Ever wonder how the US News and World Report select which university is the best in the nation? You would hope that the researchers would create algorhythms to consider a wide range of factors to fairly determine this elite ranking. But no. Critics in the past two decades have exposed just how ratings can be easily manipulated by the colleges themselves. In order to boost their rankings, colleges simply increase the volume of students who apply. To do this, many colleges target applicants who are unqualified students and entice them with free application fees.
Stanford University, Reed College, and others have openly criticized ranking colleges based on the fact that it is impossible to objectively determine subjective characteristics such as “reputation,” which comprises 25% of the ranking. Another factor includes emphasizing research expenditures (grants and contracts) to determine the scientific accomplishment rather than considering the importance and impact of scientific discoveries.
Today, US News and World Report sells “badges” to colleges for thousands of dollars so they can post their shiny badges on their website,citing their ranking. US News started selling badges in 2010, and they now havemore than 130 categories for undergraduate and graduate programs. Do the math:4400 colleges times $20,000 (badge costs are from $8000 to upwards of $32,000 per year) equals hypothetically 88 million dollars per year.
Many colleges are opting out of playing the ranking game,especially many in the top 200. For those colleges, they already have the reputation and they use other marketing strategies to keep them in the news.But for smaller colleges, they struggle to get the incoming student yields theyneed so many colleges are compelled to pay outlandish digital marketing license fees.
With over 4400 colleges and universities in the United States, selecting the best-fit college for undergraduates and graduates can be daunting. While we all know about 200 of the well-known colleges that seemingly everyone aspires to each year – Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Princeton – making this decision can be stressful to every college-bound student.
With the high cost of a college education, parents are pushing their children to major in fields that will give them the best opportunity to secure high-paying jobs in a lucrative market. Where they get their training (undergraduate degree) often plays an important role in getting into grad schools or setting course for a successful career. STEM (science,technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields are highly sought after, andas a result, are the most competitive to get into at the top universities.
A quick Google search for the best colleges in specific fields will send students and parents to college-ranking programs like the US News and World Report. By searching for “Best Colleges” you can select from among several lists such as National Universities, Liberal Arts Universities, Engineering, Top Public Schools, Regional Colleges, and more. But don’t let the allure of the rankings mislead you.
Rather than choosing colleges based on their rankings, choose colleges based on the academic departments you are interested in studying. Check the specific major(s) at each of the colleges at the top onyour list. Then drill down to see the lower-division and upper-division requirements, and the options for electives. Check out their research,internship, capstone (senior project), and other opportunities. Then look atthe general education requirements. Consider other majors that you may want toexplore and possibly audit classes to expand your knowledge. By taking these easy steps, you’ll create a list of excellent colleges that will give you the skills and foundation you need.
While making one of the most important decisions in yourlife, research and compare colleges based on which colleges offer you the bestselection of courses and options. Visit the colleges and take tours, or scour their websites and take virtual tours. If you succumb to the rankings, just take them with a grain of salt.
Ever wonder how the US News and World Report select which university is the best in the nation? You would hope that the researchers would create algorhythms to consider a wide range of factors to fairly determine this elite ranking. But no. Critics in the past two decades have exposed just how ratings can be easily manipulated by the colleges themselves. In order to boost their rankings, colleges simply increase the volume of students who apply. To do this, many colleges target applicants who are unqualified students and entice them with free application fees.
Stanford University, Reed College, and others have openly criticized ranking colleges based on the fact that it is impossible to objectively determine subjective characteristics such as “reputation,” which comprises 25% of the ranking. Another factor includes emphasizing research expenditures (grants and contracts) to determine the scientific accomplishment rather than considering the importance and impact of scientific discoveries.
Today, US News and World Report sells “badges” to colleges for thousands of dollars so they can post their shiny badges on their website,citing their ranking. US News started selling badges in 2010, and they now havemore than 130 categories for undergraduate and graduate programs. Do the math:4400 colleges times $20,000 (badge costs are from $8000 to upwards of $32,000 per year) equals hypothetically 88 million dollars per year.
Many colleges are opting out of playing the ranking game,especially many in the top 200. For those colleges, they already have the reputation and they use other marketing strategies to keep them in the news.But for smaller colleges, they struggle to get the incoming student yields theyneed so many colleges are compelled to pay outlandish digital marketing license fees.
With over 4400 colleges and universities in the United States, selecting the best-fit college for undergraduates and graduates can be daunting. While we all know about 200 of the well-known colleges that seemingly everyone aspires to each year – Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Princeton – making this decision can be stressful to every college-bound student.
With the high cost of a college education, parents are pushing their children to major in fields that will give them the best opportunity to secure high-paying jobs in a lucrative market. Where they get their training (undergraduate degree) often plays an important role in getting into grad schools or setting course for a successful career. STEM (science,technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields are highly sought after, andas a result, are the most competitive to get into at the top universities.
A quick Google search for the best colleges in specific fields will send students and parents to college-ranking programs like the US News and World Report. By searching for “Best Colleges” you can select from among several lists such as National Universities, Liberal Arts Universities, Engineering, Top Public Schools, Regional Colleges, and more. But don’t let the allure of the rankings mislead you.
Rather than choosing colleges based on their rankings, choose colleges based on the academic departments you are interested in studying. Check the specific major(s) at each of the colleges at the top onyour list. Then drill down to see the lower-division and upper-division requirements, and the options for electives. Check out their research,internship, capstone (senior project), and other opportunities. Then look atthe general education requirements. Consider other majors that you may want toexplore and possibly audit classes to expand your knowledge. By taking these easy steps, you’ll create a list of excellent colleges that will give you the skills and foundation you need.
While making one of the most important decisions in yourlife, research and compare colleges based on which colleges offer you the bestselection of courses and options. Visit the colleges and take tours, or scour their websites and take virtual tours. If you succumb to the rankings, just take them with a grain of salt.
College-bound students, and their parents, are making smart decisions when choosing undergraduate colleges. Even when students get into their first-choice colleges, students are carefully reviewing scholarship and financial aid offers and opting not to jump into huge debt at the more prestigious institutions.
Students are more cognizant of the long-term financial effect of student debt on purchasing their first homes, starting families, and building personal portfolios. It used to be that students would insist on going to the most selective college and parents would dip into their home’s equity or retirement savings to grant their children’s and their own bragging rights. Not anymore.
Over the past few years (even pre-COVID-19), students have been opting for in-state public universities when financial aid offers at the ivies and other selective colleges didn’t substantially reduce the tuition cost. This is especially true for students who intend to pursue higher degrees.
I believe students can get an excellent education and great prospects for higher ed and great careers without paying exorbitant fees ($300,000+). By organizing a comprehensive 4-year plan, students can take interesting classes (and their prerequisites) while satisfying major and general ed requirements, and still do research, internships, and clubs.
In addition to gaining the experience and knowledge through their undergraduate programs, students can also do projects to demonstrate their acumen and potential to future admissions committees and employers. It’s not so much about the college as it is about the student.
Glad to see students making well-thought out decisions based on what they need and want, and not on the US News and World rankings.