US News, Forbes, USA Today, Princeton Review, and Niche are just a few of the many college rankings available for parents and students to review. Most college experts agree these college rankings should have little weight when choosing a college. But let’s get real for a moment, we all rank everything: from movies, to music, to restaurants, to hotels, to companies. Consumer reports ranks just about everything known to man: appliances, electronics, automobiles, and more. The New York Times Bestseller lists ranks books. Rankings are a part of our lives.
So what’s all the fuss about college rankings?
They are there because some believe parents and students use them for the wrong reason—to choose a college based on these rankings. But is that really so horrible? Whichever rankings you choose, there will be flaws because no ranking system is perfect. As with all other rankings, we should use them as a place to begin. Looking for a car, consumer reports rank cars based on multiple criteria—choose the ones that are important to you. When getting ready to purchase a new computer, tech magazines rank them based on performance and functionality. These provide consumers with information for further research.
How are college rankings any different?
Use them as a base of reference. Add them to part of the process of finding a good fit college for your student. Don’t throw away the baby with the bath water by discounting them altogether. No ranking system is perfect, but they can provide you with a place to begin and a means to rule out colleges that don’t fit your preferences.
What will your rankings include?
Your rankings will be tailored toward the needs of your student, not based on a subjective collection of information from the colleges themselves. Colleges have been known to pad their data, cheat on the reporting, and shift the data in their favor in order to rank high on the list.
A good college list should have three “fit” criteria: financial fit, academic fit and emotional fit. Consider each school by asking these “fit” questions:
- Financial Fit-Does the college fit into your family’s budget?
- Academic Fit-Does the college fit into your academic aspirations?
- Emotional Fit-Can you see yourself attending college there?
Your own rankings are based on the criteria your student chooses. This means that your rankings are the best!
Creating your own college rankings can be an exciting and personalized way to evaluate and compare different institutions. Start by identifying the key factors that are most important to you in a college experience. This could include academic reputation, campus facilities, student support services, extracurricular activities, location, and more. Once you have your criteria, you can begin your research by gathering information from various sources such as college websites, rankings from reputable publications, student reviews, and alumni testimonials. Consider visiting campuses or attending virtual tours to get a feel for the atmosphere and campus culture. As you gather information, create a scoring system or ranking scale that aligns with your priorities and assign weights to each criterion. Analyze and rank the colleges based on your evaluations. Remember, it’s essential to remain open-minded and willing to reassess your rankings as you gather more information. Additionally, seek advice from mentors, counselors, or college advisors to gain further insights. By creating your own college rankings, you can tailor your choices to suit your unique needs, ensuring that you find the perfect fit for your academic and personal growth.
A education blog