WHETHER it's your first time moving in or your fourth, some things never change. Oppressive heat, carpet sales, U-Hauls and traffic jams quickly come to mind. Details such as these are reminders that although faces and fashions may drastically change over time, the experience of coming to college never does.
In much the same way, some elements of the University's culture become so deeply engrained that they seem as natural as Thomas Jefferson himself. The most obvious, of course, is the ethic of honor and all that it represents to our community. More subtle, however, is a value that binds far more of us than we're comfortable to admit: ranking.
Ask anyone why he or she chose U.Va. or how he or she found out about the school. Particularly among new students, the curiosity is legitimate and often leads to interesting conversations. The first response for many relates to our beautiful Grounds or the low cost of in-state tuition. But for most students, the true answer stems directly from the famed list that universities live or die by, the U.S. News and World Report annual ranking of colleges and universities. This magazine has turned an unbiased process of investigation, analysis and old-fashioned commercialization into a cottage industry of psuedo-counseling that provides little reliable information to prospective students.
Unfortunately, the ranking syndrome remains novel with each annual issue. Perhaps because we are vain or actually convinced by the magazine's shady statistics, it's difficult to let go of the number one spot. After all, aside from the attraction of its beautiful Grounds and relatively low cost, of course, what would cause someone from Pakistan to look up the University of Virginia? Simply put, www.usnews.com.
But students and parents are not to blame. Resolving one of the most difficult and confusing decisions in your life requires a little homework. There are few sources as appealing as the U.S. News list. It's practically a McDonalds's value meal representation of college options. "Would you like highly rated world-famous research facilities with that medium-priced private liberal arts Mid-Western college, or an enticing new state-of-the-art recreation facility instead, sir?" Who wouldn't grab the first copy in sight? As a friend said to me, "That list was my Bible." What information can possibly compete with something likened to the best-selling book of all time?
Clearly, the commercial aspect of the list taints the merit of its findings. More disconcerting, though, are the "methods" used to determine rankings as described by the magazine itself. According to its Web site, U.S. News assigns colleges and universities to categories and then collects data in "16 areas related to academic excellence." The reality, however, is that these 16 areas include measures such as alumni giving and financial resources. These "academic" elements have more to do with an institutions' wealth, not its quality relative to other schools.
A recent New York Times article explains that Amy Graham, "former director of data research at U.S. News is publicly debunking the list's fundamental criteria" ("'Best' List for Colleges by U.S. News Is Under Fire," Aug. 22).
Arguing that the manner in which the magazine gathers data and ranks colleges "defies common sense" and produces misleading results, Graham (who holds a doctorate in economics from the University) takes a stand against the nationally revered list. Though U.S. News stands by its work, many university administrators and presidents across the country are increasingly decrying the questionable nature of the list.
Students should, as well. Once we are part of the University community, we should abandon all pretense of not caring about the list and honestly forget about it. Just a few days here are enough to give a taste of what the University truly has to offer. Within months, ratios such as alumni donations to student satisfaction should fade into oblivion. We're all here now and a part of something far larger than an overrated magazine article. Realizing that fact opens countless doors and paves the way for the experiences of a lifetime that can never be boiled down to a simple list.
So, instead of thinking about being at the number one public university when the new rankings hit newstand Sept. 10, try focusing on far more important numbers during this hectic time of moving in and settling into classes. There's your ISIS PIN, your phone number, add/drop dates, the ITC helpline ... well, you get the idea. Fortunately, the heat and humidity usually die down by mid-September. Hopefully, student mania over the University's rank will, too.
(Katherine Martini is a Cavalier Daily columnist. She can be reached at kmartini@cavalierdaily.com.)
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