Friday, June 29, 2012

Top Universities by Reputation: a selection...

Once more I find myself transfixed with rankings of universities throughout both our nation as well as the world. Why? Someone, through methodologies and algorithms that would make Stanford and Harvard venture capitalist drop--outs scratch their noggin, has drawn lines in the sand of higher education.

The schools that interest me will be listed (in bold) because these are the schools that will represent my brand (and vice versa). See below:
  • 1. Harvard University
  • 6. University of Oxford 
  • 10. Yale University
  • 14 University of Chicago
  • 34 New York University
  • 47 Purdue University
  • 51--60 The Ohio State University
  • 51--60 Pennsylvania State University
  • 71--80 Michigan State University
  • 81--90 Brown University
  • 81--90 University of Florida
  • 91--100 Boston University
  • 91--100 Indiana University
The information above was provided by the Times Higher Education, Thomson Reuters (2012).

U.S. Top 10 Undergraduate Engineering Schools; see below (U.S. News & World Report, 2009):
  • 1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • 2. University of California, Berkeley
  • 2. Stanford University
  • 4. California Institute of Technology
  • 4. University of Illinois, Urbana--Champaign
  • 4. Georgia Institute of Technology
  • 7. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
  • 8. Cornell University
  • 9. Purdue University
  • 9. Carnegie Mellon University
Webometrics Top 100 Universities (2009):
  • 1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • 3. Harvard University
  • 21 Purdue University
  • 23 Michigan State University
  • 27 Indiana University
  • 41 Yale University
  • 42 University of Oxford
  • 50 Iowa State University
  • 73 Ohio State University
  • 100 University of New Mexico
Not a bad ranking listing but at the end of the day your institution can ONLY do so much; it IS up to you regardless of local/world perception(s).

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Vamos Xabi, Vamos España!!!

Si no lo sabes--España ganó su juego contra esos francés molestosos. Como se dice in francés: Comment vous faire dit, « la Meilleure chance la prochaine fois ».

Hahaha! Seriously though what a goal at 19' by one Xabi Alonso and again with the free kick. Classic Spain playing keep away until the end. If they win the UEFA 2012 right before the next World Cup well, uhm...OMG for starters! They would have to be one of the best dynamic squads in the last decade. Think back to 1964 and 2008.

But first things are first--beat Portugal, beat Ronaldo. Can't wait. Prediction: 

España 2, Portugal 1

p.s. Germany do not think that I don't notice you too...


Friday, June 22, 2012

2012 Wimbledon Predictions are here...

Just after the Heat--OKC Wars where the Heat are coming off of their second championship and first for Lebron James is a more refined sport, a more prestigious game. At the All-England Tennis Championships Wimbledon is looming!

Yes, the transition from the French Open red clay, or simply Rafa--Land Amusement Park, is the even layered green grass of tennis' most prestigious grand slam. With strawberries-n-cream in tow (and leftover Perrier), get ready for some unpredictable tennis.

On the men's side a looming Tsonga or Murray and now even Federer might all be dark horses; though let's be honest, it will be Nadal--Djokovich all over again. The edge goes to the Spaniard in their last nine meets, and with Nadal coming off a record-setting victory at the French he usually takes this momentum into Wimby.

Prediction: Nadal over Djoker in 5 sets; if Djoker is frustrated again he will break something and get fined.

Now, the U.S. Open is a different beast altogether but if Rafa wins Wimby after winning the French, then his confidence knows no bounds; he is like Marvel Comics' the Hulk: the angrier he gets, the stronger he gets.

Please, please let's make Rafa mad as i would love to see him pass Federer on the all-time grand slam list. I have hated these comparisons between a Pete Sampras v. Andre Agassi in Roger Ferderer v. Rafael Nadal.

For starters, Roger is better than Pete Sampras though Sampras' serve was a little better; second, Agassi's ground strokes made him the Punisher for a reason and I give the edge to him over Rafa though Rafa too is the better player.

