Experts Develop New Way to Rank Colleges

<p>Thanks Marite! I don't feel so <em>completely</em> alone. As I said on another post, I think, my nephew adored Wesleyan but nothing in the world to him matches the Maine coast - he's a sailor, and it's gorgeous on the Gulf of Maine! Also he felt Bowdoin was stronger in environmental science, while friends chose Wesleyan because of film studies. Both are awesome places!</p>

<p>Voronwe: count me as another Bowdoin fan: of all the LACs we visited, it was the only one that didn't seem to aspire to look like a deluxe country club. A certain austerity, old fashioned Yankee character is evident everywhere there. And the food was the best!</p>

<p>Here's Yale's rationalization for being #2 in the new preferred rankings:</p>

<p>Click on:</p>

<p><a href="http://yaledailynews.com/articlefunctions/Printerfriendly.asp?AID=26996%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://yaledailynews.com/articlefunctions/Printerfriendly.asp?AID=26996&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Published Wednesday, October 27, 2004, Yale Daily News </p>

<p>"In a tale of two schools, second-best is far better"</p>

<p>Marite,
Harvard does seem somewhat schizophrenic, seesawing between ho-hum about losing these 2 girls (the URM/val especially), then sending unsolicited mail to my daughter plus a phone call!(Although I think that was some "other" organization, not Harvard per se). Yale's approach to the "embarrassment of riches" seems much more sensible - she got an application, which she had requested, and no unsolicited mail or PSAT related mail, except maybe the notice for the local info session.</p>

<p>Neither school should have to recruit and retain anyone but the true "stars", it makes it look as if Harvard is looking for stars, full payers and a few really low income folks. Wonder how many more deserving students could be admitted on the advertising budget? Oh well, it is a business, too, and they can spend money as they wish.</p>

<p>cangel:</p>

<p>I think what is happening at Harvard may be the result of Summers' new initiative to recruit more low income students. It has produced some very very strange results. I suspect that whoever set the target population adopted a totally scattershot approach. Lots of people report getting rather odd letters urging them to apply.</p>

<p>That explains a lot, based on zip code you might assume we were low income, there is a wide spread in our zip.</p>

<p>Idler,</p>

<p>I think you captured Bowdoin's character very well. As a parent of Bowdoin alum, I couldn't agree more.</p>

<p>Rereading book,"The Sum of Our Discontent,Why Numbers Makes Us Irrational," Boyle, David. Texere. 2001. About measurement by numbers. He postulates 10 paradoxes in counting of which 5 may apply to USNWR's "yield elimination." ie. "#5: The more accurately we count, The more unreliable the figures. #6: The more we count, The less we understand. #7: The more we count, The less we can compare the figures." </p>

<p>and "#10: The more sophisticated you aspire to be, The less you can measure."</p>

<p>The kids on CC have #10 disadvantage. Most are smart. Most are sophisticated in their own way. How do you measure the unmeasureable?
Especially if you put asside the standard measuring tools as GPA, SAT, writing ability.</p>

<p>As I read the comments for "what are my chances," and "SAT scores," in many ways these measurement really don't measure what type of person that you are. There are alot of smart people in this world,ALOT, most don't know how to use it and how to apply their talent. There are also alot of not so smart people who want to be smart. And finally there are those who don't have a clue. </p>

<p>Comments?
oh, Well.</p>

<p>When my son applied to HArvard declaring that he was interested in computer science ( he applied Early Action) he was actually called by the head of the computer scie Department!!!! They were very eager to accept him as they only had 30 comp scie majors at the time. We were all surprised. He was definitely recruiting and it paid off. HE became dean of undergraduate studies and a very visible administrator on campus. Nice guy...very down to earth...a pleasure to deal with. I was impressed.</p>

<p>Downloaded the article:
Fly Time Criteria for selection and admittance to college of choice.
What jumped at me was that the average matricalated student home high school was 575 miles. I think, applying to a school relative far from home gives you a better chance of admittance. The admittance distance was even further @ 673miles. Prospective students would have a better chance of success in being accepted if they base their selection on the our kid's Fly Time Criteria: at least two hours fly time, One stop/change, and terrain selection. </p>

<p>Costs: The student's instate tuition was not all that cheaper than student's from out of state. Less than 15% difference. - It may again be advantageous to be far from home. </p>

<p>Changing Methodology for ranking schools. Vs Theory of Large Numbers. Looking at CMU's common set data, I was amazed to see that the accepted and matricalated numbers varied very little for the past 3 years. There is a slight increase in the final student body probably because of CMU's desire to increase the efficiency of the facilities. The adcoms probably are aware that if they want X numbers then they must accept Y students from Z+ applications. Getting the Z applications is the key and will guarantee the final X student body. If CMU can get Z+ applications then they can be more selective in getting the students that they want. Remember the schools sends out "recruiters" to purposely increase the number of applications. If you remember in their show & tell, they really didn't want to talk to individual students other than answering the general questions.They are looking for applications! Do we really believe that by changing the rankings of schools +/- 1,2 will really affect the top 50-100 schools application numbers?</p>

<p>Did your older children go on to grad school? IF so what was their criteria. Our kid is beginning to think about it, only a year away for him to make applications.</p>

<p>No. My oldest S started his own business with two friends....a 3-dimensional computer monitor company and received 3 patents on it! But, he was not mature enough to handle the politics of a small business operation. He outlived his usefulness, became bored as they became more focussed on the marketing of the product, and eventually left of his own volition. Went to a large programming firm as a consultant. Got pink slipped when it went bust after 9/11. Had a pretty extravagant lifestyle...the large apartment in Cambridge, the sports car....was unemployed for 8 months and had to move back with MOM! (perish the thought!) Mom ultimately found him a job back in Cambridge for a gaming company and that is where he is today...but he needs to be in graduate school...a mind is a terrible thing to waste. He is not ready for that yet..but will go back some day...hopefully to MIT where he belongs. My other S still is at PENN working for them in operations and management. He was an engr major and got TOO involved with this fraternity..he is now the vice-president for alumni affairs for Pi Lambda Phi. He received a BAS from engr dept last year and went on to receive a prof certificate from Drexel Inst of Tech for construction management at night. At present he is taking GERMAN at PENN. (don't ask) In the spring he will be taking non-matric courses at Wharton graduate MBA program (where he also belongs) as he receives all of his coursework gratis as an employee of PENN! "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink~!!" So, my advice.....your S needs to stay focussed on his desires and maintain a GOOD GPA in college...mine got involved with "extracurriculars" as they were not mature enough to handle the peer pressures of "early success."</p>

<p>"If CMU can get Z+ applications then they can be more selective in getting the students that they want."</p>

<p>Well, that's one theory, and it is the one that is used to sell cars - get the largest number of ads in front of the largest number of customers, and eventually the ones you want will come into the store.</p>

<p>But there are alternatives -- product differentiation. Actively encouraging those you do want, and actively discouraging those you don't. Becoming more selective by cutting down the number of applications, and focusing more closely on the institution's mission.</p>