Forbes Releases 2013 Top College Rankings. California Schools take 1 and 2.

Yesterday, Forbes released their 2013 rankings for America's top 650 colleges.  The big news is two California schools taking the 1st and 2nd spots which tend to be occupied by East coast schools.  I'm entering college this fall as a Freshman and I'm quite happy with my school's placement.

I'm sure there will be some replies questioning the validity of the rankings since they are different than the standard USNWR rankings.  Forbes has chosen to focus more on what students get from a school post-graduation, as compared to USNWR, which focuses mostly on selectivity of a school.  Of course, unsurprisingly, it is still all very selective schools at the top.

I'm sure there can be an argument made for rearranging a few schools, but I think if you look at it from a general view, they got things right, as in, the top 20, 50, 100, 200 are mostly right, and so on.

So OT, did your school make the top 650?

http://www.forbes.com/top-colleges/list/

I understand rankings don't necessarily matter, but I'll admit that having just selected my college this past May, and set to soon be a college freshman it feels good to see my school well placed.

#93. Not too bad.

Not even in the top #650.  Doesn't surprise me considering i chose the second cheapest school in the entire state.  It would be very easy to see why my school didn't make it based on the probably 80% of professors who simply didn't care.  You get what you pay for i guess.  And it makes sense because bad professors will influence the ranking based on the methodology used in this list, as well as the demographics of students coming (mine had mostly low income) into the college.

Here are the QS rankings for comparison: http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2012

eh, don't care

The college I might go in the future for my 4 year degree is #444. :|

liking where you go to school is a lot more important than some stupid rank

Sounds good.

liking where you go to school is a lot more important than some stupid rank

lostrib

[QUOTE="lostrib"]

liking where you go to school is a lot more important than some stupid rank

Aljosa23

[QUOTE="lostrib"]

liking where you go to school is a lot more important than some stupid rank

Aljosa23

No

[QUOTE="Aljosa23"]

[QUOTE="lostrib"]

liking where you go to school is a lot more important than some stupid rank

lostrib

No

[QUOTE="Aljosa23"]

[QUOTE="lostrib"]

liking where you go to school is a lot more important than some stupid rank

lostrib

No

[QUOTE="lostrib"]

[QUOTE="Aljosa23"]You seem upset, how low is your school?

Aljosa23

No

liking where you go to school is a lot more important than some stupid rank

lostrib

No doubt, but the why not go to a good school if you can?  I mean the schools in the top 50 are very diverse located across the country, attracting different types of students, and ranging from big Universities to small LACS, so you're bound to find at least one you like.

 Obviously, if you're happy that's good, and you probably made the right choice.  No one is saying rankings are the end all be all, but they are a good guideline (especially since Forbes rankings are based on four year graduation rates, professor quality, and salaries after graduation), and let's be honest, we all like some sort of validation in our lives, even if it's petty.

[QUOTE="Aljosa23"]

[QUOTE="lostrib"]

No

lostrib

Well, both 1 and 2 on the list have fabulous weather:P.

[QUOTE="lostrib"]

liking where you go to school is a lot more important than some stupid rank

TacticalDesire

No doubt, but the why not go to a good school if you can?  I mean the schools in the top 50 are very diverse located across the country, attracting different types of students, and ranging from big Universities to small LACS, so you're bound to find at least one you like.

 Obviously, if you're happy that's good, and you probably made the right choice.  No one is saying rankings are the end all be all, but they are a good guideline (especially since Forbes rankings are based on four year graduation rates, professor quality, and salaries after graduation), and let's be honest, we all like some sort of validation in our lives, even if it's petty.

a ranking from a magazine shouldn't be validation.  And does the rankings take into consideration cost (not just tuition), majors offered, strength of different programs, available research, available funding for research, class size, student body diversity, student housing, how many people per dorm, how many years guaranteed housing, crime rate, sports, etc. 

[QUOTE="lostrib"]

liking where you go to school is a lot more important than some stupid rank

TacticalDesire

No doubt, but the why not go to a good school if you can?  I mean the schools in the top 50 are very diverse located across the country, attracting different types of students, and ranging from big Universities to small LACS, so you're bound to find at least one you like.

 Obviously, if you're happy that's good, and you probably made the right choice.  No one is saying rankings are the end all be all, but they are a good guideline (especially since Forbes rankings are based on four year graduation rates, professor quality, and salaries after graduation), and let's be honest, we all like some sort of validation in our lives, even if it's petty.

I was accepted to two schools in the top 50, 4 in the top 100.  I chose a school just outside the top 100. For reasons probably not even considered by forbes

I'm trying to get into #23 in a year or so from CC. Surprised by #2 to be honest.

[QUOTE="Aljosa23"]

[QUOTE="lostrib"]

No

lostrib

[QUOTE="TacticalDesire"]

[QUOTE="lostrib"]

liking where you go to school is a lot more important than some stupid rank

lostrib

No doubt, but the why not go to a good school if you can?  I mean the schools in the top 50 are very diverse located across the country, attracting different types of students, and ranging from big Universities to small LACS, so you're bound to find at least one you like.

 Obviously, if you're happy that's good, and you probably made the right choice.  No one is saying rankings are the end all be all, but they are a good guideline (especially since Forbes rankings are based on four year graduation rates, professor quality, and salaries after graduation), and let's be honest, we all like some sort of validation in our lives, even if it's petty.

a ranking from a magazine shouldn't be validation.  And does the rankings take into consideration cost (not just tuition), majors offered, strength of different programs, available research, available funding for research, class size, student body diversity, student housing, how many people per dorm, how many years guaranteed housing, crime rate, sports, etc. 