I will agree that these two in Nadal v. Fed, are a 2.0 version but the playing field is also shall we say different. In their prime who would win between all four: Nadal by simple mathematical logic. Think about it. Who is the best player on that four-man roster not named Nadal? Federer. Who OWNS and de-commissions the Fed-Express (like off its rails people)? Only one man is left: Nadal.

So, my prediction for THIS 2012 remaining season: Nadal wins both Wimbledon, another Gold Medal at the Olympics (heck, he should team up with Ferrer and win doubles too) and the U.S. Open only to lose in the semis of the year-end Championships sighting fatigue as the reason.

Nadal GS Total: 13 (and entering the Australian Open as the favorite; 4 in a row dominance)

Nadal Legend and GOAT status: from compelling argument to solid fact: Boasting all majors in multiple fashion plus 2-3 gold medals and ONLY 26-7. Sick! Why? Because at 30-1 he WILL still be better than most and if he ONLY wins the French another 4 times he still passes Federer (as Fed will not win anymore majors though he will come close only to face either Nadal or Djoker).

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Hail Purdue...at least until January 2013!

In a valley away from the rather drab and flat land of Indiana rests a juggernaut of a campus, an elite and global icon of higher education and a tradition like no other which has marked Purdue University in West Lafayette (West La La to some; you know who you are) a pound-for-pound public ivy league university.

In the last five years or so the accolades have poured in, and they are extensive (taken by permission from http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/rankings/ranking.html):


Purdue Rankings

U.S.News ranks Purdue's graduate programs among nation's best

Purdue University's programs remain among the best in the nation in U.S.News & World Report's rankings of the top graduate schools released Tuesday (March 13).
"All of our graduate rankings have increased over the past year," said university President France A. Córdova. "These elevated rankings reaffirm that a Purdue degree represents a world-class educational experience."
More

Krannert grad-level majors ranked in top 25

Twelve graduate-level majors offered by Purdue University's Krannert School of Management were ranked in the top 25 in the United States and Canada by Eduniversal.
The programs are MBA in manufacturing/technology management, seventh; MBA in management information systems, seventh; master's in human resource management, eighth; international master's in management/executive MBA, eighth; MBA in marketing, 10th; full-time MBA, 11th; MBA in international management, 12th; MBA in global supply chain management/supply chain and logistics, 15th; MBA in technology innovation and entrepreneurship, 17th; MBA in accounting, 22nd; master's in economics, 24th; master's in finance, 25th.
More

Purdue in Princeton Review's top 150 'best value' colleges

Purdue University is listed among the Princeton Review's 150 "best value" colleges for 2012, released Tuesday (Feb. 7).
The education services and test-prep company says the list, which appeared in USA Today, "is considered a guide for prospective college applicants to seek out the best value for their money."
t is the second time this academic year that Purdue has been recognized for being a good value. In August, SmartMoney magazine ranked Purdue seventh nationally in its college "payback" survey, which quantified the long-term value of a college degree.
More

Krannert MBA program improves in Financial Times rankings

Purdue University's Krannert School of Management MBA program has been ranked 12th among U.S. public colleges and universities by Financial Times.
The program was ranked 17th among U.S. public schools last year.
In the 2012 Financial Times ranking of full-time MBA programs globally, Krannert was 59th, up from 74th last year. Krannert ranked 29th among all U.S. programs, public and private, up from 39th last year.
More

Purdue ABE undergrad program rated best in nation

U.S. News & World Report's selection of Purdue University's agricultural and biological engineering program as the best such undergraduate specialty in the country follows the graduate program's top ranking earlier this year.
The magazine ranked the speciality engineering undergraduate programs Monday (Sept. 12) as part of its annual listing of the nation's top universities. It based its specialty rankings on a spring 2011 survey of deans and department heads at peer institutions.
The magazine also rated the Purdue ABE program as the top graduate program in the country in special rankings released in March.
More

Purdue remains among nation's top universities

Purdue University ranked 23rd among the nation's public universities and 62nd among all universities, according to U.S.News & World Report.
Purdue's overall scores in determining this year's rankings held steady or improved, as did those of other highly ranked universities. Last year, Purdue ranked 18th among public universities and 56th overall.
More

Krannert in top 20 of U.S. business schools in new ranking

Purdue University's Krannert School of Management ranks in the top 20 of U.S. business schools with a major international influence, according to a ranking by Eduniversal.

