Never mind USNWR...when do rankings come out for "Colleges That Change Lives"?

USNWR rankings are like saying: rank the cities of the world in terms of their overall awesomeness. Rank all foods from best to worst. It’s inherently insane.

Is Harvard “better” than the University of Phoenix? Yes. Is Williams better than Liberty? Yes. But is Harvard “better” than Stanford, is Williams “better” than Amherst? It’s ridiculous.

Every school in the top hundred is a terrific school. Every school has strengths and weaknesses, and pros and cons for particular kids (urban/rural, small/large, great STEM/great humanities, more/less student diversity, etc). USNWR rankings exist to keep an otherwise failed company alive and to make all the rest of us crazy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In what academic area would the University of Florida be better than Wisconsin or Texas? Any?

No.

They're all the same. Splitting hairs to be honest.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First time for Elon in the National Rankings.


#84 in National Universities (tie)
#2 in Best Undergraduate Teaching
#11 in Most Innovative Schools
#2 in First-Year Experiences
#1 in Learning Communities
#5 in Senior Capstone
#2 in Service Learning
#4 in Co-ops/Internships
#10 in Writing in the Disciplines (tie)
#1 in Study Abroad
#4 in Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects
#370 in Top Performers on Social Mobility (tie)


Santa Clara also made the move into the National Ramkings, appearing at #54.

Not about Elon, but what do those categories even mean? Does being #1 in study abroad mean you have the most programs? The greatest percentage of students going abroad? Or, is it some statement about the quality of the programs?

It’s as if they create more and more categories so more schools (and alumni) can claim to be the best at something.

Study abroad programs, such as those at the schools listed below, involve substantial academic work – a year or a semester, or an intensive experience equal to a course – and considerable interaction between the student and the culture. In spring 2019, we invited college presidents, chief academic officers, deans of students and deans of admissions from more than 1,500 schools to nominate up to 15 institutions with stellar examples of study abroad programs. Colleges and universities that received 10 or more nominations are ranked here.

So I’m other words, there is no measurement being made. Nothing systemic being evaluated. Just what people at other schools feel is “stellar?”

I’d love to see how many officials rank their direct peers low and that allows other schools to work their way up.

Anonymous wrote:In what academic area would the University of Florida be better than Wisconsin or Texas? Any?

No.

In what academic area would the University of Florida be better than Wisconsin or Texas? Any?

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Anonymous wrote:Why is Stanford not ranked top 5?

Because Stanford lags behind the schools ahead for the faculty resources and alumni giving component.

Both of these are east-coast/other region favoring, given alumni traditions for donating funds and the cost of leaving penalty against California schools for faculty salaries.

Add +1 to +3 for most California schools and you'll have a more accurate ranking.

USNWR doesn't really matter to Stanford. Regardless of what USNWR says, Stanford is at top level in prestige with Harvard (and MIT in tech).

Not that it would happen but they’d sure care if they started to really tank. As silly as it all is the perception of excellence matters to a whole lot of people.

I think the USNWR reputation would go before Stanford. While Princeton is a great school and has been top ranked for 8 years or so, I don't know of anyone who really thinks it has overtaken Harvard at the pinnacle of the Ivy League. I'm sure cross-admit choices would show that.

Many people think Princeton offers a better undergraduate education than Harvard, so it all depends on what the ranking is purporting to measure. Other rankings may be more focused on the prestige of the entire university, including its graduate and professional schools, or the research prowess of different schools.

Princeton may be more focused on undergraduate education than Harvard (a lot of schools probably are), so I'll grant you that, but that doesn't seem to be the thrust of USNWR. It seems to be mostly about resources (not necessarily undergraduate resources), with some measure of mobility thrown in.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:USNews continues to discredit themselves by moving Michigan above UVA considering UVA has much higher admissions standards and superior business and engineering programs

Another UVA booster in denial.

Clearly your sarcasm filter is not functioning properly.

The "superior engineering program" should have been the real giveaway.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is Washington University in St. Louis?

The best private school in the midwest other than Northwestern, and has been for generations.

Bro? Ever heard of University of Chicago?

Sorry, it's Carleton.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:USNews continues to discredit themselves by moving Michigan above UVA considering UVA has much higher admissions standards and superior business and engineering programs

Another UVA booster in denial.

Clearly your sarcasm filter is not functioning properly.

Yay, Georgia Tech!!

Anonymous wrote:USNews continues to discredit themselves by moving Michigan above UVA considering UVA has much higher admissions standards and superior business and engineering programs

Another UVA booster in denial.

USNews continues to discredit themselves by moving Michigan above UVA considering UVA has much higher admissions standards and superior business and engineering programs

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First time for Elon in the National Rankings.


#84 in National Universities (tie)
#2 in Best Undergraduate Teaching
#11 in Most Innovative Schools
#2 in First-Year Experiences
#1 in Learning Communities
#5 in Senior Capstone
#2 in Service Learning
#4 in Co-ops/Internships
#10 in Writing in the Disciplines (tie)
#1 in Study Abroad
#4 in Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects
#370 in Top Performers on Social Mobility (tie)


Santa Clara also made the move into the National Ramkings, appearing at #54.

Not about Elon, but what do those categories even mean? Does being #1 in study abroad mean you have the most programs? The greatest percentage of students going abroad? Or, is it some statement about the quality of the programs?

It’s as if they create more and more categories so more schools (and alumni) can claim to be the best at something.

Study abroad programs, such as those at the schools listed below, involve substantial academic work – a year or a semester, or an intensive experience equal to a course – and considerable interaction between the student and the culture. In spring 2019, we invited college presidents, chief academic officers, deans of students and deans of admissions from more than 1,500 schools to nominate up to 15 institutions with stellar examples of study abroad programs. Colleges and universities that received 10 or more nominations are ranked here.

I was happy to see Sewanee move up six places. Agree that these rankings are silly but it is a good school and glad to see it gaining more national recognition.