly list Princeton as overrated but not Harvard? Also I'm curious about the inclusion of Swarthmore on that list...

By Muzicgal04 (Muzicgal04) on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 10:30 pm: Edit

Overrated: Ivy League
Underrated: Swarthmore, Bryn Mawr, Haverford, Macalester, Grinnel, Wash U

By Mzhang23 (Mzhang23) on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 10:39 pm: Edit

Ok, no one is explaining why Princeton is overrated. Anyone care to share some thoughts. Harvard is truly overrated as the #1 school. A top LAC or Y or P should be up there, not a school like Harvard that doesn't focus on undergrad education.

SO someone please explain why they chose those schools to be overrated. Personally, half those lists appear ill-informed and badly-researched. I'll bet you guys have never visited the campuses extensively (as in doing an overnight stay in a dorm) of the colleges you deem overrated and underrated.

of the colleges that I have visited, Harvard is the most overrated once you see through its name, while WUSTL appears pretty underrated for a good academic institution.

By Constellation35 (Constellation35) on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 10:59 pm: Edit

They're just trying to be different and original. There's no logical reason to say that Harvard and Yale are overrated. They're simply saying it since those schools are at the top, and they want to go against the grain. How can anyone deny how impressive Harvard's graduate program is? I've yet to see any other come close.

By Xyz155 (Xyz155) on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 11:12 pm: Edit

thekev, absolutely awesome list. Just perfect. Pitt is definatly under rated along w/ those other schools.

By Argilospsychi (Argilospsychi) on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 11:35 pm: Edit

WUSTL is ranked 9th or something at US News. that's not what I would describe as underrated

By Usna_Reject (Usna_Reject) on Friday, January 30, 2004 - 11:57 pm: Edit

college is overrated

By Yackityack (Yackityack) on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 01:44 am: Edit

how bout i pick hard school to get in to and call them overrated and then pick less harder schools to get in to and call them underrated.

By Barrett (Barrett) on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 03:21 am: Edit

Props to whomever listed Michigan State University as underrated; I think it's considerably more difficult to pigeonhole large, public universities as over- or underrated in relation to private schools with more defined reputations (for instance, I am dismayed that I haven't been able to fully shake the nagging suspicion that Swarthmore College and the University of Chicago are overrated simply because their admissions literature so consciously pushes the idea of intellectualism as a 'unique' characteristic for a selective institution to have -- though to these schools' credit, the students I've known at both have so far succeeded in proving these fears to be unfounded) -- but as far as publics go, Michigan State is the most underrated in my mind. Their best students (and I've run across a number of them) impressed me more than the many good students I'm acquainted with from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (not that I think that the latter place is overrated in any way, mind you).

By Digmedia (Digmedia) on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 10:47 am: Edit

overrated:
- most of the schools people on CC want to attend

underrated:
- many of the schools not usually mentioned on CC

By Dmitrypetrovna (Dmitrypetrovna) on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 12:12 pm: Edit

Overrated:
Brown
Yale
Georgetown

Underrated:
Dartmouth
BC
Middlebury

Harvard merits its rating at the top.

By Tunan_Fish (Tunan_Fish) on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 12:19 pm: Edit

I agree with Mzhang. IMO Yale & Princeton are leaps and bounds ahead of Harvard, at least for undergrad. If I had to rank the Ivies for UG I would go like this:

1) Princeton/Yale
2) Dartmouth
3) Columbia
4) Harvard
5) Cornell
6) Brown
7) UPenn

This is just my opinion, though. Princeton has the highest alumni giving rate of ANY university (2nd overall behind Carleton) while you read all these articles in the Harvard Crimson about how Yale students are much happier where they are . . .

By Stanfordrulez (Stanfordrulez) on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 01:38 pm: Edit

And how would you rate good ol' Stanford?

By Majinjou1 (Majinjou1) on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 03:22 pm: Edit

University of Vermont sucks

By Flyattreelevel (Flyattreelevel) on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 04:22 pm: Edit

RICE!!! I know it's ranked in the top 18, but few people know it exists, so you could say it's underrated by the general public.

Same with WUSTL!!

By Tunan_Fish (Tunan_Fish) on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 04:27 pm: Edit

I think Stanford is excellent. In my opinion, it's probably the second or third best university in the country, behind Yale or Princeton.

