University of Virginia in USA

University of Virginia is a public institution that was founded in 1819. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 16,087, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 1,682 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of Virginia's ranking in the 2015 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 23. Its in-state tuition and fees are $12,998 (2014-15); out-of-state tuition and fees are $42,184 (2014-15).

Founded by Thomas Jefferson, the University of Virginia is located in Charlottesville. It’s referred to among insiders as Mr. Jefferson’s University or simply The University. Only first-year students are required to live on campus, and many upperclassmen live in off-campus apartments or fraternity and sorority houses. Greek life is prominent at UVA with a membership that includes approximately 30 percent of the student body. The Cavaliers, known unofficially as Wahoos or ‘Hoos, are members of the NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast Conference and are well known for their consistently dominant men’s and women’s lacrosse teams.

UVA’s graduate programs include the highly ranked Darden Graduate School of Business Administration, Curry School of Education, School of Engineering and Applied Science, School of Law and School of Medicine. UVA houses one of the 25 remaining original copies of the Declaration of Independence, called a Dunlap Broadside, in its Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library. The school also has its own distinct lingo: The campus is referred to as the "grounds," the central quad is the "lawn," and students are either a first, second, third or fourth year. Former U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy, journalist Katie Couric and former NFL player Tiki Barber all earned degrees from UVA. Famous writer Edgar Allen Poe was forced to leave the school after losing his tuition money to gambling, but his dorm room on the lawn is still preserved and on display for visitors.

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

The University of Virginia offers the vast intellectual resources of a major research university, but fosters the intimacy, sense of community, and dedication to undergraduate life typically found at a small liberal arts college. While it is public, and welcomes women and men of every background, it also is highly selective and attracts students who seek challenges. Their motivation to achieve is matched by a culture of mutual support, openness, civility, and above all, integrity and trust. With its balance -- between cutting-edge scholarship and first-rate teaching, between rigorous academics and rewarding activities -- U.Va. offers an undergraduate experience with few equals.

Charlottesville, VA 22904

Phone: (434) 924-0311

2014-2015 Tuition & Fees

$12,998 in-state

$42,184 out-of-state

Students

16,087 enrolled

44% male / 56% female

Admissions

Jan. 1 application deadline

30.1% accepted

Carnegie Mellon University in USA

Carnegie Mellon University is a private institution that was founded in 1900. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 6,306, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 147 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Carnegie Mellon University's ranking in the 2015 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 25. Its tuition and fees are $48,786 (2014-15).

Carnegie Mellon University, founded by industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, is located in Pittsburgh, which offers dining and entertainment options as well as professional sports teams including the Penguins (hockey), Steelers (football) and Pirates (baseball). Only freshmen are required to live on campus, but the university guarantees housing for all four years, and the majority of students choose to remain on campus. Nearly 20 percent of the student population is affiliated with Greek life, which consists of more than 20 fraternities and sororities. The Carnegie Mellon Tartans compete in NCAA Division III competitions, and the Kiltie Band, which sports full Scottish regalia, performs at every home football game.

Carnegie Mellon is known for its programs in science and technology, but its seven schools and colleges include a College of Fine Arts and College of the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Its graduate programs include the highly rankedTepper School of Business, Carnegie Institute of Technology andSchool of Computer Science. Undergraduates at Carnegie Mellon have the opportunity to participate in research and can even receive grants or summer fellowships to support research in their field of study. Randy Pausch, author of the New York Times best-selling book "The Last Lecture," was a professor at Carnegie Mellon.

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

Carnegie Mellon University is a top-tier global research university that has been a birthplace of innovation since its founding in 1900. Our award-winning faculty work closely with students in the classroom and laboratory. Our groundbreaking research yields new discoveries that impact people's lives, and our students are recruited by some of the world's most innovative companies. In addition to campuses in Pittsburgh, Silicon Valley and Qatar, Carnegie Mellon has programs in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and Latin America. Carnegie Mellon alumni, faculty and students are known for their powerful combinations of intellectual strength, creative spark, tireless work ethic and a commitment to problem solving. Today, more than 95,000 alumni live and work around the world, embodying founder Andrew Carnegie's famous words, "My heart is in the work."

