College Rankings

US News and World Report published its annual "Best Colleges" issue last week.  Once again it has stoked the college admissions fire that is ready to seriously heat up as rising seniors return to the classroom and submit their college applications.

 

A piece of advice that all college bound students should remember is that these rankings should be taken with the proverbial grain of salt.  The rankings are based on a questionnaire that colleges fill out that includes information that might not be very important to a potential student.  In fact, some of the higher ranked colleges are trying to change the impact that this publication has on decisions that college bound students and their families make. 

Here's the link to the article for more complete information:

http://news.aol.com/story/_a/colleges-complain-about-rankings-but/n20070815203209990004

I think the real lesson to be learned is that there is a college out there for every student who wants to go.  It's not about "name" or "status."  It's about how successful you will be at the college you choose.  Choose your college based on what is important to you, not on what US News and World Report says.