US News 2008 Best Universities

<p>Number 9 again in 2008 issue of US News Best Universitites. Tied with Columbia University.
Any comments.</p>

<p>...and you know this how?</p>

<p>Chicago was tied with Columbia and Dartmouth in last year's ranking. I don't think that meant anything besides that all three schools are elite schools, are esteemed by the people who think the USNWR rank is legitimate (and respond to the Peer Assessment requests), that the schools have relatively high SAT midranges, relatively low admit rates, a low student to faculty ratio, etc. In short, it really means quite little.</p>

<p>I think grasslands is referring to the leaked rankings.</p>

<p>The rankings do serve some purpose, or at least they did for me. When I started looking at colleges, I didn't know many top colleges beyond HYPMS. The USNWR rankings gave me somewhere to start.</p>

<p>I think that's about right. :) It didn't drop at all.</p>

<p>Rankings mean everything if you want a job, and thankfully Chicago ranks high and $60k/yr jobs are easy to find graduating from Chicago. Good to see Chicago stay at 9, though now it's only a 2-way tie with Colombia, as Dartmouth drops.</p>

<p>I'm glad to see we're in a 2-way tie with a South American country.... jk</p>

<p>I don't know, I really don't hold much stock in rankings.</p>

<p>sure, it's great UChicago is a top 10 school -- but i think many prospective student place too much weight on such a list.</p>

<p>As a prospective student, I don't want to apply to Chicago BECAUSE it's a top 10 school (I'd have applied even if it were ranked #30; I really don't care), but it's nice that it's finally gaining the recognition that it deserves in that area. :) When people ask where I'm applying and I say UChicago and they either don't know of it or confuse it with UIC, it's nice to be able to say it's ranked in the top 10 (even if to does feel like bragging).</p>

<p>My general concern is that this rank, coupled with the changeover to the Common App, will make Chicago lose some of its flavor.</p>

<p>Chicago has undergone some pretty major transformations in the past... historically, the school has been much more similar to Reed/St. John's... a more extensive core, six-hour examinations, etc. In the late 90's, the core was watered down and Max Palevsky and Ratner Gym were built. Depending on who you are, this is either the best or worst thing that has ever happened to the school.</p>

<p>In any case, Chicago has been attracting more and more students every year, and every year students feel more justified in turning other schools down in favor of Chicago. I have no idea how much that has to do with our rank, our facilities and programs, generally good PR....?</p>

<p>who cares about some dumb magazine</p>