I am pretty sure available research and available funding are definitely considered as well as student to faculty ratio, which would relate to class size.  I doubt things such as student housing, and people per dorm are considered since that doesn't really have a direct impact on how good the school is.

I am pretty sure I already mentioned that rankings are just a guideline lol, but they are a pretty decent one, since data is used and not just subjective opinion.

 No one is criticizing you.  It's jut odd that you are so angry and defensive.

I know where I'm not going to college............................

[QUOTE="lostrib"]

[QUOTE="TacticalDesire"]

No doubt, but the why not go to a good school if you can?  I mean the schools in the top 50 are very diverse located across the country, attracting different types of students, and ranging from big Universities to small LACS, so you're bound to find at least one you like.

 Obviously, if you're happy that's good, and you probably made the right choice.  No one is saying rankings are the end all be all, but they are a good guideline (especially since Forbes rankings are based on four year graduation rates, professor quality, and salaries after graduation), and let's be honest, we all like some sort of validation in our lives, even if it's petty.

TacticalDesire

a ranking from a magazine shouldn't be validation.  And does the rankings take into consideration cost (not just tuition), majors offered, strength of different programs, available research, available funding for research, class size, student body diversity, student housing, how many people per dorm, how many years guaranteed housing, crime rate, sports, etc. 

I am pretty sure available research and available funding are definitely considered as well as student to faculty ratio, which would relate to class size.  I doubt things such as student housing, and people per dorm are considered since that doesn't really have a direct impact on how good the school is.

I am pretty sure I already mentioned that rankings are just a guideline lol, but they are a pretty decent one, since data is used and not just subjective opinion.

 No one is criticizing you.  It's jut odd that you are so angry and defensive.

not really.  

All I was saying was that a ranking shouldn't define your choice of schools

[QUOTE="TacticalDesire"]

[QUOTE="lostrib"]

a ranking from a magazine shouldn't be validation.  And does the rankings take into consideration cost (not just tuition), majors offered, strength of different programs, available research, available funding for research, class size, student body diversity, student housing, how many people per dorm, how many years guaranteed housing, crime rate, sports, etc. 

lostrib

I am pretty sure available research and available funding are definitely considered as well as student to faculty ratio, which would relate to class size.  I doubt things such as student housing, and people per dorm are considered since that doesn't really have a direct impact on how good the school is.

I am pretty sure I already mentioned that rankings are just a guideline lol, but they are a pretty decent one, since data is used and not just subjective opinion.

 No one is criticizing you.  It's jut odd that you are so angry and defensive.

not really.  

All I was saying was that a ranking shouldn't define your choice of schools

That's reasonable, you just came across as pretty angry.

NYU has a huge population.

#93. Not too bad.

WiiRocks66

Fellow Penn Stater *hi-five*

My school is in the top 200. The school down the road from me at home is in the upper part of the top 100 and the school up the road from me from my university is ranked 13. It's kind of obvious that this list caters to big, prestigious business schools with the unignorable science schools popping up in the top picks as well.

What's more important than any of this is choosing your degree. No matter how 'good' the school is considered, if they have a poor department for whatever you're going for then you're wasting your money and time. The rankings for my major at the school I'm going to place it in the top 20-30 which is great.

#55, not bad

[QUOTE="lostrib"]

[QUOTE="Aljosa23"]There there, it's okay man *pats on the back*

TacticalDesire

Well, both 1 and 2 on the list have fabulous weather:P.

Yep. Mine's on the list. It was also on the list of Playboy's Top Party Colleges not so long ago, so I'd take these rankings with a grain of salt.

My alma mater didn't make it. :(

My school's in the 300s. I expected 200s but eh doubt that there's much difference between those.

Ah but in terms of research we're in the 100s. That makes sense, some of the stuff a couple of professors I've had do stuff that seems really cool and useful.

*Stanford crew checking in*

*Stanford crew checking in*

Silverbond

I wonder where UBC would be on that list if it was included. 45th in the world according to this, would be something like 20th or so looks like if you just counted the US and it. Not bad.Ace6301

My alma mater didn't make it. :(

Wasdie

[QUOTE="Wasdie"]

My alma mater didn't make it. :(

heeweesRus

I'm pretty sure I saw Wisconsin ranked pretty well, somewhere in the 60s.  So I doubt it's that.

Yep. Mine's on the list. It was also on the list of Playboy's Top Party Colleges not so long ago, so I'd take these rankings with a grain of salt.

OrkHammer007

I mean, I think any rankings should be taken with a grain of salt, but a lot of the small Northeastern schools are both huge party/drinking places, and academic powerhouses.  Dartmouth and Williams both immediately come to mind.

[QUOTE="OrkHammer007"]

Yep. Mine's on the list. It was also on the list of Playboy's Top Party Colleges not so long ago, so I'd take these rankings with a grain of salt.

TacticalDesire

I mean, I think any rankings should be taken with a grain of salt, but a lot of the small Northeastern schools are both huge party/drinking places, and academic powerhouses.  Dartmouth and Williams both immediately come to mind.

yeah, UC Santa Barbara is in the top 100 of that least and that is a huge party school in the UC system

It sucks your entire life is basically determined by how well you do academically in high school. Whoever goes to Yale, Princeton, Harvard or Stanford will end up running and owning the world.EagleEyedOne

Texas schools do better on the list of beer drinking schools.

Here are the QS rankings for comparison: http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2012

Aljosa23

This is a much better list.

Yeah, those ranking are meh.

I prefer the US News rankingschessmaster1989

This would also be better.