Two New Lists in the Next College Rankings
In our ongoing effort to make our America's Best Colleges guide as useful and informative as possible to our readers, U.S. News plans two new features for the upcoming 2009 edition of the America's Best Colleges rankings to be published on Aug. 22, 2008, on usnews.com.
The first one is in response to the criticisms that say the academic peer assessment survey filled out by college administrators is too slow to pick up improvements at colleges. U.S. News asked top academics in spring 2008 to name schools that they think are "Up and Coming Institutions." College presidents, provosts, and admission deans were asked to nominate up to 10 colleges that are making improvements in academics, faculty, students, campus life, diversity, and facilities. These schools are worth watching because they are making promising and innovative changes. This question on the survey enabled college officials to pick schools that are rapidly evolving in ways that the public should be aware of. We think the public and academia will be very interested in the results.
Second, U.S.News & World Report in spring 2008 for the first time asked a nationwide cross section of public school high school counselors for their views on undergraduate programs at American colleges and universities in our national universities and liberal arts colleges ranking categories. How will U.S.News & World Report use these new ranking data? We are going to publish the findings in the upcoming America's Best Colleges issue of the magazine, available in August 2008. We believe strongly that the opinions that high schools counselors, who play a key role in the college admission process, have about the merits of the nation's leading colleges will provide a very valuable source of information for prospective students, their parents, and our readers.
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Reader Comments
Inside the rankings
I can't believe this drivel. To have college presidents assess the value of competitors (Hello! Other colleges are competitors!) is rediculous. They have enough distractions in trying to raise money for their own institutions than to have the time to know, let along pay any attention to what their competitors are doing.
And to have the public believe that guidance counselors play a "key role" in the college admission process is equally rediculous. The ratio of guidance counselors to students is at least 350-to-1, and this publication would have us all believe what a great impact someone would have with 350 students who have no problems at home, at school, or wherever so that the counselors are totally undistracted and totally dedicated to conscientious students who need guidance in getting into college.
It's no wonder that US News is so totally irrelvant to high school students and parents who need real information on the admission process.
USNWR Ranking News
I have several comments in response to the latest news from Mr. Morse, et. al. I hope he will allow them to remain on his selfl-serving blog.
1. I commend this publication for its creative marketing.
2. I condemn it for its contribution to corrupting the college/university admissions process to the point where its former integrity has been lost in an internecine fight for rankings,
3. I regret the loss of the idealism and purity that once characterized the admissions process in American higher education.
Could I have qualified these global statements...sure. Need I? Why!
What's the solution? Pull together, stand up, show real leadership and cut off the source of the data, thus slowly killing the poison ivy vine that is choking the proud oak that once stood tall and proud, respected and admired.
Alan Haas, CEP
President
Educational Futures, Inc.
www.educationalfutures.com
"New and Improve" Rankings
I have three comments, which I hope Mr. Morse will allow to be posted on this blog.
1. I commend USNWR for their marketing prowess.
2. I condemn this publication for contributing to the sad situation where the fight for rankings has undermined what was once a respected and trusted process of entry into college.
3. I challenge the leadership of the top twenty or so universities (whichever they are) to refuse participation in the survey that "legitimizes" the rankings.
This will serve to cut the poison vine that is sapping the integrity from the once proud oak that was American higher education.
Alan Haas, CEP
President
EDUCATIONAL FUTURES, INC.
www.educationalfutures.com
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