There are factors in higher education that can be measured, like "best value colleges" and "party schools." But some qualities — like amazing cafeteria food (served at Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas) and luxurious dorm rooms (like the too-nice-for-teenagers units at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor) — are too often overlooked on those lists.
That's where the Daily Beast comes in. This past week, it published a roundup titled "Amazing But Overlooked: 25 Colleges You Haven't Considered But Should," and two Texas schools made the cut.
The Daily Best reckons that Texas A&M University's most overlooked quality is its "school social spirit," and applauds the Aggies for an unparalleled following on Twitter, Foursquare, YouTube, Facebook and Pinterest. The university uses these social media outlets "to create excitement around campus developments."
Rice University is recognized for its diversity. Less than half of the student body comes from Texas, "and more than 10 percent are foreign. Plus, Rice is racially and ethnically diverse as well: a fifth of students are Asian, a fifth are African-American or Hispanic, and 5 percent are two or more races."
When it published the list, Daily Beast knew it would incite a flurry of reader responses. Within days, the site received hundreds of submissions for other amazing-but-overlooked institutions.
According to readers, two more Texas universities — University of Texas at El Paso and Austin College in Sherman — deserve props. The former, for its award-winning journalism program; the latter, for its leadership program.
The Daily Beast recognizes Rice University for its diverse student body.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is on the hunt for a winning head coach.
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