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Have you ever thought that the nerdiest colleges are those on top of any ranking? If yes, you have been wrong! With an abundance of educational institutions in the U.S., it’s tough to point out several distinctive and hardcore schools. One thing that determines the level of nerdiness of a particular college is the number of given assignments. The more tasks students get, the more hardcore the college can be considered. However, assigned papers, projects, and presentations aren’t the only criterion. Thanks to some insights from one of the cheapest and best college essay writing services, we have put together the list of eight elite and nerdiest colleges in our vast country.
Eligibility criteria
Before delving into this list, it would be reasonable to provide you with our methodology because you won’t see MIT, Harvard, or Yale here. Indubitably, those are among trailblazing academic institutions that provide high-quality education and drive the economy. But we have relied on a specific scoring that evaluates colleges based on several parameters. We considered freshman retention, graduation rate, percentage of classes with fewer than 20 learners, percentage of classes with more than 50 learners, and percentage of alumni donations. The total score is 500.
The lack of the mentioned universities doesn’t mean the following colleges are insufficient. They are all elite, and they relate to one or another league (Public Ivies, Magnolia League, Catholic Ivies, Hidden Ivies, and of course, Ivy League). With all that said, let’s proceed.
The Nerdiest American Colleges You Will Want to Enter
8) Princeton University
Accumulating 409 points, the University of Princeton kicks off this list and becomes the nerdiest institution in the U.S. Princeton belongs to the Ivy League, and it is among the most prestigious universities worldwide. Princeton University was founded in 1746 in New Jersey. The University’s walls have met lots of influential people. Princeton University even remembers pre-revolution America! Additionally, Princeton appears on numerous rankings–such as the most beautiful campuses, the best architecture schools, the best engineering schools–holding top positions.
7) Williams College
Williams College is breathing down Princeton’s neck, acquiring 408 points. It is a private liberal arts college located in Massachusetts. Williams College is a bit younger than Princeton; it was founded in 1793. And for the next 200 years, it remained a college for males. It focuses on many disciplines, having over 20 departments and offering more than 30 majors.
6) University of Chicago
The University of Chicago hasn’t let Williams College and Princeton University go too far. Obtaining almost 405 points, it firmly holds third place in the nerdiest colleges. The University of Chicago is a private research institution founded by the American Baptist Education Society. With the help of philanthropists and magnates, the University was brought into being a hundred years after Williams College! Yet, this hasn’t stopped Chicago University from reaching highs in the research world and becoming one of the world’s best economics institutions.
5) Haverford College
Although Haverford hasn’t collected 400 points, it remains one of the elite nerdy schools. The great thing about Haverford College is that it is located between Washington and New York, and its secluded area, compared with top-notch teaching staff, makes Haverford College an excellent institution. Aside from that, Haverford hosts the Centennial Conference that gathers the best colleges in the Mid-Atlantic States and exchanges experience under one roof.
4) Columbia University
Columbia University is another member of the Ivy League. It is widely known for its journalism program. A bounty of students strives to get into the University of Columbia to study journalism and gain the necessary skills. Apart from this major, the University offers a dozen other programs that have solid curricula. Columbia’s libraries are incredible, and you will never say I couldn’t find a relevant source. Also, the University is located in New York City, which is another pleasant bonus for those who like big city life.
3) Amherst College
Amherst College is a part of the Little Ivy League and a Greene’s Guide Hidden Ivy. It isn’t a big college. But under no circumstances should you question its nerdiness based on this fact. Amherst College almost surpasses Columbia University point-wise, which is a serious indicator that the College is highly competitive. It won’t pity its students for the sake of becoming popular nationwide.
2) Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts school. It is located in Virginia, surrounded by beautiful nature and picturesque views. Maybe that’s why it tends to be among the nerdiest institutions, who knows. Nevertheless, it scores plenty of points (389), which allows it to stay on the list and keep torturing students (pun intended).
1) University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is the third member of the Ivy League, and it closes the list of nerdy colleges. But don’t you dare think that the University isn’t tough enough. How about that: Wharton school is one of the best business schools in the world. When it comes to business and education courses, it easily surpasses any top university. Last but not least, its medical school is the five-best school in the U.S.
As you can see, the nerdiest doesn’t instantly mean Stanford, Yale, and MIT. There are way nerdier schools than mentioned. This list of eight elite and nerdy colleges is only a drop in the ocean. Yet, it shows that smaller and less distinct institutions can be nerdier and more effective in terms of education, student retention, graduation rate, etc.