Krannert ranked No. 19 and was granted "five palms" by Eduniversal, the highest rating offered by the European-based online higher education selection tool. Schools on the list could rate from two palms - considered a good business school with regional influence - to five palms - universal business schools with major international influence.
More

Purdue degree among nation's best buys, SmartMoney says

Purdue University ranks seventh nationally in SmartMoney magazine's college "payback" survey, which quantifies the long-term value of a college education. In 2010, Purdue was ranked ninth.

"This survey shows that a degree from Purdue University has great value in the marketplace," said Timothy D. Sands, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. "We offer an excellent education and attract top students to our flagship campus in West Lafayette. After graduating, our graduates make a difference in the world, and some of that impact is reflected in their salaries."

A Wall Street Journal survey of corporate recruiters in 2010 ranked Purdue fourth nationally in preparing its students for the workforce.
More

Purdue moves up to 61st in world university rankings

Purdue has been ranked 61st in the 2011 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ACWU), up from 69th last year. In specialty rankings, Purdue ranks 14th in engineering and technology, 18th in computer science, 19th in chemistry, and 46th in overall science.

"Purdue works hard to build academic, research and business relationships with partners around the world and to infuse a global perspective into all aspects of our mission as a university," said university President France A. Córdova. "We are positioning ourselves to meet the grand challenges of humanity both locally and globally. International recognition such as this can lead to further global connections and to enhanced learning and research opportunities for our students and faculty."

The ACWU is compiled by the Center for World-Class Universities of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, which, since 2003, has ranked the top 500 universities annually based on six indicators. These include the number of alumni and staff winning Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals, number of highly cited researchers selected by Thomson Scientific, number of articles published in journals of Nature and Science, number of articles indexed in Science Citation Index – Expanded and Social Sciences Citation Index, and per capita performance with respect to the size of an institution.
More

Purdue moves up in QS World University Rankings

Purdue has been ranked 61st in the 2011 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ACWU), up from 69th last year. Purdue University rose in the QS World University Rankings, released Monday (Sept. 5).

Purdue's overall ranking went to 85th, up from 87th in last year's survey. Purdue is the state's only public university ranked in the top 100.

QS considered more than 2,000 universities and evaluated over 700 in compiling the 2011 rankings.
"Rankings are one way that your impact around the world can be assessed," said Timothy D. Sands, Purdue's executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. "Being ranked in the top 100 of more than 700 universities tells prospective students that Purdue will prepare them to successfully compete and collaborate in a global economy."

Purdue was among six Big Ten institutions ranked in the top 100.
More

Purdue's graduate programs ranked among best by U.S.News

Purdue programs in engineering, education and business were ranked among the best in the country in U.S.News & World Report's graduate school rankings released Tuesday (March 15).

"We are pleased that Purdue continues to be recognized for its strengths in education and research at the graduate level," said Purdue President France A. Córdova. "These rankings remind us that Purdue's faculty excel in their fields of study and that they continue to be praised for their roles as educators."
More

Krannert Entrepreneurship program for disabled vets honored

The April issue of Inc. magazine has named the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) program one of the "10 Best-In-Class" college-based entrepreneurship courses in the nation.

Purdue University's Krannert School of Management is one of seven business schools participating in the EBV program.

EBV is designed to provide cutting-edge, experiential training in entrepreneurship and small business management to post-9/11 veterans disabled as a result of their military service.
More

Purdue one of top 50 institutions worldwide most published in Nature journals

Purdue University is one of the top 50 institutions worldwide with the most articles published in the prestigious Nature research journals.

Purdue is ranked 47th on the Nature Publishing Index Global Top 50, based on the number of research articles in Nature or the Nature research journals in 2010. U.S. institutions occupied 33 of the top 50 positions with Harvard University topping the list. The index is available at http://www.natureasia.com/en/publishing-index/global/
More

Purdue reaches top ranks among nation's universities

Purdue is among the nation's top universities and its efforts in undergraduate teaching and programs to ensure student success also were recognized Aug. 17, 2010, in rankings released by U.S.News & World Report.
Purdue was ranked 18th among all public universities - tied with Ohio State University, the University of Georgia and the University of Maryland - up from 22nd last year. Among all universities, Purdue ranked 56th, tied with Ohio State University, Southern Methodist University, the University of Georgia and the University of Maryland. This also is a move up for Purdue, which ranked 61st last year.

