What are the top colleges in “real America?”

[Anonymous]

In places that aren’t involved with the educationally elite culture that overwhelms DC, how are colleges perceived? Is it just HYPS and then everything else blends together? Are football schools like Bama and Clemson perceived as much more elite than they are?

[Anonymous]

Most people go to a college close to home and the most aspirational school is their state's flagship.

[Anonymous]

Ugh. Just ... no.

I despise the term “real America.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In places that aren’t involved with the educationally elite culture that overwhelms DC, how are colleges perceived? Is it just HYPS and then everything else blends together? Are football schools like Bama and Clemson perceived as much more elite than they are?

HYPS, but then it's going to be regional and depend on whatever persona knowledge people have. I went to high school in South Carolina and Duke was perceived as vey elite. Clemson was the school for kids who wanted to stay instate at a large campus and couldn't get into USC honors

[Anonymous]

Where is “real America”?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where is “real America”?

I remember when this BS started ... the first time I remember hearing it was in the 2008 campaign with Palin. She was talking about how places like NYC weren’t “real America.”

I sat there and recalled how my dad barely made it out on 9/11 and thought, “Do the lives of the 2,000 people who died that day, and the countless New Yorkers who were traumatized not count as the experiences of real Americans?”

Then I moved to DC and met people who lost family members and friends in the Pentagon attacks. I met federal employees—a common target for these “real America” people—who literally slept at their offices afterwards because they were working such long hours to try to deal with the aftermath.

I suppose none of these people are real Americans, since they live in DC and NYC.

It remains one of the most offensive things to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In places that aren’t involved with the educationally elite culture that overwhelms DC, how are colleges perceived? Is it just HYPS and then everything else blends together? Are football schools like Bama and Clemson perceived as much more elite than they are?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where is “real America”?

I remember when this BS started ... the first time I remember hearing it was in the 2008 campaign with Palin. She was talking about how places like NYC weren’t “real America.”

I sat there and recalled how my dad barely made it out on 9/11 and thought, “Do the lives of the 2,000 people who died that day, and the countless New Yorkers who were traumatized not count as the experiences of real Americans?”

Then I moved to DC and met people who lost family members and friends in the Pentagon attacks. I met federal employees—a common target for these “real America” people—who literally slept at their offices afterwards because they were working such long hours to try to deal with the aftermath.

I suppose none of these people are real Americans, since they live in DC and NYC.

It remains one of the most offensive things to me.

2,000 should be 2977.

[Anonymous]

There is a way to ask this question without sounding completely ignorant, FYI.

[Anonymous]

To answer OP question, football schools Bama and Clemson are perceived as football schools, not as elite schools. However, they are not without other known benefits, things like Bama scholarships, honors dorms, and in person classes.

The reputation of a particular college somewhere out in the middle of the country isn't particularly important in the big picture. What matters is the reputation among employers/grad schools and whether college reputation tends to be considered in the particular field of work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To answer OP question, football schools Bama and Clemson are perceived as football schools, not as elite schools. However, they are not without other known benefits, things like Bama scholarships, honors dorms, and in person classes.

The reputation of a particular college somewhere out in the middle of the country isn't particularly important in the big picture. What matters is the reputation among employers/grad schools and whether college reputation tends to be considered in the particular field of work.

THis.


Also the Big Ten schools collectively have hundreds of thousands of students. They also have some of the top degree programs in the country--so they're really nothing to sneeze at. You don't have to go to Harvard to be successful. You can also go to your "local" Big Ten, graduate from a top program, and do well.

It really is only DCUM that is obsessed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To answer OP question, football schools Bama and Clemson are perceived as football schools, not as elite schools. However, they are not without other known benefits, things like Bama scholarships, honors dorms, and in person classes.

The reputation of a particular college somewhere out in the middle of the country isn't particularly important in the big picture. What matters is the reputation among employers/grad schools and whether college reputation tends to be considered in the particular field of work.

THis.


Also the Big Ten schools collectively have hundreds of thousands of students. They also have some of the top degree programs in the country--so they're really nothing to sneeze at. You don't have to go to Harvard to be successful. You can also go to your "local" Big Ten, graduate from a top program, and do well.

It really is only DCUM that is obsessed.

Community colleges have many successful grads. Better value for your money in the first two years than big ten. Stop chasing prestige.

[Anonymous]

I’m not sure what you mean be “real America”. Many people chose the “best” college for their interests in whatever they consider their local or regional area to be. Others might be focused on HBCUs, or other specific factors. “Top” varies. A student that wants to major in film will have a different list of “top” schools compared to a pre-med, or to someone who wants to study architecture or a the Great Books curriculum.

[Anonymous]

There are some schools that are familiar nationwide beyond HYPS, in part because of sports but also more generally, and otherwise schools tend to have regional reputations. The state flagship is usually well-regarded, but some places also have locally respected private colleges, as well.

I'm ignoring your ignorant "real America" comment, because it's frankly beneath contempt.

[Anonymous]

I'm going to skip the "real America" reference and just assume OP is talking about out of the DC area.

I'm from Southern California but have done time in Boston and DC) In LA, people here are pretty involved in USC and the UC system (UCLA, UCSB, etc).

I would say that UVA or William and Mary are not on their radar. Some schools I see people talking about on this forum I've not heard of, or have heard of but don't know where they are or what they are known for.