Anonymous wrote:

I do think those are very different questions though. Schools that have a focus on preparing undergrads for grad school are different than those that prepare them for careers right out of undergrad. Both are valuable, but depending on the applicant's interests.

Right, but the topic headline said "national pull for jobs/grad schools in the widest range of fields" so I was addressing half of this. I would also argue that academic rigor in a range of areas would be a great fit for a student who wasn't sure what they would like to study, and would benefit them well afterwards even if they decided they did not want to go to grad school.

For a student with broad interests who is not laser focused, I would not recommend a large state school because there is a lot of bureaucracy to navigate and you are one person in the masses and you are less likely to have that great mentorship relationship that spurs a passion in one area or another. If someone really really wants to be an engineer or applied agricultural sciences and there is a program that is a great fit, it might be a better choice.

Princeton has an engineering school, but you have to apply from high school. That being said, it is really small, the kids who wash out of EE have plenty to choose from, and the Junior Paper and Theses requirements insure close contact with faculty. Also, because the grad schools are so small, most courses are still taught by professors not TA's who are focused on their own issues.

I do think those are very different questions though. Schools that have a focus on preparing undergrads for grad school are different than those that prepare them for careers right out of undergrad. Both are valuable, but depending on the applicant's interests.

Right, but the topic headline said "national pull for jobs/grad schools in the widest range of fields" so I was addressing half of this. I would also argue that academic rigor in a range of areas would be a great fit for a student who wasn't sure what they would like to study, and would benefit them well afterwards even if they decided they did not want to go to grad school.

For a student with broad interests who is not laser focused, I would not recommend a large state school because there is a lot of bureaucracy to navigate and you are one person in the masses and you are less likely to have that great mentorship relationship that spurs a passion in one area or another. If someone really really wants to be an engineer or applied agricultural sciences and there is a program that is a great fit, it might be a better choice.

Once you are comparing elite schools, the difference in pull/placement for individual schools is negligible. What matters much more is the effort of the student as he/she has an outstanding academic records, makes use of networking and pre-professional opportunities, forms positive relationships with faculty members who have clout and connections.

Those who consider spending time in the Greek system a waste of time and money often spend the rest of their lives bitching about how unfair it is for those "outside the club." Interpersonal relationships and connections are very important whether you like it or not.

Unless you go to a school like MIT, you are better off going to your state school or a school that gives you great merit aid. The best advantage now for students is for them not coming out with debt or their parents to have extra cash that they didn't waste on an expensive undergraduate degree. Undergraduate degrees are overpriced and parents and students are getting ripped off. Choose the school that gives you the best deal, a place where your student will work hard and explore career options, and not waste four years of your hard earned money in a Greek scene.

Anonymous wrote:Reed and University of Chicago come to mind as schools that have strong academic reputations across disciplines. If you look at PhD placement, for example, Reed is in the top 5 whether you are talking about biological physical sciences, literature, or social sciences. Here is a list of schools by per capita PhD placement by discipline. I realize this is not the same as job placement, but it gives you an idea of how well rounded a school is--if it is strong just in the sciences or humanities, or if it is strong across the board: http://www.thecollegesolution.com/the-colleges-where-phds-get-their-start/

I do think those are very different questions though. Schools that have a focus on preparing undergrads for grad school are different than those that prepare them for careers right out of undergrad. Both are valuable, but depending on the applicant's interests.

Top schools as ranked by recruiters:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704554104575435563989873060.html

If you look at some of the side bar links you can drill down by field.

Big state schools have something for everyone.

UCLA
Berkeley
Michigan
Wisconsin
Illinois
Texas
U of Washington
UNC- Chapel Hill

Good Academics, lots of majors, good graduate programs, all known nationally.

PP here. I attended Reed, which is why Reed came to mind. There is no engineering at Reed, although there is a dual program with some other institutions to do 3 years at reed and senior year elsewhere (although I don't know anyone who did that program). But even though there was no engineering program, I do have friends I went to college with who are in silicon valley. They studied math with a theoretical computer science bent. Another friend studied math and ended up working as an actuary and then going to business school. I had another friend from Reed who worked for a hedge fund for a while. Unless you are dead set on studying engineering rather than math or physics or chemistry, I don't see why going to a liberal arts school would preclude becoming employed in the technology or finance sector.

Other schools that have what you are describing are most of the ivies. Although people don't talk about it much compared to MIT and Caltech, Brown and Columbia have good engineering programs--it's not all artsy fartsy there. Also, schools like Vanderbilt, Northwestern, and Rice--basically just schools that are all around good schools.

OP here. some good suggestions, especially Chicago.

Though do these places also do well in terms of applied science/engineering/silicon valley jobs given that most of the schools the last two posted don't have an engineering schools?

Or is stanford unique in that it can help place students anywhere from Goldman Sachs to Google to various doctoral/professional schools at a balanced/overall rate not matched by anyone?

From that list I would also add Carleton, Oberlin, and Swarthmore.

Reed and University of Chicago come to mind as schools that have strong academic reputations across disciplines. If you look at PhD placement, for example, Reed is in the top 5 whether you are talking about biological physical sciences, literature, or social sciences. Here is a list of schools by per capita PhD placement by discipline. I realize this is not the same as job placement, but it gives you an idea of how well rounded a school is--if it is strong just in the sciences or humanities, or if it is strong across the board: http://www.thecollegesolution.com/the-colleges-where-phds-get-their-start/

A bit of an offshoot of some of the points raised in the "Mid-Atlantic/DC centric thread/UVA overrated etc" posted recently, but if you child is truly undecided on what he/she wants to study or where geographically they want to end up, which institution(s) has the best overall placement in the widest range of fields and locations? I.E. fields from anthro to stem/medicine to polisci/IR to zymurgy.

Oh and answers other than stanford. Stanford is most likely the number 1 choice in this measure its the hardest school to get into so pretty pointless as a suggestion.

others?