Isn't it great when schools call themselves #1 or #2 but can't prove or substantiate it!! Or when trolls making the same claim will reference articles containing an individual's opinion or out of desperation old or isolated local rankings few have heard of or respect (some as much as 10 to 15 years old).

Trolls (like nycfan) by definition favor their own school. The closest thing to the truth however is the opinion of those actually attending the schools (the ultimate consumers) and the unbiased opinion of higher education experts:

CollegeProwler (www.collegeprowler.com) asks students to rate the academics at their own schools. In this survey of thousands of students, Princeton receives a first tier academic ranking (a full notch ahead of harvard). In the nation's most respected national rankings, US News and the Atlantic Monthly, harvard again receives rankings of 2 and 5 respectively. Among the nation's College Guides, none favor harvard as the nation's top school, but 6 of the most prominent put Princeton there.

There's a reason why claims are made without without support from a current, original source!

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=751636&forum_id=1#9204646)

http://www.xoxohth.com/thread.php?thread_id=681704&mc=8&forum_id=1

http://www.collegeprowler.com/find/guides-by-ranking.aspx?section=Academics

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=728373&forum_id=1#8995401)

Princeton University, Princeton, N.J.

"Max Staller chose Princeton in 2004 because it met both his professional and his artistic needs. He wanted a career in scientific research, and the biology courses were perfect. But he's also pursued his interest in the arts by picking minors in theater and dance. Many of his classmates have, like him, both careerist and intellectual leanings. Junior Sarah Dajani loves it that "lampposts overflow with fliers advertising the next lecture by a Nobel laureate or performance by the French theater troupe." The emphasis lately is to make sure such opportunities are not confined to rich students who can afford them. The university has recently become one of very few to offer grants, not loans, to those who qualify for financial aid, with 54 percent of the incoming freshman class receiving on average $31,000 in grants apiece."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20228437/site/newsweek/page/0/

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=728373&forum_id=1#9000157)

Goheen went on to become the US Ambassador to India.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=728373&forum_id=1#9027174)

http://www.happynews.com/news/11292007/high-schoolers-prepare-national-vocabulary-championship.htm

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=728373&forum_id=1#9041822)

Academics

http://www.princetonreview.com

"School Runs Like Butter"

Overall, how smoothly is your school run?

Rank / School Name

1 Princeton University

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2 Whitman College

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3 Middlebury College

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4 Wabash College

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5 Claremont McKenna College

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6 Pomona College

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7 Bowdoin College

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

8 Davidson College

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

9 Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

10 Williams College

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

11 Stanford University

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

12 Washington University in St. Louis

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

13 Carleton College

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

14 Washington and Lee University

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

15 Amherst College

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

16 Harvey Mudd College

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

17 Haverford College

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

18 University of Notre Dame

.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=728373&forum_id=1#9053333)

(main article)

http://chronicle.com/blogs/architecture/1227/heres-trouble-a-list-of-the-20-ugliest-collges

Ranking, with narrative and photos of nation's most attractive schools:

http://www.campussqueeze.com/post/The-20-Most-Beautiful-Colleges-in-the-USA.aspx

Earlier 2008 MSN / Princeton Review Ranking:

http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=685529&forum_id=1#8631185

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=728373&forum_id=1#9054424)

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/visits/college_rank_summary.html

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=728373&forum_id=1#9057105)

"With the average cost of tuition at public and private colleges skyrocketing, today’s students are less concerned about getting into their top-choice college than they are about figuring out how to pay for it. The prospect of having to pay back thousands of dollars in loans is daunting for students thinking about college and can be the most determinate factor in their decision about which school to attend. Fortunately, there are schools out there that go the extra mile to help ease the financial burden of getting a quality education. The Princeton Review’s survey of 120,000 college students for the Best 366 Colleges: 2008 Edition revealed the top twenty schools where students are happy with their financial aid. "

1. Princeton University (Princeton, New Jersey)

Princeton stands apart from the majority in matters of financing school. Thanks to “a generous financial-aid system,” students say, “Not everyone is a spoiled-rotten, BMW-driving, snooty rich kid.” The university admits undergraduate students without regard to their family financial circumstances and provides 100 percent of determined need. As a result, “we have students from very diverse backgrounds.” For the past five years, no Princeton student (American-born or international) who received financial aid has been required to take out a loan to pay for his or her education.

