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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]The reason the US News rankings gained such traction is that they are generally consistent with what most people think based on what they know - so they assume they are accurate in other respects.  So, for example, when I see the comparative rankings of Princeton, Duke, Georgetown and UVA, I say "that seems about right" and I trust the other rankings.

The methodology is subject to question, but the results seem right.  [/quote]

This is precisely the point the author addressed.  The rankings measure for "Yaleness," and Yale wins.  The real question should be: Is Yaleness the best?

Independent of that question, the rankings would seem to be an example of the "misplaced concreteness" fallacy.  The abstract of reality has become the reality.[/quote]

It's true, but it's also sort of brilliant. It's the circle of hiring from the established college list, law school list list, "acceptable law firm" list as a company, etc. It feeds on itself in such a fascinating way that you have to be part of it, lest you be left behind. Are there any among us who weren't substantially influenced by the U.S. News & World Report rankings when we applied to college? To grad school? I was obsessed with it. My friends were obsessed with it. My teachers gave out hearty congrats to those of us who "made it." And we were rewarded with more internship opportunities, better post-school employment, etc etc. The cycle continues. It might all be fake, and X state school may provide just as decent an education objectively speaking, but when all the ambitious kids end up at the same 10 schools, and they are the ones getting all the great jobs in DC and New York and San Fran, etc., there's something to be said for the "abstract of reality" becoming reality.[/quote]

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