USNWR Rankings - Politico Article

[Anonymous]

Interesting reading on what goes into the rankings.
https://www.politico.com/interactives/2017/top-college-rankings-list-2017-us-news-investigation/

[Anonymous]

I think one of the biggest flaws of USNews rankings is that they dont measure outcomes at all, such as employment statistics and salaries, which is absolutely ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

From the subheading:

“Once ladders of social mobility, universities increasingly reinforce existing wealth, fueling a backlash that helped elect Donald Trump.”

LOL. There’s a connection between the rankings and Trump’s election? Who knew?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think one of the biggest flaws of USNews rankings is that they dont measure outcomes at all, such as employment statistics and salaries, which is absolutely ridiculous.

It's probably good that they don't since cost-of-living varies depending on the area. And most non-rich/elite students tend to go to schools close to home. Including salaries would just distort the rankings in favor of northeastern and California schools, which are already highly ranked as it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From the subheading:

“Once ladders of social mobility, universities increasingly reinforce existing wealth, fueling a backlash that helped elect Donald Trump.”

LOL. There’s a connection between the rankings and Trump’s election? Who knew?

Obviously, it's not a direct connection. But it is fair to say that yes, there is hostility toward elite institutions that are no longer accessible to average people.

For example, it is very difficult for an average student from Ohio or Michigan or Texas to even gain admission to their state flagship. That is a marked change from 30 years ago when their parents were growing up -- and yes, it breeds class and economic resentment. Increasingly people feel that the system is rigged against them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From the subheading:

“Once ladders of social mobility, universities increasingly reinforce existing wealth, fueling a backlash that helped elect Donald Trump.”

LOL. There’s a connection between the rankings and Trump’s election? Who knew?

Obviously, it's not a direct connection. But it is fair to say that yes, there is hostility toward elite institutions that are no longer accessible to average people.

For example, it is very difficult for an average student from Ohio or Michigan or Texas to even gain admission to their state flagship. That is a marked change from 30 years ago when their parents were growing up -- and yes, it breeds class and economic resentment. Increasingly people feel that the system is rigged against them.

Don't think that is true for Texas. Much easier to get into UT-Austin in-state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From the subheading:

“Once ladders of social mobility, universities increasingly reinforce existing wealth, fueling a backlash that helped elect Donald Trump.”

LOL. There’s a connection between the rankings and Trump’s election? Who knew?

Obviously, it's not a direct connection. But it is fair to say that yes, there is hostility toward elite institutions that are no longer accessible to average people.

For example, it is very difficult for an average student from Ohio or Michigan or Texas to even gain admission to their state flagship. That is a marked change from 30 years ago when their parents were growing up -- and yes, it breeds class and economic resentment. Increasingly people feel that the system is rigged against them.

That is because there is a lot more competition now compared to back then, more people wanting to go to college now. A good friend went to a great univ. That friend said there is no way she could get in with the same grades/scores she had back then. She acknowledges that competition is fierce and her kids need to step it up. Are Americans complaining because they can't compete?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From the subheading:

“Once ladders of social mobility, universities increasingly reinforce existing wealth, fueling a backlash that helped elect Donald Trump.”

LOL. There’s a connection between the rankings and Trump’s election? Who knew?

Obviously, it's not a direct connection. But it is fair to say that yes, there is hostility toward elite institutions that are no longer accessible to average people.

For example, it is very difficult for an average student from Ohio or Michigan or Texas to even gain admission to their state flagship. That is a marked change from 30 years ago when their parents were growing up -- and yes, it breeds class and economic resentment. Increasingly people feel that the system is rigged against them.

I grew up in Michigan. Way back when, UMich was “loyal” to the state and accepted mostly Michigan kids and was accessible for good students from Michigan high schools. It was a STATE school to educated Michigan’s future leaders and doctors and business people, etc. Along the way that changed and it’s now a school filled with mind bogglingly rich international students who pretty much do their own thing, similarly wealthy kids from the Northeast and Chicago for whom Michigan is a consolation prize for higher ranked private schools and who surround themselves pretty much with other wealthy people, kids from wealthy places in MI like Grosse Pointe. No longer are there large numbers of the middle class Michiganders....

