Sweet Briar College, San Diego State University On Top For #MyTopCollege First Week

We are one week in to Forbes’ second annual #MyTopCollege movement, and we can report that we’ve received submissions from every region of the U.S. Launched last Monday, the campaign through our new  account allows students to share how their school has uniquely helped them grow as individuals and professionals. Last year, we saw over 35,000 tweets and 8,000 Instagram posts – and after just one week, we are well on our way to surpassing those amounts this year.

Regionally, the Appalachian Highlands (which include KY, TN, WV, VA and NC) overwhelmingly lead the scoreboard, with the Pacific and Midwest coming in next. We have not received many submissions from the Heartland (hello, ND, SD, NE, KS, MN, IA and MO, we’re talking to you), but submissions from our other regions have been hearty.

Far in first place is Virginia’s Sweet Briar College, the 114-year-old small all-women’s liberal arts school that recently almost closed. It was rescued at the last minute with a court ruling and new president, Phil Stone. Students proved on social media with over 600 submissions that their spirit is still alive and kicking.

Taking the next two spots are both west coast schools. San Diego State University comes in second, and in third is last year’s winner, California State University at Fullerton.

Following, the Mountain region is led by Colorado State University. There has been generous representation from Idaho, as the College of Idaho and University of Idaho compete for the next top regional spot.

The New England region is headed by the University of New Hampshire, who was also a frontrunner in last year’s campaign. Regional Ivy rivals such asHarvard and Yale have yet to post anything, and we would love to hear from more Ivy Leagues.

Leading the Midwest are the Michigan State University Spartans. Though Saginaw Valley State University generated good steam to start by offering campus bookstore gift cards, they are currently lagging behind other schools in the Michigan region. Iowa schools are also vying for representation, as we will see if Central College or the University of Iowa pulls ahead next week.

Leading the southwest is Texas Christian University, and Mississippi State University leads the southeast. Finally, in the Mid-Atlantic region, St. Lawrence University in New York heads the pack. Close behind are Pennsylvania schools Delaware Valley University and Villanova University.

Instead of simply scenic campus shots, students have been posting personal photos of friends and student life, as well as stories of inspiration and success. So far, we have wide representation from large state universities and small liberal arts colleges. However, institutions that usually brim with mass school spirit are much quieter this year, like sports rivals University of Michigan and Ohio State University.

Please continue to tweet and Instagram pictures of how your school has uniquely shaped you with the hashtag #MyTopCollege and your school’s Twitter handle. There’s only 5 weeks until the July 29 deadline and the chance to be featured on Forbes’ website and social media – so go, go, go!