"These rankings and acknowledgements show that the emphasis on student success in our strategic plan is paying off," Purdue President France A. Córdova said. "The outstanding work of our faculty and the dedication of our staff are making a tangible difference in the lives of our students."
More

Purdue landscape architecture program rated third in country

Purdue University's undergraduate landscape architecture program is rated third best in the country with two other schools, according to a new survey by DesignIntelligence magazine.

Purdue tied for third with the University of Georgia and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in the rankings of the top programs in the country. The rankings are reported in the magazine's November/December issue.
More

Krannert international executive MBA ranked among world's best

The Purdue University Krannert School of Management international executive MBA degree program placed 21st worldwide in rankings released Monday (Oct. 25) by Financial Times.

The program moved up three places from 2009.

The International Master's in Management (IMM) executive MBA is a collaboration among the Krannert School; TiasNimbas Business School of Tilburg University in the Netherlands; CEU Business School in Budapest, Hungary; and the GISMA Business School in Hannover, Germany.
More

Purdue ranked 4th in Wall Street Journal's job recruiter rankings

A Wall Street Journal survey of corporate recruiters released Monday (Sept. 13) ranks Purdue University fourth in the nation in preparing its students for the work force.

"This confirms that Purdue gets students ready to succeed in the real world," said Timothy Sands, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. "Companies are hiring the whole student, and ours have a solid work ethic, strong leadership skills and real-world experience. Job recruiters recognize our emphasis on internships, learning communities, study abroad, writing in the disciplines and other programs that give our students a well-rounded education."

In the survey's specialty rankings, Purdue was ranked first in management information systems, second in engineering and eighth in computer science.
More

Purdue engineering, technology programs rise in world rankings

Purdue's engineering and technology programs rose nine places in the QS World University Rankings, released Sept. 8.

Overall, Purdue's ranking remained 87th, unchanged from last year's survey, making it the state's only public university ranked in the top 100.

In the 2010 QS rankings, Purdue's engineering and technology programs were ranked 28th, up from 37th in 2009. In other QS world specialty rankings this year, Purdue's life sciences and biomedicine programs ranked 86th, compared to 79th in 2009, and natural sciences ranked 118th, compared to 94th in 2009.
More


SmartMoney ranks a Purdue degree among nation's best buys

Purdue University ranks ninth nationally in SmartMoney magazine's college "payback" survey, which quantifies the long-term value of a college education.

"Public universities turn out to be a far better deal than virtually all the privates we surveyed," according to the magazine.

Purdue Provost Randy Woodson said, "This survey reinforces the reality that a degree from Purdue University has great value in the marketplace. We offer an excellent education and attract top students to our flagship campus in West Lafayette."
More

Financial Times ranks Purdue's Krannert School as a top 10 public MBA program

Purdue University's Krannert School of Management has been ranked in a tie for the No. 9 spot among U.S. public MBA programs, according to rankings released Monday (Jan. 25) by the Financial Times. The publication lists Krannert as the highest-ranked MBA program in the state of Indiana.

Krannert's MBA program jumped 26 spots to tie for 54th worldwide. The national ranking improved to 28th among all U.S. business schools. Krannert's rank among Big Ten schools also rose, from ninth to fourth place, behind only Northwestern University, the University of Michigan and the University of Illinois.
More

U.S.News ranks Purdue's graduate programs among country's best

Programs in education, engineering, business and science were ranked among the best in the nation in U.S.News & World Report's rankings of graduate schools released Thursday (April 15).

