IvyWise KnowledgeBase
College Lists

In today’s college admissions landscape, it’s easy to get swept up in rankings, name recognition, and prestige. National lists and top 20 roundups dominate the conversation, leading many students to believe their success hinges on attending one of these widely recognized institutions. But in truth, some of the best college experiences happen at schools that don’t always make the headlines.

Families who scan only the marquee names when looking for colleges and universities risk missing campuses that deliver academic depth and lively communities in more intimate settings. Just because an institution isn’t listed in the best college rankings, that doesn’t mean it should be overlooked — it is often these underrated schools that offer the most opportunities for students to thrive and be successful.

When students begin their college search, they often look at big-name institutions like Ivy League schools or flagship state universities. However, some of the most rewarding college experiences come from schools that fly under the radar. These hidden gems offer hands-on learning, career-driven programs, and unique traditions that make them just as competitive — if not more — than their well-known counterparts.

I work with a lot of STEM-oriented students, many of whom are interested in engineering. When we start discussing their college list, it’s a parade of the usual suspects: MIT, Caltech, Georgia Tech, Cornell, University of Michigan, etc. But these schools aren’t right for everyone for various reasons — including size, location, and selectivity — and I enjoy telling families about other options that they have either never heard of or that might not be top of mind for them. Let’s look at four of these schools with strong engineering programs.

Before you begin your final year of secondary school, it’s important to finalize your college list — a complete list of all the colleges or universities to which you will apply. We recommend a balanced mix of 13-15 likely, target, and reach colleges for this list. But how do you get to this point?

When you’re looking at colleges, you might come across the term “consortium,” which refers to a group of colleges that collaborate to expand the resources and opportunities available to their students. For high school students considering their future college options, it’s important to understand what consortium colleges can offer. Let’s dive into what these consortiums are and highlight some examples to help you see the unique opportunities they provide.

Embarking on the U.S. college application journey as an expat can feel as puzzling as your first day at your new international school — despite your well-developed cultural adaptability, cross-cultural communication skills, and unique global perspective. Having spent my formative years attending an American school in the Netherlands, I felt equally perplexed by the U.S. college admissions process. I was excited at the prospect of living in the U.S. for the first time since I was four years old; however, I was scared to be an ocean away from my family and nervous about how to navigate the process.

At IvyWise, we always emphasize the importance of having a balanced list of colleges, and we encourage students to look beyond the “brand-name” schools. Keeping an open mind when it comes to building your college list can often lead to uncovering hidden gems that offer an incredible range of academic programs and social opportunities for students.

Embarking on the college journey feels like stepping into a world full of unknowns. With tests, essays, and recommendation letters swirling around, one important factor often gets pushed to the side — visiting colleges in person. That’s where fly-in programs come in.

Nearly 3,000 degree-granting post-secondary institutions dot the American higher education landscape. We mostly hear about the colleges and universities that grace rankings and lists. While these are excellent schools, there are plenty more that don’t get the attention they deserve. At IvyWise, we emphasize thoroughly researching colleges to find those that are the right fit for your needs and goals, whether they’re well-known schools or lesser known.