Before I get started discussing this topic, no, I will probably not do a list of top 10 US universities with the most downsides or the top 10 list of the most overrated US universities. If you read some of my previous posts, you probably already figured out what your favorite permanent contrarian is all about. If I had a choice, all things being equal or slightly unequal, I would select colleges with names of alpha-ish cities as a central part of their names. I would also choose overall university prestigious over “major” or “school/division” prestige. If a school is overall prestigious, I believe all their offerings will likely revert to the mean eventually, meaning they will eventually be ballparkish great too regardless their current state due to resources expended and prestige of the parent brand. I would prefer to choose majors that are skills specific versus industry specific which means I will probably not choose those overly interdisciplinary sounding majors. I would also choose schools with amazing athletics as those are amenities and traditions that build a strong alumni network, increase giving rate and endowments which eventually translate to hire rankings and better job prospects for new graduates from the university.
I believe the best bang for the buck private schools are in the “Upper-Atlantic” regional colleges and universities. Many of these school do become “national research universities.” For those who want a state college experience and save some money, I believe some of the supposed “second tier” state college systems in the “bi-costal” areas may hold a lot of value. Many people fantasize living or visiting alpha-ish cities which likely include future interviewers and recruiters. I say this because doing so is essentially trying to squeeze a dime out of a dollar which means one can not be too choosy in many aspects including where to work geographically wise after graduation from college. Staying locally is probably not the best choice as in any competitive world-class super alpha US cities will likely have numerous top schools including Ivies or Ivy Equivalents. However, play the “diversity game” when one is go for broke through prestige arbitrage. Local recruiters from prestigious firms probably know the local landscape well and probably recruit where many of their top employees graduated from. Let’s be honest, if you are employing this strategy, it likely mean you either sucked as a student for whatever legitimate reasons you believe to true, don’t have the resources to go to a more prestigious school or both. Admitting and recognizing these facts and swallowing your pride is the first step to possibly succeed in utilizing this strategy. Obviously you may already hit rock bottom from academic standpoint, you may need to maintain a respectable GPA and possibly gain a top leadership position within a prestigious student organization at your school. I think some private universities in the 40-80 range as ranked by a not to be named popular undergraduate school ranking list may be undervalued gems from a potential higher future prestige standpoint. Because these schools are already in the “big league,” their prestige surge may be “trajectorally” different in exponential growth than the previously abovementioned types of universities. These schools may require marginally more resources or efforts to get into, however I think the upsides are much higher than the abovementioned types of good value schools.
I personally believe many public universities are ranked too high due to non-academic reasons at this time contrary to current/potential future MEI trends. Too many of these high public school rankings are likely based on grand sounding achievements that in actuality does not benefit those it is not trying to benefit and likely won’t benefit those who it is trying to benefit in the long-run due to human nature and “The John Locke versus Thomas Hobbes problem.” Delaying the natural evolutionary process or creating man-made interventions may or may not work from a historical standpoint. I think it is quite clearly DEI or MEI is currently winning in the last year or two from an admissions standpoint. The statistics increasingly show high productivity from these seemingly admission related MEI decisions in academia, business, society etc.
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Below are my top 10 US Universities with tremendous upsides for a non-elite student list:
- A particular former regional university in the Northeastern with well-known athletics and academics that may present a prestigious arbitrage opportunity for the right person
- A particular 40-80 overall ranked school as per a certain popular undergraduate ranking list
- Certain public school with one of the three major Alpha/Alpha++ US cities as the central part of its name
- Certain public school with one of the three major Alpha/Alpha++ US cities as the central part of its name
- Certain public school with one of the three major Alpha/Alpha++ US cities as the central part of its name
- Certain public school with one of the three major Alpha/Alpha++ US cities as the central part of its name
- Certain public school with one of the three major Alpha/Alpha++ US cities as the central part of its name
- Certain public school with one of the three major Alpha/Alpha++ US cities as the central part of its name
- Certain public school with one of the three major Alpha/Alpha++ US cities as the central part of its name
- Certain public school with one of the three major Alpha/Alpha++ US cities as the central part of its name
Ultimately I believe one’s attitude toward life is a big part of one’s potential success(es) or lack of success(es).