Anonymous wrote:UMD with the brilliant move to the Big 10 and the CIC is on a rocket ship upward . If they decide to merge in the medical and law schools like almost everybody else UMD is a top 5 research institution.

Hi President Loh! Seriously, that is nonsense. Lots of great research gets done there, but the university is terribly managed, regardless of President and "big" moves like Big 10. I don't remember exactly, but UMD's ranking was about the same the last time this Shanghai rating came out. Still, UMD loves it because it fares so much better than in other rankings.

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Anonymous wrote:This is the academic ranking based entirely on academics . Looks about right to me. Not subjective at all , just the facts with no points for favoritism or feelings.

Everyone has a favorite non-USNEWS ranking, but USNEWS is the only ranking that matters to schools. USNEWS has driven much of the improvement in undergraduate education, so we should embrace their work.

The 2015 rankings come out September 9. DD and friends planning a get together to check college tour plans against updated rankings.

http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/college-rankings-blog/2014/08/19/2015-edition-of-best-colleges-rankings-coming-soon?int=9f7f08

You do realize that for many school, the rankings change year to year, right?

I suppose that's the point - note the trends that indicate future ranking. Just two weeks until the 2015 rankings are out.

The trends are somewhat more predictable for undergrad, but much less so for law school, say. It's all irrelevant for undergrad anyway, once one gets beyond HYP and a few others. And everyone already knows the five or so best state schools.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is the academic ranking based entirely on academics . Looks about right to me. Not subjective at all , just the facts with no points for favoritism or feelings.

Everyone has a favorite non-USNEWS ranking, but USNEWS is the only ranking that matters to schools. USNEWS has driven much of the improvement in undergraduate education, so we should embrace their work.

The 2015 rankings come out September 9. DD and friends planning a get together to check college tour plans against updated rankings.

http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/college-rankings-blog/2014/08/19/2015-edition-of-best-colleges-rankings-coming-soon?int=9f7f08

You do realize that for many school, the rankings change year to year, right?

I suppose that's the point - note the trends that indicate future ranking. Just two weeks until the 2015 rankings are out.

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Harvard is best known for their law and business schools more so than engineering, computer science or applied math (STEM) rather and humanities and it is consistently ranked 1st. Similar to UVA in their general focus so UVA should't complain.

I don't get this attitude that Harvard is weak in STEM. Sure Harvard has less emphasis on engineering (MIT is right there, after all), but Harvard's PhD programs have consistently been either #1-2 in Chemistry, in the top 5 in math and physics, and in the top 5 or so in most biological sciences (molecular biology, biochemistry, etc.). In fact, Harvard Medical school is top notch, and there is a lot of research there and collaborations with the biological sciences. There is plenty of top notch STEM research coming out of Harvard. It's emphasis is just different.

The PP is talking about their engineering, computer science, and applied math. In technology related fields, Harvard does not measure up to schools like MIT or even schools like Georgia Tech or University of Michigan. Sure, medicine and medical research is highly regarded. But to work in the tech arena, Harvard is weak. It's a fact. I'm fairly certain they don't dispute it.

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Anonymous wrote:This is the academic ranking based entirely on academics . Looks about right to me. Not subjective at all , just the facts with no points for favoritism or feelings.

Everyone has a favorite non-USNEWS ranking, but USNEWS is the only ranking that matters to schools. USNEWS has driven much of the improvement in undergraduate education, so we should embrace their work.

The 2015 rankings come out September 9. DD and friends planning a get together to check college tour plans against updated rankings.

http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/college-rankings-blog/2014/08/19/2015-edition-of-best-colleges-rankings-coming-soon?int=9f7f08

You do realize that for many school, the rankings change year to year, right?

QS world, times of London , us news, shanghai world academic , forbes , Kiplinger , money .

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is the academic ranking based entirely on academics . Looks about right to me. Not subjective at all , just the facts with no points for favoritism or feelings.