By Benjamin (Benjamin) on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 06:40 pm: Edit

Georgetown is VERY overrated...they think they're better than alot of schools that they certainly aren't.

By Argilospsychi (Argilospsychi) on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 07:29 pm: Edit

digmedia

what schools are you reffering too, specifically

By Thekev (Thekev) on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 09:34 pm: Edit

To say that the over-rated are the schools almost everyone wants to go to is stating the obvious. The real question is are the schools themselves worthy of the tremendous demand for them.
Of selective schools, I would also like to add UT-Austin, Syracruse, Rice, Champman,RPI and Brandeis.

By Argilospsychi (Argilospsychi) on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 10:22 pm: Edit

" To say that the over-rated are the schools almost everyone wants to go to is stating the obvious. "

Yeah but he said that the schools CC people want to go to are overrated, not the other way around. What you said is obviously true but his supposition that a school that is popular is overrated is a reach

By Tropicalpenguin (Tropicalpenguin) on Saturday, January 31, 2004 - 11:34 pm: Edit

i just wanted to add a few schools not even mentioned, but that could be there's few new englanders around or something. but i wanted to add that Northeastern University and Wentworth Institute of Technology are both underrated. i have checked out both schools extensively and applied to them both. i have good credentials and all so it isnt just that they're "easy" to get into so they're underrated. both are in the heart of boston, an awesome college city, and both offer strong co-op programs that will provide you with the best experience you can get. and it is different from an internship, which most colleges offer instead. wit may not have an impressive campus, but the city really is all you need. if you're looking for a campus with nice dorms too, id go with northeastern. i have also applied to roger williams university in rhode island, and absolutely fell in love with it. oh, and what does everyone think of university of miami? i just applied there last minute and was wondering if anyone knew anything about life there.

By Gabushida (Gabushida) on Sunday, February 01, 2004 - 12:10 am: Edit

The thing to note about Northeastern is that the Co-op there is REALLY REALLY intensive. IMO, it kind of took away from the college experience, and ended closer to the bottom of my list. However, if that is for you, it is a great place for it.

By Argilospsychi (Argilospsychi) on Sunday, February 01, 2004 - 12:28 am: Edit

in my fiske guide to the colleges book, northeastern was the only school to recieve less than 3 stars for academics (out of 5). i don't know if that says anything though

By Barrett (Barrett) on Sunday, February 01, 2004 - 07:13 am: Edit

Since a number of Boston-area schools have been mentioned (would BC stand for Boston College?), what is the verdict on Boston University? It seems to me that a number of good students from far away (e.g., the Midwest) tend to wind up there just because they are fixated on attending college in the Northeast (and maybe weren't able to hack it at more selective eastern schools); sounds overrated to me, at any rate (but what do I know?). Ariesathena, I reckon I am being a little hard on Tufts; another university in a large metropolitan area that strikes me as overrated these days (perhaps because of its location?) is Emory University in Atlanta (dear me! -- I think I've met my dosage of stereotyping for the day).

By Stanfordrulez (Stanfordrulez) on Sunday, February 01, 2004 - 07:28 am: Edit

---

Quote:

I think Stanford is excellent. In my opinion, it's probably the second or third best university in the country, behind Yale or Princeton.

---

By Constellation35 (Constellation35) on Sunday, February 01, 2004 - 02:19 pm: Edit

I think University of Dallas is incredibly underrated. Most people don't even know it exists, yet it's considered to be a great university.

By Carolinatarheel (Carolinatarheel) on Sunday, February 01, 2004 - 02:53 pm: Edit

I will kind of agree that we (the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) are overrated. I was excited to come here, but now I am a junior and I can't wait to leave. It is boring around here most of the time and not all as it was cracked up to be. Carolina is ok, but I don't think it is the place for me or for minorities or for many college students as well.

By Carolinatarheel (Carolinatarheel) on Sunday, February 01, 2004 - 02:59 pm: Edit

Also, here are some more for you:

Underrated in the South:

University of South Carolina
East Carolina University
University of Richmond
Davidson
University of Miami

By Gameguy56 (Gameguy56) on Sunday, February 01, 2004 - 08:18 pm: Edit

Tech Schools Really Get the Shaft at CC

Some World Class Universities not mentioned often enough(ie grossly underrated)

Carnegie Mellon
Rose-Hulman

By Voigtrob (Voigtrob) on Sunday, February 01, 2004 - 08:19 pm: Edit

Yea, Rose-Hulman is pretty crazy underrated for future engineers... problems however lie in its location (Terra Haute, Indiana isn't exactly a center of excitement) and its somewhat painful 80:20 male:female ratio.

