Most Over-Ranked/Under-Ranked Schools Forum

[JOThompson]

I admit that I felt the same way before actually visiting the school, but I ultimately found Iowa City to be a pretty fun college town. The biggest real grievance I see is the lack of a strong home market. If you look at the placement numbers though, the vast majority of Iowa grads find work outside the state.

[chris888777]

What makes Iowa over ranked? The Judicial and Peer scores are great, employment prospects are excellent and their academics/faculty or top notch. I don't think they should be ranked much above 25 but their numbers, assessments and employment prospects seem just right for a school ranked 25-30.

[quetzalcoatl]

I think texas tech is under rated. Nearly identical 25th-75th numbers as 80 ranked LSU and they are not even T2. I know Lubbock sux, but Ill bet they will make the top 100 in the next 3-5 years. Nebraska made the jump and I think tech will be following soon.

[texas man]

I think texas tech is under rated. Nearly identical 25th-75th numbers as 80 ranked LSU and they are not even T2. I know Lubbock sux, but Ill bet they will make the top 100 in the next 3-5 years. Nebraska made the jump and I think tech will be following soon.

I actually like Lubbock - I know there are differing opinions on this - just wanted to let people know there are 2 sides. I'm with you on everything else.

[webbylu87]

I can't quite understand the Iowa hate that so often pervades these boards. The school isn't particularly selective for a T1, but its placement stats are similar to other regional schools like Minnesota, Illinois, or University of Washington. What am I missing?

The fact that the school is in Iowa.

I personally have nothing against Iowa, but many people only think of fields, toothlessness, corn mash, and big offensive lineman/bad big 10 football when they hear the name Iowa.

I'm from Iowa and I don't even know what the hell corn mash is. Regarding the toothlessness issue, that's a Southern thing as far as I'm concerned.

With that said, I don't doubt that Iowa is a place not everyone can love or see themselves living in. Hell, I grew up here and I have a serious love/hate relationship with the state. But, the school's placement stats are pretty decent.

[sdv]

Pitt. Closest T1 geographically is Ohio State, and the next closest is Georgetown (really). Unquestioned, unchallenged dominant placement in its region, which also happens to be the most livable city in America, and houses 2 of the top 20 NLJ 250.

[Slimpee]

Iowa is only considered "overranked" on TLS because it's LSAT median is lower than peer schools. Boom. That's it. Placement and assessment scores are similar.

Also, from '87-'99 Iowa's avg. USNWR rank was 21.3. From '00-'08 Iowa's avg. was 22.72. Source Since then Iowa has been ranked 26-28. Nope, Iowa is right about where it should be...

Source

[TTH]

Gonna be an OSU troll and say OSU is under-ranked.

ftfm. Go Buckeyes.

[OnWisconsin]

I can't quite understand the Iowa hate that so often pervades these boards. The school isn't particularly selective for a T1, but its placement stats are similar to other regional schools like Minnesota, Illinois, or University of Washington. What am I missing?

The fact that the school is in Iowa.

I personally have nothing against Iowa, but many people only think of fields, toothlessness, corn mash, and big offensive lineman/bad big 10 football when they hear the name Iowa.

I'm from Iowa and I don't even know what the hell corn mash is. Regarding the toothlessness issue, that's a Southern thing as far as I'm concerned.

With that said, I don't doubt that Iowa is a place not everyone can love or see themselves living in. Hell, I grew up here and I have a serious love/hate relationship with the state. But, the school's placement stats are pretty decent.

I agree, the cornmash comment is based on moonshine production (a well documented Southern pass time/occupation/spring board to NASCAR racing).


The toothlessness on the other hand...well, that's just meth.

http://www.dailyiowan.com/2009/07/22/Arts/12162.html

[webbylu87]

The toothlessness on the other hand...well, that's just meth.

http://www.dailyiowan.com/2009/07/22/Arts/12162.html

Fair. We do so enjoy our meth.

[deadpanic]

Overranked:
Alabama
Minnesota
IU-B
American
Arizona State
Pepperdine
Miami


Underranked (or not ranked):
T3 schools-
South Carolina
Ole Miss
Memphis
Louisville
Wyoming
Montana
Idaho
Cleveland State

[3 Stripes]

Overrated:
Cornell
Iowa
Notre Dame
Boston College
Emory

Underrated:
Howard
Hastings
George Mason
American
Southern Methodist
Maryland
UConn
Temple
Rutgers-Newark
Northeastern

[D. H2Oman]

Overrated:
Northwestern

Underrated:
Georgetown

[SaintClarence27]

Over Ranked:

Duke
UVA
UPenn
Michigan
BOALT
NYU
GW
WUSTL
USC
Vanderbilt
UT
UCLA
GULC

Underranked:

Northwestern
UIUC

[Aqualibrium]

I think texas tech is under rated. Nearly identical 25th-75th numbers as 80 ranked LSU and they are not even T2. I know Lubbock sux, but Ill bet they will make the top 100 in the next 3-5 years. Nebraska made the jump and I think tech will be following soon.

