Of course we already knew that… 
I just had to share since my daughter shared it with me.
http://college.usatoday.com/2015/09/08/best-us-college-2016-yale-penn/
It’s funny how these rankings work. ~ 8% of DS HS class went to Penn and 3% to Yale. Aside from both being Ivy League and apparently being very close in terms of retention and 4-year graduation rate, the two schools are different in almost every way, as DS realized when visiting and comparing notes with HS classmates.
I am always amused how these articles are so varied in their reasons for ranking. Its just nice that this time my daughter’s school is on top. (My son’s school is never on top of any list- lol)
It is nice, especially since it’s considerably higher than Harvard :))
From the article:
Yes, it’s true–this rating in USAToday has a huge impact on how elite Yale is.
Or maybe not.
I’m a huge Yale fan, but the idea that you would distinguish among the Ivies based on freshman retention rate is beyond dopey.
As a Yale graduate and a current mom, I am always happy to see my school on top. I think the methodology of the rankings is strange and there is more to a school than numbers. I know the freshman retention rate is a direct result of the Old Campus/Residential College experience. It lends to an almost immediate feeling of belonging for freshman because you are not just a number.
I agree with IxnayBob - my D has a friend who is going to UPenn. While a great school academically, her friend did not have the best freshman experience - not grade wise - but finding her “tribe”. Yale kind of sucks you into its midst and does not let go (in a good way of course).
It’s nice to see Yale ranked #1, but much of the rest of the rankings, especially after the top few places, are so loopy it discredits the whole project. Holy Cross and Bucknell are fine colleges, but I would sure like to understand the basis on which they significantly outrank Columbia, Chicago, and Swarthmore (among others). Wake Forest and Columbia are virtually tied; Colgate outranks Chicago. Ummm, no.
@Tperry1982 My daughter has a friend that attends Brown and has had a similar experience. She said there is no school spirit, not as much diversity and “finding your tribe” is not fostered at all. She is now a sophomore and had few real connections to move into her second year with. I agree that the residential college system may have a lot to do with that difference. They also feed the Yale freshmen with shirts, welcome events and school spirit from day one. That makes them all feel welcome and included.
@JHS - totally agree the methodology on this is fraught with issues. Can’t argue with the result though!! L-)
Its better than the number ones that Yale won in the “OK CUPID” rankings that I heard on the radio. They also won first for best looking underclassmen and highest sex drive. As a mom, I prefer the USA Today article.
^^^^All this proves is that Yale is a very well rounded university!!