<p>Hello all, I have been voraciously reading all about this process at this site. What a wealth of information! </p>
<p>I found the merit aid threads especially compelling. Many parents talk about their high achieving students applying at slightly "lower tier" colleges. </p>
<p>Can you define the tiers for me? How does one go about finding this?</p>
<p>I sincerely appreciate any advice or assistance. </p>
<p>I am learning so much here!</p>
<p>from an old thread:
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In the USNWR Best Colleges edition, the "third tier" refers to the national universities that are ranked 131 through 187, listed alphabetically. There is a fourth tier, ranked 196 through 258, also listed alphabetically. The colleges ranked 1 through 130 are considered first and second tier (and not listed alphabetically.) USNWR did a similar tier system for the LACs.
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</p>
<p>I believe that the basic divisions are based, as nngmm says, on USN&WR rankings.</p>
<p>At its simplest, the tiers would be:</p>
<p>Rank 1-50 First Tier
Rank 51-100 Second Tier
Rank 101-150 Third Tier (but listed alphabetically without individual ordering within the tier)
Rank 151-200 Fourth Tier (same listing approach as Tier 3).</p>
<p>I believe the difference in the numbers for each tier that I have listed (50 per tier) and the "odd" numbers nngmm has listed is that there are a number of ties in the rankings.</p>
<p>tiers are figured quatitatively but the statistics used are subjective in that USNWR makes its determination of what the most important factors are and their idea of what is important may not coincide precisely with the needs and desires of the individual student. What I mean to say is that though a school may be ranked as second, third or even fourth tier, it may meet the needs of the individual student better than a school ranked much higher.</p>
<p>For example, say a student is well qualified statistics wise for a top tier school. However say this student wants to attend a school with fewer than 4000 students in an urban area but where she also has ample opportunites for outdoor recreation, community involvement and a very active Jewish community/Hillel. Say she further wants a very specific major that isn't offered at any tier one school which meets the above criteria. Her best match may be a school which is a fourth tier safety. </p>
<p>The goal is to find the schools which best meet the needs of the prspective student. If those schools happen to have the prestige of a tier one that's cool if not that's cool too because there is so much more than ranking that should go into the college decision.</p>
<p>My twin daughters have lists of schools which range from a tier one LAC to a third tier LAC to an unranked state university. That's just the way it worked out when they started hunting for what they wanted.</p>
<p>Be careful of 'tiering' a school out of consideration...it can result in missing hidden gems. For example, University of Cincinnati is a Tier</a> 3 according to USNWR but it's ranked</a> 1 & 2 in design and architecture.</p>
<p>So, as is often advised, fit is more important than the USNWR rankings.</p>
<p>Get yourself the USNews&World Report 2009 Edition of America's Best Colleges (I got mine at Sams Club for about $6.)</p>
<p>I don't know if the ranking system has changed a bit or what.. But, I think that USNews now considers schools that are #1 - 130 as "First Tier". When I went to the USNews website, it listed National Unis that are #51 - 130 as all being "First Tier". So, it looks like "First Tier" (for at least National Unis) doesn't end at #50. </p>
<p>I guess it's all "semantics" because they don't list "second tiers", but they do list "third tiers". Maybe USNews no longer wants to "dis" high quality National Unis by claiming that they are second tier when the differences are rather negligible.</p>
<p>"For example, say a student is well qualified statistics wise for a top tier school. However say this student wants to attend a school with fewer than 4000 students in an urban area but where she also has ample opportunites for outdoor recreation, community involvement and a very active Jewish community/Hillel."</p>
<p>Historymom: please tell me what school you are referring to in this? It is EXACTLY what my D2 is looking for......having trouble tracking it down......</p>
<p>Here are links to a previous thread on tiers, and to the "Ask the Dean" section of this website: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/515557-top-tier-2nd-tier-3rd-tier.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/515557-top-tier-2nd-tier-3rd-tier.html</a></p>
<p>College</a> Search: Second Tier Colleges</p>
<p>And rodney-- Tufts might fit your daughters bill. Is it urban enough? its easy to get into Boston from Medford.</p>
<p>LOL rodney I was just makin' stuff up. Sorry to have mislead you but I trust jym's recommendation implicitly. I sure hope your D finds her school!</p>
<p>Rodney--I thought Tufts right away. Also Brandeis. You should consider starting a thread with this question to get more suggestions.</p>
<p>
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but I trust jym's recommendation implicitly.
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I think you are my new best friend, historymom :D</p>