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How to advance the Brandeis academic rank
by Rebecca Blady
Acting Forum Editor
Op-Ed | 9/23/08
Posted online at 12:26 AM EST on 9/23/08
/ Last updated at 3:23 AM EST on 9/23/08
This week's column is devoted to a very big deal. This is an issue that you all must know about. I don't see how you possibly couldn't. In the spirit of competition, egotism and all else wonderful we Brandeisians represent, you certainly should've spent time poring over the army of magazines that gain fame from their very important lists. These are lists that matter. These are the lists that rank America's universities.
Forget that most prospective students prefer to evaluate the character of a school rather than its ranking. Forget the fact that the numbers fluctuate yearly. These rankings are clearly significant. Without knowing our place in the grand scheme of national schools, how can we tell if our experience matches up to those of other colleges? Certainly, the "big three" Ivy Leaguers bear a standard of perfection worth vying for. That's what everyone says, right? Just look at the top of the U.S. News list. Harvard, Princeton and Yale consistently secure those places. And of course, Brandeis proudly holds spot number --
Thirty-one!?
Well. That's pretty far down the list, Brandeis. What a shame.
And Forbes' report isn't much better; we're at a mere 30 on its list. Fortunately, there is a way to remedy this travesty. It'll be tough, but if everyone chips in, we can jump ranks at a fantastic pace and secure the spot we all know we deserve.
We'll need the help of our entire student body. Forbes wisely incorporated a brand new method of calculating its rankings this year. Using the Web site ratemyprofessors.com, as suggested by Prof. Richard Vedder of Ohio University's economics department, Forbes devised a way to measure students' satisfaction via faculty. "We just assumed there was a generalized use of [the Web site]," said Vedder.
The problem with this brilliant system is that not enough students go along. The site is not extraordinarily well-known, and the reviews posted on it are written by students either thrilled or immensely displeased with their professors.
Forget that most prospective students prefer to evaluate the character of a school rather than its ranking. Forget the fact that the numbers fluctuate yearly. These rankings are clearly significant. Without knowing our place in the grand scheme of national schools, how can we tell if our experience matches up to those of other colleges? Certainly, the "big three" Ivy Leaguers bear a standard of perfection worth vying for. That's what everyone says, right? Just look at the top of the U.S. News list. Harvard, Princeton and Yale consistently secure those places. And of course, Brandeis proudly holds spot number --
Thirty-one!?
Well. That's pretty far down the list, Brandeis. What a shame.
And Forbes' report isn't much better; we're at a mere 30 on its list. Fortunately, there is a way to remedy this travesty. It'll be tough, but if everyone chips in, we can jump ranks at a fantastic pace and secure the spot we all know we deserve.
We'll need the help of our entire student body. Forbes wisely incorporated a brand new method of calculating its rankings this year. Using the Web site ratemyprofessors.com, as suggested by Prof. Richard Vedder of Ohio University's economics department, Forbes devised a way to measure students' satisfaction via faculty. "We just assumed there was a generalized use of [the Web site]," said Vedder.
The problem with this brilliant system is that not enough students go along. The site is not extraordinarily well-known, and the reviews posted on it are written by students either thrilled or immensely displeased with their professors.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Daniel Ortner
posted 9/25/08 @ 4:10 PM EST
Rebecca Blady's op-ed on college rankings (How to advance the Brandeis academic rank, September 23, 2008) is neither particularly insightful nor thoughtful. (Continued…)
Daniel Baron
posted 10/07/08 @ 3:19 AM EST
Rankings are based on many academic factors, in addition to some non-academic factors.
For example, the percentage of alumni who donate money to the school--that's put into the formula. (Continued…)
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