<p>At D's accepted student weekend, I sat with a couple whose daughter was choosing between Harvard and Wellesley. Does it matter what the ratings are, when you're making that kind of choice? It's a choice about the type of environment you desire or prefer. Ratings are irrelevant at that point. Anyway, there are levels at which the only answer is "they are all good choices, it comes down to personal preference." I would put the choice between Harvard, MIT, Amherst, Williams, Wellesley, Tufts, and Smith at that level. In the absence of a specific program only offered at one school, there is really little compelling reason to choose any one over the others beyond personal taste and preference. And no, "X is ranked higher than Y" isn't a compelling reason at this level, except among dorks.</p>