Hey folks, I've started my college research and I'm curious, what are some of the most popular colleges among high school students right now? Is there a 'popular kids' list for colleges?
When it comes to "popular" or "desirable" colleges, discussions often center around highly selective institutions and public universities known for their strong academics and vibrant student life. Keep in mind that the 'popularity' of a college can vary greatly depending on individual student interests, their intended major, location preferences, cost considerations, and much more.
That being said, some of the highly sought-after universities in the United States include:
1. The Ivy League: This is a group of eight prestigious universities located in the Northeast. They are renowned for their rigorous academics, elite faculty, and a plethora of resources. The Ivies comprise Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Brown, Dartmouth, Cornell, and the University of Pennsylvania.
2. Stanford and MIT: These two universities are globally recognized for their excellence in technology, engineering, and sciences. They also have renowned programs in other fields, and they offer students vibrant campus cultures and opportunities to participate in cutting-edge research.
3. University of California system: The UC system includes several highly-ranked and popular institutions such as UC Berkeley and UCLA. These public universities are noted for strong academics across a wide range of disciplines and their commitment to both research and teaching.
4. Liberal Arts Colleges: Schools like Amherst, Williams, Swarthmore, and Pomona offer students a liberal arts education, characterized by small class sizes, strong faculty-student relationships, and a broad-based academic curriculum.
Remember, though, popularity or prestige should not be the only criteria when choosing a college. The best fit for you will be a place where you can thrive academically and socially, as well as align with your career goals and financial circumstances.
One way to find a college that might be great for you is by using college search tools, like the one offered by CollegeVine, where you can filter schools by average GPA, test scores, extracurriculars, and preferences to get a personalized list of colleges that would be a good match for you.
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.