<p>Alexandre, you are the new Cat’s Meow in my book.</p>
<p>DS did not apply to Michigan (out-of-state) but decided on CAL, (in-state) so I was not a regular on the Michigan threads. But I have two relatives who are UM alums, and a friend who taught there, (now at CAL) and it is a superb university. You explain the gap between all the other rankings I’ve seen to USNWR so well.</p>
<p>And that puts you on top of the heap. Keep on de-mystifying. Good work.</p>
<p>^^Agreed^^</p>
<p>There is a perception amongst many that most of the parents depend on the ranking and the application priority often follows the ranking. As a parent, I beg to differ with this perception. </p>
<p>In my opinion, parents are well aware of the ’ brand impact’ of the top universities and value the high quality public universities with a great degree of respect. However, the parents and the students, have a notion that ‘Public Universities are large, the top of the pack are more towards Grad Programs and Research, with limited interest for the undergraduate students’. Without being being biased, I would tend to agree that CAL and MICHIGAN do fit into that perception. </p>
<p>Also, whether we like it or not, we do value the ‘Prestige’ factor of Ivy League and the global impact of names like MIT, Stanford, Duke, JHU. Beyond that, I think, most of the students and their parents consider the Cost of Attendance,the Campus Vibe, distance from the hometown, personal likes/dislikes, while selecting a college/university for undergraduate studies. </p>
<p>I would be surprised, if any student differentiate, for ex. between no. 18 and no 23! Parents are paying for the education and they are pretty clear about the best bet! Yes, class size and the size of the undergraduate courses, play a major role in their minds, as it is not unusual to consider that smaller class sizes will provide better attention to the students and perhaps better bondage for future networking.</p>
<p>No, US NEWS Ranking is not the Bible for most of the parents.</p>
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<p>really? haha, I just thought that was funny (at least how I read it)</p>
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<p>All evidence to the contrary. Even here on CC the rankings are quoted chapter and verse. Read any thread that’s titled “I’m trying to decide between School A, B and C specializing in undergrad…” and you won’t go 5 responses before someone will quote the main or sub-rankings from USNWR. I’d love to know how often “USNWR” appears in posts on CC on any given day.</p>
<p>Worse, in the two weeks prior to their annual publication you’ll see posts on the main forums with people asking when the rankings will be coming out. After the rankings appear you can watch the individual forums light up with posts about how good old Whattsamatta U. moved up five spots, or bemoaning the “fact” that it only moved three. And woe unto USNWR if your dear old alma mater dropped in the rankings; then the posts are aflame with accusations of poor techniques, competitor university malfeasance and the general stupidity of the editorial staff.</p>
<p>The USNWR rankings are like pornography, nobody buys it but they sure do sell a lot.</p>
<p>There is a bit of a self fulfilling prophecy with the USNWR ratings. If a school is able to manipulate its rating and move up in the rankings, then the better ranking will attract students and will make the school even more selective. I’ve heard that Wash U St. Louis has been the most effective at this. I would think it would be more difficult for a public institution to do this.</p>