Reply to Will Wake ever be in the #30s again?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]No. It was a fluke to begin with. [/quote]

No really. I’m a 1996 grad, and before USNWR changing its methodology, it had been 25-30 since at least around 1990 (??), when it moved from regional  to national and cut tied with the Baptist convention.  20+ years isn’t a fluke.

The new USNWR rankings just happen to be brutal for the more expensive midsized universities without large PhD programs, that focus on small classes and quality of undergrad teaching, which are no longer considered. They hit the same bump as WM, Tulane and other midsize private (except WM, which is the most expensive public for instate students in the nation)— even Vanderbilt put out a statement about their dropping in rankings.

In the end, either small classes, quality of undergrad teaching, etc matter to you. In which case USNWR isn’t that helpful right now. Or you are invested in Pell Grant numbers/ think they are one of the leading indicators of a quality education, in which case they are.  My DD is at WM, and, compared with her peers at larger VA universities, really benefits from small class size (but is ADHD), got a great summer internship through a professor, etc. I value the things USNWR no longer measures. BUT reasonable minds can differ.  And there really now a zillion rankings. Before relying on rankings, look hard at the underlying methodology and choose one that aligns with what you believe to be important in a college— be that Pell Grant, class size, 4/6 yer grad rate, qualifications of entering students— whatever. As it happens USNWR no longer aligns with what I believe to be most important factor in a quality education. But, you do you.

I will say the quality of education at multiple colleges did not rise or fall 20-30 places in one year, which also happened to be the year USNWR changed methodology. True changes in the quality of a college happen more slowly.  If you always thought Wake, WM, Tulane, etc were overrated, then they came in line with your expectations. If you thought these schools were correctly ranked, they didn’t all suddenly start to provide a less valuable education because USNWR now has a DEI focus.

I will say it’s funny to see FCPs parents who pay so much money to buy a home zoned to send kids to a high school with low FARMS rates bending over backwards to tout USNWR ranking that give a huge boost based on FARMS rates. Langley parents are filing lawsuit after lawsuit and recalling school board members to keep their school less than 2% FARMS. And bemoaned VT’s DEI focus for years because they thought it hurt their kids with admissions. But suddenly love Pell Grant students at VT because it raised their ranking. I mean…[/quote]

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