2. Stanford University (Stanford, California)

Stanford offers “a mix of incredible academics and a laid-back atmosphere” (not to mention incredible financial aid) that prompts many exceptional applicants to choose it over the likes of Harvard and Yale. Applicants whose parents’ total annual income is less than $45,000 will not be expected to pay for their educational costs at Stanford. Parents with incomes between $45,000 and $60,000 can expect a prorated reduction in their expected parent contribution. This policy reflects Stanford’s commitment to making its world-class education (which costs about $47,000 annually, all inclusive) available to talented and well-prepared students from lower-income families. Currently, about half of all students attending Stanford receive financial aid.

3. Thomas Aquinas College (Santa Paula, California)

Thomas Aquinas’ “integrated liberal-arts program,” which focuses on “books that have shaped the entire history of Western thought” doesn’t come cheap, especially considering that some types of financial aid available at other schools are not available here because the college receives no federal campus-based funds or contracts. To compensate, TAC offers a private-aid program funded through generous contributions from TAC’s benefactors. TAC also provides financial assistance through on-campus employment opportunities. Students awarded a full “service scholarship” put in 13 hours a week in areas such as food service, buildings or grounds maintenance, the library, or clerical work. In exchange, a $3,180 credit is given against room and board.

4. Pomona College (Claremont, California)

In the words of its students, Pomona offers “the best atmosphere available to college students in the United States.” Fortunately, cost is not the barrier at Pomona that it is at other institutions. Pomona prides itself on its need-blind admissions policy and its ability to meet 100 percent of its students’ needs. More than half of Pomona’s incoming students are awarded scholarships, and the administration is committed to honoring the equivalent award in students’ subsequent years of college.

5. Lake Forest College (Lake Forest, Illinois)

“A whole lot of personal attention,” “great financial aid,” and “professors who really care about students” make a Lake Forest College education a great value. Lake Forest maintains a strong commitment to providing generous financial aid to qualified applicants. Best of all, LFC doesn’t overdo the student-loan thing. While many colleges and universities award student loans first, Lake Forest awards up to $10,500 in grants first. Only after this rather significant chunk of free money is exhausted does LFC resort to loans. The average need-based student loan for a first-year student ends up being under $4,000. And once you are admitted, Lake Forest is committed to maintaining its grant aid for all four years.

6. Claremont McKenna College (Claremont, California)

At CMC, “the Admissions Office does a good job of making sure that students are a good match for the college” and accepts students on a need-blind basis. All students attending CMC are awarded up to 100 percent of the financial aid they need, which averages close to $30,000. Although CMC's financial-aid program is primarily need-based, the school also offers academic scholarships. Institutional employment is available and off-campus job opportunities are excellent. Approximately 47 percent of the current freshman class received aid.

7. Wabash College (Crawfordsville, Indiana)

Students say “Wabash has a lot of money,” so it’s no wonder that the school can afford to distribute aid generously. In fact, Wabash ranks among the top 25 colleges and universities in the country in terms of endowment per student, and is one of the few schools that still guarantee that it will meet 100 percent of students’ demonstrated financial need. The school also famously offers $3 million worth of competitive academic scholarships on its Honor Scholarship Weekend, during which students travel to the school to take competitive exams (students outside a 300-mile radius of the school may be reimbursed for travel to and from the competition

8. Beloit College (Beloit, Wisconsin)

At Beloit, “There are lots of rich kids, but the school does a good job recruiting (and financing) students from lower socioeconomic classes.” Last year, Beloit forked out more than $17 million in scholarships and grants. Nearly 80 percent of freshmen and 77 percent of undergraduates receive need-based financial aid, with the average need-based financial aid package totaling $15,676. Beloit also awards more than $13 million annually in merit-based scholarships to underrepresented minorities and other students for stellar academic performance, leadership potential, and music or theater talent.

9. Cornell College (Mount Vernon, Iowa)

Many students cited their financial-aid package as being the factor that brought them to Cornell, a school where “Everyone is more than willing to help you out or point you in the right direction.” Competitive academic and fine-arts scholarships draw students, as does the school’s generous financial-aid policy. When a student receives an outside scholarship, Cornell College does not typically reduce gift aid, though the amount of and the ability to renew the outside scholarship are reviewed in relation to the college's need-based gift award. Seventy-three percent of freshmen receive need-based scholarship or grant aid.

10. College of the Atlantic (Bar Harbor, Maine)

At College of the Atlantic, students “have the opportunity to shape their own educations. Students who are self-motivated and enthusiastic can have an awesome experience here.” About 92 percent of COA students receive at least some form of financial aid. The school offers both need- and merit-based awards to a large number of students.

