<p>All you hear about on CC are the negative uses (someone whose parents are forcing him to choose #5 over #15, or some such). We really have no idea if the vast majority of buyers of the issue are using it appropriately (looking for the data behind the numbers, thinking of the schools in terms of ballparks rather than strict 5>6>7 tiers).</p>
<p>Rankings serve their purpose. I made extensive use of the USNews Engineering Program rankings in building my list (you can see my post in the ‘first cut’ thread for more on that). Are they perfectly accurate? Probably not. However, I’ve found a strong correlation between these rankings and the opinions of practicing engineers I’ve talked to. There are exceptions; Colorado School of Mines is easily one of the top 10 most prestigious engineering schools in my area. But I think that any institution ranked in the top 25 (or whatever) is probably a pretty darn good program, and this seems like a pretty reasonable tool for quickly and easily building a list.</p>
<p>PG and BBD -I actually have no doubt that is true. I have always said that the same goals you two used it for can simply be accomplished without making it a pseudo scientific ranking. It does make a difference. Anyway, I am exhausted. You two win by outlasting me.</p>
<p>not trying to get the last word, honestly.</p>
<p>Fiske for ex, does not rank. Instead it divides up into the schools that rank 5, 4, 3 and 2 academically. Evidently they found the groupings too arbitrary, so they added 3.5, and 4.5.</p>
<p>Now what if a school is in between the 4s and 4.5s? (by whatever criteria Fisk uses). Its arbitrary to put it into one group or the other. If you use Fisk that way, as cut off, its going to be arbitrary at the edge.</p>
<p>If there is another way you have in mind, please share it. All I see are A. Equally arbitrary or more arbitrary rankings/groupings B. “My kid only wanted a school offering musical theater in New England in a town between 200,000 and 700,000 population, and there were only two, so we didnt need a ranking to make a cut” or things to that effect.</p>
<p>Here’s the thing with musical theater programs…there is NO official ranking. I like it this way! Sure, there are the most well known or highly regarded schools, but no numerical ranking. They are sort of in “piles”. Certain ones are more well known than others and draw more competitive national talent pools. However, almost all have acceptance rates in the single digits. Nobody really needs a numerical ranking. It helps to know of well respected programs or what school offer such programs. Not sure it helps to have a numerical ranking though.</p>
<p>This thread will soon be obsolete.</p>
<p>The" REAL" rankings are out… DUCK & COVER. :eek:</p>
<p>i was just using MT as an example. Substitute Nuclear Engineering, or Nepalese Studies, if you wish.</p>
<p>BBD…I know it was just an example, but it got me to think about MT colleges because there are no official rankings. There are programs considered as “top programs” and such. It was just a comment.</p>
<p>I agree with Brooklynborndad’s post a few pages back about immigrants having a greater need for the validation of an elite college degree than those of us who were born here. And wasn’t there a study recently which showed that an Ivy education offered the greatest advantage to minorities?</p>
<p>PG, we attended an admitted students send-off party yesterday. One foreign-born couple explained how they had tried, unsuccessfully, to explain to their friends and relatives the benefits of their son’s chosen university over Harvard, where he also got in. So I think people do try to educate their families, but often they are too set in their ways. My own American-born parents have finally accepted that D is going to a very good school, but feel it just can’t compare to the small, relatively unknown LAC which is in their own backyard and where my mother and two sisters attended. People are going to think what they’re going to think based on their own frame of reference. No amount of “education” will change that too much because the relatives will only conclude you’re making excuses for your deficient progeny. It sounds to them as bogus as claiming Green Giant Junior College is just as good as Princeton.</p>
<p>1sokkermom-
I am amazed and pleasantly surprised that there isn’t more chatter about the #(#_<em>)#</em>)%*($&^Q@ USNews list…</p>
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<p>Well, actually, I have to proofread them again before I click “send”. Give me a second…</p>
<p>Ha, saw them earlier and hope I won’t have to explain to friends and family why all the schools my D turned down are ranked higher than the one she chose to attend. Sigh.</p>
<p>GFG- If I was you, I’d move. It seems there are a lot of people around you obsessed with prestige. I have not met a person today who cares or knows anything about the Forbes or USNWR rankings.</p>
<p>Well, I said that more tongue-in-cheek, but actually DH made a snide remark because he was in the camp of “How could anyone turn down Harvard?” The rankings come up as a big headline on internet home pages, so people will at least notice who’s #1.</p>