Which College Is Best (For You)?

If you or a high school student you love have already begun the college exploration process, then you are probably familiar with the U.S. News & World Report annual “Best Colleges” rankings. Begun in 1983 as a simple insert in the then-weekly publication, the Rankings soon surpassed the popularity of the magazine itself, which ceased the production of monthly issues in 2010. However, the highly influential (and profitable) rankings publication (online and in print) has continued to grow. Over the past few decades, many other organizations, such as Forbes, The Economist, The Wall Street Journal, The Princeton Review, and Kaplan have joined in the rankings mania by publishing their own lists using slightly different criteria.

So why have rankings gained such popularity amongst college goers? One reason is that when it comes to college admissions, there is an overabundance of information to sift through, and the rankings make it quick and easy for us to digest information. They help shrink down the universe of possibilities and allow us to compare choices. As consumers, we are accustomed to using product rankings to make purchasing decisions. We live in a competitive culture that likes to declare “winners” and break down results into neat categories. There is something appealing about being able to say “I am (or my son/daughter is) going to a Top 20 college!” For these reasons, I totally get the appeal.

But, there are dangers in relying on rankings as your primary source of college research. For one, you should understand the inputs to really be able to digest what they are measuring. U.S. News publishes its calculations here if you care to take a deeper dive. Next, ask yourself which of these factors (e.g., selectivity rates, alumni giving, professor salaries) are really important to you, and which will really have an impact on your college experience? It should be noted that a significant percentage of the formula (22.5%) is based on reputation alone. As such, rankings tend to best be utilized as a general proxy for prestige. And there’s nothing inherently wrong with wanting to go to a prestigious college. But I encourage you to take a step back and consider WHY prestige is important to you, and what that actually means when you think about your day-to-day college experience. Will attending a #10 ranked school be more exciting than one ranked #21? Will you get a better education? Make more money after college? Be happier?

The fundamental problem with rankings is that there is simply no objective way to measure quality of educational experience. What is important to YOU in a college is not the same as everyone else’s preferences and needs. This is why, in my practice, I continue to emphasize the importance of finding a “fit” vs. chasing the rankings. Imagine saying “I’m going to apply to the top 15 colleges and go to the highest ranked one I get into.” Is #7 fundamentally better than #8? Different, probably…but better? I find that hard to believe. Subscribing to this approach causes an artificial hierarchy when comparing experiences that are really quite different from each other. As an example, Columbia and Brown may both be highly ranked Ivy League schools but their curricula and cultures are incredibly different. "Which is better?" is not the relevant question. The relevant question should be "Which is better for YOU?"

So what’s an overwhelmed college applicant (and his/her family) to do? I would suggest a different approach that focuses on finding the best fit, rather than a meaningless search for the objectively best school. First take some time for self-assessment and self-reflection. Close your eyes and imagine yourself at college. What does it look like? What are you studying? What are your classes like? What kinds of relationships do you have with your professors? What do you do after class? What are your friends and classmates like? What do you do for fun? How will you make your mark on your college community? How will college prepare you for life after graduation? What experiences do you want to have before you graduate? Everyone will come up with a different picture, and that is why the college admissions journey is an art rather than a science. When it comes time to research which colleges match your unique criteria, there are a number of terrific tools to explore outside the confines of the rankings. (In fact, many of my favorites can be found on the Resources page on this site).

At the end of the day, you’re probably going to look at the rankings. That’s okay. Their irresistible nature has kept U.S. News in business for decades. I won’t blame you and I also won’t claim that I don’t also take a peek when the latest edition comes out. But, be thoughtful about how you use the information. Your college will be your home for the next four years, and will set the foundation for your early adult life. Are you going to rely on what someone else thinks is a “good” college, or are you going to determine that for yourself?