Are US News rankings making DC rethink college list?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dd says many people are taking Washu off their lists after the rankings fallout, and that many more are adding the top 3 publics to their list. People can dismiss usnews all they want but I would not be surprised if washu takes a huge hit on applications this year, and the publics see big spikes upward

Oos applocations to the top 3 public’s are just going to result in rejections, what a waste of time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are 2024 US News rankings making DC rethink college list or early applications?

Their list is useless. They have lost creditably with me. Honestly I’m sort of relieved because we won’t pay much attention to rankings if this is what they’re looking for. University of Michigan and several other public universities are so liberal that they allow Muslim groups to conduct anti Jewish anti Israel protests making Jewish students feel very uncomfortable. There are other things that have gotten way out of hand and I say this as a very liberal person but not an environment we would want to be in.

As a Jewish Democrat, antisemitism on college campuses terrifies me. I remember it being a thing when I went to college (class of 2009), but it seems like it’s gotten a lot worse since then.

Not at the Catholic colleges. Jewish friends kids are at Boston College and they are embraced fully and there is no anti-semitism there. In fact there is not a lot of protesting or any of that. The jesuits really embrace thoughtful discourse. It is really impressive. No school is perfect but this is something that appeals to me. I think maybe at some other smaller liberal arts schools it may be the same. I think some of the larger colleges allow for more division and protests etc...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, my child is sane.

Rankings don’t even factor in. Current priority list is:

1. Fit
2. Fit
3. How’s the fit?
4. Strength of desired degree programs
5. Vibe check
6. Net price and can we avoid loans
7. Odds of acceptance, maybe 1 or 2 lottery plays at most

Fit is such a bullshit term. What it really means is “we are full pay and our kid can’t into a top school.”

I don't think its a BS term whatsoever. It really should be the top reason for choosing a college not because some insecure parent wants to brag

It is a BS term just like 'thriving' is a BS term as in: my DC found a perfect 'fit' at [2nd rate no name very small LAC that can be passed off as something better/exotic] and is 'thriving' there.

It’s not BS when it’s actually true. Keep living your lie

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are 2024 US News rankings making DC rethink college list or early applications?

Their list is useless. They have lost creditably with me. Honestly I’m sort of relieved because we won’t pay much attention to rankings if this is what they’re looking for. University of Michigan and several other public universities are so liberal that they allow Muslim groups to conduct anti Jewish anti Israel protests making Jewish students feel very uncomfortable. There are other things that have gotten way out of hand and I say this as a very liberal person but not an environment we would want to be in.

As a Jewish Democrat, antisemitism on college campuses terrifies me. I remember it being a thing when I went to college (class of 2009), but it seems like it’s gotten a lot worse since then.

Not at the Catholic colleges. Jewish friends kids are at Boston College and they are embraced fully and there is no anti-semitism there. In fact there is not a lot of protesting or any of that. The jesuits really embrace thoughtful discourse. It is really impressive. No school is perfect but this is something that appeals to me. I think maybe at some other smaller liberal arts schools it may be the same. I think some of the larger colleges allow for more division and protests etc...

PP. I will add I do agree with you though fully and it is of concern to me as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dd says many people are taking Washu off their lists after the rankings fallout, and that many more are adding the top 3 publics to their list. People can dismiss usnews all they want but I would not be surprised if washu takes a huge hit on applications this year, and the publics see big spikes upward

Oos applocations to the top 3 public’s are just going to result in rejections, what a waste of time.

Except for low income/Pell Grant recipients w/ high stats! They will be golden!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FFS, no. The biggest problem with college rankings is SOMEONE else is telling you WHAT is important and HOW important in evaluating a college It’s utter nonsense, and a paradigm of intellectual laziness.

As an example, USNWR tweaked it to favor Pell grant admissions and graduation. Laudable goals for universities, to be sure. But how many in the DCUM world really care about that as far as their own kid’s concerns? If, eg, Harvard were to drop in this metric, people on DCUM wouldn’t want Harvard any less.

No, instead, what you’re doing is using rankings to justify schools you already liked or to avoid ones you don’t for whatever reason. Northeastern climbs but they are “gaming the system” or “cheating”. Chicago falls and they “never deserved to be that high anyway”.

The biggest thing most of you care about is how it will sound to your peer group. Just start being honest with yourself; you’ll be happier for it.

It’s not even just graduation rates, it’s six year graduation rates with adjustments to rates over predicted performance and then subcategories ood this for first Gen and pell elguboe.. If you look at the actual graduating rates, the private schools are better than the public schools ranked similarly. For example, Tufts has a 94 percent graduation rate and Rutgers a 84 percent rate nit thru are ranked side by side.

The publication uses six year graduation rates because the federal government does and requires that they be reported.

I’m aware of that, but more people care about 4 years when they are paying the tuition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dd says many people are taking Washu off their lists after the rankings fallout, and that many more are adding the top 3 publics to their list. People can dismiss usnews all they want but I would not be surprised if washu takes a huge hit on applications this year, and the publics see big spikes upward

Oos applocations to the top 3 public’s are just going to result in rejections, what a waste of time.

Except for low income/Pell Grant recipients w/ high stats! They will be golden!

They already have plenty of kids in that category in state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Dd says many people are taking Washu off their lists after the rankings fallout, and that many more are adding the top 3 publics to their list. People can dismiss usnews all they want but I would not be surprised if washu takes a huge hit on applications this year, and the publics see big spikes upward

Oos applocations to the top 3 public’s are just going to result in rejections, what a waste of time.