[Anonymous]

Early decision breeds resentment, too. And with just cause.

Families who earn too much for federal aid but rely on merit aid to make the numbers work have a choice:

1. Submit the one application, and give up any power to choose,

2. Submit applications to half a dozen similar schools knowing that there's a reasonable chance of a nice chunk of merit aid at one.

The smarter path is 2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think one of the biggest flaws of USNews rankings is that they dont measure outcomes at all, such as employment statistics and salaries, which is absolutely ridiculous.

Forbes does this. They changed their flawed methodology last year to get rid of silly things like Who's Who/Rate My Professor and heavily weigh salaries. This resulted in all the overrated liberal art colleges getting kicked out of the top 10 and being replaced by schools which people would legitimately consider top 10- HYPMS as top 5, Caltech, Duke, Penn.

[Anonymous]

"Obviously, it's not a direct connection. But it is fair to say that yes, there is hostility toward elite institutions that are no longer accessible to average people.

For example, it is very difficult for an average student from Ohio or Michigan or Texas to even gain admission to their state flagship. That is a marked change from 30 years ago when their parents were growing up -- and yes, it breeds class and economic resentment. Increasingly people feel that the system is rigged against them."

Average people never got into elite institutions. Full Stop.

If people want average students to get into their state flagships like they used to, (or to have flagship quality educations) they have to vote for state legislators who support hugely increasing state support for those flagship schools.

People have been voting in EXACTLY the opposite manner, especially in Ohio, Michigan, Texas and Wisconsin. Every tax cut decreases the number of flagship seats and increases the number of community college seats.

The system isn't rigged against people, the system just needs to grow and the money needed to grow comes from raising taxes. The rich used to train workers and conduct research. Now they want state schools to do those things, no problem, just show them the money.

[Anonymous]

Forbes seems to be a far more logical and objective ranking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Obviously, it's not a direct connection. But it is fair to say that yes, there is hostility toward elite institutions that are no longer accessible to average people.

For example, it is very difficult for an average student from Ohio or Michigan or Texas to even gain admission to their state flagship. That is a marked change from 30 years ago when their parents were growing up -- and yes, it breeds class and economic resentment. Increasingly people feel that the system is rigged against them."

Average people never got into elite institutions. Full Stop.

If people want average students to get into their state flagships like they used to, (or to have flagship quality educations) they have to vote for state legislators who support hugely increasing state support for those flagship schools.

People have been voting in EXACTLY the opposite manner, especially in Ohio, Michigan, Texas and Wisconsin. Every tax cut decreases the number of flagship seats and increases the number of community college seats.

The system isn't rigged against people, the system just needs to grow and the money needed to grow comes from raising taxes. The rich used to train workers and conduct research. Now they want state schools to do those things, no problem, just show them the money.

For you to paint this as a Democrat vs. Republican issue just shows your ignaorance and hyperpartisanship. Nothing more.

California’s higher education system is often considered in crisis: https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2015/12/californias-higher-education-crisis/418293/

Illinois students are fleeing the state due to inability to get into University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and for many, even if they do, its serious budget woes (programs being cut, needing to rely on international students for funding, etc.) are extremely concerning: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-college-budget-crunch-met-20160331-story.html

[Anonymous]

People bitch about state schools taking full-pay out of state and international students but then don't connect it to their own actions in voting for legislators who cut taxes and prioritize corporate welfare over a well-educated population. If you want nice things, you have to pay for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People bitch about state schools taking full-pay out of state and international students but then don't connect it to their own actions in voting for legislators who cut taxes and prioritize corporate welfare over a well-educated population. If you want nice things, you have to pay for them.

That is working really well for residents in California and Illinois! /s

(See 17:41)