By Aspirer42 (Aspirer42) on Sunday, February 01, 2004 - 08:39 pm: Edit

Do you really think E-Z U is underrated for anything besides choral music and graphic design? That goes against everything I've ever heard from everyone that's attended...

By Giants (Giants) on Sunday, February 01, 2004 - 09:32 pm: Edit

This might be somewhat biased because I go there, but I think that Emory is unduly trashed on this and other boards. If anything, it is underrated by the public.

By Argilospsychi (Argilospsychi) on Sunday, February 01, 2004 - 10:38 pm: Edit

what's E-Z U?

By Celerystalksme (Celerystalksme) on Monday, February 02, 2004 - 04:29 am: Edit

i know this much from personal experience: harvard and university of michigan - ann arbor are overrated...

good schools...in fact, great schools...but man, after all you hear about them you'd think they'd be blow-your-mind-away, orgasm-inducing, raise-you-iq-by-50-points aMaZiNg...

not so...

By Argilospsychi (Argilospsychi) on Monday, February 02, 2004 - 03:38 pm: Edit

hahaha!!

can you explain?

By Packncstate (Packncstate) on Monday, February 02, 2004 - 03:39 pm: Edit

Well, it is actually ECU (East Carolina University) not EZU, but some people are just ignorant because ECU has grown so quickly. I have heard nothing but good things about ECU so I would say that they are underrated. Their party school image is the only thing that people see, but the facts are:
They do have the top art, theater, design, and education schools in this state and one of the top schools on the east coast. Their med school is rated as one of the top 10 in the country. Their PT and OT and nursing programs were recently rated as the best in this state. Their criminal justice, social work, poli-sci, school of public health, geo and econ departments were recently ranked as one of the best in the south. Too bad we have some people in this state that still try to trash the school.
Also, NC State is very underrated! Want to know a little about my great school?

By Kkgirl06 (Kkgirl06) on Monday, February 02, 2004 - 06:22 pm: Edit

I agree with Giants. Emory is not overrated but very underrated. Emory is bashed way too much on this board.

Kristen
Emory '08
(yeah...you could say that I'm a little biased too.)

By Barrett (Barrett) on Monday, February 02, 2004 - 07:51 pm: Edit

'harvard and university of michigan - ann arbor are overrated...[Both are] good schools...in fact, great schools...'

I don't think suggesting that Emory is overrated (like I did a few posts back) is exactly the same as 'trashing' or 'bashing' it, though (OK, maybe unduly). Can't you honestly only award that distinction to schools that are genuinely considered 'great' (either by the nebulous convention of reputation or some purportedly objective measurement of quality)? Isn't it just a question of the degree of 'greatness'? Because if not, what bubble do you fancy you are bursting? (As for Boston University: The reason I hesitated to pronounce it overrated is because I'm not terribly sure that it is known as a 'great' school -- if it is, then yes, I would probably cast a vote for overrated; but if not, then what's the point?)

By Smac86 (Smac86) on Monday, February 02, 2004 - 11:49 pm: Edit

I think that Stanford is finally getting its due in terms of where it stands today.
Go Stanford!

By Barrett (Barrett) on Tuesday, February 03, 2004 - 12:49 pm: Edit

To press on: Some miles back, someone noted that Bryn Mawr College was underrated; I really agree with this. Everyone I've met from there has been wonderfully down-to-earth, and the campus culture -- sans the incredible and tangible benefits that a Phi Beta Kappa society always provides a college community -- is phenomenal (and I even had to decline an offer to go to school there, though my decision had nothing to do them, believe me). Those considering women's colleges should never overlook the Mawrter experience, in my opinion. Naturally then, it pains me, to be sure, to award the distinction of most overrated women's college to Wellesley, the school which the U.S. News rankings' upper echelon always seems to have an annual love affair with. Sure, they have a billion-dollar endowment, but does it really matter when your students are among the snootiest in America (as this correspondent has been led to believe owing to a few unfortunate -- and, I sincerely hope, unrepresentative -- interractions)?

Which brings us to the following award...

