<p>How valid are the Times Higher Education rankings? </p>
<p>I'm sure there are many different opinions on this since the quality of a school and education is highly subjective and there really is no definite way to rank schools numerically. But should these rankings be considered on the same level that US NEWS is when looking into colleges in the United States? </p>
<p>I've always been interested in world rankings and this appears to be the most widely accepted list. What is your opinion on THES rankings?</p>
<p>yes you're absolutely right .. dartmouth a hundred and something? and mcgill 20 something ? Mcgill is great, but i think northwestern, chicago etc are better</p>
<p>What one looks for in a university is a matter of personal choice.
Accordingly, the rankings vary.
US News, from what ive gathered, is founded on the bed-rock of Acceptance rates, Selectivity and relate criteria. THES on the other hand, takes a lot more into account, like research, faculty research and some other criteria(considered meaningless by some, but important by others).
Hey, r u guys saying US News is the golden standard...UPenn at #3 in US? Duke at #5 ahead many other institutuions...</p>
<p>well i think it makes sense... duke is an amazing college... everyone loves it for its academic experience.. Penn grads do really well but i personally am not impressed by it alumni ... but its still +- 10 ranks.. which is acceptable</p>
<p>The THES rankings obviously have their shortfalls such as a sudden jumps in upositions such as Duke from 50 something in 2004-2005 to joint 11 in 2005-2006. I doubt Duke improved that much in one year!!! There are a few more examples in this category such as Sciences Pol in Paris going from being outside the list to 40 something in it in one years time. It also has some poor naming of universities such Pennsylvania University instead of University of Pennsylvania. There are also some strange positioning such as Ecole Polytechnique France in 10th. I am not saying it is bad but by no means is it a University of Chicago, LSE or Columbia. Saying that it is the best international ranking available. A lot better than the SIJTU one. There will always be people who do not agree with what a certain ranking puts forward. And many things that make universities great are not easy to rank. It does give people a fair idea of how good a Uni is and there are many in the top 30 that should be there and a few that are missing or who I would personally not put in those positions.</p>
<p>psmyth000,
Firstly, Ecole Polytechnique is a really awesome place. The reason we don't hear of paces like this and ETH are primarily because of medium oif instruction...thus, we're not interested in a place where guys speak ONLY German/ French. But, trust me, ETH and EP are reallly good places. Its like the IIT in India...ETH and EP being Swiss and French versions. In India, IIT is bigger than Princeton, Harvard and MIT put togather and it is numero uno...but not many Americans or French have heard of it...does that make it a "undesirable" place!!! These geographical considerations are imprtant...thus, the surprises.
But THES does a great job of bringing togather univs from all parts of the world and gauging them on a set of common parameters and on the same platform. </p>
<p>also, with respect to your "jump in rankings" observation. Thats primarily due to research deelopments, administrative changes and stuff liek that, which US News makes minimal use of. Though your Duke example, i agreee, is a bit extreme...sudden jumps in rankings are a result of this</p>
<p>I am not saying Ecole Polytechnique is a bad place by any means. I have heard a lot about it and many other French Universities (Sciences Pol, HEC, Insead and etc...). I live in mainland Europe. I have also heard of ETH Zurich and the Indian Institute of Technology (many of my friends are Indian) and know how hard it is to get into. I was just pointing out that it may not be all around (as all around as possible) outstanding as Columbia, Duke etc... But that is my personal opinion. Regarding the ranking I did say it was the best available especially because it is not only a USA/Canada/UK greatness list.</p>
<p>ASP is right...american universities are more well known becoz of their location and medium of instruction...THES has many faults but it is the best world ranking system no doubt...</p>
<p>Also, IITs dont offer any course in Humanities, Basic Sciences (Except Physics and Maths)... Moreover, it is NOT NUMERO UNO in all. Its NUMERO UNO in Only Engg. Apart from that, it has nothing. Its B-Schools arent like IIMs, nor is its basic science courses like St.Stephen's and St. Xavier's Mumbai. Dont talk about Medicine. Even IISc beats it in PG Research.</p>
<p>waleed87,
Campus and social Life: Contrary to popular belief that IITians are nerdish pre-programmed study machines, most IITians do know how to have fun. When in Chennai for my APs this week, I also went to IITC campus and guys there are real cool. After clsses, guys were playing BBand other stuff. And get a load of this, at the gaming room, guys were playing Q3 and Unreal, having programmed their own characters, their own imaginary weapons and other stuff into the game.
And over NUS, Yes!!! </p>
<p>ronty, u know that IITs are planning to offer MBBS degrees tooo in the future bt 2010.</p>
<p>wow! IIT seems really cool... i guess all these books on survival @ IIT and stuff really give a wrong impression. My MIT interviewer actually said that IIT students were equal to, if not better, than MIT students..</p>
<p>no waleedk...life at IIT isnt so cool...the social life is a sorry state and ASP just talked about a handful of people and their lifestyle...its hard there...you must read a book "5 point someone" to get a hint of the kind of stuff that goes on...i cannot even mention it here...some real frustrated ppl make it there...</p>
<p>4 years there and there are high chances that u'll become a person with messed up gunda language...</p>
<p>however as i said IIT is IIT...and yes intellectually some might compare comfortably with MIT students...</p>