[randcraw]

I've attended some top schools and some mediocre schools. The better schools stood out for:

1) more academically demanding (e.g. better organized course syllabi, sharper profs, harder homework, bolder more relevant projects, exposure to research-level problems, use of up-to-date tools & methods, fewer profs on autopilot).

2) smarter students who were more engaged, asked questions, had more complex side interests and hobbies, and thought outside the box. The social dynamics at top schools (esp. among techies) is simply a different world.

And usually, at the best schools, both the students and the school put little emphasis on intercollegiate sports.