Most overrated university in the U.K.:
Oxford.

Now, American students as a bunch aren't snooty (Wellesley students apparently being the exception; yes, I've had good luck in my chance meetings, it seems). But British students -- and a significant number of American 'expatriates' -- at Oxford are a different beast. If there were ever a university that so easily inflated one's perceived self-importance just on the strength of the fact that one can claim an association with it, it is Oxford.

(Whilst Cambridge students seem all right; go figure.)

This is especially distressing because it is happening at a place where admission -- much more often than in America -- depends on a combination of both merit and -- thanks to the relative dearth of viable funding schemes in British higher education -- money. And indeed, I have spoken with at least one professor in Britain who would like to see Oxbridge and universities of a similar stature in the U.K. -- in a departure from the equanimity of reputation that most European universities enjoy -- become more meritorious in line with America's Ivy League. (Let me tell you: There is enough craziness in the U.S. as it is -- you need look no further than this thread and all of its underrated and overrated prejudices. Parliament voted last week to raise college tuition, though, so I don't see this happening any time soon.)

By Barrett (Barrett) on Tuesday, February 03, 2004 - 01:05 pm: Edit

And in other news: Are there any schools that are just right (as Smac86 has astutely noted about Stanford)?

By Voigtrob (Voigtrob) on Tuesday, February 03, 2004 - 01:16 pm: Edit

I feel for undergrads, Princeton is duly noted as #1 in USNews and is generally respected as much as it ought to be among the general public. Not overrated, not underrated.

By Stargazrlilychk (Stargazrlilychk) on Tuesday, February 03, 2004 - 03:12 pm: Edit

HUGELY OVERRATED:
NYU
American

Underrated:
Cornell
Columbia
Georgetown

By Celerystalksme (Celerystalksme) on Tuesday, February 03, 2004 - 05:04 pm: Edit

barret,

was that response to me or they person that said something about emory? in anycase...in regards to my opinion of harvard and um...i don't believe being great and being overrated are mutually exclusive. i stand by what i said...great schools...but overrated. based on the hype generated by the uni's themselves and by third party sources, i expected more somehow.

in response to the post directly above this one...i think i'd have to agree that NYU might be overrated. a friend of mine whet there and she HATES that place!!! she says the prof's all suck...the TA's suck and half of them cant speak one word of english...the atmosphere is that of a city, not a school (which i guess some might like)...the administration has enough red tape to choke the world over...blah blah blah...she makes it sound like the most miserable place on the planet, and i have not known her to exaggerate very much...

By Woogiewilly25 (Woogiewilly25) on Wednesday, February 04, 2004 - 04:35 pm: Edit

Boston College. WAY overrated. Quite frankly, half of the "snobby popular" people from the grade above me got in there last year on a sport, and can barely spell their own names. When I went to visit someone they were still the same people. It's like stepping out of high school and right back in. It's a huge drinking school too, and I know several people who are unemployed who graduated from BC, but manage to have large tolerence for beer. Really not the school everyone makes it out to be.

By Timpcrk87 (Timpcrk87) on Wednesday, February 04, 2004 - 10:11 pm: Edit

Voigtrob,

(Terra Haute, Indiana isn't exactly a center of excitement)

You ever been to Indiana, let alone Terre Haute?

By Barrons (Barrons) on Wednesday, February 04, 2004 - 10:44 pm: Edit

New rankings just out--not bad

http://brody.com/college/resources/college_rankings.php

By Voigtrob (Voigtrob) on Wednesday, February 04, 2004 - 10:57 pm: Edit

Timpcrk87: Nope, neither. I have a friend, however, who has lots of family there and who goes often, and who was admitted to Rose-Hulman and was strongly considering it (until he got in ED to Bucknell ;P). He told me two of the things that would make him not want to go were the location and the male:female ratio, and told me why. ;P

By Slayer (Slayer) on Wednesday, February 04, 2004 - 10:58 pm: Edit

i think that list looks pretty good

By Argilospsychi (Argilospsychi) on Wednesday, February 04, 2004 - 11:57 pm: Edit

barron -- do they have lists that rank by substance instead of just prestige?

By Marinakitchen (Marinakitchen) on Thursday, February 05, 2004 - 12:15 am: Edit

Don't you think that Wesleyan, Middlebury and Vassar should rank higher than NYU?

