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UCB, the "unexplainable" is that the rating for a number of schools cannot be reconciled to the criteria that are supposed to be measured, especially if confined to the undergraduate education.
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It seems like the dissenters of the PA score want the opinion poll results to match the objective data on SAT scores, class size and alumni giving rates. Why would USNews collect objective data and then spend a lot of money on an opinion survey asking the same questions? To validate the objective data? No, to measure other factors that cannot be gleaned from statistical data.
How would you go about objectively measuring the quality of undergraduate education?
Since the PA score is opinion, I'll give you my opinion with what it is measuring:
IMO, PA score is measuring distinguishment of academic
programs (i.e. majors)...the top rated schools have the most "distinguished"/'reknowned" majors. This disguishment, in an academic's eye, rightly or wrongly, comes from visible factors that distinguish the program, for example, academy membership, publications, etc.. Now how does this relate to undergraduate programs? It relates because the most distinguished programs attract the best faculty, the best graduate students, and the best undergrads...some want to learn from the best/brightest minds in their field. All of my classes at Cal were taught by professors (who happened to teach both undergrads and grads) while graduate student instructors led discussion sections.
IMO, PA score is a quasi measure of faculty quality. Perhaps USNews could eliminate the PA score with objective measures on faculty quality like academy membership, Nobel prizes, etc.