<p>Depending on which criteria you choose to rank, the rankings will always be different. It’s a rather silly game. Northeastern found it’s niche or unique vision and it will appeal to some and not to others. It’s probably more known as a regional institution especially in the realm of universities which would account for the Forbes ranking. Doesn’t mean it’s not a “good school” for kids that want co-op, want the NE, want proximity etc. etc.</p>
<p>Actually according to the NY Times, the private colleges with the highest number of applications in 2011 were:</p>
<p>Northeastern 42,850
NYU 42,242
Boston Univ 41,734
USC 38,000
Tulane 37574</p>
<p>My point wasn’t that the most apps makes them the best. My point is that there’s no way the private university that received the most applications is only the 534th best college in the country. If NEU was judged based on what they ARE, which is a school whose normal program takes 5 years - even though they only charge tuition for 4 years - I’m sure their ranking would have been much higher. But Forbes thinks college should take 4 years - period.</p>
<p>You know, something just occurred to me. Notre Dame (they rank 18th, 9th among universities) requires that all their Architecture students do a 5 year program (including one year in Rome). I wonder if that had an effect. Then again, many more students are in A&L, Business, Engineering, or Science, so it’s nothing like Northeastern’s 91% co-op rate.</p>
<p>If Co-Op rate was so important, Kettering University (100% co-op requirement) would be somewhere in the list :-)</p>
<p>(Kettering is the former General Motors Institute, in Flint, MI where co-ops are part of the curriculum, period)</p>
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</p>
<p>Unfortunately the information reported by TheChoice is blog depends entirely on the accuracy of the numbers shared by the schools. Some report accurate numbers; others a … bit less. Regardless of the best efforts made the blog writer, the information is not official. For official numbers, we have to look at the CDS. Fwiw, NEU has yet to release its latest form, or at least release in a place where the mere mortals can find it easily.</p>
<p>Here are the latest official figures for the Fall of 2009 and 2010. The 20190 figures will be the ones included in the next edition of USNews:</p>
<p>University 2009 2010
Tulane University(LA) 39,887 43,815
New York University 37,462 37,464
Cornell University(NY) 34,371 36,338
University of Southern California 35,753 35,794
NEU 34,005 TBD</p>
<p>Don’t Common App schools count an application if the school is selected on the Common App but the app is never even submitted?</p>
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<p>From all the criteria used by Forbes, paying closer attention to the four year graduation rate might be the one that is not ridiculous. Even if that makes a school with a dfferent model a casualty of the methodology. </p>
<p>The percentage of students who graduate in four years should be given a lot more attention than it currently does. Relying on a six years terms is highly questionable. Perhaps it should be … five! :)</p>
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<p>The Common Application is not the same as the Common Data Set. In fact, changes made in the reporting of the completed applications (to include supplemental information) forced some schools to review the numbers they had routinely reported. Stanford was one such school. </p>
<p>This said, there are no guarantees that schools abide by the directions suggested by the Common Data Set organization. Actually, there is plenty of evidence that some are reporting made-up data, and playing games by reading the instructions creatively.</p>
<p>
I am aware of the difference. I was merely saying that whether or not a school is on the Common App might alter what kind of “applications” they count.</p>
<p>What you were hinting at was … incorrect. Actually, since it was question, it could not be incorrect. Unless it was a rhetorical question that begged for an affirmative answer. </p>
<p>And different from “whether or not a school is on the Common App might alter what kind of “applications” they count.”</p>
<p>University of Redlands ranked ahead of WUSTL. Who knew???</p>
<p>See how the folks behind these media rakings grab our attention so effectively? You and I can well identify the dfferences between a Redlands and WUSTL (or whatever was on the prev pages.) So, imagine the power these rankings hold over general folks. Think of the hubbub when USNWR swaps positions for Williams and Amherst or moves Brown down the list. Think of the number of issues sold and the money in someone’s pocket. Caveat Emptor.</p>
<p>What matters is if a U is right for you or your kids. That’s not #x vs #y. That’s the academic programs in your major, the faculty interaction, large vs small, career planning, finaid and more than “place” on the lists.</p>
<p>I went to a school that was so proud about how high its food was ranked. Early on, they always rated high for “most wired campus.” …so what?</p>
<p>Personally, D1’s school is always in a lock wth two others and, sure, I look at which came out ahead in the current year. But, that’s a “so what?” as well.</p>
<p>The ranking is not so bad :)</p>
<p>Both kids’ schools are in the top 10, US news or Forbes. </p>
<p>Seriously, who cares about these rankings. As long as the students are happy.</p>
<p>^ people who like to impress others…sadly, that’s a whole lot of people.</p>
<p>lookingforward the coop was the deciding factor in my son’s choice.</p>
<p>I guess I better go check out these rankings to see what an inferior school he is going to. :)</p>
<p>^ agree with you, Pepper. The coop is an amazing advantage, especially today. And, unlike Antioch’s old program, kids are right there in a major city. My original comment was only that so many kids don’t mention it. I’ve been aware of it for a long time.</p>
<p>I think that it isn’t as big a factor for some students as it used to be-and they seem to be transitioning from the three coop five year program to more of a four year school with one or two. I got the feeling after attending the admitted students day that they are trying to attract more of the kids looking to go on to law school, medical school, or graduate school, and to accommodate them with a four year program.</p>
<p>He is looking to do the three with one being international. </p>
<p>Rankings are interesting and fun to talk about. I could have my own ranking and pick my own factors and have my own list. :)</p>
<p>I need to go check these out though. It was interesting reading the link and the comments about the school-so many very different opinions. It’s amazing to me how stirred up people get about schools.</p>
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<p>Nobody who knows anything about the realities of college quality … but a substantial percentage of the people who post on CC. Witness the ridiculous, endless threads trying to predict what the rankings will be, then those debating whether they are right.</p>
<p>The OP had it right. College rankings are a joke - and those who place any value whatsoever on them are the ones who the joke’s on.</p>
<p>
I agree; though it is mildly entertaining to peruse these rankings, in the spirit of pointless things that are still interesting. People getting caught up in them, though, and thinking they’re an honest measure of a college’s worth (and not just some money-making scheme) are sadly misinformed.</p>