Of course, most of the student population isn’t talented enough to play sports in college. And some student-athletes enjoy attending other sporting events at their college as a spectator.
“The University of Missouri has one of the top Journalism schools in the country yet it is ranked 129. What gives?”
One good program does not make a university. Also, the nearly 80% acceptance rate for the college is very high compared to its peers.
Acceptance rate is no longer a factor.
Agree that college sports and school spirit matter, but hopefully, the student has mainly chosen a university for academic strengths. Rankings are interesting and can provide some general information or guidance, but the strength of the department of the major one is interested in (assuming one knows what one wants to study from the start) is far more important in my view. If lucky, one can have it all, (decent to strong national ranking and/or reputation, strong department major, and school spirit), but it doesn’t always work out that way. Access to faculty, reasonable class size, other bright students who will challenge you, and research opportunities will also be more important than a ranking number (IMHO).
However, some small colleges may have a substantial percentage of students in varsity sports (e.g. about a third of students at Amherst and Williams), which has implications for both admissions and the social scene.
@nrtlax33 quote about 12% have free rides
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No. No parental contribution is not the same thing as “free ride”. Brown expects ~ $6,000 a year from its students - that’s in addition to the parent contribution.
https://www.brown.edu/about/administration/financial-aid/student-effort-levels
Pell is often used as a stand-in for “low income” but actually middle class families also receive Pell (incomes up to $60K a year or so, which is above the national family median). And if divorced, only the custodial parent income counts.
I don’t disagree with you, but I have no idea what your point is other than a statement of the obvious.
Going back to original tangent, sports and school spirit can and does make a difference in a student’s college decision. Of course, if you’re a recruited athlete, then sports will likely be a significant factor in the decision to attend a school.
@OHMomof2 : You are right. I used the wrong terminology. BTW, if the kid can get an unpaid/low paid summer internship, (s)he can apply for BrownConnect LINK Award / Summer Earning waiver ($6700) which basically covers the student contribution part for the first year. See https://www.brown.edu/campus-life/support/careerlab/index.php?q=link (one-time only per student)
picking a school due to the strength of its football team is literally the same thing as moving to Green Bay, Wisconsin because you like the Packers. In short, it makes no sense. If you like the idea of a “rah-rah” school, there are tons of large conference schools that will give you the social experience you crave. But please don’t make decisions based on AP polls!
The most noticeable change in the USNWR ranking criteria is the consideration of Pell grant students and their graduation rates. UCLA has a greater percentage of Pell grant students than UCB, so it gets a larger USNWR ranking bonus from the Pell grant student measures.
Note that the UCs in general do well on the Pell grant student measures, so most of them moved up in the USNWR rankings.
No one is saying you should pick a school based on AP polls or the football team. @got2laugh 's original post was, I’m sure, tongue in cheek. But yes, sports and school spirit do make a difference to many students, all other things being equal regarding quality of school and major program. My D was one of those kids. She wanted the whole package (for her), which was feeling of community and school spirit, in addition to excellent academics. It’s part of “fit” which is also very important to the college experience.
@ljberkow “As for football, the real game is played on Sundays.” – could not disagree more. For many people, college football is far more interesting than the pros 
I know Cal has been struggling, but I’m shocked.
“So, school spirit, bad.”
It is if you went to Harvard. Even the mildest display of school spirit by a Harvard student or alum outside of the confines of the Cambridge city limits, the Yale football game stadium, or the privacy of you own home will immediately result in many people condemning you as an insufferable snob. The public can’t stand for Harvard people to have school spirit. Peer schools such as Stanford or Yale get away with it a little easier.
I chose a school based on its school spirit and athletics. Better to be happy for 4 years than miserable just for a minute difference of rank.
Yep, but unfortunately using other ranking criteria that is important to students and families like selectivity, reputation, access to quality faculty, graduation rates, earning potential, etc. is just as important as a college that has low-income students.
The WSJ has UC Riverside at #272.
@socaldad2002 …Very true…UC Riverside has been improving on all of those other factors you have mentioned as well…will continue onward and upward in a big way. Of course it is NOT for everybody…especially those picky about “perfect” location (which wasn’t very important to me as I grew up by the coast in a very homogeneous area…was good to experience something different) and not open to anything else. I have always respected those chasing solid academics, and the correct FIT for them regardless of what others think wherever that location may be and are willing to make sacrifices that many are unwilling to do!
Rankings really shouldn’t matter so much (and will widely vary upon ranking agency) as you have shown above. However the US News & World Report Rankings are the “holy grail” for a number of “rankings obsessed” people out there. For UC Riverside to increase 39 spots (Now #35 (Public Colleges) & #85 (National (Overall) Rank)…the nations greatest gain of ANY college is really saying something from this proud UC Riverside Highlander for life!!
Interesting how the resentment of the “upper middle class” is against the lower SES people who are the most under-represented (and probably still will be even if the college becomes more friendly to them) rather than those from the top 3% or so who consume 57% of the college’s seats.
@ucbalumnus …completely true…I’m sure it is MUCH HIGHER than 57% for those top 3% at many colleges!
From UC STEREOTYPES EXPLAINED (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=int3lFioTtU) –
UCR – UC Rejects , UC RACHETS, University of Chinese Rejects
(please take it as a joke)
From UC STEREOTYPES EXPLAINED (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=int3lFioTtU) –
UCR – UC Rejects , UC RACHETS, University of Chinese Rejects
(please take it as a joke)
Have watched it many times…funny stuff… lol! Pretty outdated now (at least for UCR). I went there a long time ago (before spring splash and the new student rec center that they have now)…actually had to look up “Rachet” in Urban Dictionary haha! Interesting that Davis has one of the shortest segments on there too and has that stereotypical inland “cow town” thing going on. STEREOTYPES are made to be BROKEN!
@ucbalumnus UCLA also gets more applicants, has a lower acceptance rate, has higher SAT/ACT scores and GPAs for accepted students than UCB.
I really don’t think we can just blame the Pell grant thing for the switch, as much as some of us might like to. [-X
@ucbalumnus UCLA also gets more applicants, has a lower acceptance rate, has higher SAT/ACT scores and GPAs for accepted students than UCB.
I really don’t think we can just blame the Pell grant thing for the switch, as much as some of us might like to.
@KTJordan78 …UCLA has some academic bragging rights (for sure on US News). However, when is that Chip Kelly mega investment going to pay off with UCLA winning in football again?