Mr. Szarek? Yes, Justin.
Is CCR University ranked? Ranked?
Ranked. By whom?
Anybody. I’m sure it is.
By whom? I don’t know.
You don’t know? I don’t care.
You don’t care? No, I honestly don’t.
Why?
There are 4000 colleges out there, Justin – give or take a few. The vast majority – by my guess – 3971 – have qualified faculty and facilities.
But some have ‘more’ qualified faculty…
Who often don’t teach undergrads or are teaching larger classes and have less chance to interact individually.
And some have awesome football programs.
That you won’t be able to play for or will end playing for during that period of time they lost bowl eligibility. Justin, you don’t rank things that are important. And you especially don’t make a decision based on that ranking.
I don’t understand, Mr. Szarek. Everything gets ranked. Yelp, Google, and so. We. Rank. Everything.
We don’t rank things that we truly value. Mrs. Jones is the #4 Liberal Arts wife in Wisconsin this year. Mr. Jones is the #7 Tier Two Husband in Ohio. We don’t rank religions. We don’t rank the things we truly value.
We shouldn’t rank colleges.
But how do I know whether CCR U., or any other school, is right for me?
Research. Data. Real, tangible information. Do they have my major? What type of facilities are offered in that major? How popular is that major at that school? Do they meet my other criteria – such as distance from home, campus size, campus setting, religious affiliation, athletic programs, reasonable chance of accepting me?
And then – VISIT. Online AND in person. Check it out. Use your own eyes and ears. Process the information with your mind and your heart. Can I live here, work here, study here, succeed here for the next four years? Is this a place where I can thrive, grow, mature, build upon my dreams? Do you think, Justin, that a ranking can tell you that?
Mr. Szarek, you’re getting a little loud…
Oh, sorry, about that, Justin. Do you think your Mom picked your Dad from a magazine ranking?
Uh, I really doubt it. I think it involved a mixer at a place called the Dublin Pub.
Justin, I just wanted to emphasize that rankings are not the end-all and be-all in choosing a college. They exist, they will exist for a long time to come. They may help you see possible options. But – if you look at them at all – they should be pushed aside fairly early on in your college search. You’ve got better tools available to you – your eyes, your ears, your own mind, and your own instinct. Trust those. I’m sure glad Mrs. Szarek did.
As always, I welcome your comments and questions. Please feel free to email me at info@cc4therestofus.com, call or text me at 908-403-3819, join me on Facebook on “College Counseling for the Rest of Us” and join me on Twitter at @MichaelCCR. And now on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/CCRMichael?feature=mhee.
College Counseling for the Rest of Us 
Sep 14, 2011 @ 20:13:40
Well stated Michael, ahhh Justin, ahhh I mean Michael! 🙂
Although I think we all are sucked in a little bit by the USNews rankings, I totally agree that this should be a starting point that is forgotten about rather quickly.
It’s fun to see a tie for #1, certainly entertaining – but where does that get anyone! How many genuinely have a shot at Princeton or Harvard? I personally know valedictorians that were turned away by both.
As always, COMMON SENSE prevails – and often common sense starts with the five senses that everyone has! (Ok, so you only mentioned 2 – but you can easily add “taste” by visiting the school cafeteria, and hearing by checking out the nightlife at nearby cities and towns!)…
Justin, and all students, are well served by your common sense advice!
Sep 14, 2011 @ 23:56:27
Thank you, John! And until websites provide smell, taste and touch, a campus visit is still the best opportunity to ‘come to your senses’ when making your college choice.
Sep 17, 2011 @ 16:26:13
Just as a note concerning “ranking”, a certain highly expensive university here in the South massaged its acceptance rates last year to maintain its USN position.
The recent WSJ article that shows how low the Ivy League schools “rank” with business recruiters might set off a few light bulbs also.
The first things to rank are the students academic and personal positions along with the family’s financial situation. Take a practical look at the schools that fit and then drill down.
And yes, visit. How the heck I landed in London still blows my mind (we all make mistakes).