I'm not saying that these are bad schools. They're not. They're basically on the level of the better state flagships, which are also very good in many cases and great in others. So I'm left scratching my head over why families are picking them, and it can only come down to snobbery. Right? What am I missing?

But snobbery for what? If your kid goes to UVA, it's just as well respected and more so than virtually all of the schools on this list and for only half the price or less. People will argue that Wash U or Emory are "better" but their academic reputations aren't better and in fact UVA is ahead of both of them in its "peer assessment" score. At most, one can plausibly claim they're a "little" better but no so much as to justify the price.

The claim here that "you're jealous that you can't afford them" or the flagships are for poor kids is laughable. UVA is full of rich kids -- in fact, that's one of the most common knocks against it.

It can only be snobbery, but it's misplaced because the schools listed don't have real snob appeal.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Emory and WashU and elite schools and very prestigious. USC, NYU, and Tufts aren't elite but have some prestige. The others are neither elite nor prestigious.

Emory is not prestigious. As much as the trolls try.

We know Wake is the best your child can do. That doesn't detract from what Emory is though. Also Emory is a better school than WashU and harder to get into, so i dont see why anyone would see them differently

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one thinks BU is prestigious

Whether people view BU as prestigious or not, the school provides excellent education and experiences—even when compared to one of the top state schools. Some aspects are actually better at BU.

I have children attending both schools.

My friend's daughter is there. i agree. It's a great education. I was blown away by the first-year reading load

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Emory and WashU and elite schools and very prestigious. USC, NYU, and Tufts aren't elite but have some prestige. The others are neither elite nor prestigious.

Emory is not prestigious. As much as the trolls try.

*I prayed to myself at 5 am Sunday morning.

Anonymous wrote:Emory and WashU and elite schools and very prestigious. USC, NYU, and Tufts aren't elite but have some prestige. The others are neither elite nor prestigious.

Emory is not prestigious. As much as the trolls try.

In today's economy, any school that makes it easier to get a job is truly elite. Hence, the rise of Northeastern

Emory and WashU and elite schools and very prestigious. USC, NYU, and Tufts aren't elite but have some prestige. The others are neither elite nor prestigious.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We all know they're just expensive backups that are no better than the better state flagships, but private school parents have convinced themselves that they're prestigious.

In US News order:

WashU
Emory
NYU
BU
Wake
Northeastern
Tulane

NYU has a lot of issues. Too big. No campus. Job-central. These issues make it non-elite. But it's still a great school.

Agree on BU, Wake, NEU, and Tulane.

All positives. No other school in the US like it, although USC, UCLA and Cal are the closest. But none of them can match being educated in NYC.

Anonymous wrote:So sad that you're looking for a DCUM fight on a Saturday Night. Couldn't even go to a bar and start a proper one, OP?

Too cowardly most likely.

Anonymous wrote:We all know they're just expensive backups that are no better than the better state flagships, but private school parents have convinced themselves that they're prestigious.

In US News order:

WashU
Emory
NYU
BU
Wake
Northeastern
Tulane

I would never send my kid to be around plebe like yours…..money is not an issue so why lower the social stds?

Anonymous wrote:BU has no prestige

Regardless of your anonymous fellings, it's still a top 50 school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Poor OP, so insecure and miserable that they need to go online picking fights with people and pretending to be Ivies or bust.

Sucks to be you, I guess.

Not Ivy or bust at all. Just saying that private school parents who can’t get their kids into Ivies tell themselves that these schools are great just because they’re private and expensive — but they’re not great. At all. Many state flagships are better, certainly the ones around here.

I agree.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BU and Tulane are nowhere near prestigious.

They provide a better education than a flagship with 300+ students in a classroom. Flagships are for cheap parents.

95% of classes at a state flagship doesn't have 300+ students in them. The remaining 5% that might are basic classes like general chemistry and calculus. If your snowflake needs a small class size to be educated in them, they suck as a student anyway.

You’re just making excuses because you’re a failure at life, are poor, and can’t afford a private school. Your kid is a dumb state school loser, like you.

NYU has an acceptance rate of less than 10%.
NYU is no one's backup school.

BU has no prestige