11 New College of Florida

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

12 Williams College

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

13 California Institute of Technology

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

14 Truman State University

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

15 Knox College

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

16 Grinnell College

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

17 Rice University

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

18 University of North Carolina at Asheville

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

19 Randolph College

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

20 Amherst College

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=728373&forum_id=1#9057942)

They confirm what others have long known:

"Princeton's endowment used to benefit low income"

(excerpt)

"Princeton's endowment is one every other college in the country dreams of," said Tony Pals, spokesman for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. "It's allowed them to keep their annual tuition increases below the national average year after year and to make investments in financial aid that have yet to be matched by any other school. It's also ensured that Princeton can provide its students with top-notch professors, cutting-edge facilities and the best learning resources in the world. Who wouldn't want that kind of money?"

Established in 1746 - it is one of the oldest colleges in the United States - and blessed with years of fruitful investments, the school has steadily built its endowment over the years, hitting the $1 billion mark in the early 1980s.

Though Princeton has used that money in many ways, its most groundbreaking endeavor was the sweeping overhaul of its financial aid program to attract more low- and middle-income students. Troubled that its student body was so skewed toward affluence, the school announced in 2001 that future aid recipients would no longer have to borrow to pay for college. Any loans to students qualifying for financial assistance would be replaced with grants that would not need to be repaid.

It was an unparalleled initiative - not only among the nation's most elite schools, but among American universities in general.

"The president of Princeton wanted to send the message that the school was open to all, regardless of economic circumstance," said Don Betterton, Princeton's director of financial aid. "We particularly wanted to reach high-ability, low-income students who might never have considered going to a school out of their state, much less an Ivy League school. The trustees firmly believe that low-income students are the most disadvantaged group in the country and need that affirmative action. It's also an important part of our educational mission to have a diverse student body, because students from all walks of life can learn from each other."

The approach worked. The year before the no-loan program went into effect, 38 percent of the freshman class received financial aid directly from the school. This year, the percent is 52, and it will increase to 54 with this fall's incoming Class of 2009. The number of low-income students (defined as having a family income less than $49,900) has more than doubled at Princeton in the last five years. At the same time, the average American student is saddled with $20,000 in debt for college loans.

Princeton's shift has, of course, come with a hefty price tag. Betterton says the new policy costs the school an additional $10 million to $12 million a year. It's the endowment that makes it possible. Of the school's $60 million scholarship budget, more than two-thirds comes from that cache of funds.

To be sure, Princeton also has used its endowment to upgrade facilities - academic, residential, cultural and athletic. And in the near future, the school also plans to use the money to enhance the creative arts on campus, endow professorships, secure computing and library resources and build new dorms and new facilities for the humanities, the sciences and engineering, among other things.

But the investment that has prompted the most notice is the effort to attract poorer students. That change comes at a time when more and more families are staggering from tuition sticker shock.

In the last 10 years, the bill for tuition and fees nationwide has pole-vaulted 86 percent, even as federal grants have fizzled and no longer keep up with the inflation rate.

Consequently, students (and their parents) who once chose colleges for their academic quality are increasingly selecting schools for value - balancing the caliber of education against out-of-pocket cost.

Private college leaders have responded to those concerns by ratcheting up their institutional grants. Twenty years ago, students at a private college received the same amount in federal aid as they did from the college itself. Today, private institutions give out four times as much grant money as the federal government. Overall, the average financial package for a student at a private college amounts to $18,000 a year a combination of loans and grants from federal, state and private sources.

Following Princeton's decision to fully cover its students' financial needs without loans, a handful of other institutions began reevaluating their aid policies, and some made changes, though none as stark as Princeton's. Dartmouth no longer requires loans for students whose families earn less than $45,000 per year, though it extends that offer only for their first year of enrollment. Harvard no longer expects families with incomes below $40,000 to contribute to their children's college tab. Amherst College, Rice University, Yale University and the University of Virginia provide similar plans.

Across the Hudson River, Columbia University, with an enrollment of about 24,000, says it spends more than $40 million on grants. Its endowment, reportedly $4.5 billion, helps foot the bill. Albert Horvath, executive vice president for finance, told the Columbia public affairs office in March the endowment has been growing strongly: Its investment portfolio, the largest part of the endowment, soared 16.9 percent over the past year.

Horvath said the university needs to put resources into financial aid and expensive research facilities for the basic sciences. "Our challenge is balancing long- and short-term needs and goals," he said.

But by and large, schools are headed in the opposite direction. Loans these days make up an increasing portion of student aid packages. Twenty-five years ago, grants made up two-thirds of all available aid, and loans made up one-third. Today, Princeton notwithstanding, those numbers have reversed."

