Would you rather go to colorado college or Western State/Adams state?

HRE wrote:

One of my son's and I looked at Colorado College somewhat seriously. For my part, I'd take Western State. CC does some weird thing with the way you take their classes, can't recall exactly what. I think you do something like take one course and no others everyday for three(?) weeks. I'd hate that. And I'm not at all into "prestige" schools so that would be a non-factor for me.

You may not be into "prestige" schools but, like it or not, many employers and graduate programs are very influenced by a school's reputation.

Colorado College without question!

Western and Adams are both teachers colleges. They were both set up to train school teachers for rural Colorado. Though they offer options for more than that-that remains their reason for being. There are lots of rural school districts in the Colorado, and they need teachers.

Colorado College is at another level--though the only people who would consider it a "junior" ivy league school-are those who went there. It's not particularly selective-though far more so than Adams or Western which are open enrollment to any high school graduate. Like DU, I would say the perception of CC is that it is a rich kid school-that will take anyone's money. Most Daddies who are planning on spending $200K for college will not spend that money on a child who scores 1000 on the SAT. CC and DU are filled with upper class and upper middle class kids-many from the northeast- who are not smart enough to get into Stanford, or Columbia or Yale, or perhaps even second tier schools like Amherst--but they are too precious in their own or their family's eyes to go to a state school-even a flagship state school.

Western and Adams are filled with kids from rural southern and western Colorado who graduated in the top half of their class, but not the top 10%. The top 10% go to CU or CSU or UNC.

CU Boulder is far from a "joke"

While I agree with your upper middle or upper class assessment, you're being a jack*ss when it comes to ranking these schools. If you're smart you'll do fine anywhere.

Amherst is NOT a baby Ivy either. I bet you ran d3 at one of those northeast ones (Amherst, Colby, bates, tufts).

Adams and Western aren't great but not bad either

Depends on what you plan on majoring in.

There are only a handful of majors where it matters where you went to school. Even then it only matters for the elite. So if you're going for a professional degree, then yeah it matters some but not much.

Alan

None of the above? CC is an over-priced liberal arts college (seriously lacking in useful degrees in science or engineering). Western and Adams are decent D2 running schools but offer little else academically (unless you want to go into teaching or nursing) or socially (although Gunnison is a great place if you enjoy getting outdoors). CU and CSU are far better academically and are better towns to go to college. I figure if you can get into CC, then you can get into CSU or CU.

if you had to pick wrote:

everyone PREFERS this, but what about the loss in academic prestige?

Prestige is vastly overrated.

I'd pick the school where you feel you'll be the most happy.

joedirt wrote:

None of the above? CC is an over-priced liberal arts college (seriously lacking in useful degrees in science or engineering). Western and Adams are decent D2 running schools but offer little else academically (unless you want to go into teaching or nursing) or socially (although Gunnison is a great place if you enjoy getting outdoors). CU and CSU are far better academically and are better towns to go to college. I figure if you can get into CC, then you can get into CSU or CU.

Or Colorado School of Mines if you want to be an engineer or related field. Good academics, good location (mountains + proximity to Denver), and a good running program.

Look into the non-academic stuff at each school. I live in COS and CC is a strange place.

The block system of taking 1 class for several weeks is different. Some will like it, others will not.

It is a pretty PC place. For a liberal arts school I guess freedom of speech is just something in a book. (Yes, it is a private school so not exactly subject to First Amendment protections, but this situation really was overblown.)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/colorado-college-yik-yak_us_56718ab1e4b0648fe301b019

Do not dare ridicule anyone. Of course ridicule is in the eye of the beholder.

Oh, those colleges rankings are not really all that valid. Colleges game the system to raise their standing.