University of Michigan--Ann Arbor in USA

University of Michigan--Ann Arbor is a public institution that was founded in 1817. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 28,283, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 3,245 acres. It utilizes a trimester-based academic calendar. University of Michigan--Ann Arbor's ranking in the 2015 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 29. Its in-state tuition and fees are $13,977 (2014-15); out-of-state tuition and fees are $41,811 (2014-15).

The University of Michigan boasts one of the best college towns in the country: Ann Arbor, only 45 minutes from the city of Detroit. Freshmen are guaranteed housing but are not required to live on campus. Nearly 20 percent of the undergraduate student body is affiliated with Greek life at Michigan, which contains approximately 60 fraternity and sorority chapters. If Greek life does not sound appealing, there are more than 900 other student organizations from which to choose. The Michigan Wolverines have many traditions: Their colors are maize and blue, their widely known chant is "Go Blue!," their stadium is called the "Big House," and their football program, known for its fierce rivalry with Ohio State, is one of the most storied teams in college football.

Michigan’s graduate programs include the highly ranked Stephen M. Ross School of Business, School of Education, College of Engineering, Law School, Medical School, Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, School of Public Health and School of Nursing in addition to the well-regarded School of Dentistry and Taubman College for Architecture and Urban Planning. The University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers is ranked among the top hospitals in the country. Former U.S. President Gerald Ford, actress Lucy Liu of the "Charlie’s Angels" and "Kill Bill" film series, and NFL quarterback Tom Brady all graduated from Michigan.

School mission and unique qualities (as provided by the school):

The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future. Students have the opportunity to work with world-renown faculty. There are literally hundreds of clubs, groups, and organizations covering a variety of social, cultural, and academic interests. The University abuts the city of Ann Arbor, which has its own thriving social and cultural identity. There is literally something for everyone here.

500 S. State St.

Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Phone: (734) 764-1817

2014-2015 Tuition & Fees

$13,977 in-state

$41,811 out-of-state

Students

28,283 enrolled

51% male / 49% female

Admissions

Feb. 1 application deadline

33.3% accepted

University of North Carolina--Chapel Hill in USA

University of North Carolina--Chapel Hill is a public institution that was founded in 1789. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 18,370, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 729 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of North Carolina--Chapel Hill's ranking in the 2015 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 30. Its in-state tuition and fees are $8,374 (2014-15); out-of-state tuition and fees are $33,624 (2014-15).

The University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill, often referred to as UNC, offers a wide range of student activities. Popular student organizations include The Daily Tarheel, UNC’s student newspaper, and WXYC, the student-run radio station. More than 3,000 students are members of Greek life. Chapel Hill, which surrounds UNC, is often considered one of the best college towns in the country, offering music, restaurants and shopping. Almost half of all undergraduates live on campus in one of the residence halls or apartment complexes. The North Carolina Tar Heels are members of the Atlantic Coast Conference and are known for their men’s basketball team, which maintains a storied rivalry with nearby institution Duke Universityand is one of the most successful programs in college basketball. Former players include Michael Jordan and Vince Carter.

UNC is divided into a number of schools and colleges, the largest of which is the undergraduate College of Arts and Sciences. Graduate programs include the highly ranked Kenan—Flagler Business School, School of Education, School of Law, School of Medicine,Gillings School of Global Public Health, School of Social Work,Eshelman School of Pharmacy and School of Government. At least 82 percent of each freshmen class must be from North Carolina, as dictated by state law. Actor and former professional basketball player Rick Fox, the 11th president of the United States James K. Polk, and former U.S. Senator John Edwards all earned degrees from UNC.

School mission and unique qualities (as provided by the school):

Since its establishment as the nation's first public university in 1789, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has earned a reputation as one of the best universities in the world. Our unique school spirit has been forged through more than two centuries of academic excellence, public service, and athletic, professional, and personal achievement. Often called a "public ivy," Carolina is known best for:

One of the strongest and most diverse student bodies in the nation -- a community, composed of students from every state and more than 100 countries, that has produced more Rhodes Scholars over the last 25 years than any other public university and the eleventh most overall.

Academic opportunities that will prepare students to change the world -- innovative programs not found anywhere else, such as our respected and inclusive Honors Program, and opportunities to contribute to ground-breaking research and study abroad in more than 70 countries.

"Best value" in the nation among public universities by Kiplinger's Personal Finance eleven consecutive times -- outstanding merit-based scholarships, such as the Morehead-Cain, Pogue, and Robertson, as well as a need-based aid program that that meets full need and enables qualified low-income students to graduate debt-free through the Carolina Covenant.

