What's the most popular college nowadays?

I know there are so many great colleges, but out of all of them, which one is the most popular? I'm wondering which school students generally dream of going to. Any insights would be greatly appreciated.

Measuring the "popularity" of a college can be a tad subjective, as different students are drawn to different aspects of colleges, like academic programs, location, campus culture, and community. More broadly, you could define popularity in terms of application numbers. In this sense, colleges that receive a high volume of applications like Stanford University, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and Harvard University might be seen as especially "popular."

However, if you're thinking in terms of the "dream school" category, this can still greatly depend on the individual students, their aspirations, and interests. Some students dream of attending Ivy League institutions like Harvard, Yale, or Princeton, due to their prestige and rigorous academics. Others might dream of schools known for specific strong programs, like Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for engineering or Stanford for computer science.

Yet, other factors matter too. Schools with successful sports or arts programs often feature prominently in students' dream lists. For instance, Duke University, with its prestigious basketball program, might be a dream for some sports enthusiasts, while The Julliard School could be an art student's top choice.

Lastly, some students put a lot of weight on location. University of Southern California (USC) and University of California, Berkeley (Cal) might be dream schools for those who are drawn to the lifestyle and opportunities on the West Coast.

In summary, ask different students what their dream school is and you're likely to get a wide variety of answers. Schools' popularity can greatly depend on the unique mix of factors that each student values most in their education.