<p>Actually Rockermcr the criteria/formula PR uses to develop the ranking of the "Toughest Colleges to Get Into" is perhaps the most sophisticated you will find. They consider far more than just the number of apps received, per cent accepted and the scores. Their formula has a variety of criteria. It also penalizes schools that receive many unqualified applications and recognizes schools with a self selecting (high quality) applicant pool like MIT. Finally note that in a world comprised of a thousand schools or so, a movement of 4 or 5 places in a ranking is insignificant. Before reaching a hasty conclusion, you may want take a look at the formula</p>
<p>Cstixj, where does one find the detailed formula/methodology?</p>
<p>You're right, Cstixj. I'm just very used to rankings that aren't very well done, and I automatically thought the same of this one.</p>
<p>Hi FitzRandolph2010,
The formula/methodology is at the PR site.</p>
<p>here is an older version (for whatever reason, I was not able to access the newer version):</p>
<p>"Admissions Selectivity Rating
This rating measures how competitive admissions are at the school. This rating is determined by several institutionally-reported factors, including: the class rank, average standardized test scores, and average high school GPA of entering freshmen; the percentage of students who hail from out-of-state; and the percentage of applicants accepted. By incorporating all these factors, our Admissions Selectivity Rating adjusts for "self-selecting" applicant pools. University of Chicago, for example, has a very high rating, even though it admits a surprisingly large proportion of its applicants. Chicago's applicant pool is self-selecting; that is, nearly all the school's applicants are exceptional students. This rating is given on a scale of 60-99. Please note that if a school has an Admissions Selectivity Rating of 60*, it means that the school did not report to us all of the statistics that go into the rating by our deadline."</p>
<p>does anyone else think that its amazing that olin has risen to such a high level in such a short time? they just received accredation this year and they are considered in top 20 hardest schools to get into!</p>
<p>What Olin has been able to do in such a short period of time is amazing. Moreso, it has apparently become more competitive than Cooper Union which is also known for its merit assistance to primarily science/engineering students. Perhaps Olin's very attractive suburban campus (a location not unlike Princeton) has given it an edge over Cooper Union's New York City location.</p>
<p>Middlebury's February admits often apply for fall admission but Middlebury only grants them Feb. admission to fill beds vacated by students studying abroad. Therefore these Feb. admits are included in the stats for fall admits as a member of the class of year X.</p>