One beautiful campus -- a classic university setting within the dynamic town of Chapel Hill, where friendly classmates, exciting events, and state-of-the-art resources are only a short walk away.

South Building, CB #9100

Chapel Hill, NC 27599

Phone: (919) 962-2211

2014-2015 Tuition & Fees

$8,374 in-state

$33,624 out-of-state

Students

18,370 enrolled

42% male / 58% female

Admissions

Jan. 10 application deadline

26.7% accepted

Boston College under National Universities in USA

Boston College is a private institution that was founded in 1863. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 9,049, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 338 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Boston College's ranking in the 2015 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 31. Its tuition and fees are $47,436 (2014-15).

Boston College was founded by the Society of Jesus and has maintained its Roman Catholic Jesuit religious affiliation. B.C. competes in nearly 30 NCAA Division I varsity sports in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The B.C. Eagles have one of the highest graduation rates for their student-athletes in the country. There are no fraternities or sororities on campus, however the school has more than 200 clubs and organizations. Freshmen are not required to live on campus, but the majority choose to do so. B.C. is located in Chestnut Hill, Mass., which is six miles west of downtown Boston, and its main campus is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Boston College is classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a university with high research activity. It has nine schools, which include highly ranked graduate programs, including its Lynch School of Education, Boston College Law School and Carroll School of Management. More than 1,000 students participate in study abroad each year. "The Heights," a nickname for the college, refers to its hilltop location and is also the name of the student newspaper. Notable alumni include U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Tip O’Neill.

School mission and unique qualities (as provided by the school):

Strengthened by more than a century and a quarter of dedication to academic excellence, Boston College commits itself to the highest standards of teaching and research in undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs and to the pursuit of a just society through its own accomplishments, the work of its faculty and staff, and the achievements of its graduates. It seeks both to advance its place among the nation's finest universities and to bring to the company of its distinguished peers and to contemporary society the richness

of the Catholic intellectual ideal of a mutually illuminating relationship between religious faith and free intellectual inquiry.

Boston College draws inspiration for its academic and societal mission from its distinctive religious tradition. As a Catholic and Jesuit university, it is rooted in a world view that encounters God in all creation and through all human activity, especially in the search for truth in every discipline, in the desire to learn, and in the call to live justly together. In this spirit, the University regards the contribution of different religious traditions and value systems as essential to the fullness of its intellectual life and to the continuous development of its distinctive intellectual heritage.

Boston College pursues this distinctive mission by serving society in three ways: by fostering the rigorous intellectual development and the religious, ethical, and personal formation of its undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in order to prepare them for citizenship, service, and leadership in a global society; by producing nationally and internationally significant research that advances insight and understanding, thereby both

enriching culture and addressing important societal needs; and by committing itself to advance the dialogue between religious belief and other formative elements of culture through the intellectual inquiry, teaching and learning, and the community life that form the University.

Boston College fulfills this mission with a deep concern for all members of its community, with a recognition of the important

contribution a diverse student body, faculty, and staff can offer, with a firm commitment to academic freedom, and with a

determination to exercise careful stewardship of its resources in pursuit of its academic goals.

140 Commonwealth Avenue

Chestnut Hill, MA 02467

Phone: (617) 552-3100

2014-2015 Tuition & Fees

$47,436

Students

9,049 enrolled

46% male / 54% female

Admissions

Jan. 1 application deadline

32.2% accepted

What & where is New York University

New York University is a private institution that was founded in 1831. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 22,615 and its setting is urban. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. New York University's ranking in the 2015 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 32. Its tuition and fees are $46,170 (2014-15).

New York University’s primary campus is located in the lively Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan. NYU is a true city school, with no borders separating a distinct campus from the streets of the Big Apple. Students are guaranteed housing for all four years in the many residence halls throughout Manhattan, but many upperclassmen choose to live off campus in apartments around the city. NYU has a small but active Greek life with more than 25 fraternity and sorority chapters. There are hundreds of student organizations on campus, such as NYU-TV, which operates both the University Channel and the Movie Channel to provide entertainment and information to the university community.

NYU is divided into a number of schools and colleges, the largest of which is the College of Arts and Sciences. For those interested in drama or film, the renowned Tisch School of the Arts is the place to go, offering both undergraduate and graduate programs in acting, dance, dramatic writing, film, television and more. Former Tisch students include directors Martin Scorsese and Spike Lee. Other graduate programs include the highly ranked Stern School of Business; Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development; School of Law; School of Medicine; Silver School of Social Work; and Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.

