Why are schools like Columbia and UChicago descending in prestige while schools like Duke and Vanderbilt ascending?

[Anonymous]

What a weird post. The obsession with prestige and creating micro-hierarchies between ultra elite schools is a royal waste of time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What a weird post. The obsession with prestige and creating micro-hierarchies between ultra elite schools is a royal waste of time.

yes. also was wondering if its a chicago hater that threw in columbia to cover it up

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Couldn't be just about a protest, weather or basketball, could it? The protest was shortlived, and the weather and basketball were always there, so why they suddenly more popular now?

Chicago used to be a central hub for railroads, industrial manufacturing, and trade. The region has declined significantly.

The marketing materials we received from Chicago include comic drawings. The brand identity has changed from an academic behemoth to something else.

Who asked? And who are you to draw conclusions about an entire university based on comics and mail?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What a weird post. The obsession with prestige and creating micro-hierarchies between ultra elite schools is a royal waste of time.

yes. also was wondering if its a chicago hater that threw in columbia to cover it up

Maybe, who knows. But the “X-school hater” finger-pointing only riles them up more.

[Anonymous]

Better question:

Why are schools like Duke and Vanderbilt obsessed with appearing more prestigious and desired?

(ex. that gross rant the Vanderbilt president wrote in response to a ranking drop)

[Anonymous]

The title of this thread reminded me of something that my grandfather used to say, “When you ask a stupid question, don’t be surprised when you get a stupid answer!”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Better question:

Why are schools like Duke and Vanderbilt obsessed with appearing more prestigious and desired?

(ex. that gross rant the Vanderbilt president wrote in response to a ranking drop)

That's old news.

Apparently, Northwestern tried to hire the Vanderbilt president and he said no thanks.

[Anonymous]

The typical student profile at all four schools is more alike than dissimilar. But each school has a different vibe. And bright students choose accordingly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are you talking about. Come back when Columbia or U Chicago don't have single digit acceptance rates or expect near perfect candidates.

That has a lot to do with test optional. Penn's applicant number has reduced like 20% this year due to test reinstated.

Duke and Vandy are also test optional, and yet their acceptance rates aren't what Columbia and UChicago are.

[Anonymous]

This is an SEC-propping up post in disguise. Can smell it from a mile away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is an SEC-propping up post in disguise. Can smell it from a mile away.

Its just a triple-Trumper trying to prop up the crumbling South by namedropping 2/3 of their elite schools and claiming they're "ascending."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Couldn't be just about a protest, weather or basketball, could it? The protest was shortlived, and the weather and basketball were always there, so why they suddenly more popular now?

Chicago used to be a central hub for railroads, industrial manufacturing, and trade. The region has declined significantly.

The marketing materials we received from Chicago include comic drawings. The brand identity has changed from an academic behemoth to something else.

Nah. I specifically remember getting these types of materials from them when I was a teen in the 90s. They have always been trying to get away from that reputation, but also not really.

[Anonymous]

Because different schools get popular at different times. DH and I were stunned how popular University of Michigan got. It was a party school that was like a sad safety school when we were in HS in the late 80s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The typical student profile at all four schools is more alike than dissimilar. But each school has a different vibe. And bright students choose accordingly.

What are the profiles

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Couldn't be just about a protest, weather or basketball, could it? The protest was shortlived, and the weather and basketball were always there, so why they suddenly more popular now?

None of that is a valid assessment of the quality of the students.

Duke is a stable T10 no rise or decline: solidly in the T10, only one year in the last 10 has been outside of it, and has the SAT scores (pre-TO) that rival the top-4 ivies and MIT.
Columbia is in a decline: falsified data led to a fake "T3" spot, and never reported SAT scores on the CDS, due to lower than the top 4 ivies with the large pool of GS students, then they had the extensive issues with the protests and now a gated campus. It remains a top school T11-15, it could go back up to T10 (And bump down JHU with its 2 rounds of ED) but not likely in the next 5 years.
UChicago: Stable but not really a T10, though not declining fro those that understand where it really sits. Like Columbia they never reported CDS, and have been TO for a while. Furthermore they have ED1 ED2 and EA and RD, now an ED0. They game the system too much to be T10, period. They are a stable T15 That gets ranked USN T10 due to gimmicks.
Vanderbilt: used to have one of the Top-7 SAT ranges in the country, now they take tons of TO, take hundreds in sophomore transfers, all TO and many quite low (1350s). They are not ascending they are moving from what used to be T12-15 to T18-22. Their fit over the USN rankings drop was illustrative. Act like you belong, don't whine. WashU has become more prestigious as far as talent of the student body than Vanderbilt.