5000 Forbes Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Phone: (412) 268-2000

2014-2015 Tuition & Fees

$48,786

Students

6,306 enrolled

57% male / 43% female

Admissions

Jan. 1 application deadline

25.5% accepted

University of Southern California in USA

University of Southern California is a private institution that was founded in 1880. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 18,445, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 226 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of Southern California's ranking in the 2015 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 25. Its tuition and fees are $48,280 (2014-15).

The University of Southern California’s central campus, referred to as the University Park campus, is located in Los Angeles’s Downtown Arts and Education Corridor. USC has other campuses in L.A. in addition to sites around Southern California and in Sacramento, Calif., and Washington. Students can participate in the more than 700 on-campus organizations, ranging from religious groups to club sports. USC students are not required to live on campus, but the university offers housing in its 40 or so residence halls and apartment buildings. A thriving Greek life comprises more than 60 chapters representing more than 3,500 students. The USC Trojans compete in the Pac-12 Conference and are known for their legendary football program.

USC is comprised of the USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, and 17 graduate and professional schools. The number of graduates exceeds the number of undergraduates at USC, with students enrolled in such programs as the highly ranked Marshall School of Business, Rossier School of Education, Andrew and Erna Viterbi School of Engineering, Gould School of Law, Keck School of Medicine and School of Social Work. USC is also well known for its Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and its highly esteemed School of Cinematic Arts, which has graduated students such as directors Judd Apatow and George Lucas. Films including "The Graduate," "Legally Blonde" and "Forrest Gump" all filmed scenes on USC’s campus.

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

Located in the heart of Los Angeles, a global center for arts, technology and international trade, the University of Southern California is a world-renowned private research institution enrolling more international students than any other U.S. university and operating an integrated academic medical center that serves more than a million patients each year.

USC operates from two main campuses. The University Park campus, south of downtown Los Angeles, is adjacent to the museums and recreational facilities of historic Exposition Park. With its park-like atmosphere and rich architectural history, the campus fosters a stimulating academic environment as well as a vibrant cultural community. The Health Sciences campus, northeast of downtown, offers world-class patient care, classroom and laboratory facilities that draw scientists, patients and students from around the world, forming a dynamic, interactive environment shaping the future of health care.

Within the USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and 18 professional schools, USC encourages all students to cross traditional boundaries in their pursuit of knowledge. The university offers bachelor's degrees in 162 majors. As of fall 2012, graduate students were enrolled in nearly 380 master's, certificate, doctoral and professional degree programs. With 155 different academic and professional minors, USC offers the broadest selection of any U.S. university. Selected students may participate in Thematic Option, USC's interdisciplinary undergraduate honors program. The Renaissance Scholars program honors students who study subjects across disparate fields.

USC also presents opportunities for travel, independent discovery, and addressing basic questions of human value and social challenges affecting our country and the world. The Global Scholars program honors undergraduates who excel both at home and abroad, the Discovery Scholars program recognizes students who demonstrate original research and creativity, and the USC Dornsife Scholars program honors graduating college seniors who combine the talents sought in the USC Discovery and Global Scholars programs with an added emphasis on positive human impact.

At the graduate level, each year the Provost's Ph.D. Fellowship Program supports 100 doctoral students who show exceptional promise. The USC Annenberg Graduate Fellowship Program funds cutting-edge study in communication and digital media, and USC's Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) program offers grants and fellowships to increase the involvement of women in science and engineering. The new Provost's Postdoctoral Scholars Program in the Humanities eventually will attract up to 10 outstanding humanities scholars to USC.

The university also commits itself to fostering research with wide-ranging social impacts and is one of a few premier research institutions upon which the United States depends for a steady stream of new knowledge, art and technology.

Unusual among major research institutions, the University of Southern California is home to six arts schools, in the disciplines of cinematic arts, music, dramatic arts, architecture, fine arts, and dance. Other top-ranked programs include art history, creative writing, a master's program in professional writing and the new USC International Artists Fellowships, graduate fellowships for promising artists from across the Pacific Rim, Latin America and Southeast Asia.

