World University Ranking 2008- Comparing World's Top 5 Universities

Discussion in 'General Chat' started by Alex2, Oct 18, 2008.

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Vote for your World's Top Universities?

  1. Cambridge

    20.0%
  2. Oxford

    20.0%
  3. Harvard

    40.0%
  4. Stanford

    20.0%
  5. Yale

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  6. Caltech

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  7. Univ California - Berkeley

    20.0%
  8. MIT

    60.0%
  9. Princeton

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  10. Columbia

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
Multiple votes are allowed.
  1. #1
    According to the Academic Ranking of world universities 2008. Harvard is, again, on top of all universities in the world, ranked No. 1, followed by Stanford (remained at 2nd this year):
    The Top 5 are:
    1 Harvard Univ USA
    2 Stanford Univ USA
    3 Univ California - Berkeley USA
    4 Univ Cambridge UK
    5 Massachusetts Inst Tech (MIT) USA

    However, the other league table published by THES-QS World Report 2008 has a different ranking:
    1 HARVARD University United States
    2 YALE University United States
    3 University of CAMBRIDGE United Kingdom
    4 University of OXFORD United Kingdom
    5 CALIFORNIA Institute of Technology

    Oxford is highly ranked as a Top 5 University in the world by THES but only ranked 10th in ARWU 2008. Standord is ranked 17th in THES but it is the No. 2 Uni in the world in ARWU 2008. How came there is such a big difference?
    What are your top 5 universities in the world? Have your say.
     
    Alex2, Oct 18, 2008 IP
  2. kanwarjot

    kanwarjot Notable Member

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    #2
    The difference might be because of the different judgment criteria.
     
    kanwarjot, Oct 18, 2008 IP
  3. cool_78

    cool_78 Guest

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    #3
    MIT has got to be in the top 5 ;)
     
    cool_78, Oct 18, 2008 IP
  4. wisdomtool

    wisdomtool Moderator Staff

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    #4
    The ranking depends a lot on the criteria and the weightage they used. To see it on another perspective, China's Jiao Tong University compiled another list of ranking. Frankly I do not see how accurate they are, a lot depends on perception. From what I read, quite a few of the readers was praising Yale undergraduate business school when Yale has non of that at all.
     
    wisdomtool, Oct 18, 2008 IP
  5. recesser

    recesser Peon

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    #5
    Stanford has to be in the top 5.No doubt about it.

    About the difference in the ranks,as Wisdomtool mentioned that different criteria must have been used to rank them......
     
    recesser, Oct 18, 2008 IP
  6. zebulon

    zebulon Well-Known Member

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    #6
    It's hard to really give an opinion on each sites results considering criteria as recesser mentioned, bias's, locations, rating systems, samples and so on...

    What I find a little interesting is that the US is rated 18th in the world for "smarts" of industrialized nations, so putting rich kid schools to the side in the arguement - What would be the top 5 universities for employement within their field of study & salary upon graduation. MIT will be in there for sure, but what could some others be?
     
    zebulon, Oct 18, 2008 IP
  7. wisdomtool

    wisdomtool Moderator Staff

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    #7
    Frankly all those who graduated from the universities above won't have a hard time getting a job, the hard time is in choosing which job to go to. All of them have extremely strong alumni network and career centers.


     
    wisdomtool, Oct 18, 2008 IP
  8. Stroh

    Stroh Notable Member

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    #8
    Ptf, if you can afford them, put cost into effect and you'll whistle a different tune. What's the universities that give you the most bang for your buck?
     
    Stroh, Oct 18, 2008 IP
  9. wisdomtool

    wisdomtool Moderator Staff

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    #9
    All of them in fact. But I would say Harvard brand recognition would be the best. Interesting to note that Chinese Universities and those Indian Institutes of Technology and Business aren't included. Seemed to be quite biased towards the USA universities.

     
    wisdomtool, Oct 18, 2008 IP
  10. Stroh

    Stroh Notable Member

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    #10
    Yeah I noticed that, I remember watching a video on the Indian Institute of Technology.
     
    Stroh, Oct 18, 2008 IP
  11. recesser

    recesser Peon

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    #11
    Hi wisdomtool..

    I liked wat you said about the people graduating from these universities and how their choice of job depends on influences rather than their commitment
     
    recesser, Oct 18, 2008 IP
  12. dairyman

    dairyman Notable Member

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    #12
    Well said. The US employers are handpicking the candidates from the Indian Institutes of Technologies as they are possibly the most wanted in the global job market. That speaks for the quality of these institutes.
     
    dairyman, Oct 18, 2008 IP