What prestigious colleges are easiest to get into?

[Anonymous]

I don't like the USN&WR rankings either, but they're here. I'm still upset over PSU's admin's role in the S abuse (even if it's just a fraction true). But fact is that PSU ranks #37 of National Universities. Quibble over the definition of "prestige" (which OP didn't want to do) but there's no hanging your head in shame if your kid goes to a highly-ranked school.
If the question is: What top (50? 100?) schools are easier to get into than you might otherwise expect? Is that better?

A few examples where USN&WR ranks the following National Universities:
32 NYU;
37 PSU;
47 U Miami (FL);
51 Tulane;
62 BYU/Clemson/Syracuse/UMCP/Pitt;
75 UDel;
69 VA Tech;
91 Auburn/Florida State

[Anonymous]

Of the above only NYU and possibly Va Tech are considered to be remotely prestigious.

[Anonymous]

The women's colleges tend to be a bit self-selecting, as many girls won't bother applying, or will make it clear enough through their essays that they are being forced to apply by parents, or consider pretty much any co-ed school a better alternative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of the above only NYU and possibly Va Tech are considered to be remotely prestigious.

According to you at least. Which proves how silly the word is in this context.

[Anonymous]

Women's colleges tend to have higher acceptance rates for a given number of slots, because half the population can't apply.

[Anonymous]

Any of them if you are very rich or famous. If a school is easy to get into, it is not prestigious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any of them if you are very rich or famous. If a school is easy to get into, it is not prestigious.

chicago was REALLY easy to get into 10 years ago, was it no prestigious?

[Anonymous]

The ones that are far away and don't see as many applications from D.C. And I agree that if you can pay full price that also seems to be an advantage, especially at SLACs.
As for University of Chicago -- it was the king of this category until it started taking the common application.

[Anonymous]

University of Michigan

And for most universities ~ know that admissions difficulty will vary by major/or college within the university.

[Anonymous]

What about Rice? Is there an advantage for those applying from this area because it's far away?

[Anonymous]

Claremont Colleges (if from the East Coast)

[Anonymous]

A well-known strategy is to attend an all-women's college (which ARE much easier to get into nowadays compared to the Ivies and little Ivies; let's be real) and then parlay that into going to a top grad/law school.

Plus you get a great education and the campuses are beautiful. I wish I had done this!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know, impossible to define "prestigious" and "easy" and so many variables. That said, what's your answer?

Are you using college as a general term? or using it to differentiate colleges from universities?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of the above only NYU and possibly Va Tech are considered to be remotely prestigious.

VA Tech... prestigious? Seriously?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The ones that are far away and don't see as many applications from D.C. And I agree that if you can pay full price that also seems to be an advantage, especially at SLACs.
As for University of Chicago -- it was the king of this category until it started taking the common application.

Ok, I have to jump on this one. The most prestigious schools have need blind admissions. The ability to pay is not a factor. Also, some of the very top schools also cap the amount of debt with which you can graduate. Since we are talking about women's colleges, I will note that Wellesley is one of the group with need blind admissions and capped debt. I think there are 6 or so other schools that do this. If I remember correctly, Williams is one of them.