And exactly what does “high selectivity” mean, anyway?
Some schools—in the Northeast, especially—receive so many applications just because of the location. Schools in other parts of the country may have equally as tough entrance requirements, but because fewer students choose to apply to them—they appear—statistically—less selective.
When guidebook editors decide which characteristics to measure, they are making value judgments that greatly affect the results—and they don’t necessarily value the same things you do. For example, if ethnic diversity id important to you, does the guidebook use it as one of its statistical criteria? What about the safety on Campus (by Federal law, this information is available in the Campus Safety Office, but you won’t find it in the college’s marketing materials or in a college guidebook)?
And, when guidebook editors decide what to measure, they shy away from the hard-to-quantify intangibles—quality of life, actual classroom experience, friendliness of the campus—that are vitally important in each student’s college experience.
Rankings-based guidebooks provide important information. But, as a smart consumer, you should be aware of their limitations. As you thumb through the rankings, we suggest you ask:
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Other Approaches:
Is “the best college” really the best college for you? What facts and figures make it “the best”? Are these criteria you value highly?
Do you value something that can’t be measured by statistics? Are spiritual identity, classroom excitement, and active residence life programs important to you?As a student at this particular college, will you be able to participate in all the activities in which you have an interest? Do you need to be a theatre major in order to audition for a role in a play, or are auditions open to all students? Are all interested athletes welcome to try out for the college’s teams?
How much learning actually goes on at the college you’re considering? Who actually does the teaching? Are students excited about what goes on in the classroom and lab?
In addition to college guidebooks based on statistics, there are many kinds of guides, websites, and studies, which may or may not be useful in your college search.
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You Will Find :
The Inside Scoop
Some guidebooks, like The Princeton Insider’s Guide, emphasize surveys of students and faculty members. They usually deliver on what they promise: an “inside look,” an informal and unauthorized view of the campus—things you definitely won’t find in the college’s marketing materials. On the down side, their editors may choose quotes for dramatic effect. One dissatisfied student’s response has been known to give a false impression of an otherwise very fine school.
Expert Advice
Other guides give you “expert opinions” based on a lifetime of working in education or in education-related journalism. Loren Pope’s Colleges That Change Lives and Jay Mathews Harvard Schmarvard are excellent examples of these books. Both of these gentlemen have spent a lifetime as education journalists, and are intimately acquainted with the college admissions process. Interestingly, both writers avoid strict rankings, although both offer lists and comments on colleges they recommend.
Measuring Engagement
On the scholarly end of the scale, a few ongoing research projects attempt to do what U.S. News doesn’t: measure the actual learning that takes place at various colleges. The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). based at Indiana University, collects detailed survey information from students at many colleges and universities. Another is the Cooperative institutional Research Program, an ongoing national study of 11 million students, 250,000 faculty and staff. and 1,600 higher education institutions. NSSE and CIRP provide interesting and valuable data about the experience of students at American colleges and universities. Unfortunately, they do not release for individual schools.
There Must Be a Better Way!
With Colleges of Distinction, we are trying to do something a little different – give you a reliable, journalistic look at schools that may not have the biggest names in highest education, but that consistently do a great job educating undergraduate students.
Every one of these colleges excels in the four areas we have defined as most important in the college experience: attracting and supporting engaged students, promoting and understanding teaching, encouraging a vibrant campus life, and producing successful graduates. But every one of them does so in different ways.
That’s why we don’t rank the schools in this book. We explain how each of them commits itself to achieving the four elements of successful colleges., and we leave it up to you to determine the one that matches your talents and interests, that promises to be the place where you want to live and learn-the one that’s best for you.
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Finding the School That Fits Your Style
Next, we polled high school guidance counselors from across the country, asking them to tell us which schools belonged on our list and which ones did not.
Informally, we talked to parents, students, and professors at a variety of institutions around the country, seeking even more feedback on our list.
From this diverse community, common opinions began to emerge. Some schools came up again and again; others, we found were deserving of the high reputation we had originally assigned them.
Having thoroughly polled the available opinions, we then began our own investigation of the institutions that remained on our list. We visited campuses ourselves, interviewed a cross-section of the campus community, and sat in on classes. We dug into school records and spoke frankly with admissions directors.
The result is a book with colleges that we’re convinced are terrific places to learn. Measured by both quantitative and qualitative data, these schools come out ahead. While we can’t guarantee that you’ll find a school that you like in Colleges of Distinction, chances are you’ll find a number that interest and intrigue you.
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How This Book is Structured
Chapters 2-through-5 talk in depth about the Four Distinction that we believe distinguish those colleges and universities that offer great undergraduate educations. Engaged Students, Great Teaching, Vibrant Communities, and Successful Outcomes. Reading through these chapters will give you a better idea of what these qualities are, why they matter, how we measured them, and how you can judge a school in these areas.
In Chapter 6, high school guidance counselors discuss the “admissions climate” among colleges in their own region of the country. You may want to look at all 6 regions, or you may only be interested in those areas closest to you. Wherever you decide to apply, this discussion should help you make the best possible application.
Later in the book, there is an entry describing each College of Distinction. We’ll describe the campus and fill you in on the general social, cultural, intellectual, and political character of the college.
Throughout this book, you’ll find suggestions on how to use the information we’ve included, as well as questions to ask when visiting a campus, and positive and negative things to consider. While no book can ever substitute for a campus visit, Colleges of Distinction should help you decide which campuses you want to visit.
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