<p>As one who has lived all over the world, I find this ranking service the closest to the real deal. Not perfect, but very good and free of fluff-factoring.
American students often focus on non-academic factors, such as how nice the dorms are, or how pretty the campus. And oh, the parties. That.
And many Americans see no value in attending a school that goes beyond four year/first degree, never even thinking about taking graduate courses while still in college. The popularity of LACs, vs. their absence here, showes the difference in the way others outside this our country think about it.</p>
<p>Going to university is first (maybe not only, but FIRST) an academic endeavor.</p>
<p>If you are looking to “major in beer,” like the son of the Crazy U author, stick to USNWR.</p>
<p>Sorry to be so harsh. Not my normal style. But DS is a senior and I am aghast not so much at his class mates as their parents, and the things they consider when talking about their own private rankings. Thankfully, much greater sanity prevails for those who continue to grad school. I think they come back to THIS ranking.</p>