Acceptance rate vs. ranking

[Anonymous]

We have a 9th grader and starting to think about college (in the “what should she be doing to be well-positioned” way, not in the “let’s go on college visits” way). We don’t know what her stats will be, though she’s on track to finish first semester with all As and one B (in an AP class). Obviously no test scores yet. In thinking about the types of school she should be targeting, should we be looking at acceptance rate or ranking? For example, I see Tulane mentioned here a lot and I think she’d be interested. Tulane has a low acceptance rate (11%), but it’s ranked 73 by USNWR. Not sure what to make of these different stats.

[Anonymous]

Some schools like Tulane let most of their class in ED which skews the overall admissions rate. You can derive the ED admission rate from the common data set if they don’t report it.

[Anonymous]

This is a question I ask myself all the time. The rankings/necessary stats/acceptance rates are all over the board. Makes no sense.

[Anonymous]

Ranking is one reference you consider out of several factors. It contributes to the selectivity.

Selectivity is a function of acceptance rate + student stat/quality + yield.

[Anonymous]

It use to be more aligned

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a 9th grader and starting to think about college (in the “what should she be doing to be well-positioned” way, not in the “let’s go on college visits” way). We don’t know what her stats will be, though she’s on track to finish first semester with all As and one B (in an AP class). Obviously no test scores yet. In thinking about the types of school she should be targeting, should we be looking at acceptance rate or ranking? For example, I see Tulane mentioned here a lot and I think she’d be interested. Tulane has a low acceptance rate (11%), but it’s ranked 73 by USNWR. Not sure what to make of these different stats.

Many schools use gimmicks to increase applicants so they can claim low acceptance rates.

[Anonymous]

There will people who will tell you acceptance rate means nothing and you should not even look at it, but it means a ton. You just need to get used to calibrating raw acceptance rates with yield, ED admissions rate, and percent of class filled ED (and factor in the huge percentage of ED athletes in certain SLACs. Tulane is obviously now underrated by US News, even if you calibrate the acceptance rate by doubling it. Georgetown is underrated, because it has no ED etc.

[Anonymous]

The rankings change every year, sometimes drastically, according to the vagaries and whims of the USNews criteria wizards. Do not put too much stock in the silly rankings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a question I ask myself all the time. The rankings/necessary stats/acceptance rates are all over the board. Makes no sense.

It only makes no sense if you think the quality of the school is based on how selective admissions is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a question I ask myself all the time. The rankings/necessary stats/acceptance rates are all over the board. Makes no sense.

It only makes no sense if you think the quality of the school is based on how selective admissions is.

Well in a perfect world it would be. Otherwise it’s meaningless.

[Anonymous]

The new US News rankings emphasize social mobility factors at the expense of academics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a 9th grader and starting to think about college (in the “what should she be doing to be well-positioned” way, not in the “let’s go on college visits” way). We don’t know what her stats will be, though she’s on track to finish first semester with all As and one B (in an AP class). Obviously no test scores yet. In thinking about the types of school she should be targeting, should we be looking at acceptance rate or ranking? For example, I see Tulane mentioned here a lot and I think she’d be interested. Tulane has a low acceptance rate (11%), but it’s ranked 73 by USNWR. Not sure what to make of these different stats.

Why do you think your daughter would be interested in Tulane? That is a much better question to explore than statistics questions.

For example, you could identify a few interest patterns your daughter has, and then make a list of schools that might work. Then ask parents here whether the courses and ECs your daughter already has or plans to have will support her making a case for admission. Their qualitative feedback may give you insights you can use now.

I don't think ranking is very important as a college selection criteria. It's obvious that HYPSM is going to provide very high salaries. But below the very top, there are good schools in every region of the country and statistically the ranking differences just aren't all that meaningful from the standpoint of the student's lived experience.

Also, you could help your daughter buttress her math and math test taking skills now. In my state, the state has mandated the PSAT and then SAT, every year from 8th grade to 11th. So there is already age-appropriate standardized testing out there. Address areas of weakness now to permit better choices later. Even free resources from Khan Academy/College Board could be helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is a question I ask myself all the time. The rankings/necessary stats/acceptance rates are all over the board. Makes no sense.

It only makes no sense if you think the quality of the school is based on how selective admissions is.

In general, it's still the law of supply and demand.
Better the quality of the school, more demand, higher selectivity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There will people who will tell you acceptance rate means nothing and you should not even look at it, but it means a ton. You just need to get used to calibrating raw acceptance rates with yield, ED admissions rate, and percent of class filled ED (and factor in the huge percentage of ED athletes in certain SLACs. Tulane is obviously now underrated by US News, even if you calibrate the acceptance rate by doubling it. Georgetown is underrated, because it has no ED etc.

But how do you factor all of this in? Do schools make all of this information readily available? How does DD know what schools are within a realistic range for her?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a 9th grader and starting to think about college (in the “what should she be doing to be well-positioned” way, not in the “let’s go on college visits” way). We don’t know what her stats will be, though she’s on track to finish first semester with all As and one B (in an AP class). Obviously no test scores yet. In thinking about the types of school she should be targeting, should we be looking at acceptance rate or ranking? For example, I see Tulane mentioned here a lot and I think she’d be interested. Tulane has a low acceptance rate (11%), but it’s ranked 73 by USNWR. Not sure what to make of these different stats.

Why do you think your daughter would be interested in Tulane? That is a much better question to explore than statistics questions.

For example, you could identify a few interest patterns your daughter has, and then make a list of schools that might work. Then ask parents here whether the courses and ECs your daughter already has or plans to have will support her making a case for admission. Their qualitative feedback may give you insights you can use now.

I don't think ranking is very important as a college selection criteria. It's obvious that HYPSM is going to provide very high salaries. But below the very top, there are good schools in every region of the country and statistically the ranking differences just aren't all that meaningful from the standpoint of the student's lived experience.

Also, you could help your daughter buttress her math and math test taking skills now. In my state, the state has mandated the PSAT and then SAT, every year from 8th grade to 11th. So there is already age-appropriate standardized testing out there. Address areas of weakness now to permit better choices later. Even free resources from Khan Academy/College Board could be helpful.

I think she’d be interested in Tulane based on the kids I know who go there/she’s active in a Jewish youth group/etc., but I was using Tulane mostly as an example. It seems like every school is hard to get into now and she’s a good student who is involved in different activities but not on track to win any national awards!