Let me put in a plug for Dartmouth.
Dartmouth combines awesome facilities and some stong research with a great undergraduate school and a very good graduate business program nearby. Just as important, though, the administration is really gunning to increase its academic clout by improving its professional and graduate programs, which means lots of resources and attention for programs like the medical school and related programs.
Finally, and this is more personal because I'm interested in oncology, I've been told that Dartmouth's Norris Cotton center is very well regarded and has contributed significant advances to cancer care. There's even a "Dartmouth" chemotherapy regimen. I'll admit that I have no idea what it is, but I certainly hope to know 4 years from now.
As for the others, I only have an opinion about Georgetown. I really wasn't that impressed (they weren't that impressed with me, either, but whatever). Their hospital's in real financial trouble, which drove them into a private partnership and it's bound to affect the quality of the education. I work in industry now, and I guarantee you that no matter what legal strictures you put into place, having a profit motive will clearly change the educational experience.
Outside of what I think, and trying to explain other people's behavior in terms of explaining the voting as they have:
1) There's a halo effect from having an Ivy League association that is helping the medical school.
2) The rankings are matching the USNews rankings to some extent.
3) Being in a big city helps Georgetown.
Are you coming to the 2nd look weekend next week?
