Robert Reich: The US News College Rankings List Is Baloney. Here’s the List You Should Actually Use

[marmar]

After heavy lobbying from some of the nation’s most elite institutions of higher education, the President has just abandoned his effort to rank the nation’s 7,000 colleges and universities.

So, with college application season almost upon us, where should aspiring college students and their parents look for advice?

In my view, not U.S. News and World Report’s annual college guide (out last week).

It’s analogous to a restaurant guide that gives top ratings to the most expensive establishments that are backed and frequented by the wealthiest gourmands – and much lower rankings to restaurants with the best food at lower prices that attract the widest range of diners.

.....(snip).....

niversities that admit most of the young Americans from poor families who attend college, and which graduate far larger percentages of teachers, social workers, legal aide attorneys, community organizers, and public servants than do the private elite colleges.

US New claims its rankings are neutral. Baloney.

They’re based on such “neutral” criteria as how selective a college is in its admissions, how much its alumni donate, how much money and other resources its faculty receive, and how much it spends per student. .....................(more)

http://robertreich.org/post/129034050685

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. Well, use the US New list if you see the purpose of going to college as

creating your 'network' of 'good old boys' who can get you high power jobs in politics and finance. While their parents will always look down on you (and probably they will secretly too), if you can get in good with enough old money, you've got a much better shot at becoming new money.

On the other hand, if you're going to college to actually learn something, rather than to try to plug yourself into that network, then by all means ignore that list.

[unblock]

3. i've always seen it differently. it's a matter of self-discipline and application

if you're the type to take control of your own education, to seek the toughest courses, to really apply yourself, then you can find a great education at a place like ohio state university.

but if you're the type to just do the minimum, then you'll get lost in the system at a big university like that and you'll graduate without learning much.

at the prestigious private schools, however, getting a little education is like getting a drink of water from a fire hose. you have to work pretty hard to find the easy courses, and you're likely to get a good education no matter what.

so it really depends on the person. as with many things in life, finding the best fit actually matters more than the "objective" criteria, and there's no single right answer for everyone.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

4. If you're the type to take control of your own education

you don't even really need the university. Buy the textbooks for courses you're interested in, read the journals in that field, and go to town without paying through the nose.

[exboyfil]

5. You need the credential to get in the door

Even you plan to eventually work for yourself, a period of time in a corporate setting is beneficial. Also many professions absolutely require the degree (Nursing for example). The big thing is to get the degree at the lowest cost possible (as much college in high school, community college, summer school to reduce time on campus through online classes, etc). My older daughter is completing her engineering degree in two years after high school by this approach, and my other daughter will most likely finish her nursing degree in less than two years through this approach (B.S.N.).


I agree the positively worse thing you can do if you are middle class or lower is to use the university to "find yourself". You are committing financial suicide by this approach. If you can stay at home and go to a a state school, then the burden is less.

In addition the books you mention, the free MOOC courses are also great. They really do teach the same material as on campus. You have chat boards that somewhat simulate the class environment. The one thing they don't offer is the credential.

[unblock]

7. that's misses some key elements of a college education.

mit pioneered putting many of its courses online, free for anyone. there are now others as well, and if that appeals, go for it.

but you don't get lab work, you may not get collaboration and teamwork from team projects, you may not get exposure to a variety of people from across the country and/or world and get the benefits of their experiences and perspectives, etc.

you can learn plenty of physics but it's something else to have access to a huge van de graff generator or accelerator; plenty of chemicals to play with for your chemistry studies; psychology and sociology make for great reading, but without running some experiments it's hard to fully appreciate them; and so on.

and then, of course, you don't get the degree, which for some purposes may be more important than the actual learning....

[sailfla]

2. Erich, me thinks you got that exactly right! n/t

[6chars]

6. The rankings look interesting and pretty useful

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/college_guide/rankings-2015/national-universities-rank.php

A great resource to share w/people you know who are thinking about where to go to college.