The university's innovative and university-wide Visions & Voices arts and humanities initiative has few parallels in higher education. It features a spectacular array of events conceived and organized by university faculty and schools, including presentations by critically acclaimed artists and distinguished speakers, theatrical productions, music and dance performances, film screenings, lectures and workshops on both USC campuses, as well as a variety of opportunities to experience the dynamic cultural landscape of Los Angeles.

University Park

Los Angeles, CA 90089

Phone: (213) 740-2311

2014-2015 Tuition & Fees

$48,280

Students

18,445 enrolled

50% male / 50% female

Admissions

Jan. 10 application deadline

19.8% accepted

Wake Forest University in USA

Wake Forest University is a private institution that was founded in 1834. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 4,823, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 340 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Wake Forest University's ranking in the 2015 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 27. Its tuition and fees are $46,200 (2014-15).

Wake Forest University is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, just a few hours by car from skiing in the Blue Ridge Mountains or relaxing on the beaches of South Carolina. Campus Recreation offers intramural sports and outdoor trips such as kayaking on the New River, hang-gliding and sky-diving. The Demon Deacons, Wake’s athletic teams, are members of the NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast Conference. When Wake Forest played rival Duke University in 1922 and won, a local reporter described the Wake players as "Demon Deacons," and thus, the mascot was born. Students must live on campus for six semesters in one of the residence halls. Greek organizations play a big role at Wake Forest, with a membership consisting of almost half of the student body.

Wake Forest is made up of six schools. Its graduate programs include those in the highly ranked School of Law, School of Business and School of Medicine. Undergraduates are enrolled in either Wake Forest College or the business school. About 60 percent of students take advantage of Wake’s study abroad programs offered in more than 70 countries around the world. Notable alumni include the shortest NBA player of all-time, Muggsy Bogues; legendary golfer Arnold Palmer; and journalist and talk show host Al Hunt.

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

One of the nation's most respected private schools, Wake Forest University is a collegiate university recognized for its outstanding academic reputation and challenging liberal arts curriculum. With 4,500 undergraduates, the University provides the highly personalized attention characteristic of America's most selective private institutions coupled with the breadth and depth of a large research institution. Founded in 1834, Wake Forest is committed to personal education, inquiry and exploration, and service. The Graduate School for Arts and Sciences, along with professional schools in law, medicine, business and divinity, enrich the intellectual environment and provide robust resources to undergraduates, as do extensive programs in international studies, entrepreneurship and undergraduate research. The University further distinguishes itself through its beautiful residential campus, sophisticated computing and networking technology, and Atlantic Coast Conference athletic programs. The vibrant campus offers students opportunities to get involved, explore ideas, and take initiative to create programs and events of their own. Wake Forest professors embody the teacher-scholar ideal, which links exceptional teaching with fundamental research and discovery. This results in meaningful research opportunities for students and classroom experiences with professors who are relevant in their fields. Undergraduate classes are taught by full-time faculty, not graduate assistants. Wake Forest's motto, Pro Humanitate (for humanity), is at the heart of the University's identity and reflects a dedication to making a difference in the world. Volunteerism is a priority among Wake Forest students, who serve regularly at local agencies or travel around the country and the world to participate in various projects. Wake Forest is home to the Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials, which works closely with industry leaders to transfer its groundbreaking work in nanotechnology to practical applications in the areas of medicine, manufacturing and national defense. The Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine is an international leader in the translation of scientific discovery into clinical therapies. Wake Forest received a significant grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to support its new Humanities Institute and has developed new initiatives to support sustainability, entrepreneurship, public engagement, translational science, bioethics, and molecular signaling.

Box 7305, Reynolda Station

Winston-Salem, NC 27109

Phone: (336) 758-5000

2014-2015 Tuition & Fees

$46,200

Students

4,823 enrolled

48% male / 52% female

Admissions

Jan. 1 application deadline

35.2% accepted

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