Another ranking of universities, just to drive everyone crazy

<p><a href="http://ed.sjtu.edu.cn/rank/2005/ARWU2005_Top100.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://ed.sjtu.edu.cn/rank/2005/ARWU2005_Top100.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>This is done annually by the Jiao Tong University of Shanghai and was discussed in The Economist in September in an article bemoaning the downward slide of European brainpower training.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.economist.com/opinion/displayStory.cfm?story_id=4370590%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.economist.com/opinion/displayStory.cfm?story_id=4370590&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>This has been widely discussed on the board when it first came out. Very underwhelming methodology, to put it mildly.</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=37399&page=1&pp=40&highlight=economist+ranking%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=37399&page=1&pp=40&highlight=economist+ranking&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>I was interested in the Chinese ranking because of the method they used, but this thread is probably not the one you are referring to.</p>

<p>The ranking is entirely research-oriented, so would not be of much interest to CC parents anyway, but, ghoul that I am, I liked it. Data, I like data! I think it is funny that many people take the mysterious US News rankings and reorder them according to test scores, or top 10% rank, or whatever. So much for US News getting to decide who is on top.</p>

<p>It's not only research-oriented, it's not even well-done research-oriented.</p>

<p>Otoh, I think USNews rankings are an abomination, certainly they are mentioned by name in my translation of Leviticus.</p>

<p>Rankings don't drive me crazy-
While I do research all my choices- like when I bought a new car last year to replace my 12 year old van, I don't beat myself up like some, when they read that another is more cost efficent, prestigious or comfortable.
Same with colleges- there is a lot of information out there- but some is repetitive ,some is inaccurate and exagerated.
I decide on my own criteria and find a school that fits that criteria the best I can-this approach has served well- much more I expect than asking
"Whats the best, most prestigious,widely known college for ________major?</p>

<p>Know yourself and what you are looking for- your strengths and weaknesses and keep an open mind while looking at schools.</p>