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=728373&forum_id=1#9058326)

Math Rankings - Science Magazine

Mathematics: top ten

Science Magazine

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

2. Princeton University

3. University of Chicago

4. Harvard University

5. Stanford University

6. New York University

7. University of California Berkeley

8. California Institute of Technology

9. Cornell University

10. Yale University

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=728373&forum_id=1#9065833)

CommodoreLanzky = DMD11 = IvyWise = Bostonian = rctzx = CesslyP = the same old St. Lawrence troll.

14 posts in a thread, 12 of which are by the same troll under different screennames.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=728373&forum_id=1#9065892)

I am sorry THAT THERE IS NOT A SINGLE NATIONAL UNDERGRADUATE RANKING PUBLICATION OR NATIONAL COLLEGE GUIDE WHICH PLACES YALE AHEAD OF PRINCETON (including yale's own Annual College Guide published by the editors of the Yale Daily News) BUT THERE MAY BE A RANKING WHICH PLACES YALE AHEAD OF HARVARD.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=728373&forum_id=1#9066950)

"Top 10 Colleges with the Best Quality of Life"

A college education isn't just about the lessons learned in the classroom. The quality of life at school--from campus location, to the quality of food, to the friendliness of students--will determine whether the four years you spend as an undergraduate are memorable or miserably unforgettable. For the Best 366 Colleges: 2008 Edition, The Princeton Review surveyed 120,000 college students to find out how they rated the overall quality of life at their schools. The following ten schools came out on top.

1. Macalester College (Saint Paul, Minnesota)

Mac students often cite the Twin Cities as one of their main reasons for choosing the college. The area, they agree, is "very cool, with lots of opportunities for culture." Mac is located in Saint Paul, in "a great neighborhood for the bored college student, with lots of neat shops and restaurants and when we get tired of Grand Avenue, we can explore the rest of the Twin Cities with their stellar music scene and great sporting events."

Students who considered Macalester College also looked at Kenyon College, Grinnell College, Washington University in Saint Louis, and University of Wisconsin-Madison.

2. Bowdoin College (Brunswick, Maine)

Extracurriculars are part of the constant learning experience at Bowdoin College; students here "are always doing at least one if not ten things at a time." Physical activity is part of the mix and many students participate in Outing Club events, hiking, whitewater kayaking, and rafting at nearby parks. "It seems like almost everyone is on a sports team, so during the week most people find a release there." Students tell us that "on the weekends, there is a lot of partying (and with that comes a lot of alcohol)," but "it's not excessive."

Students who considered Bowdoin College also looked at Bates College, Brown University, Middlebury College, and Williams College.

3. Whitman College (Walla Walla, Washington)

Some students feel the town is "Whitman's biggest drawback," but many observe that "being in such a small town forces the campus life to be amazing." By most accounts, campus life is just that. One student reports, "There is always a ridiculous amount of things going on campus. Sometimes the trouble is choosing what you are going to do or having time to do all of the things you are interested in. There are tons of clubs (and some really odd ones, like the Ender's Game Alliance and the Flight Club) to get involved in and lots of musical performances, plays, parties, speakers, etc."

Students who considered Whitman College also looked at University of Washington, Gonzaga University, Pomona College, and Occidental College.

4. Princeton University (Princeton, New Jersey)

Eating clubs, a phenomenon unique to Princeton, "are the center of social life" at this "country-club-like school." One student explains how they work: "During daytime, the clubhouses serve as a place for upperclassmen to dine. (You don't have to join one because they are a bit costly.)" Many hail the clubs "as great places to party because there is always somewhere to fit in. Because everyone parties on one street it is impossible to go out and not see someone you know." Another adds, "The best part is that even though Princeton is a small town, there is a train station on campus that takes you to Philly or New York in 45 minutes."

Students who considered Princeton University also looked at Yale University, Harvard College, Stanford University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

5. St. Olaf College (Northfield, Minnesota)

At St. Olaf College, "Campus life is centered on campus, not in the town of Northfield." "While Northfield is an extremely nice town," students say, "we just don't get off campus much. Being on a hill creates what we call the St. Olaf Bubble--it's not the real world." It's also not a dull world. The school "has plenty of stuff going on. The student government brings in many activities--concerts, free movies, speakers--and it's not too hard to find something to do or someone to hang out with." Students here "tend to be active in some kind of organization."

Students who considered St. Olaf College also looked at Luther College, Carleton College, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, and Gustavus Adolphus College.

6. Rice University (Houston, Texas)

"Hands down, the residential colleges system and lack of Greek life make Rice an incomparably tight-knit, unique, spirited school," students here report. The colleges "dominate the social scene, holding parties almost weekly, usually with various themes such as its two largest: Night of Decadence (NOD) (synonymous with 'campus-wide undergarment party') and Bacchanalia, complete with togas. Other parties include 80s or Pimps and Hos. Each week a different college sponsors "Pub Night" with free drinks and pizza. Parties are well-attended, and dancing is very popular."

