How Did Princeton, Harvard, and Yale Become Top Schools in the Nation?

Princeton University. U.S. News named this college the number one school in the nation for 2007. Does it deserve to be first? How did it beat out other amazing contenders like Yale and Harvard? What does it say about our nation that the top three schools are private? Where can public schools without rich alumni fit in?

Princeton University- NJ
Tuition- $33,000
2005- 97% graduation rate
Selectivity rate- 91%
Suburban setting
Private
From Princeton's website:
"Princeton simultaneously strives to be one of the leading research universities and the most outstanding undergraduate college in the world. As a research university, it seeks to achieve the highest levels of distinction in the discovery and transmission of knowledge and understanding, and in the education of graduate students. At the same time, Princeton is distinctive among research universities in its commitment to undergraduate teaching."

The following is recommended as basic preparation for study at Princeton:

four years of English
four years of mathematics
four years of one foreign language
at least two years of laboratory science
at least two years of history (including that of a country or an area outside the United States)
some study of the visual arts, music, or theater

A sampling of Princeton firsts
• The first-recorded use of the now common understanding of the word campus, in 1774, was generally attributed to Princeton's sixth president John Witherspoon.
• The Continental Congress met in Nassau Hall, which served as the capitol of the United States for approximately five months in 1783.
• On November 19, 1969, Charles "Pete" Conrad, Class of 1953, became the third person to walk on the moon, and planted a Princeton flag there.

Harvard University- MA
Tuition- $33,709
2005- 98% graduation rate
Selectivity rate- 92%
Urban setting
Private

From Harvard's website:
"What all Harvard students have in common is intellectual curiosity and energy. Harvard values excellence and diversity in the talents and aspirations of its students, and in the resources and opportunities the College offers them."
From Harvard's website, Frequently Asked Questions:
"An ideal four-year preparatory program includes four years of English, with extensive practice in writing; four years of math; four years of science: biology, chemistry, physics, and an advanced course in one of these subjects; three years of history, including American and European history; and four years of one foreign language."

The Harvard Financial Aid Initiative (HFAI) is aimed at economic barriers to college; beginning in 2006, parents of families with incomes of less than $60,000 no longer will be asked to contribute to the cost of their child's education at Harvard. In addition, Harvard also is reducing substantially the expected parental contributions of families with incomes between $60,000 and $80,000.

Yale University- CT
Tuition- $33,030
Urban setting
Private

From Yale's website:
"Yale's roots can be traced back to the 1640s, when colonial clergymen led an effort to establish a college in New Haven to preserve the tradition of European liberal education in the New World. This vision was fulfilled in 1701, when the charter was granted for a school "wherein Youth may be instructed in the Arts and Sciences [and] through the blessing of Almighty God may be fitted for Publick employment both in Church and Civil State."

Who Goes to Yale?
• Students from all 50 United States and 74 other countries
• 5,200 undergraduates: 50% women; 30% minority students; 9% international students; 55% students from public schools and 45% from private or parochial schools
• Extraordinary people: 95% of incoming freshman ranked in the top tenth of high school graduating class; The middle 50% of SAT scores for last year's incoming freshmen: 700-790 on both the math and verbal sections

Yale's Commitment to Undergraduates
• Student:faculty ratio of 7:1
• All tenured professors of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences teach undergraduate courses
• 75% of courses enroll fewer than 20 students

All 3 schools offer some type of tuition program for low income students which I definately support. It is unfair that disadvantaged students have to limit their educational options, even if they are the best and the brightest. It is great that these schools are opening their doors to more students and setting an example in the educational community.

Out of these 3 schools, Yale is the best to attend in my opinion. I think they offer an all around fantastic college education for their students. Of course all 3 schools are great, along with the many others on the U.S. News list of Best Colleges in 2007.