"Purdue continues to be recognized by its peers for its strengths in research and education at the graduate level," Purdue President France A. Córdova said. "These rankings remind us that Purdue's faculty excel in their fields of study, and they continue to be praised for their role as educators. This is a winning combination for prospective graduate students."
More

Purdue's Krannert No. 14 among top U.S. business schools

Purdue University's Krannert School of Management ranks in the top 15 of U.S. business schools with a major international influence.
Krannert ranked No. 14 and was granted a "five palms" rating by Eduniversal, the highest rating offered by the European-based online higher education selection tool. Schools on the list could rate from two palms - considered a good business school with regional influence - to five palms - universal business schools with major international influence.

Rankings were based on votes from deans in schools across the country as well as evaluations by Eduniversal's 12-member International Scientific Committee. The committee, which included education experts from five continents, ranked schools based on each university's accreditations, participation in international academic associations and similar criteria.
More

Krannert's executive MBA ranks 14th in WSJ value poll

Rawls HallThe executive MBA at Purdue University's Krannert School of Management offers one of the highest returns on investment, according to a new ranking by the Wall Street Journal.

Five years after graduation, the value of the Krannert degree ranked 14th when factoring in the cost of education. The WSJ article also noted that for public universities, low tuition and a cost-efficient approach often bring more value than brand names.
More

Purdue has strong Web presence, according to ranking

Purdue University, which is second among U.S. public universities in international student enrollment, is a popular Internet destination worldwide, according to a new ranking.

An international higher education search engine and directory reviewing accredited universities and colleges this week placed Purdue sixth among its list of the top 200 institutions in its 4icu.org Web Popularity Ranking. 4 International Colleges & Universities' aim was to provide an approximate popularity ranking of worldwide universities and colleges based upon the popularity of the institutions' Web sites. The rankings can "especially help international students to understand how popular a specific university/college is in a foreign country," rankings organizers say.
More

Purdue in Princeton Review's top 100 'best value' colleges

Purdue University is ranked in the Princeton Review's list of 100 "best value" colleges for 2009, released Jan. 8.
The education services and test-prep company says the rankings are an attempt to highlight "schools that provide high-quality academics at a reasonable price - either by keeping sticker prices in line, or by offsetting high costs with great financial packages."

The survey is based on an analysis using the most recently reported data from each institution for its 2008-09 academic year. The top 10 public and private "best values" are ranked; the rest are listed alphabetically.
More

West Lafayette ranked 6th smartest small town in America

West Lafayette is ranked the sixth most-educated small town in a survey released Jan. 5 by Forbes magazine.
Of West Lafayette, the magazine said in its story: "Purdue University draws top science minds to this west Indiana town with its high-ranking engineering program. High-paying science and tech jobs in Purdue Research Park - from employers like Nissan Chemical, Nanovis and Butler International - keep them there."
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Still, our acronym spells PU. Under the afore stated, Dr. France A. Cordova (a Stanford and Cal Tech alumnus mind you) has brilliantly translated an intellectual space like West La La with world--renowned resources and faculty within an elitist yet familiar arrogance not unlike the top universities on this planet. In a phrase: Hail, Purdue! She, however, is stepping down after serving her tenure.

Why? Well, to chair the Smithsonian Institute of course. I mean duh. She is an accomplished scientist and academician who understood higher education and policy and behind the scenes spear-heading PU into a once more elite scent of a university.

So when the trustees voted on her replacement, we all expected equal greatness and beyond from such an ideal as Dr. Cordova. We expected perhaps an Ivy-league affiliate (i.e. Brown, Columbia,or even Yale), or something comparable in Stanford, Cal Tech or UC--Berkley; why not someone from Cambridge University, UCL (University College of London for those of you who don't know) or MIT; hell, I would have like to see U of Chicago, Northwestern or Hopkins in there too. The point? We should have been able to attract this caliber of candidate with THESE affiliations! This move would have turned the state of Indiana that much closer to arguably the smartest state in the union; namely, Massachusetts (or anywhere sharp minds may be found on the East across from our English channel forbears, no). They could have even come left field and honored us with someone from China (i.e. Peking University) or Canada (i.e. McGill University or Toronto) or Spain or France by goodness! Not Greece though please--we have our limits.

Hmm....