Except for low income/Pell Grant recipients w/ high stats! They will be golden!

Yes. Better than the 'URM' status now.

[Anonymous]

Rankings are all made up so no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, my child is sane.

Rankings don’t even factor in. Current priority list is:

1. Fit
2. Fit
3. How’s the fit?
4. Strength of desired degree programs
5. Vibe check
6. Net price and can we avoid loans
7. Odds of acceptance, maybe 1 or 2 lottery plays at most

Fit is such a bullshit term. What it really means is “we are full pay and our kid can’t into a top school.”

I don't think its a BS term whatsoever. It really should be the top reason for choosing a college not because some insecure parent wants to brag

It is a BS term just like 'thriving' is a BS term as in: my DC found a perfect 'fit' at [2nd rate no name very small LAC that can be passed off as something better/exotic] and is 'thriving' there.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are 2024 US News rankings making DC rethink college list or early applications?

Their list is useless. They have lost creditably with me. Honestly I’m sort of relieved because we won’t pay much attention to rankings if this is what they’re looking for. University of Michigan and several other public universities are so liberal that they allow Muslim groups to conduct anti Jewish anti Israel protests making Jewish students feel very uncomfortable. There are other things that have gotten way out of hand and I say this as a very liberal person but not an environment we would want to be in.

As a Jewish Democrat, antisemitism on college campuses terrifies me. I remember it being a thing when I went to college (class of 2009), but it seems like it’s gotten a lot worse since then.

Not at the Catholic colleges. Jewish friends kids are at Boston College and they are embraced fully and there is no anti-semitism there. In fact there is not a lot of protesting or any of that. The jesuits really embrace thoughtful discourse. It is really impressive. No school is perfect but this is something that appeals to me. I think maybe at some other smaller liberal arts schools it may be the same. I think some of the larger colleges allow for more division and protests etc...

PP. I will add I do agree with you though fully and it is of concern to me as well.

Being anti-Israel is not antisemitic. Many Jews themselves are anti-Israel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, my child is sane.

Rankings don’t even factor in. Current priority list is:

1. Fit
2. Fit
3. How’s the fit?
4. Strength of desired degree programs
5. Vibe check
6. Net price and can we avoid loans
7. Odds of acceptance, maybe 1 or 2 lottery plays at most

Fit is such a bullshit term. What it really means is “we are full pay and our kid can’t into a top school.”

I don't think its a BS term whatsoever. It really should be the top reason for choosing a college not because some insecure parent wants to brag

It is a BS term just like 'thriving' is a BS term as in: my DC found a perfect 'fit' at [2nd rate no name very small LAC that can be passed off as something better/exotic] and is 'thriving' there.

I don't like BS, but fit or in other words personal preference/taste is actually very important most of all for intended field of study/program, then location, etc.
Difference in 5 10 15 20 rankings is not significant compared to fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes Chicago is out

Not involved in this cycle but I'd think hard about Chicago early too. Chicago was much lower in Forbes and WSJ already and now dipped significantly in USNWR outside the T10.
They can't just cap core class sizes at 19 or market their way out of it either.
Northwestern might be back to being the top option in the midwest again.

The stupidity is great here. Chicago has been a T10 school for decades.

Yup, this. +1,000,000. But hey, silver lining for the applicants (and their parents) with actual brains: less competition for admission at a truly amazing school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, my child is sane.

Rankings don’t even factor in. Current priority list is:

1. Fit
2. Fit
3. How’s the fit?
4. Strength of desired degree programs
5. Vibe check
6. Net price and can we avoid loans
7. Odds of acceptance, maybe 1 or 2 lottery plays at most

Fit is such a bullshit term. What it really means is “we are full pay and our kid can’t into a top school.”

I don't think its a BS term whatsoever. It really should be the top reason for choosing a college not because some insecure parent wants to brag

It is a BS term just like 'thriving' is a BS term as in: my DC found a perfect 'fit' at [2nd rate no name very small LAC that can be passed off as something better/exotic] and is 'thriving' there.

I don't like BS, but fit or in other words personal preference/taste is actually very important most of all for intended field of study/program, then location, etc.
Difference in 5 10 15 20 rankings is not significant compared to fit.

I want to add that yes prestige/ranking is also important especially for certain majors.
So we referenced a few rakings and only looked at about T100 schools to come up with school list.
Then, fit comes to play. My kid declined #28 #36 schools, and chose #47 school two years ago for fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:USNWR will not even be a consideration. Maybe they are relevant for first generation kids? The things I care about as a parent paying the bills and my kid cares about as a student were eliminated from the USNWR rankings. Pell grants, percent first generation, graduation rate for Pell grant recipients, etc. have nothing to do with the quality of the education. We are full pay, already in the UMC and parents have graduate degrees, so social mobility means nothing to us. Already in the 1%. We care about student class size, professors with PHDs, how many kids were in the top 10% of their class - all the things that were eliminated from consideration.

Exactly.

I agree that factors such as class size, faculty education levels, percent of students at the top of their high school classes, etc. are all important and affect the quality of one's education. But part of a stellar education also involves gaining perspective outside of one's own experience, so rates of socioeconomic diversity at a given school are important to know, too. A better ranking would not have eliminated these other elements but rather would have added these others to existing calculations.