LSU is the flagship university in the state. Nebraska is also the flagship university in its state. Texas Tech is just an also ran in Texas though.

[Aqualibrium]

I can't quite understand the Iowa hate that so often pervades these boards. The school isn't particularly selective for a T1, but its placement stats are similar to other regional schools like Minnesota, Illinois, or University of Washington. What am I missing?

The fact that the school is in Iowa.

I personally have nothing against Iowa, but many people only think of fields, toothlessness, corn mash, and big offensive lineman/bad big 10 football when they hear the name Iowa.

I'm from Iowa and I don't even know what the hell corn mash is. Regarding the toothlessness issue, that's a Southern thing as far as I'm concerned.

With that said, I don't doubt that Iowa is a place not everyone can love or see themselves living in. Hell, I grew up here and I have a serious love/hate relationship with the state. But, the school's placement stats are pretty decent.

I think the original question was why there is such a negative image of the school despite its placement stats. My response was not meant to be taken for its truth; I was simply pointing out that there are certain states that will always have image problems, even if people have to pull reasons out of their ass.

[holydonkey]

Over Ranked:

Duke
UVA
UPenn
Michigan
BOALT
NYU
GW
WUSTL
USC
Vanderbilt
UT
UCLA
GULC

That's some amazing Cornell trolling.

[Mattalones]

Fordham = Most under ranked school this year

[MoS]

Pitt. Closest T1 geographically is Ohio State, and the next closest is Georgetown (really). Unquestioned, unchallenged dominant placement in its region, which also happens to be the most livable city in America, and houses 2 of the top 20 NLJ 250.

Is UPENN not close to Pitt?

[jayn3]

Overranked:
Alabama
Minnesota
IU-B
American
Arizona State
Pepperdine

Underranked (or not ranked):
T3 schools-
South Carolina
Ole Miss
Memphis
Louisville
Wyoming
Montana
Idaho
Cleveland State

ok, a couple people have listed minnesota. reasoning?

[Aqualibrium]

Also, I really don't see how Howard is underrated.

For obvious reasons, the top 20% or so of their class places well, but their incoming numbers are low, scholly requirements are insane, 40% of their students don't pass the bar, they don't have a very large selection of course, the facilities (aside from the library) are poor, the administration is a disorganized mess, and the professors don't mind telling you over and over that the school/administration are a mess.

That is my opinion though. Although I suppose I could just be a self loathing black guy/uncle tom (pre-emptive strike for all you urm's out there that think it is sacrilege to hold yourself to as high a standard as is expected for the rest of society).

[romothesavior]

Over Ranked:

Duke
UVA
UPenn
Michigan
BOALT
NYU
GW
WUSTL
USC
Vanderbilt
UT
UCLA
GULC

Underranked:

Northwestern
UIUC

So wait... 6 of the top-10 are overranked and 6 of the 11-20 schools are overranked? Including Vanderbilt, which is the only school to increase its NLJ 250 numbers this year?

[arhmcpo]

Over Ranked
'Bama (relies on being the T1 for its state but what does it offer besides that?)
U San Diego (High tuition, Scholarship aid not great, feeds its grad into small deflated SD Market)
Miami
Chapman (see below but they openly talk at their school about gaming the rankings to go from T4-dom to like 90)

Under Ranked
Hastings (For Reasons already repeated in this thread)
UCLA
Southwestern (Hey if Chapman can get in the T100 I don't see why not)
Fordham

[SaintClarence27]

Pitt. Closest T1 geographically is Ohio State, and the next closest is Georgetown (really). Unquestioned, unchallenged dominant placement in its region, which also happens to be the most livable city in America, and houses 2 of the top 20 NLJ 250.

Is UPENN not close to Pitt?

It's like 320+ miles away.

[SaintClarence27]

Over Ranked:

Duke
UVA
UPenn
Michigan
BOALT
NYU
GW
WUSTL
USC
Vanderbilt
UT
UCLA
GULC

Underranked:

Northwestern
UIUC

So wait... 6 of the top-10 are overranked and 6 of the 11-20 schools are overranked? Including Vanderbilt, which is the only school to increase its NLJ 250 numbers this year?

Crap. Forgot to include Cornell in the overranked section. Apparently my moving NU and IL up that far was too subtle.