School mission and unique qualities (as provided by the school):

New York University, a member of the distinguished Association of American Universities, is the largest private university in the United States, with a student population of over 44,000 and seventeen schools and divisions. NYU offers more than 150 undergraduate majors, including individualized studies. There are also opportunities for double majors, minors, dual degrees, and internships. NYU's main campus is situated in Greenwich Village, New York City, and has two branch campuses in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai, China. It also has study away sites in Berlin, Germany; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Florence, Italy; Accra, Ghana; London, England; Madrid, Spain; Paris, France; Tel Aviv, Israel; Prague, the Czech Republic; Sydney, Australia; and Washington DC, US.

70 Washington Square S

New York, NY 10012

Phone: (212) 998-1212 / 2014-2015

Tuition & Fees  $46,170

Students 22,615 enrolled

40% male / 60% female

Admissions

Jan. 1 application deadline

32.4% accepted

California Institute of Technology in USA

California Institute of Technology is a private institution that was founded in 1891. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 977, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 124 acres. It utilizes a quarter-based academic calendar. California Institute of Technology's ranking in the 2015 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 10. Its tuition and fees are $43,362 (2014-15).

Caltech, which focuses on science and engineering, is located in Pasadena, California, approximately 11 miles northeast of Los Angeles. Social and academic life at Caltech centers on the eight student houses, which the school describes as "self-governing living groups." Student houses incorporate an admired Caltech tradition: dinners served by student waiters. Only freshmen are required to live on campus, but around 80 percent of students remain in their house for all four years. The Caltech Beavers have a number of NCAA Division III teams that compete in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Integral to student life is the Honor Code, which dictates that "No member of the Caltech community shall take unfair advantage of any other member of the Caltech community."

In addition to its undergraduate studies, Caltech offers top graduate programs in engineering, biology, chemistry, computer science,earth sciences, mathematics and physics. Caltech participates in a significant amount of research, receiving grants from institutions such as NASA, the National Science Foundation and the Department of Health and Human Services, among others. Caltech maintains a strong tradition of pranking with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, another top-ranked science and technology university. Companies such as Intel, Compaq and Hotmail were founded by Caltech alumni. Famous film director Frank Capra also graduated from Caltech.

School mission and unique qualities (as provided by the school): 

Caltech is a world-renowned research and education institution focused on science and engineering, where faculty and students pursue new knowledge about...

1200 E. California Boulevard

Pasadena, CA 91125

Phone: (626) 395-6811

2014-2015 Tuition & Fees

$43,362

Students

977 enrolled

63% male / 37% female

Admissions

Jan. 3 application deadline

10.6% accepted

University of Pennsylvania in USA

University of Pennsylvania is a private institution that was founded in 1740. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 9,712, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 302 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of Pennsylvania's ranking in the 2015 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 8. Its tuition and fees are $47,668 (2014-15).

The University of Pennsylvania, located in Philadelphia, was founded by Benjamin Franklin. The Penn Quakers have more than 25 NCAA Division I sports that compete in the Ivy League, and are noted for successful basketball and lacrosse teams. Penn offers housing in more than 10 College Houses, but many students live in the numerous off-campus apartments and houses available. More than 25 percent of the student body is involved in Greek life, which encompasses about 45 fraternities and sororities. The school also offers a number of clubs and organizations, ranging from performance groups like the Latin and Ballroom dance club to student publications such as the Penn Political Review. Penn works closely with the West Philadelphia area through community service and advocacy groups.

Penn has 12 schools: Four offer undergraduate and graduate studies and eight offer only graduate studies. Penn's highly ranked graduate programs include its Wharton School, School of Education, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Law School and School of Medicine. Penn's other notable graduate programs include its Design School and School of Dental Medicine. Penn, though secular, has a strong religious life with its Hillel for Jewish students, Penn Newman Catholic Center and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. More than 2,000 students each year participate in international study programs offered in more than 70 countries around the world. Notable Penn alumni include former U.S. President William Henry Harrison, poet William Carlos Williams and businessman Donald Trump.

School mission and unique qualities (as provided by the school): 

Inspired by the intellectual audacity and educational ideals of our founder, Benjamin Franklin, the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) offers a compelling mixture of world-class liberal arts coursework and pre-professional education. Students apply to one of four undergraduate schools---Arts and Sciences, Nursing, Engineering and Applied Science, or Wharton. Penn also offers an array of exciting interdisciplinary programs and courses which leverage the resources of different departments or schools, such as the Fisher Program in Management and Technology, the Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business, and the Vagelos Program in Life Sciences and Management.

