what is the defacto university for major metropolises ? (metropolitan, Atlanta, Chicago)

[whogoesthere]

Interesting question...I see Georgetown being listed for DC but here in Suburban MD, University of MD at College Park is clearly the top dog...for Black America, Howard is as synonymous with DC as Georgetown is


For LA, how would one pick a winner between UCLA and USC?

[stan4]

Originally Posted by peterlemonjello

In LA it would be between USC and UCLA.
In Houston, it would be between U of H and Rice.
In Dallas, it would have to be SMU.

The fact it's between anything negates it.

Why SMU? What's so special about SMU?

[stanley-88888888]

Originally Posted by gladhands

I legitimately don't understand what the OP means by de facto university. Does it mean the one most closely associated with the city, the preeminent, the school most likely to of been attended by a resident, the biggest footprint?

yeah.

[qworldorder]

Hmm, if this thread is about flagship universities, it kind of creates an interesting wrinkle as far as what criteria is to be used. Many areas have an academically premier university (UPenn, Columbia, Stanford, etc.), while still having less academically powerful universities that excel in other areas (namely, sports and more niche degree programs), and that have a larger undergrad/alumni/cultural base.

[stanley-88888888]

Originally Posted by Mr Ambitious

Chicago (U of Chicago but possibly Northwestern since it's big 10. The U of I has a strong following, although it's not located in the metro.)
Twin Cities (U of Minnesota)
Milwaukee (Marquette?)

for chicago my vote would be northwestern.

[stanley-88888888]

Originally Posted by mjlo

My guess is the op is inquiring about what people consider to be the flagship university of the city/metro. Perhaps the OP can clarify.

pretty much if you tell someone you are a student living in a certain city which college/university would they guess you attend.

[RadicalAtheist]

Originally Posted by whogoesthere

For LA, how would one pick a winner between UCLA and USC?

Public over private, for the purpose of this thread that I do not really understand. So UCLA not USC, Cal not Stanford, etc. Public schools have way more students, and locals who don't have connections to either school will most likely have more of an affinity for the public school versus the private school (at least that's my experience, people not associated with either like Cal not Stanford).

[eddie gein]

Originally Posted by RadicalAtheist

Public over private, for the purpose of this thread that I do not really understand. So UCLA not USC, Cal not Stanford, etc. Public schools have way more students, and locals who don't have connections to either school will most likely have more of an affinity for the public school versus the private school (at least that's my experience, people not associated with either like Cal not Stanford).

I agree with this as far as students go but in LA SC has a LOT of non alumni support for football. Not surprisingly a lot of those same people root for UCLA in basketball.

[odurandina]

the Magnificent Seven
Harvard
MIT
BU
BC
Tufts
Suffolk
Northeastern

[First24]

Atlanta - Georgia Tech

Although, Emory is Atlanta's more academically elite institution, GT is the defacto due to the combo of academics, NCAA Division I athletics and near the heart of Midtown.