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A+ Advice for ParentsDon't get caught up on college rankingsBy Leanna Landsmann Q: I'm a high-school senior applying to colleges, and my mother is driving me crazy. She heard our high-school counselor say that college rankings aren't all that useful, so she's not paying any attention to the rankings of schools I like. We need to narrow the list of places I want to apply to. I have pretty good grades, and I definitely want to go to a good school, and I'm very upset. How can I convince my mom that the rankings really matter? A: Let's focus on the good news: You're headed to college. You and your mom are thinking through an important decision together. Many families don't give the path to college enough thought, so hats off to you both. "Every student wants to know how the colleges they are considering are ranked," says Laura Jeanne Hammond, editor in chief of Next Step Magazine, a publication that helps high schoolers plan for college. Whether you're using the famous (or to some, infamous) U.S. News & World Report rankings or guides such as Princeton Review, Fiske, Peterson's or the National Survey of Student Engagement, "the craving for rankings is totally understandable. You're about to spend a good chunk of money on your college education. You want to be sure that it is a good investment." The problem is that students and parents tend to get caught up in rankings. Families are more likely to seriously consider a college if they have confirmation from somewhere that it's a "good" school and therefore worth the money, says Hammond. The truth is that while rankings may sell magazines, they are just one tool -- and a minor one at that -- in the selection of a college. "What the rankings don't take into effect is the intensely personalized aspects of college planning," Hammond says. "Families need to have honest discussions about important questions." Hammond suggests that you start with these: How much can your family afford? What is your post-college goal? How much does a college's name, location and prestige matter in the career you think you want to pursue? How motivated are you to take advantage of premium programs or specialized majors? Is it worth it to go to a well-known college with excellent programs in math if you're really interested in art instead? What good is a college's report stating that most students on campus get involved in clubs or social opportunities if you wouldn't be caught dead at a college-sponsored function? "Don't start with the rankings," Hammond advises. "Start with who you are, what fits your personality and what matches your career goals." It sure would be nice to push a button and discover the best college for you, Hammond sympathizes, "but your counselor is right. There's no one button, one report, one ranking that can do it. The best way to find a perfect college fit is to put boots to the ground and visit. Ask questions. Talk with students and faculty. Get a feel for what campus is like. Do you feel comfortable there? Can you imagine walking to class? Meeting friends? Estimate the financial impact on the family." The choice involves not only data but also many intangibles, including a "gut feeling" about the place that will make you feel comfortable there and do your best work. "You could attend No Name U and become class president, work hard to earn a fantastic internship and become a Fortune 500 CEO by age 30. Many CEOs have," says Hammond. "Or you could never speak up in class, never join any activities and fade into a boring post-graduation job just as easily at No Name U as you could at an Ivy League school." Stop arguing with your mom about those college rankings and start looking at all the reasons a place might be right for you. "Say you want to be a top chef. Even though a particular school may be in the top-10 culinary programs, you might not like the location, the teaching style or the class requirements. The only person who can determine whether a college is the 'best' or not is you." COUNSELOR TIP For more advice on picking a college and surviving the applications process, go to nextstepmagazine.com. The site's College Match section can help narrow your choices and find scholarship aid. If you register to be a "Next Stepper," you could win $20,000 in tuition assistance. Copyright 2007, United Feature Syndicate, Inc. A-PLUS ADVICE FOR PARENTS 12-3-07 Submission inquiries? Contact Stacey Pusey at 302-295-8349.
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