Students are strongly encouraged to engage the world beyond Penn, both locally and globally. Civic House provides a "hub" for students interested in all kinds of community service while the Center for Community Partnerships coordinates over 150 Academically Based Community Service courses each term which link theory and practice through activities that make a significant difference in West Philadelphia and the City. Opportunities for global engagement include Penn Abroad, through which more than 600 Penn undergraduates each year spend a semester or longer abroad, more than any other Ivy League school. Nearly 15% of our undergraduates come to Penn from other countries, providing a linguistically and culturally diverse environment.

As one of the world's premier research universities, Penn offers students the opportunity to learn by participating in the hands-on creation of new knowledge. The Center for Undergraduate Research, the Kelly Writers House, the Weiss Tech House, and the Penn Museum are places that connect undergraduates to leading researchers at Penn and to the cutting-edge ideas of its laboratories and seminar rooms. The academic experience at Penn is integrated with social and extra-curricular life. Almost all first-year students reside within the eleven College Houses at Penn, which link intellectual and social experiences through close contact with faculty-in-residence and student resident assistants. Penn has over 300 student groups ranging from political action to performing arts to sports clubs to student publications offering all students opportunities to pursue a wide-range of interests.

Such opportunities extend beyond campus to the City of Philadelphia where students can experience the rich cultural, athletic, social, and political life of America's most historic city. Today Ben Franklin would marvel at the intellectual and social excitement of the diverse and dynamic institution he founded.

Basic deep of Rice University in USA

Rice University is a private institution that was founded in 1912. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 3,965, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 285 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Rice University's ranking in the 2015 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 19. Its tuition and fees are $40,566 (2014-15).

Rice University, located in the heart of Houston’s Museum District, offers a dynamic student life in the nation’s fourth-largest city. The Rice Coffeehouse, Valhalla Pub and Willy’s Pub are all student-run institutions offering on-campus food and drink. Before stepping foot on campus, all students are assigned to one of 11 residential colleges, of which they remain members even if they decide to move off campus. The residential colleges provide housing, dining, and academic and social events. The Rice Owls boast 14 varsity NCAA Division I athletic teams and are well known for their strong baseball program. Students receive free tickets to all varsity athletic events.

Rice is comprised of eight schools, including the School of Social Sciences, School of Humanities and Wiess School of Natural Sciences. Its graduate schools include the highly ranked Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business and George R. Brown School of Engineering. Rice also has a well-regarded School of Architecture and the Shepherd School of Music. Rice is home to the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, a nonpartisan think tank, which offers coursework, internships and lectures. When a private detective found Rice’s stolen owl mascot at rival schoolTexas A&M in 1917, he sent a coded message back to Rice students letting them know that "Sammy" was OK, thus bestowing a name on the school’s mascot.

School mission and unique qualities (as provided by the school):

As a leading research university with a distinctive commitment to undergraduate education, Rice University aspires to pathbreaking research, unsurpassed teaching and contributions to the betterment of our world. It seeks to fulfill this mission by cultivating a diverse community of learning and discovery that produces leaders across the spectrum of human endeavor. Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston, undergraduate education has remained at the center of Rice University's mission since its founding in 1912. Our students have unparalleled opportunities to learn from distinguished faculty through classroom interaction and research collaboration. Rice combines the advantages of a liberal arts college with the resources and facilities of a premier research university. Some of the important engineering and science developments include Rice being the first university in the nation with a department wholly dedicated to space science; Rice researchers joining Dr. Michael Debakey and his Baylor College of Medicine team to produce the first artificial heart; and Rice professors Robert Curl and Richard Smalley and British chemist Sir Harold Kroto receiving the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their discovery of buckyballs, which introduced the new field of nanotechnology. In addition to engineering, Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy. The distinctive residential college system enhances the Rice experience by allowing students to flourish as individuals in a community of their peers. Rice boasts a 6:1 undergraduate student-faculty ratio, a median class size of 14, an endowment of $4.84 billion and numerous opportunities for undergraduates to conduct primary research. Rice practices need-blind admission, meets 100 percent of students' demonstrated need and is consistently heralded as one of the best values in higher education. Rice is surrounded by the Texas Medical Center, the Museum District, Hermann Park, Rice Village and great restaurants, and is a short light-rail ride away from theater, symphony, ballet, opera and major league sports.

PO Box 1892

Houston, TX 77251-1892

Phone: (713) 348-0000

2014-2015 Tuition & Fees

$40,566

Students

3,965 enrolled

51% male / 49% female

Admissions

Jan. 1 application deadline

16.7% accepted