No, instead we received an application from a Princeton and Georgetown Law alumnus with deep political pockets in Governor Mitch Daniels of Indiana. He is not an academician; he is not an educator; he is a politician. Why would PU allow this?

Ostensibly, it is seen as the best school in the state of Indiana and one of the better of the best schools in the Midwest easily on par with a U of Chicago or a Northwestern. This move seems to me a step or two back from where our elite synergies program was hoping to get/land us: http://www.purdue.edu/strategic_plan/documents/StrategicPlanBrochure.pdf. For my part I am glad that Cordova will be my president when I leave PU; the ink could not dry fast enough right after FRANCIS TOBIENNE, JR, THE DEGREE OF and DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY thank you very much.

An odd day indeed for the now pungent odor of PU.

The link can be found here: http://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/general/2012/120621KrachPresident.html

  

Proud to be a Spartan...

In a recent search for prestigious institutions of higher learning but in a public sphere I was pleased when two of my schools showed up; respectively, Michigan State University (MSU) and Purdue University.

For MSU the following was noted:
U.S. News & World Report ranks MSU
  • 28th among the nation’s public universities
  • First in the nation for 18 years for graduate programs in elementary and secondary education
  • First in the nation for graduate programs in nuclear physics and industrial and organizational psychology
  • First in the nation for undergraduate program in supply chain
Recognized for nine consecutive years as one of the top 100 universities in the world by Shanghai Jiao Tong University in its annual Academic Ranking of World Universities.

National leader in study abroad participation among U.S. public universities for seven consecutive years and ninth in the nation for international student enrollment, according to the Institute of International Education.

Ranks 39th among public universities for in-state students in Kiplinger’s 2011 edition of Best Values in Public Colleges.

Silver rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s STARS proram, which measures and encourages sustainability in education and research; operations; and planning, administration, and engagement.

Member of the prestigious 61-member Association of American Universities.

Only university in the country with three on-campus medical schools, graduating allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) physicians, and veterinarians (DVMs).
 ---
Moreover, as one of the best institutions in the nation to now have a full fledged title-held law school as MSU College of Law:

Michigan State University College of Law, a leading institution of legal education with a long history of educating practice-ready attorneys, prepares future lawyers to use ethics, ambition, and intellect to solve the world's problems. As one of only a few private law schools affiliated with a major research university, MSU Law offers comprehensive interdisciplinary opportunities combined with a personalized legal education. After 100 years as a private and independent institution, the affiliation with MSU has put the Law College on an upward trajectory of national and international reputation and reach. MSU Law professors are gifted teachers and distinguished scholars, its curriculum is rigorous and challenging, and its facility is equipped with the latest resources—all affirming MSU Law's commitment to educating 21st-century lawyers.

The following news ranking is worth noting according to Kent Love, Director of Communication at MSU:

MSU Law Continues Rise in National Law School Ranking

East Lansing, MI — Michigan State University College of Law rose more than a dozen slots in the nation's most widely recognized ranking of law school programs. The Law College is positioned at number 82, according to U.S. News & World Report's latest edition of "America's Best Graduate Schools," which was released today.

Joan W. Howarth, dean of MSU College of Law since 2008, is very pleased by the continued ascent of the Law College in the U.S. News ranking. Though quick to point out that the ranking provides only a limited measure of a school's qualities, Howarth recognizes that prospective students and employers alike form impressions of the Law College as a result of the rankings.

Since 2008, the Law College has expanded its academic programs, hired more than a dozen new faculty members, acquired a new facility for the Law College's clinical program, and has experienced significant gains in the areas of admissions and fundraising. "While any ranking system should be taken with a grain of salt, I believe our Law College is on an upward trajectory, due in large part to the commitment of our faculty, hard work of our students, and success of our graduates."

The rise in the rankings comes amid increases in applicants to MSU Law during the past few years—a time when most law schools have seen decreases. In 2011, reflecting its commitment to academic rigor and entrepreneurial spirit, the Law College introduced a host of new initiatives including an innovative first-year curriculum to better prepare 1L students for the rigors of 21st century law practice. Students also benefited from a lower student-to-faculty ratio, allowing faculty to give more time and attention to individual students.

