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Should You Choose a School Based on College Rankings?

There are a wide variety of organizations that publish a list of college rankings each year. Often times, college applicants feel pressured to apply to certain schools based on these rankings. However, choosing a school based on college rankings alone may not be such a good idea. Read on to learn more.

College rankings can give you an idea of how recognized a school is in a particular field or industry. They can also cause a great deal of confusion for college applicants.

How College Rankings Work
Certain organizations and publications prepare college rankings each year. Every entity has their own special formula and rankings can vary widely because of it. Some college rankings are based on everything from career placement records to alumni donations. While these lists can be helpful, here in lies the general problem of college rankings. You can never be completely sure as to why a school has or hasn't received a high ranking.

Using College Rankings
You should never base you choice of school on someone else's college rankings. Just because a school is ranked well, doesn't mean that the programs offered will fit your academic needs. In some cases, a smaller school, that didn't make the list, may better help you achieve your career goals. Plus, college rankings are constantly changing. A school that had a number three rating one year, may not make the top ten in the next year. You will be much further off creating your own college rankings using criteria important to you.

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