By Arcadia (Arcadia) on Friday, February 06, 2004 - 04:57 pm: Edit

Bowdoin is a great school--but to place it SO FAR above its main competitors, including Pomona, Middlebury, and Wesleyan, is simply unjustifiable. There is no methodology for this ranking--making it worthless to everyone but the person who made it up (whoever that may be).

By Barrons (Barrons) on Friday, February 06, 2004 - 05:24 pm: Edit

US News and The National Research Council do rankings. The board admins are very uptight about linking to them.

By Barrons (Barrons) on Friday, February 06, 2004 - 06:23 pm: Edit

Here is a link to a site that has most of the known rankings

I have allowed the posting of this link to "slip" through on several occasions. We have, however, now reached a saturation point. Despite that external links are prohibited, moderators do allow a few that have superior value for the community. The problem with this link is that it also leads to commercial sites or sites of little value. Please refrain to repost this link.

Moderator Trinity

By Gumbino (Gumbino) on Monday, February 09, 2004 - 03:35 pm: Edit

Constellation, you have a pretty good list in my book. I'd also say Harvard is overrated. They don't treat their undergrads too well and there are too many foolish classes required to fulfil a pseudo "core" curriculum. This isn't to say it's a bad school - just overrated.

By Constellation35 (Constellation35) on Saturday, February 14, 2004 - 05:12 pm: Edit

Hugely Underrated:

New College of Florida

By Silent_Angel (Silent_Angel) on Sunday, February 15, 2004 - 07:15 pm: Edit

How does everyone feel about University of South Florida?

Theres really nothing in indiana.. ive lived here all my life and tell you what, im really really ready to leave.

By Hockey4life90 (Hockey4life90) on Sunday, February 15, 2004 - 07:23 pm: Edit

I think Penn State - University Park is overrated...it isnt THAT great of a school...and i think Northeastern is somewhat underrated.

By Isunique17 (Isunique17) on Sunday, February 15, 2004 - 09:16 pm: Edit

Rice, most underrated, for sure

By Mcreek05 (Mcreek05) on Sunday, February 15, 2004 - 09:22 pm: Edit

silent angel,

what do you mean when you say there's nothing in Indiana

By Silent_Angel (Silent_Angel) on Sunday, February 15, 2004 - 10:24 pm: Edit

well seein as im only in high school i can only say this about my experience so far:
the schools i went to were easy... not once was i really challenged. but ill steer away from that subject as i said before.. im only in high school i wont talk bout the colleges for lack of experience....
however entertainment wise, theres really not much to offer. the state is made of nothing but small towns like mine which the entertainment is Walmart. dont get me wrong i like walmart just as much as the other people but C'MON. I aint one for cold temperatures and snow to the point i have to stay in doors cause driving is bad. For me, Indiana is not somewhere i'd want to spend my next 8 or so years. Indianapolis is known around here as a big city, however if you look at studentsreview.com IUUI's city scene is rated low, quite low, lets say.... and F... i like my life to be busy and have things to do for entertainment rather than shop supply stores and such.

By Mcreek05 (Mcreek05) on Sunday, February 15, 2004 - 10:32 pm: Edit

what part of Indiana are you from, i'm from near Evansville, my schools pretty difficult, i'm pretty sure two of my teachers are geniuses, the Calculus and Physics teacher, and the AP english teacher

By Silent_Angel (Silent_Angel) on Sunday, February 15, 2004 - 10:43 pm: Edit

im from near ft wayne.... i am in pre calc. goin pretty well for me.. ap english really isnt that hard and im takin anatomy physiology (spellin? -never ma stong subject hehe) i am challenged at times but not too the point i cant handle it. i guess i am craving more. hows the social life down there?

By Barrett (Barrett) on Monday, February 16, 2004 - 08:10 am: Edit

'I think Penn State - University Park is overrated...'

(Hear, hear!)

Whoever posted the above sentiment is right on, in my mind. (I once talked to an older British person who thought that Penn State was a member of the Ivy League -- and he had apparently visited the campus before.) I also think of the University of Pittsburgh as being in the same boat -- both are just flagship-type state universities, but because of their location in a large northeastern state, they tend to get hyped a little too much.

By Silent_Angel (Silent_Angel) on Monday, February 16, 2004 - 11:26 am: Edit

k sorry iuui's SOCIAL life is an F... but yeah...