<p>I phrased my question as ‘best overall school’ since the email that prompted this general question phrased it this way. I have probably seen this directive more often phrased as 'the highest ranked ’ school, and more typically this means the biggest ranking svc out there, USNR. </p>
<p>As the above poster indicated, highest ranked does not fold in how well a student might fit into a school. Fit might include intangibles such as locale, student culture, proximity to home (if that happens to be important to the student), and strength of programs that the student might <em>likely</em> end up taking. I have already included $ fit in the question, (best college you can afford?).</p>