Rankings: Value and Perception

Parent Cafe
1

<p>Some may object to the listing here of nationally published college rankings (because their school may not have appeared high enough in the rankings or they question methodology, etc) but they are a reality and taken quite seriously by colleges despite what some here may say. Some argue that we should just dismiss them. But how can you when the schools themselves take them so seriously. For example:</p>

<p><a href="http://news-info.wustl.edu/rankings/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://news-info.wustl.edu/rankings/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://www.yaledailynews.com/articlefunctions/Printerfriendly.asp?AID=23584%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.yaledailynews.com/articlefunctions/Printerfriendly.asp?AID=23584&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p><a href="http://www.pomona.edu/Magazine/pcmwin03/DEtoday2.shtml%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.pomona.edu/Magazine/pcmwin03/DEtoday2.shtml&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Because these rankings are part of the whole college process they should not be summarily dismissed as some would suggest. Nor should they be put on a pedestal. But knowing what they reveal, as part of the process is important.
Agree?</p>