The Best Public Colleges vs the 'worst' Ivy Leagues

[Anonymous]

I just want to start out by saying I don't think any Ivy league is bad but do you think your child has more options going to the lowest ranking Ivy league school (Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth) rather than the best rated public colleges (UCLA, Berkely, Michigan, UVA).

http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/top-public

http://blog.prepscholar.com/ivy-league-rankings

[Anonymous]

Probably not, but, money aside, the choice between those schools comes down to the type of environment that you think you'll be happiest in since they are so different. This coming from someone who went to both a big public and an Ivy for undergrad.

[Anonymous]

Personally, I think DC is better suited to Cornell or Brown rather than UCLA or Cal although, up until about year ago, that is what I thought a UC would have been a good fit.

[Anonymous]

the lowest ranking ivy league school gives you more 'margin for error'.

Grading at Cal is hard and there is a war to sign up for classes at cal and ucla.

Also not to dig up another thread but there was one recent that went for 20+ pages about brown vs michigan.

the public schools are fucking massive. that said - cornell is perhaps similar

but not brown or dartmouth - those are WAY different and i would select either before a public school OOS.

In state is different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Personally, I think DC is better suited to Cornell or Brown rather than UCLA or Cal although, up until about year ago, that is what I thought a UC would have been a good fit.

i really don't think thereis much difference between cal and cornell these days.

cornell and brown are worlds apart. if your DC likes cornell, they will dislike brown (too small). if they like brown, they'll hate cornell and would be better suited to a LAC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally, I think DC is better suited to Cornell or Brown rather than UCLA or Cal although, up until about year ago, that is what I thought a UC would have been a good fit.

i really don't think thereis much difference between cal and cornell these days.

cornell and brown are worlds apart. if your DC likes cornell, they will dislike brown (too small). if they like brown, they'll hate cornell and would be better suited to a LAC

Brown and Cornell were two of my top picks (along with MIT and Northwestern). They all appealed to me for different reasons. It's not always so cut and dry.

[Anonymous]

Grad student who currently attends Michigan and is very familiar with the undergraduate population. I understand the appeal of HYP but there is no way Columbia, Cornell, or Brown have better teaching than Michigan or Cal. Truly splitting hairs as both these state schools have some of the best departments and teachers in the country.

But I will admit that Ivy League on a resume helps for a variety of reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Grad student who currently attends Michigan and is very familiar with the undergraduate population. I understand the appeal of HYP but there is no way Columbia, Cornell, or Brown have better teaching than Michigan or Cal. Truly splitting hairs as both these state schools have some of the best departments and teachers in the country.

But I will admit that Ivy League on a resume helps for a variety of reasons.

Cal has strong world wide reputation and it is definitely above Michigan or lower Ivies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grad student who currently attends Michigan and is very familiar with the undergraduate population. I understand the appeal of HYP but there is no way Columbia, Cornell, or Brown have better teaching than Michigan or Cal. Truly splitting hairs as both these state schools have some of the best departments and teachers in the country.

But I will admit that Ivy League on a resume helps for a variety of reasons.

Cal has strong world wide reputation and it is definitely above Michigan or lower Ivies.

What's "Cal?" I know what Columbia, Cornell and Brown are. Michigan... I assume Michigan State?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grad student who currently attends Michigan and is very familiar with the undergraduate population. I understand the appeal of HYP but there is no way Columbia, Cornell, or Brown have better teaching than Michigan or Cal. Truly splitting hairs as both these state schools have some of the best departments and teachers in the country.

But I will admit that Ivy League on a resume helps for a variety of reasons.

Cal has strong world wide reputation and it is definitely above Michigan or lower Ivies.

What's "Cal?" I know what Columbia, Cornell and Brown are. Michigan... I assume Michigan State?

Cal is UC Berkely, the UC Flagship. It's considered the best public college in the nation. Arguably the 4th best school in the world.

http://www.thebestschools.org/features/100-best-universities-in-world-today/

University of Michigan not Michigan State University. The former is ranked much higher than the latter.

http://colleges.startclass.com/compare/2086-2088/University-of-Michigan-Ann-Arbor-vs-Michigan-State-University

[Anonymous]

Who says "Cal"? Isn't it just "Berkeley"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who says "Cal"? Isn't it just "Berkeley"?

A lot of people do. It's known as Cal or Berkely because is the flagship of the UC system. I believe it's the oldest public college in California.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_California,_Berkeley

[Anonymous]

Nope, UVA now no. 1. https://news.virginia.edu/content/revamped-princeton-review-best-value-rankings-lists-uva-no-1-public

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Grad student who currently attends Michigan and is very familiar with the undergraduate population. I understand the appeal of HYP but there is no way Columbia, Cornell, or Brown have better teaching than Michigan or Cal. Truly splitting hairs as both these state schools have some of the best departments and teachers in the country.

But I will admit that Ivy League on a resume helps for a variety of reasons.

Cal has strong world wide reputation and it is definitely above Michigan or lower Ivies.

What's "Cal?" I know what Columbia, Cornell and Brown are. Michigan... I assume Michigan State?

Cal is UC Berkely, the UC Flagship. It's considered the best public college in the nation. Arguably the 4th best school in the world.

http://www.thebestschools.org/features/100-best-universities-in-world-today/

University of Michigan not Michigan State University. The former is ranked much higher than the latter.

http://colleges.startclass.com/compare/2086-2088/University-of-Michigan-Ann-Arbor-vs-Michigan-State-University

Thank you! I went to a private university (recently, I'm a comparatively old-person graduate) but like to keep up on what is happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nope, UVA now no. 1. https://news.virginia.edu/content/revamped-princeton-review-best-value-rankings-lists-uva-no-1-public

This is arguable but Berkely, UCLA, UVA, and Michigan are usually in the top of anyone's list (usually Berkeley as #1).