For those who feel this really matters...

New this morning: U.S. News and World Report has ranked William & Mary 10th (tied) among the nation’s public universities, up one spot from a year ago. Additionally, W&M is ranked ninth for undergraduate teaching and with a two-year average of 23%, the university is once again the top public university for alumni giving.

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That's rare air. Very impressive.

College rankings like US News get way overvalued unfortunately for HS students picking a college (I was guilty of this as well). But, flawed as they are, it's always better to move up than to move down.

(09-13-2021 11:06 AM)TDenverFan Wrote:  College rankings like US News get way overvalued unfortunately for HS students picking a college (I was guilty of this as well). But, flawed as they are, it's always better to move up than to move down.

I've never cared about rankings. Kids should go where they're comfortable, where their folks can afford to send them, and to a school that offers their scholarly focus. For my career choice, a degree from W&M didn't assist me any more than a degree from ODU would've provided. Some hate reading that, but it's the truth in most cases.

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So let me first say... I'm glad, with this ranking being so important, that we've found a way to move up. It's the price of doing business as a top-tier university.

That being said, those interested in some... critical thinking?... about these rankings, I highly recommend an episode of Revisionist History by Malcolm Gladwell called Project Dillard (https://www.pushkin.fm/episode/project-dillard/). It really exposes some flaws in these rankings that at minimum if you're a parent making a decision with your child you should think about.

(09-13-2021 11:42 AM)Tribal Wrote:  

(09-13-2021 11:06 AM)TDenverFan Wrote:  College rankings like US News get way overvalued unfortunately for HS students picking a college (I was guilty of this as well). But, flawed as they are, it's always better to move up than to move down.

I've never cared about rankings. Kids should go where they're comfortable, where their folks can afford to send them, and to a school that offers their scholarly focus. For my career choice, a degree from W&M didn't assist me any more than a degree from ODU would've provided. Some hate reading that, but it's the truth in most cases.

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Gaming the system and moving money around can alter your rankings the way theyre currently structured. It would probably be more helpful to simply place the schools into 10 tiers without any other rank. Agreed that one's undergrad doesnt necessarily land you a job, but I do think its a big factor when applying to grad school, should you go that route.

Agree, up is obviously better than down, but most importantly we hopefully have stopped our downward slide from the last few years.

Good news. It matters in a competitive world.

(09-13-2021 12:08 PM)wml33t Wrote:  So let me first say... I'm glad, with this ranking being so important, that we've found a way to move up. It's the price of doing business as a top-tier university.

That being said, those interested in some... critical thinking?... about these rankings, I highly recommend an episode of Revisionist History by Malcolm Gladwell called Project Dillard (https://www.pushkin.fm/episode/project-dillard/). It really exposes some flaws in these rankings that at minimum if you're a parent making a decision with your child you should think about.

Beat me to it. The practice of gaming the system for ratings is bad business.

The larger point here is that, while those rankings are fairly meaningless in the real world, they DO matter. They will get prospective Freshmen onto campus and they will get W&M graduates into job interviews and Grad School interviews.
The key is that, in BOTH situations, it will come down to what the school, or that particular grad, actually does with that slight advantage.

I have heard horror stories about high seniors that were excited to visit W&M, but had a terrible guide/host and were thus soured on coming and I am sure that there are similar stories about grads who just fell apart in their interviews due to nerves or lack of prep, so the benefit will only go so far...but it is still a benefit.

I'm glad to see us still highly ranked.

(09-13-2021 02:39 PM)3xTribe Wrote:  

(09-13-2021 12:08 PM)wml33t Wrote:  So let me first say... I'm glad, with this ranking being so important, that we've found a way to move up. It's the price of doing business as a top-tier university.

That being said, those interested in some... critical thinking?... about these rankings, I highly recommend an episode of Revisionist History by Malcolm Gladwell called Project Dillard (https://www.pushkin.fm/episode/project-dillard/). It really exposes some flaws in these rankings that at minimum if you're a parent making a decision with your child you should think about.

Beat me to it. The practice of gaming the system for ratings is bad business.

Echoed. Still nice to move up. But what metrics make a school like University of Florida a better university? Not that it matters other than as a recruitment tool and maybe for post-grad job searching (although I've found this is not usually the case outside of the east coast).