Students who considered Rice University also looked at Cornell University, Duke University, University of Texas-Austin, and University of Pennsylvania.

7. Washington University in St. Louis (St. Louis, Missouri)

Washington life strikes a balance of "great academics, good sports, a medium size, yummy food, a breathtaking campus, nice dorms, friendly people, and financial assistance." Students here are "extremely bright" and believe they have brains to spare if they decide to drink their weekends away. Though management has started down "a path to make the campus dry," undergrads are currently able to "break into a philosophical or political debate in the middle of a game of beer pong."

Students who considered Washington University in St. Louis also looked at Northwestern University, Emory University, Tulane University, and University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

. 8. Claremont McKenna College (Claremont, California)

"Some say CMC should stand for Club Med College, because it's fun in the sun and a great place to learn," but the nickname probably puts too much emphasis on "Club Med" and too little on "College." Students here work hard; they "focus intently on schoolwork Monday through Thursday, plus they usually have jobs on-campus doing anything from research to tutoring to technology assistance. They also know how to kick back and relax, though, often with the help of the administration, which "is very lenient in its alcohol policy, as long as we're all responsible with what we do."

Students who considered Claremont McKenna College also looked at Pomona College, Occidental College, Georgetown University, and University of Chicago.

9. University of Tulsa (Tulsa, Oklahoma)

"In general, academics come first for most students" at TU, "but many students enjoy unwinding on the weekends by going out to local bars (to hear several popular local bands), or heading to a nearby party." The Greek houses are popular party destinations, but so, too, are dorm rooms, off-campus apartments, and the greater Tulsa area, where "there is a burgeoning bar and nightclub scene downtown." The party scene is happening without getting out of hand, students tell us. One undergrad explains, "TU is pretty laid-back in my opinion because they trust us to be adults, and we haven't abused their confidence so far."

Students who considered University of Tulsa also looked at University of Kansas, Oklahoma State University, Trinity University, and Tulane University.

10. Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering (Needham, Massachusetts)

A popular saying used to describe student life at Olin goes like this: "Choose two: work, sleep, fun." The majority of students choose the first and the last because "an Oliner at rest is an unhappy Oliner." The "entrepreneurial spirit is strong" here, leading many people to choose to spend what little free time they have "working on cool projects" like "hacking the thermostat in their room" and "playing with lasers and circuits." Another student remarks, "There are definitely typical college parties with drinking games," and "Clubs and student organizations put on a lot of activities."

Students who considered Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering also looked at Rice University, Cornell University, Carnegie Mellon University, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=728373&forum_id=1#9130224)

The opening scene of the popular teen movie "The Princess Diaries" opens with a Princeton graduation ceremony. Shown graduating is Princess Amelia "Mia", main character in the "Princess Diaries". She was the Princess of Genovia.

'The "Fairytale Formula" works for Disney yet again!,'

Reviewer: randomartco "period film aficionado" (Studio City, CA) - See all my reviews

A fairytale dreamland. A Princess. Prince Charming. A stunning castle. Once again, Disney used the formula and got it right. In the adorable sequel to 2001's The Princess Diaries,"Anne Hathaway returns as Amelia Minonette Thermopolis Renaldi. She's still gawky, she's still clumsy, but she's now turning 21 years old and is a bit more mature.

A recent graduate of Princeton, Mia is now moving to Genovia to learn how to rule; her grandmother Queen Clarisse Renaldi (Julie Andrews, in a wonderful reprisal role) will have to teach her poise, decorum and diplomacy before stepping down as queen of Genovia, so Mia can be crowned. Best friend Lily (Heather Matarazzo) is attending Berkeley, and Mia and Lily's brother Michael (Robert Schwartzman) are now just friends, as Michael is off touring the country with his band. When Mia arrives in Genovia only to learn that another person is eligible for her crown, and that by Parliament's rule she must marry before 30 days is up or forfeit her crown, she is stunned! Mia has always wanted to marry for love, and who can possibly expect someone to fall in love in just 30 days?

In Mia's search for an eligible Prince Charming she comes across a lovely young man named Andrew Jacoby (Callum Blue) from England, who is perfect for her in every way: but can she love him? Another is in her path as well: a guy named Nicholas (Chris Pine), with whom she dances briefly at her birthday ball (she flirts with him mildly). When Mia discovers shortly thereafter that "Sir" Nicholas is actually THE Lord Devereaux that is trying to steal her crown, she is quite upset! Nicholas's evil uncle Viscount Mabrey (Jonathan Rhys-Davies) is determined that his nephew should rule Genovia -- after all, Nicholas was born and raised in Genovia, and knows more about the people than "the American born" Mia ever could.

