14 October 2009 archive

The popularity of the US News & World Report’s annual College Issue has spawned numerous copycats; each trying to offer its’ own spin on how it rates colleges. It’s all about selling magazines. Unit sales directly impacts advertising rates.

It’s more about the money than the value of the content. What does it really mean when you learn what the six year graduation rates are, the average financial aid a student receives, the student/faculty ratio, average SAT scores and average loan burden/student upon graduation?

It is interesting to see that more colleges are eschewing such assessments and not returning the self-reported questionnaires sent to them by the publications. Others are critical of their methods, but when a college is recognized in the “Top 10” or “Best of” in a particular category they are not shy about letting you know about it on their websites.

And yes, I am one of those who buy those magazines. I buy them because you are, and I want to be ready for your questions when you ask…

“Why do you recommend the 41^st ranked University of the South @ Sewanee for Carolyn instead of the well known 18^th ranked Colgate University?”

I appreciate such questions.  More often than not, the answer has to do with a combination of factors. The academic profile of the student and learning style, how a student expresses interest in different majors (however vague they may be early on), financial parameters of the parents, campus ethos and the nature of the academic and career advising.

All of which we take into account when suggesting the ‘starter list’ of fifteen colleges for a junior.  I invite you to arrange a FREE “get acquainted” conversation with us. We work with students all over the country (and in Europe) thanks to the Internet. Please click here for more information.