College counseling is a profession that requires a high degree of dedication and knowledge.
The picture above is of an incredible private college that you've never heard about
Educational Consultants do not click to the U.S. News and World Report website because we know the rankings are hype. We also know that our clients have already read every inch of the U.S. News and World Report website because they will tell us how a school is “ranked” and why their student must go to a higher-ranked school.
One of the most important aspects of the job is keeping up with changes in the education industry, particularly the college ranking system.
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U.S. News and World Report was the first publication to introduce a ranking system, which completely disrupted the education sector. However, over the years, the ranking system has come under criticism for its flaws and biases.
As frustrating as it is to professional education planners. The U.S. News and World Report ranking system has become the most-read ranking system across the United States, causing competition among institutions to increase. As U.S. News and World Report turned higher education into a commodity instead of a noble endeavor, the market responded with a must-have attitude, and the price of higher education has grown consistently and exorbitantly ever since. Myself and others pin the responsibility for this cluster-F on U.S. News and World Report.
Institutions began focusing on improving their standards in light of the imagined defined criteria, which increased costs and competition. Campus presidents who could increase rankings
received higher salaries and became sought after. Other companies saw value and developed their own ranking systems, but U.S. News and World Report remains the most cited publication to this day.
This advice is for more than College-Planners, this is advice for every college applicant
Malcolm Gladwell, a Canadian journalist, was one of the critics of the U.S. News ranking system. Gladwell's argument centered around Undergraduate Academic Reputation. He argued that reputation could not be used to measure quality education. He conducted interviews with different school administrators and made viable arguments based on unfair reception of information and unjustifiable sources to gain statistical insights. His argument illuminated popular colleges and universities, including Rowan University, Reed College, and Dillard University. He pointed out how colleges take steps toward improved rankings while the system is based on bias and the financial standings of students and individuals. All of which are irrational when it comes to gauging the quality of education.
Frank Bruni, a New York Times writer, has also spoken in-depth about the problems associated with the ranking system in his book called, "Where You Go is Not Who You'll Be." He referred to the issue as "College Admission Mania" and disagreed with how the U.S. News ranking system defines our future and success. He discusses how mass rejections are the key for universities and colleges to hack their way up in the flawed ranking system.
Bruni attempts to restore the excitement of going to college by motivating parents and students to not fall prey to the pecking order of prestige subject to school rankings. He instigates them to realize that what they gain out of college is a product of their willingness to learn and their efforts.
How does U.S. News and World Report impact your college application
The U.S. News and World Report ranking system has played a significant role in shaping the education sector. However, the system has come under criticism for its flaws and biases. Malcolm Gladwell and Frank Bruni are two critics who have discussed the issue in-depth. The criticisms and debates surrounding the ranking system will continue, but it is essential to keep in mind that the college experience is a product of individual willingness to learn and efforts rather than the prestige of the institution. The irony is that you will explain that to the family and they will nod in full agreement and then turn back to the rankings.
Our job is to get beyond our client's limited source of information. I must demonstrate to my clients why they should listen to me more and read U.S. News and World Report less. Thankfully, I have a college list building machine that makes me look like the ultimate college encyclopedia. My clients are eager to review the tailored lists I export for them directly to their Google Drive. I use the candidate shaping tools to offer my clients actionable direction on improving their applicant profile. U.S. News and World Report cannot do that but what really stinks - is that they were never interested in helping the student, that was never their goal.
If you take a close look at the other ranking companies, you'll find the same motivations. Its about collecting student data (to sell) through the questions they ask the student and selling website advertising space to colleges. We are talking about billions of dollars. The college data websites and "free" college shopping tools, turn out to be nothing more than lead generators! These lead generators are posing as honest college resources to our young adults at a critical moment of choice! Many days I can't believe that's true because I don't want it to be true, but it is. Sigh. It's a good thing the occupation of higher education consulting is growing, at this rate we may get loud enough that someone can hear us over the noise.
Written by:
Margaret Rothe, Campus Life & Student Affairs Professional, MA Higher Education, Student Affairs, owner of HigherGrounding, a college planning consulting agency
