Most intellectual colleges?

[Anonymous]

Just surprised USNews didn’t delist this fraud who get students to apply just to reject them for its “selectivity.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just surprised USNews didn’t delist this fraud who get students to apply just to reject them for its “selectivity.”

That's not fraud, that's marketing. All colleges try to get kids to apply whether or not they are likely to be accepted. Families can look at the average SATs/GPAs and assess their chances. There's no fraud.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just surprised USNews didn’t delist this fraud who get students to apply just to reject them for its “selectivity.”

That's not fraud, that's marketing. All colleges try to get kids to apply whether or not they are likely to be accepted. Families can look at the average SATs/GPAs and assess their chances. There's no fraud.

They'd have to de-list most schools for that.

[Anonymous]

There's no doubt Chicago has played the USNews game better than most (up there with Northeastern, Vanderbilt, etc.) but this isn't to say the other schools aren't playing the game as well. Schools cutoff class sizes at 19, almost never flunk out a student (impacts completion rates) count faculty who rarely teach undergraduates, count resources that actually go toward research, graduate education etc. rather than undergraduate education, don't include stats from weaker spring admits or foreign students, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's no doubt Chicago has played the USNews game better than most (up there with Northeastern, Vanderbilt, etc.) but this isn't to say the other schools aren't playing the game as well. Schools cutoff class sizes at 19, almost never flunk out a student (impacts completion rates) count faculty who rarely teach undergraduates, count resources that actually go toward research, graduate education etc. rather than undergraduate education, don't include stats from weaker spring admits or foreign students, etc.

They can fake self-reported USNews data. But they can’t fake job placements and ROI - data collected by independent 3rd parties.

[Anonymous]

I remember the reputation of U Chicago in the 80's before they upped their marketing. It was for really intellectual kids, and not a party school. Since they're marketing to go-getters, I wonder if it's less intellectual now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I remember the reputation of U Chicago in the 80's before they upped their marketing. It was for really intellectual kids, and not a party school. Since they're marketing to go-getters, I wonder if it's less intellectual now.

I remember in ‘90s, their admit rate was around 70%. Their reputation was they were accepting anyone who is breathing and could pay tuition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I remember the reputation of U Chicago in the 80's before they upped their marketing. It was for really intellectual kids, and not a party school. Since they're marketing to go-getters, I wonder if it's less intellectual now.

I attended the University of Chicago in the 80s, and then worked there from 2011 to 2016, much of my job involving interaction with undergraduates. It still has a good-sized contingent of intellectual geeks (no shade, I was/am one!), probably at a higher percent than many of the other schools it is ranked near, but yeah, there's definitely a much more noticeable culture of pre-professional-minded students who are there not necessarily because they wanted UChicago, but because they see the rankings and consider it an avenue to Wall Street or top med/law/etc. schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's no doubt Chicago has played the USNews game better than most (up there with Northeastern, Vanderbilt, etc.) but this isn't to say the other schools aren't playing the game as well. Schools cutoff class sizes at 19, almost never flunk out a student (impacts completion rates) count faculty who rarely teach undergraduates, count resources that actually go toward research, graduate education etc. rather than undergraduate education, don't include stats from weaker spring admits or foreign students, etc.

U of Md admits the students they consider ‘marginal ‘ as ‘afternoon students’ (they can only take afternoon classes) or Spring semester students. Those two sets of students aren’t included in their stats, only the regular fall admits are. It’s all a game.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember the reputation of U Chicago in the 80's before they upped their marketing. It was for really intellectual kids, and not a party school. Since they're marketing to go-getters, I wonder if it's less intellectual now.

I attended the University of Chicago in the 80s, and then worked there from 2011 to 2016, much of my job involving interaction with undergraduates. It still has a good-sized contingent of intellectual geeks (no shade, I was/am one!), probably at a higher percent than many of the other schools it is ranked near, but yeah, there's definitely a much more noticeable culture of pre-professional-minded students who are there not necessarily because they wanted UChicago, but because they see the rankings and consider it an avenue to Wall Street or top med/law/etc. schools.

It’s not an easy path into top med and law schools though is it? Since it’s nearly impossible to get an ‘A’ in many of the classes, whereas A’s are given out like candy at other schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I remember the reputation of U Chicago in the 80's before they upped their marketing. It was for really intellectual kids, and not a party school. Since they're marketing to go-getters, I wonder if it's less intellectual now.

Nope. They’re not marketing to ‘go getters’ (whatever that is??) , they still accept well rounded intellectual students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about Oberlin? William & Mary?

We are also looking for a school with an intellectual bent but not a pressure cooker. Is there such a thing?

Haven’t read the whole thread but wanted to respond to this, because my DC just graduated from W&M. DC loved the school because of the profs and classes, says it was not a pressure cooker, and already misses school a lot. It really solidified a love of learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: UChicago using marketing/mailings to increase applications and decrease the acceptance rate would seem pretty standard. The various other stats like middle fifty percentile test scores, freshman retention rate, etc. speak for themselves.

Know nothing else about UChicago. But I did receive a lot more mailings from UChicago than from other comparable schools, like 5 or 6 since the spring. I receive one or two typically from other schools (wondering where they got my kid's information from). I don't mind receiving those mailings, but just saying UChicago seems more eager to get people applying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I remember the reputation of U Chicago in the 80's before they upped their marketing. It was for really intellectual kids, and not a party school. Since they're marketing to go-getters, I wonder if it's less intellectual now.

I remember in ‘90s, their admit rate was around 70%. Their reputation was they were accepting anyone who is breathing and could pay tuition.

Just nonsense. What hurt yo so?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's no doubt Chicago has played the USNews game better than most (up there with Northeastern, Vanderbilt, etc.) but this isn't to say the other schools aren't playing the game as well. Schools cutoff class sizes at 19, almost never flunk out a student (impacts completion rates) count faculty who rarely teach undergraduates, count resources that actually go toward research, graduate education etc. rather than undergraduate education, don't include stats from weaker spring admits or foreign students, etc.

U of Md admits the students they consider ‘marginal ‘ as ‘afternoon students’ (they can only take afternoon classes) or Spring semester students. Those two sets of students aren’t included in their stats, only the regular fall admits are. It’s all a game.

All schools do this. Sometimes they're first-semester abroad programs. They don't have to report their test scores. Doesn't really matter. In the end they all have the same degree. But yes, the games are ridic.