When I was taking classes at UC Irvine to earn my Independent Educational Consultant certificate, my classmates and I held many differing opinions. However, there was one thing we all seemed to agree on: a strong dislike for the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings. Begun in the [...]
For years, I have told anyone who will listen not to rely too heavily on the U.S. News & World Report college rankings, as they are deeply flawed and don't necessarily capture the quality of education a particular school provides. I know many college consultants who feel the same way. [...]
In September, U.S. News and World Report will publish its annual college rankings, as it has been doing since 1983. Although colleges clamor to be at the top of these lists, students and parents should be aware that the rankings have many flaws. Nearly seven years ago, I wrote a [...]
As the cost of college climbs higher, more students and parents are approaching the college search with a new focus: Return on Investment (ROI). Essentially, this is a calculation of the value of a degree from a certain college. It involves determining the amount of money it will cost a [...]
You've received your acceptance letters, and, if you're lucky, you're now facing the arduous task of choosing among several great options. On the other hand, you may be upset that you didn't get into your top choice school(s) and now have to select from "less desirable" colleges. For many students, [...]
In my recent blog post, "U.S. News College Rankings: How Reliable Are They?", I explained some of the pitfalls of U.S. News and World Report's "Best Colleges" rankings. I focused on the fact that a significant portion of each college's rank is determined by individuals at "peer institutions" -- people with a questionable [...]
While it's unlikely that they'll be covered by celebrity gossip websites like TMZ or Perez Hilton, college rankings scandals are worth paying attention to, especially if you're a high school student (or the parent of one) who's planning to go to college. Although U.S. News and World Report's college rankings may not accurately represent [...]
It's been 30 years since U.S. News & World Report published its first "Best Colleges" rankings in 1983. Since then, the hype and fanfare around these lists seems to have grown exponentially. But what do these rankings really reflect, and how valuable are they to high school students and their parents who are [...]