With time running out and pressure from all sides for this "arranged marriage", Mia must overcome a few large obstacles: she must familiarize herself with the long-standing traditions of Genovia (such as shoot a flaming arrow through a ring on the night before her coronation), as well as learn how to be politic in dealing with sticky situations. Falling into a fountain, nearly shooting many people with arrows, stamping her heel on a young man's foot, climbing down ivy from her window and much more could hardly be considered ladylike behavior: but who has time to be genteel and ladylike when you only have 30 days to fall in love and marry?

In Disney style, this G offering has very little objectionable content: there is no bad language to speak of. There is a moment where a girl and a guy wake up together under a tree, but it is adamantly declared that nothing has happened. There is mild flirting, a few temper tantrums (understandable ones), and little else. This movie is so clean, that I would encourage you to take young children to see it! Some may say that it comes off flat and boring, but I didn't find it so. It wasn't quite as funny as I expected or as fast-paced as the first, but the storyline is simply adorable, and what I heard termed once as "gentle fun." Anne Hathaway gives another great performance as the oft-clumsy Mia; Julie Andrews is positively charming as always as the elegant and refined Queen of Genovia, and even regales us with a tune in this film: every bit of the price of admission is worth it, just for this. The other actors do a fine job as well, pulling off a cute and not-too-cheesy Disney fairy tale sequel.

And of course, what kind of fairy tale would this be if Mia and her Prince Charming didn't live happily ever after, so of course, you can expect a happy ending: but WHICH Prince Charming she will choose is an entirely different matter altogether!

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=728373&forum_id=1#9135161)

Author: AliasPDW

Subject: More On Hoxby's Revealed Preferences Analysis

I did some surfing around the internet and found additional information which, in my opinion, further casts a shadow over Professor Hoxby’s Revealed Preference study of admissions practices at Harvard, MIT and Princeton. As described in the posting immediately above, recruited varsity athletes constitute a significant proportion of the student bodies at Harvard and especially at Princeton, while MIT nominally does not give preferential treatment to prospective athletes.

Harvard and Princeton run the two largest sports programs in Division I. Princeton’s undergraduate size is about 72% of Harvard’s, so I think it is safe to conclude that the percentage of students who are varsity athletes is higher at Princeton than at any other college in the country.

Here are two eye-opening statistics I found which speak to the fact that, not only are there MORE athletes at Princeton, they are also quantifiably BETTER athletes, at least compared to the other Ivies.

First, Princeton has won the Ivy League’s “all-sports championship” for 21 consecutive years. (This all-sports designation is calculated by awarding 8 points for a title in any sport, 7 points to the runner-up, etc.) Second, for the past 14 years, in a conference which names champions in 33 sports, Princeton has averaged 11 championships per year.

Those are staggering numbers. Think about the dominance suggested when, in a conference with eight members, a single program wins a full one-third of all the titles over the course of 14 years. I think even a serious college sports fan would be hard pressed to name another program at any level which dominates its conference in similar fashion. (Interestingly, two which at least come close are Stanford and Williams, both also highly respected for their academics.)

I am not a proponent of the “Soviet Union-East Germany School of Sports Marketing,” which implies that success in athletics reflects some institutional virtue. This posting is not to say that Princeton is a better university because its teams win so consistently. However, I am saying that Professor Hoxby made a glaring oversight by not considering the impact of recruiting for athletes when analyzing admissions practices. I would have expected her research to control for this obvious externality.

Professor Hoxby is currently in the process of trying to get her Revealed Preferences working paper accepted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. It will be interesting to see if she succeeds. I would demand more rigorous analysis from an Ivy League undergraduate writing his senior thesis, to say nothing of a tenured economics professor.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=728373&forum_id=1#9218246)

Alexander Macmillan is

GROSSSSSS

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=728373&forum_id=1#9218662)

I'm amazed that Princeton would admit insecure dolts like this...but hey, I'm sure you did great on the SAT.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=728373&forum_id=1#9229587)

Washington, D.C. - The Partnership for Public Service today announced that they have joined with Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs in a new initiative, “Scholars in the Nation's Service,” to encourage more of the nation's best and brightest students to pursue careers in the U.S. federal government, especially in the international relations arena.

The six-year program, to begin in a student's junior year in college, will include a summer federal government internship, approximately two years of federal government service after college, and a master's degree in public affairs (MPA) from the Wilson School.

