"Question: My top choice college is not ranked as high as some of the others on my application list. My parents want me to prioritize the schools that are ranked higher. What should I do?
Answer: You are certainly not alone in this dilemma. Commercial college rankings like U.S. News and World Report have an unhealthy grip on the culture of college admission in this country and around the world. Unfortunately, these subjective and flawed lists not only dictate policy and practice at schools but also perpetuate a focus on status and prestige rather than a meaningful match …
… As you prepare to make choices about the next four years of your life, it is important that you identify your priorities. What is the experience you want to have in college? Do you have specific goals that you want to accomplish or careers that you want to prepare for? What kind of people do you want to be surrounded by and what values are important to you in a community? Then ask yourself whether commercial rankings can provide the answers to any of these more personal questions? Encourage your parents to do the same." …
https://www.concordmonitor.com/College-Guy-Brennan-Barnard-37091833