Say it loud! Say it proud! Or do you say anything at all? The Unigo Guide to College Sinners and Saints knows which schools are busting out all over with Pride and which are too Humble to get their brag on.
HUMILITY: These schools know college rankings ain’t nothin’ but a number. For a high-quality campus with low-wattage ego, check out these humble winners.
Mount Holyoke College (South Hadley, MA):
The ladies at all-women’s college Mount Holyoke don’t feel pressure to prove anything to anyone but themselves. "Mt. Holyoke is different because its student body, which is a large population of smart women, are very comfortable with each other,” writes one student. You won’t find any slackers at this prestigious school—these women honestly love their academic pursuits. “I take around 20-22 credits each semester because I love reading, writing, and genuinely want to do the work,” writes an international relations major. “That’s not just me, that’s most of the students here.” Maybe it’s because women are in charge? One student writes: “I like the all-women’s environment—things get done quicker and there’s less overt competition.”
Pitzer College (Claremont, CA):
Pitzer’s collaborative spirit within the Claremont College 5-C consortium trickles down to campus, where it’s hardly every student for him or herself. “Pitzer students believe in the power of coordinated, collaborative efforts to construct supportive, accepting, diverse community networks.” Despite the fact that Pitzer is one of California’s most competitive colleges, better-than-thou attitudes are checked at the classroom door, says one student: “Classes are really safe, and class discussions are made to be a comfortable, non-judgmental environment, so even the shyest students feel safe putting in their two cents.” That same sentiment is evident in how students interact with one another outside their academics, too. “[Pitzer] prides itself as promoting and actively seeking diversity,” writes a student. “There are few-to-none ‘spoiled brat’ kind of personalities at Pitzer. Even those who are financially well-off are modest in expressing their socioeconomic status[es].”
Ithaca College (Ithaca, NY):
Think Ithaca College is just where Cornell students go for a wild party? Think again, say Ithaca students. “Ithaca College has changed its academic profile and reputation drastically in a very short period of time,” writes one. “Until about fifteen or twenty years ago, Ithaca College was considered a party school par excellence. Nowadays, it is a top-tier institution that is respected for its challenging programs and vibrant atmosphere.” Despite having some of the country’s top programs and activities in some cool disciplines, Ithaca flies off many radars—the better to cultivate what one calls a “quirky charm that tends to endear itself to any student.” “Our theater is ranked number-four in the country, according to the Princeton Review,” says a film major, “and our radio station WICB has been ranked third in college radio stations. Our musical theater program is probably one of the most competitive in the country, and our music school has a 100 percent job-placement rate for musical education majors within 6 months of graduation.” And if Ithaca students want to party--well, there's always Cornell.
PRIDE: Who's got spirit? These schools do!
University of Texas-Austin (Austin, TX):
A flagship school for school spirit, UT-Austin has some 50,000 students wearing burnt orange on any given day. “I am so so so proud to be a Longhorn,” writes one senior. “I love wearing burnt orange and I love telling people I go to UT. My eyes water when the jets fly over the stadium at football games and I love the size of the school.” Another senior says, “I think the best thing about UT is its location and football. Who could ask for a better place to have a college than Austin. So much extracurricular outdoor activity. The football is huge at Texas, and everyone has such great school spirit.” The Texas football team won back-to-back Rose Bowls in 2005 and 2006, and the sport defines the experience of many UT students. “UT is a football school and everything stops for the games on Saturdays,” writes a third senior. “My best experience was going to the Rose Bowl to watch the National Championship game. Nothing will ever top that.”
Washington and Lee University (Lexington, VA):
For a small liberal arts school, Washington and Lee packs a huge amount of pride. Students can’t say enough about its social scene, its Southern traditions, and its extensive alumni network. One freshman writes, “W&L students have a lot of pride for their school whether it be academics, athletics or the social scene. Don't come here if you're not willing to shout 'I LOVE W&L' across the collonade.” The speaking tradition at W&L mandates that students and faculty greet one another when passing. “School pride is an amazingly big deal here,” agrees a sophomore. “Everyone knows each other, and you will always be helped if you need it-- whoever you may hang out with. It's extremely friendly... we have a tradition of saying 'Hello' to everyone, and it makes for a very friendly atmosphere.” Then there’s the network of proud alumni: “outside of W&L the connection is even stronger,” writes another sophomore. “For example, last summer I saw an alumni (who I didn't know) wearing a W&L visor and I went up to talk to him and we had an instant bond. If I'm wearing W&L gear outside of school I will--without fail--have someone stop me and have a conversation about W&L and compare our experiences.”
Rice University (Houston, TX):
Rice may not be known for its sports or its size, like UT-Austin, but it's got plenty of pride in both its academics and residential college system. A senior writes, “There are currently 9 colleges (though there will soon be 11), and there is a lot of college pride. In fact, there are many more cheers (and anti-cheers) for specific residential colleges than for Rice as a whole. Most people have a lot of college pride, which comes out the most certain times of the year: O-week and Beer Bike.” In terms of academics, a sophomore pre-med student says, “People from the south or those well educated have heard of Rice and knows its prestige. I love being here at Rice, where you get the Ivy League education but minus the competitiveness among students.” An alum goes even further: “Rice has a strong reputation as 'the Ivy League of the south.' Personally, I don't think that does justice to the quality of Rice's education or experience, but then again I will openly admit that I loved virtually every aspect of my time there, so I'm probably biased.”
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