Everyone has a favorite non-USNEWS ranking, but USNEWS is the only ranking that matters to schools. USNEWS has driven much of the improvement in undergraduate education, so we should embrace their work.

I didn't know US news was still around . Who buys magazines anymore? Seriously , it it still printing and what could possibly be the circulation?

Sounds like lots of folks here are obsessed with the rankings issue.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is the academic ranking based entirely on academics . Looks about right to me. Not subjective at all , just the facts with no points for favoritism or feelings.

Everyone has a favorite non-USNEWS ranking, but USNEWS is the only ranking that matters to schools. USNEWS has driven much of the improvement in undergraduate education, so we should embrace their work.

The 2015 rankings come out September 9. DD and friends planning a get together to check college tour plans against updated rankings.

http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/college-rankings-blog/2014/08/19/2015-edition-of-best-colleges-rankings-coming-soon?int=9f7f08

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is the academic ranking based entirely on academics . Looks about right to me. Not subjective at all , just the facts with no points for favoritism or feelings.

Everyone has a favorite non-USNEWS ranking, but USNEWS is the only ranking that matters to schools. USNEWS has driven much of the improvement in undergraduate education, so we should embrace their work.

The 2015 rankings come out September 9. DD and friends planning a get together to check college tour plans against updated rankings.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is the academic ranking based entirely on academics . Looks about right to me. Not subjective at all , just the facts with no points for favoritism or feelings.

Everyone has a favorite non-USNEWS ranking, but USNEWS is the only ranking that matters to schools. USNEWS has driven much of the improvement in undergraduate education, so we should embrace their work.

I didn't know US news was still around . Who buys magazines anymore? Seriously , it it still printing and what could possibly be the circulation?

Anonymous wrote:This is the academic ranking based entirely on academics . Looks about right to me. Not subjective at all , just the facts with no points for favoritism or feelings.

Everyone has a favorite non-USNEWS ranking, but USNEWS is the only ranking that matters to schools. USNEWS has driven much of the improvement in undergraduate education, so we should embrace their work.

This is the academic ranking based entirely on academics . Looks about right to me. Not subjective at all , just the facts with no points for favoritism or feelings.

^^^^If it wasn't for the inventions of UMD alumni the US would be in a depression.

Could you imagine a world without Google/ coronary stents / watergate, the Muppets, Seinfeld , linear programming , Dopplar radar, the Jumbotron , the universal product code , Sirius satellite , the hybrid engine , diary of a wimpy kid , boondocks , liberty meadows , the wire , the octane system , the miniaturized insulin pump , Nautica , baywatch , Underarmour , retractable landing gear , the automatic parachute , frequent flyer systems , Outback Steakhouse ???

The country would be unrecognizable !!

Thanks UMD !

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Anonymous wrote:Phd friend of ours - young, stem field from Ireland knew Johns Hopkins, MIT. Had not heard of Georgetown.

Thanks. Because I really value the opinion of nerds from underdeveloped economically struggling European countries.

Thanks. Because we really value the opinion of somebody who doesn't realize that Ireland, which may be struggling economically (as was the US from 2007-2009) is actually in the OECD and one bright spot there, economically, is STEM.

Anonymous wrote:

Harvard is best known for their law and business schools more so than engineering, computer science or applied math (STEM) rather and humanities and it is consistently ranked 1st. Similar to UVA in their general focus so UVA should't complain.

I don't get this attitude that Harvard is weak in STEM. Sure Harvard has less emphasis on engineering (MIT is right there, after all), but Harvard's PhD programs have consistently been either #1-2 in Chemistry, in the top 5 in math and physics, and in the top 5 or so in most biological sciences (molecular biology, biochemistry, etc.). In fact, Harvard Medical school is top notch, and there is a lot of research there and collaborations with the biological sciences. There is plenty of top notch STEM research coming out of Harvard. It's emphasis is just different.

Harvard is Harvard. The rest are just pretenders. But UVA is awesome too!