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Despite a couple of head-scratchers, the list includes some quality schools including Hillsdale College, the University of Dallas, Thomas Aquinas College, Wheaton College and College of the Ozarks.
First place is the intriguing Deep Springs College, with just 28 students and a 4-1 student/teacher ratio. Would you like to attend? Make sure your SAT scores are in the upper 700s for critical reading and math. The admissions rate is 6 to 15 percent, but if you get in, tuition is free!
Last edited by WesternPilgrim; 12-11-2012 at 06:30 PM..
For me, the best schools attract the best students and have the best professors and resources.
Therefore, any list without Harvard, Yale and Princeton in the Top 10 at least is a joke.
To be fair, the site explains the absence of these schools:
"In ranking the 50 best colleges in the United States, we don’t include the big research universities, which tend to invest many more of their resources into graduate rather than undergraduate education. By a “college,” in this article, we mean a school that exists primarily to teach undergraduates.
Thus, in our ranking, we list schools whose main degree is a bachelor’s or even an associate’s degree (in fact, our top-ranked school offers only a two-year degree)."
Makes since since no one really talks about Harvard College, just Harvard University as a whole. Harvard College by itself, while still prestigious, may not hold a candle to the schools on the list.
To be fair, the site explains the absence of these schools:
"In ranking the 50 best colleges in the United States, we don’t include the big research universities, which tend to invest many more of their resources into graduate rather than undergraduate education. By a “college,” in this article, we mean a school that exists primarily to teach undergraduates.
Thus, in our ranking, we list schools whose main degree is a bachelor’s or even an associate’s degree (in fact, our top-ranked school offers only a two-year degree)."
Makes since since no one really talks about Harvard College, just Harvard University as a whole. Harvard College by itself, while still prestigious, may not hold a candle to the schools on the list.
About Mines
**Colorado School of Mines is a public research university devoted to engineering and applied science.
Actually, it is a really good list because they are looking at things that are important like retention rates, graduation rates and most importantly how well their grads do after college either into Grad/Medical/Law, etc. schools or into the workforce.
No one is disputing that schools like Harvard have good reputations but given the criteria above, the Ivy's, etc. might not crack the top of that list if they were included because they don't score as well in the categories above.
Quote:
In ranking the 50 best colleges in the United States, we don’t include the big research universities, which tend to invest many more of their resources into graduate rather than undergraduate education. By a “college,” in this article, we mean a school that exists primarily to teach undergraduates.
Actually, it is a really good list because they are looking at things that are important like retention rates, graduation rates and most importantly how well their grads do after college either into Grad/Medical/Law, etc. schools or into the workforce.
No one is disputing that schools like Harvard have good reputations but given the criteria above, the Ivy's, etc. might not crack the top of that list if they were included because they don't score as well in the categories above.
Are you saying the Ivy League schools don't do well in the categories of retention rates, graduation rates and most importantly how well their grads do after college either into Grad/Medical/Law, etc. schools or into the workforce? The Ivies have always been at the top of all of these categories.
A quick check on freshman retention shows the eight Ivy League schools with the top three and all in the top 13 for national universities according to US News & World Report. Cornell is the lowest at 97%.
Harvard, Penn, Cornell and Princeton's 4-year graduation rate are 87%. Columbia and Yale's are 89%.
To be fair, the site explains the absence of these schools:
"In ranking the 50 best colleges in the United States, we don’t include the big research universities, which tend to invest many more of their resources into graduate rather than undergraduate education. By a “college,” in this article, we mean a school that exists primarily to teach undergraduates.
Thus, in our ranking, we list schools whose main degree is a bachelor’s or even an associate’s degree (in fact, our top-ranked school offers only a two-year degree)."
Makes since since no one really talks about Harvard College, just Harvard University as a whole. Harvard College by itself, while still prestigious, may not hold a candle to the schools on the list.
Right, right. I know lots of people that have 'managed' to get accepted by Harvard, but they're only using it as a fall back, just in case they don't get accepted by their first choice, The University of Dallas.
Employers too. Why, I don't think any potential employers are trying to recruit all those idiots that have graduated from Harvard. Why waste time doing that, when you have all those College of the Ozarks grads to go after?
To be fair, the site explains the absence of these schools:
"In ranking the 50 best colleges in the United States, we don’t include the big research universities, which tend to invest many more of their resources into graduate rather than undergraduate education. By a “college,” in this article, we mean a school that exists primarily to teach undergraduates.
Thus, in our ranking, we list schools whose main degree is a bachelor’s or even an associate’s degree (in fact, our top-ranked school offers only a two-year degree)."
Makes since since no one really talks about Harvard College, just Harvard University as a whole. Harvard College by itself, while still prestigious, may not hold a candle to the schools on the list.
Most of the colleges on the list are really good schools ... but Harvard is better ... in every way. ESPECIALLY for what the study itself lists ... getting a job and getting into grad school.
Getting into undergrad at Harvard is to me, harder than getting into grad school there, or a much more impressive feat I should say. You could apply to a relatively low demand grad program there and get in. I know a few people who have done just that.
To get into the undergrad program, you have to be a flat out stud(ette).
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