The Washington, D.C.-based Partnership for Public Service, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to revitalizing public service, and The Woodrow Wilson School will work with the scholars before graduation to match their skills with substantive work in federal agencies, with a special emphasis on international affairs careers. After their two-year tour in government, scholars will return to the School to earn an MPA degree.

Max Stier, President and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, said, “We are delighted to help match civic-minded students with unique opportunities in federal service. These outstanding scholars will gain invaluable experience that will launch their careers, while the federal government will benefit from an infusion of fresh talent and ideas.”

“This ‘Scholars in the Nation's Service' program is a direct response to the critical need in this country to attract greater numbers of talented students to careers in the federal government,” said Anne-Marie Slaughter, dean of the Woodrow Wilson School. “All the efforts of the non-profit sector and the private sector cannot substitute for a strong and competent government committed to finding and implementing solutions to public problems.

“For many years, public officials and other leaders have expressed concern that government service does not compete successfully when our very best students nationwide are making their career plans, a concern that has grown more acute in recent years as many government employees approach retirement age” Slaughter added. “‘Princeton in the Nation's Service,' the University's informal motto, encompasses many different kinds of service but at the core of public service, as Woodrow Wilson knew, is government service. This is the training the Woodrow Wilson School provides at the graduate level; this is the commitment we now seek to foster at the undergraduate level through this new program.”

The purposes of the program, modeled after the Rhodes and Marshall Scholars, are twofold. The first is to ensure that a wide range of Princeton undergraduates, and eventually undergraduates at other colleges and universities, appreciate the range and impact of positions available to them in government service. The second is to provide exceptional students with opportunities to experience government service first-hand and to gain the skills they need to succeed in government positions.

Scholars in the Nation's Service will be selected based on superior academic performance, a proven track record of accomplishment, and a demonstrated commitment to government service, with emphasis on those areas of the federal government that are concerned with international relations and affairs.

The nonprofit, nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service was established in 2001 to improve government performance by transforming the way government works and inspiring a new generation of Americans to enter government service.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=728373&forum_id=1#9332353)

http://www.transitionsabroad.com/publications/magazine/9707/top_ten_graduate_programs_for_international_jobs.shtml

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=728373&forum_id=1#9333785)

Hint: you aren't. This type of post is pathetic.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=728373&forum_id=1#9353619)

it's not difficult.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=728373&forum_id=1#9375468)

What's wrong, DMD11? Nothing else to do with your degree?

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=728373&forum_id=1#9377839)

Nope, this guy definitely didn't come out of any Ivies.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=728373&forum_id=1#9390588)

Oh, even if he did never make that claim, his stupidity is obvious to everyone. Maybe "he" should go back to grammar school and then come back and lecture us about colleges.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=728373&forum_id=1#9394163)

The Fields Medal, considered the Nobel Prize of math, has been awarded quadrennially since 1936 by the International Congress of Mathematicians to recognize outstanding mathematics achievement.

Schools/Institutions Receiving Fields Medals

1. princeton (6)

2. institute for advanced study (princeton, nj) (5)

2. paris (assuming you can aggregate the individual campuses) (5)

4. cambridge (4)

4. harvard (4)

4. institut des hautes etudes scientifiques (4)

7. berkeley (2)

7. MIT (2)

7. moscow (2)

7. oxford (2)

11. 11 others (1)

* Most recent (2006) winners:

Andrei Okounkov (Princeton University),

Grigori Perelman* (St. Petersburg, Russia),

Terence Tao (University of California, Los Angeles), Wendelin Werner (University of Paris–South)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=728373&forum_id=1#9403694)

Makes sense!!

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=728373&forum_id=1#9549198)

http://tigernet.princeton.edu/~ptoniana/washington.asp

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=728373&forum_id=1#9624512)

http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2005/03/29/student_life_at_harvard_lags_peer_schools_poll_finds/

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=728373&forum_id=1#9641670)

By Marcella Bombardieri, Boston Globe Staff

Student satisfaction at Harvard College ranks near the bottom of a group of 31 elite private colleges, according to an analysis of survey results that finds that Harvard students are disenchanted with the faculty and social life on campus.

An internal Harvard memo, obtained by the Globe, provides numerical data that appear to substantiate some long-held stereotypes of Harvard: that undergraduate students often feel neglected by professors, and that they don't have as much fun as peers on many other campuses.

The group of 31 colleges, known as the Consortium on Financing Higher Education, or COFHE, includes all eight Ivy League schools, other top research universities like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford, and small colleges like Amherst and Wellesley.

''Harvard students are less satisfied with their undergraduate educations than the students at almost all of the other COFHE schools," according to the memo, dated Oct. 2004 and marked ''confidential." ''Harvard student satisfaction compares even less favorably to satisfaction at our closest peer institutions."

