By Beacon Editorial Board
Last year, the University of Portland proudly declared its new ranking on the U.S. News & World Report - we had moved up one place.
While this is a selling point for the University to prospective freshmen, several other colleges and universities have decided to opt out of ranking systems from U.S. News and the Princeton Review, among others.
These ranking systems are misleading to prospective students because they place too much weight on acceptance rates. Admissions offices could seek unqualified applicants, only to deny them entrance.
This tactic does not guarantee a better academic experience for students.
Another criteria used in ranking systems is the graduation rate. Schools can boost their ratings by retaining higher numbers of each incoming class.
In a hypothetical situation, a student could receive an acceptance letter from a competitive school, yet encounter little academic rigor because school officials place a higher emphasis on retention rates.
National rankings should not be based these factors. Instead, school officials should identify students that match their areas of excellence. Each school is unique and needs to determine who will gain the most from these characteristics.
Prospective students also have the responsibility to delve into each university's experience through campus visits, talking with professors and meeting current students.
Advocates of using college rankings argue that a high ranking could increase donations and help schools invest in much-needed capital. It can boost the prestige of a degree from the school.
These are important factors for universities to take into consideration when they might think of opting out of the ranking system as other schools have done.
Although our University already emphasizes a holistic education where students are given individual attention, we believe that increased reliance on college rankings has a detrimental effect on this education. The value of a UP education should solely be based on the college experience.
After all, benefactors are more likely to donate to institutions where they already have an existing relationship. There is a reason why Warren Buffet hasn't given one dime to Harvard-they rejected him.
