10 Most Competetive American Colleges Of 2004

[Jim Phaserman 0]

When they talk about schools that are hard to get into, these ten top the list. this is from MSN Encarta.

 

1. United States Military Academy

"West Point is unique in many ways: a military institution, a first-class university, and a national landmark all rolled into one," explains one cadet. "Our motto is 'duty, honor, country,' and sometimes duty looms much larger than the rest. Life is hard here, but its difficulty makes it fulfilling." The West Point approach--to cram as much activity into one day as humanly possible--is "very tough."

 

2. Princeton University

Princeton University is arguably the most undergraduate-friendly member of the Ivy League. Other institutions at a similar level of prestige often promote their powerful professional schools in business, law, and/or medicine, but not Princeton. Here, the focus is on the college student. The students surveyed here are consistently among the nation's most satisfied with their overall academic experience. A sophomore sums it up as "my dream come true."

 

3. Harvard College

Harvard College's "academic reputation" precedes it. Home to a distinguished faculty and phenomenal world-class research facilities, Harvard is perhaps the most prestigious hub of intellectual activity in America and is certainly one of the best academic universities on the planet. Students lucky and talented enough to gain admission have the opportunity to pursue virtually any academic interest under the tutelage of some of the finest minds ever.

 

4. Yale University

Yale "is truly one of America's great schools," writes one college counselor. It's an assertion that's hard to debate. As a major national research center, Yale attracts many of the world's great scholars. But unlike other research institutes, Yale also devotes a lot of attention to undergraduates. Reports one student, "There is a genuine focus on undergraduates here. The professors seem genuinely to enjoy teaching, and you really do learn a lot in classes."

 

5. United States Naval Academy

The U.S. Naval Academy offers a great education at a great price--it's free. Midshipmen have one of the "toughest academic programs around," yet the "outstanding" professors are "always willing and ready to help in every way possible." Classes are small and are all taught by full-time military and civilian faculty members. "Tough but rewarding" is how one midshipman sums up his experience here. "If you've never been challenged by academics, get ready for a surprise."

 

6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

How intense is an MIT education? "Say you like Pez candy," posits one MIT undergrad. "MIT, then, is like being forced to eat 13,109 Pez candies." "The workload is heavy," students at MIT say, but the crunch is mitigated by an atmosphere of teamwork and a sense that students are getting the very best education money can buy. They study directly under "Nobel Prize–winning faculty, even as freshmen" and enjoy access to "superior labs and outstanding opportunities for undergraduate research." Material "is taught extremely fast. It takes a few weeks to get used to, but it makes everything so much more interesting and motivating." Most classes consist of "lectures taught by a full professor and recitations taught by TAs." According to several students, "Usually, recitations by undergraduate and graduate TAs, not the classes taught by distinguished faculty, are the most helpful [in learning] the material." Students appreciate the fact that "freshman year is pass/no record, and that was awesome in helping [to] adjust."

 

7. Davidson College

At Davidson the "boundaries between students and professors are set aside," affording undergraduates the respect due to "a person with a mind who is going to influence the world." Instructors make themselves easily available, even "coming in on weekends to give study sessions before tests or helping with personal problems." They keep students engaged by "stimulating class discussion and organizing curriculum-enriching events out of class." Unlike at most schools, Davidson students seem to approve of their required courses. Many students single out the "strict honor code," which allows for self-scheduled and unproctored exams, as one of the best aspects of a Davidson education. "People don't come to Davidson unless they want to be part of an honor-bound community." On the small campus, "you know all the administration and most of them know you," leading to an academic atmosphere where "the professors and administrative staff seem like family."

 

8. Stanford University

There are perhaps a half-dozen universities in the United States with de facto Ivy League status. Though not actually members of the vaunted Ivy League, these schools are recognized as equal in stature to Dartmouth, Princeton, Yale, and other Ivies. Without question, Stanford University is among this elite group. Stanford students, however, enjoy several perks unknown to Ivy undergrads: a nationally ranked intercollegiate athletic program, the "laid-back" atmosphere, and the truly hospitable California climate.

 

9. Dartmouth College

There are few schools in North America that can boast the combination of world-class academics and the beautiful location that Dartmouth College offers its students. This Ivy-League institution, tucked away in Hanover, New Hampshire, is home to wonderful, caring professors, who are committed to the academic needs of their students. A sophomore German major speaks for the majority of students when he says, "I love Dartmouth because it offers world-class professors who are there because they love to teach." Professors are always accessible, and many students note that they have been invited to their professors' houses for dinner. A sophomore boasts that "Dartmouth's academic experience is unbeatable because it unites a small liberal arts school with all the resources of a top university."

 

10. Cooper Union

Every student at the "prestigious" Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art receives a full-tuition scholarship. The only catch is that students may only major in art, architecture, or engineering. It's an unbelievably good deal, considering Cooper's "incredible reputation" as "the best engineering undergraduate school on the East Coast." Students praise the "rigorous" and "unparalleled academics" here, though the process sometimes resembles "boot camp."

[scaleman 0]

From that list the only one i'd just consider going to is davidson, that is, if i were able to attend any of those and i actually WANTED to go to college.

[TrekkieMage 0]

Davidson sounds a lot like my high school

[Gabri 0]

That's an extremely interesting list. I enjoyed reading it. (It also made me even prouder of two of my friends, who graduated from Harvard and MIT, respectively, but they'd be embarrassed if they knew I was saying anything about that. )