The 21-page memo, from staff researchers at Harvard to academic deans, documents student dissatisfaction with faculty availability, quality of instruction, quality of advising, and student life factors such as sense of community and social life on campus.

The raw data used in the memo come from surveys of graduating seniors in 2002, but are the most recent comparison available and are still consulted by Harvard administrators. On a five-point scale, Harvard students' overall satisfaction comes out to 3.95, compared to an average of 4.16 for the other 30 COFHE schools. Although the difference appears small, Harvard officials say they take the ''satisfaction gap" very seriously.

Only four schools scored lower than Harvard, but the schools were not named. (COFHE data are supposed to be confidential.) The memo also notes that Harvard's ''satisfaction gap" has existed since at least 1994.

''I think we have to concede that we are letting our students down," said Lawrence Buell, an English professor and former dean of undergraduate education. ''Our standard is that Harvard shoots to be the very best. If it shoots to be the very best in terms of research productivity and the stature of its faculty, why should it not shoot to be the very best in terms of the quality of the education that it delivers?"

Harvard officials refused to comment on the survey, but noted that they are already working to address the issues underscored by the data. They also said their internal numbers have improved since 2002. President Lawrence H. Summers has also spoken repeatedly about the need for students to have more opportunity to get to know their professors.

In a report released last April as part of an ongoing review of Harvard's curriculum, the need for more interaction between students and faculty was mentioned repeatedly''Harvard College should be known not only as an institution in which students can sit in lecture halls to learn from faculty who make original contributions to knowledge, but also as a place where they may encounter, and challenge, these scholars directly in seminar and small class settings," the report said.

But right now, students can go through four years on campus with limited contact with professors. They often take large lecture classes, divided into sections headed by graduate student ''teaching fellows." Small classes are frequently taught by temporary instructors instead of regular, tenure-track professors. And in many cases, advisers are not professors, either, but graduate students, administrators, or full-time advisers.

''I've definitely had great professors, but most of the time you have to chase them down and show initiative if you want to get to know them," said Kathy Lee, a junior majoring in psychology. ''I've had a lot of trouble getting to know enough faculty to get the recommendations I need for medical school."

On the five-point scale, Harvard students gave an average score of 2.92 on faculty availability, compared to an average 3.39 for the other COFHE schools. Harvard students gave a 3.16 for quality of instruction, compared to a 3.31 for the other schools, and a 2.54 for quality of advising in their major, compared to 2.86 for the other schools.

Students gave Harvard a 2.62 for social life on campus, compared to a 2.89 for the other schools, and a 2.53 for sense of community, compared to 2.8.

Harvard Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences William C. Kirby recently said that Harvard's ratio of students to tenured and tenure-track faculty is 11-to-1, compared to an 8-1 ratio at Princeton University. Harvard has already boosted the number of faculty by 10 percent in the last five years, from 610 to 672 professors, in part to improve the student-faculty ratio. Kirby's plan now is to expand the faculty to 750 by 2010, and possibly to 800 after that.

In the meantime, Harvard is trying to offer more intimate classroom settings. For example, four years ago it offered only about 30 small seminar classes for freshmen. This year there are 115, most taught by senior faculty, according to Dean of the College Benedict H. Gross.

Students' experiences also vary widely from department to department. Some of the most popular -- and thus overburdened -- majors, such as economics or government, have fairly low ratings on internal student surveys, while small majors like classics and philosophy get better ratings.

On the social front, students complain that Harvard lacks places where students can socialize and has so many rules that it is difficult to hold a party on-campus, where almost all undergraduates live.

The Harvard administration has also been working hard in the last few years to improve social life. The school has been experimenting with popular ''pub nights" on some Fridays, and has allowed campus parties to stay open an hour later, until 2 a.m. They have tried other novelty programs from dodge ball tournaments to speed dating, and doubled the amount of athletic equipment in the main gym used by undergraduates.

Many students are pessimistic that the curriculum review is going to change what some call ''a culture of mutual avoidance," where students and faculty often don't make an effort to meet. Professors and students alike also say there's a hurried and stressful atmosphere on campus that can get in the way of building mentor relationships. After all, Harvard has been trying to improve teaching and advising for years, long before the current administration.

Matt Glazer, president of the student government, said it's hard to have much confidence in the administration's commitment to fixing the problems.

''When the system that has dismal advising is giving recommendations on how to make advising better, the question is why aren't they doing that right now?" Glazer said.

http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2005/03/29/student_life_at_harvard_lags_peer_schools_poll_finds/

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=728373&forum_id=1#9656728)