@Ellen_Vaknine, Northeastern worked to get its ranking up the last two decades. I describe that in “Who Gets In and Why.” So I wouldn’t pay too much attention to the ranking compared to Drexel. Both are known for their co-op programs. I think it more matters what you want to major in and the co-op opportunities. Find out where recent students in your intended major have done their co-ops and what the job placement rates have been from those co-ops. That matters more than rankings.
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@PShelley, at a liberal-arts college, most everyone starts in a gen ed curriculum for the first two years. And that’s when you pick your major – your sophomore year. So it’s less about starting in your major right away. The research opportunities could actually be greater at a liberal arts college because you’re not competing against grad students. It’s something to definitely ask about if you want to do undergrad research.
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is there a link to the live webcast? Or it is just Q&A here?
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It it just the written Q&A here on this page.
is there a live webcast happening at the same time too?
In a situation like Sergei Brin and Larry Page, who shares the blame that their success is almost purely linked to Stanford vs UMD/Michigan? Is it the press? Is it Stanford/UMD/Michigan? Is it parents/students trying to justify why they are sacrificing so much? How can we improve this, especially the situation where everyone is trying to get into these schools in undergrad, when a large percentage of famous alums are actually related purely by grad programs?
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So do we just watch the screen and questions being answered on screen?
How do we figure out if universities/colleges are going to eliminate a department due to loss of federal funding?
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Thank you. What are the benefits/drawbacks of a LAC vs university? does one prepare a student for employment better than the other/prepare for graduate school? Are there universities which offer an education similar to a LAC?
@naiqil, signals change over time. Think about 20 years ago. The signal of a USC, Northeastern, NYU was certainly less than it is today. So, signals can change. Also in research for my new book, “Dream School,” I found two interesting things about where grads of different colleges end up:
- First, the likelihood of having alumni at a Fortune 50 company is slightly higher for the most selective colleges, but not by much. Indeed, graduates from schools in the 20 to 40 percent acceptance band were less likely to be working at a Fortune 50 company than those in the acceptance band below them (40-60 percent).
- Second, very few Fortune 50 employees attended elite colleges. That makes sense, because those schools’ enrollment numbers are tiny compared with higher education as a whole. Every May at graduation, as elite enrollments hold steady and others grow, that gap expands. Your future co-workers are roughly four times as likely to have graduated from a college with an acceptance rate above 40 percent than from a more selective school.
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Did you explore how US students fared (with regards to job opportunities, grad/med/law school acceptances and other measures of success) at non-US schools (eg in Canada or UK) for your book?
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Yes. Just ask questions and then read Jeff’s answers.
What are the benefits/drawbacks of a LAC vs university? does one prepare a student for employment better than the other/prepare for graduate school? Are there universities which offer an education similar to a LAC? Thank you
If I asked questions in this thread before the session started, should I ask them again now?
No. @Jeff_Selingo can see all questions that were asked before the session and will try to answer them all. 
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For those students choosing a college this spring, before the book comes out, what are some of your tips for deciding between schools or analyzing the ROI of a school that may be out of the top 50 but still gets positive reviews for student success? My child was accepted to Santa Clara with merit and honors program, but we are East Coast and many friends/neighbors have not heard of it here. This creates mixed feelings for my child, who really likes the school and the opportunities it offers.
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@Damary, to me academic rigor is measured by what you’re looking for in a college and that’s quality teaching. How do you find that?
The proxies that the rankings use to measure teaching quality—factors like class sizes and faculty salaries—fail to capture how effectively professors teach and mentor students or even how much each college prioritizes good teaching.
Here are three things that I’d look for in a “lower-ranked” school:
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Find out how the school hires its faculty. Ask if faculty give teaching demonstrations when they’re hired, and if so, are undergraduates invited? If prospective professors actually have to show they can teach as part of the vetting process, teaching counts for something on that campus.
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Ask current students about their professors. Undergraduates are often your best sources for understanding what the teaching is really like. Don’t just rely on the tour guide, who will give you talking points. Seek out students in your intended major by reaching out on LinkedIn or ask the department chair or admissions office.
Ask them: What courses are taught by the best professors? Who are their favorites in their major and why? Inquire specifically about freshman year, when students are more likely to drop out of college or to encounter courses designed to weed them out of their major. For example: Did they have teaching assistants or professors for first-year courses? How good were they? Overall, did the faculty members seem to care about teaching? How about mentoring? Did any of their first-year professors invite them to a group dinner or a special event to help them find their footing early on?
- Sit in on a class, preferably in your major.
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@_AKfbx, I do have a worry about the ability of the NCES to supply the needed data to College Navigator and the College Scorecard. But so far, they are still useful. I like the New York Times rankings tool which allows you to input what’s important to you: Opinion | Build Your Own College Rankings - The New York Times
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Hi Jeff, I really enjoyed your last book and I am excited to read your next book!
Two questions:
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A college podcast I listened to speculated that there may be more waitlist activity this year. Do you think there will be as well and if so, do you have any advice for getting admitted from the waitlist? I know the odds are slim.
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My child is choosing classes for junior year this week. What are your thoughts on the rigor vs GPA debate as you saw it play out in admissions?
Thank you!
@curiousme2, this is a good question, but we just don’t know yet. NIH and NSF funding haven’t gone away yet. Much of the focus has been on overhead costs for grants, which many of the wealthiest instituions will continue to find. My advice is if you’re interested a research university, go to one with 1.) wealth 2.) good state support if it’s a public. 3.) known for the academic program you want. You might not get all three. #3 is the most important.
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