<p>employers actually look at US news rankings and decided where to recruit?</p>
<p>To some degree, I would say yes. It's probably more subconscious than copying names from the rankings list. Recruiters choose target schools based on lots of criteria. Having a school with a strong brand makes it a clear choice for recruiters. Rankings help establish brand recognition. They also serve as evaluation method for recruiters that don't have time to do their own research. If JD Power & Assoc. gives a lot of awards to a car, then that helps with your decision to go and test drive that car to see if you want to buy it. It's the same with college rankings. </p>
<p>As much as people don't like it, college rankings do matter when it comes to things like recruitment and networking.</p>
<p>The amount that employers looks at rankings is vastly overstated. The number one determinant of how companies hire is simply by going to the closest schools and picking students out of them. At some schools, who have national reputations (MIT/Cal/Stanford/etc) one can likely be employed anywhere (upon graduation). Students from other schools will likely go to regional employers.</p>
<p>Recruiters don't necessarily look at the rankings, but the rankings do reflect a school's reputation in its field, which the recruiters do look at.</p>
<p>
[quote]
The amount that employers looks at rankings is vastly overstated.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I wouldn't go that far either. I've seen target school lists for the companies I've worked at (industry leaders). While they certainly include regional schools, the remainder of their target schools (and the vast majority) are made up of top-20 type schools. These companies have corporate policies that a certain percentage of all college hires come from these target schools. </p>
<p>Similarly, if you look at the career fairs at top-20 schools, you find that they are attended by a large number of industry leaders who fly in from all around the country, not just regional companies. </p>
<p>In so far as the ranking reflects reputation and brand recognition, recruiters do pay attention to such things. There is obviously a strong correlation between ranking and reputation (and maybe you could go so far as saying cause and effect).</p>
<p>Isn't that what I just said?</p>
<p>
[quote]
Isn't that what I just said?
[/quote]
</p>
<p><sigh> .. I didn't think I would have to be so explicit in my response.. but fine.. </sigh></p>
<p>The only point from your statement that I was replying to was the portion I quoted. You say that it's vastly overstated, and then go on to say say that the company you will most likely hired by will be determined by ranking (whether it has a "national reputation" or not...). I don't think that's "vastly overstated" at all. My response to you was that it's not overstated at all, but rather an on-point assessment of how recruiting works. Ranking does play a large role. I was simply stating my personal experiences. </p>
<p>I suppose you could argue whether rankings == reputation, but that would be a pretty circular argument there. </p>
<p>Your last post barely warranted this response, but since you couldn't read between the lines, I'll do it for you.</p>
<p>
[quote]
You say that it's vastly overstated, and then go on to say say that the company you will most likely hired by will be determined by ranking (whether it has a "national reputation" or not...).
[/quote]
Can you read? I didn't say that at all. I said the #1 determinant is the companies around the school. Companies around LA hire out of UCLA/USC/Harvey Mudd/Cal Poly Pomona/UCI/UCR more than on the East Coast. It's simple logistics.</p>
<p>I also said that top ranked schools have national pull. Even so, I wouldn't be surprised if the vast majority worked within 500 miles of their school.</p>
<p>does that mean I can't go to Wisconsin if i want a job in the NJ/NY area? Or it's not really a science like that...?</p>
<p>You can go to Wisconsin if you want a job in NY/NJ - it's much easier if you got a NJ/NY school though. Relative ease is what we're talking about.</p>