In 2011, MSU Law also added a Civil Rights Law Clinic to its slate of clinical offerings; expanded the Intellectual Property, Information & Communications Law Program (IPIC) to include cutting-edge information law coursework; and named co-directors to head the Frank J. Kelly Institute of Ethics & the Legal Profession, further strengthening the Law College's focus on ethics and issues facing the legal profession.

"We are pleased with the new ranking, especially the recognition by our peer institutions and practitioners in the field," said Howarth. "But more importantly, we are pleased that MSU Law graduates continue to post impressive bar passage rates and secure rewarding jobs throughout the country, despite today's challenging economic climate."
The rankings of 195 law schools fully accredited by the American Bar Association are based on a weighted average of the 12 measures of quality, including academic reputation, selectivity, placement success, and financial resources. Data were collected in fall 2011 and early 2012.
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Not a bad school indeed. Next up, my take on Purdue University and its unfortunate acronym PU.


Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Happy Early Mother's Day!


My wife is simply my best friend and is the best gift the good Lord has given me. That said, this Mother's Day I will not be showering her with diamonds or Tiffany Blue boxe(s); I will not be taking her to expensive eateries and other fine theater experiences; and, I certainly will not be taking her out of the good ol' U S of A.

Instead, I am being practical. She needs a new car. What did I buy her? The new 2012 VW SE Tiguan (a cross between a tiger and an iguana) in AWD (4-motion); candy-white exterior; sandstone (champagne) leather interior; turbo-charged at half the power of a Ferrari; and an elite safety pick with all-access German-engineering.

Oh yeah...surprise honey! I hope you like it. Well, maybe I still spoiled her a bit. She's worth it. Happy Mommy Day!

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Depreciating Asset: a vehicle by any other name

My wife and I are looking to purchase a new vehicle one that is practical and economically ethical. That means that I will have to wait yet again on my fully-loaded BMW X3. We have in fact narrowed it down to a couple of vehicle choices:

First, the new 2012 GMC Terrain with two tone leather interior and onyx black exterior. Thankfully, we were both smart consumers to have bought our vehicles and paid them off completely. In other words, great trade--in value. We received a low trade-in value at the GMC dealership but more on that in a moment.

Second, the new 2012 Volkswagen (VW) Tiguan with champagne cream leather interior and white exterior; the color scheme goes by the phrase: the Key West model. And since my wife and I are travelers and we have been only once to Key West we agree! The trade--in value from this dealership was significantly higher than that of GMC.

The marked difference plus the excellent safety features, navigation and sun-roof feature all tip the scale to the VW Tiguan rather than the GMC Terrain easily. Plus, I admit that VW consumers are smarter and well informed about their purchase stance(s). We have done our homework that's for sure and with our new baby girl it makes all the difference!

Winner: 2012 VW Tiguan SE.

Nota Bene: When purchasing a new vehicle some tips to keep in mind:
  • Purchase with the mindset to own the vehicle for a decade.
  • Once the vehicle leaves the lot it depreciates about 20% (on any vehicle); heck, in 3 months it will depreciate yet again and so on.
  • Do NOT lease a vehicle as this suggests a monthly expenditure including when you give the car back (leaving thousands still left to be paid by you AND you have no car to shoe for it).
  • What features are you NEED haves and what features are your WANT haves (yes, write these down).
  • If you have trade(s) in mind do NOT present this upfront; instead, find out what the walk-out-the-door-final price of the vehicle happens to be; then, offer your trade(s) accordingly.
  • Ask for a loaner vehicle; specifically, ask for it on a Saturday so that you can bring it back on Monday mid-afternoon. If you cannot get a feel for the vehicle within such a concentrated window then that is NOT the car for you.
  • If you opt for a certified pre-owned vehicle make sure it is certified by the manufacturer NOT the dealership. And yes, used but certifiably so is always better than a new vehicle.
  • Lastly, if you go in there to haggle, to deal, to negotiate BE ON THE SAME PAGE FROM JUMP or else, you may get pinned against one another. Remember, purchasing a vehicle in any economy, is the single-most worst investment you will make.