Forbes poll of America's best colleges

**Marc936** · 08-16-2010, 09:52 PM

Originally Posted by weR138

My program at ISU is respected and recognized nationally (and ranked highly). It prepared me well and has afforded me the chance to make a good living. I love the campus and the Cyclones so I couldn't give a flaming pile of dog**** what Forbes says.

considering a lot of potential college students look at these while picking colleges, you should. Being that low turns peoples heads looking at the place, not everyone can go to each college and see what it is about, so they judge it off rankings

**Marc936** · 08-16-2010, 09:53 PM

HOLY **** illinois state is ranked higher than iowa state, wow, haha thats hilarious, made my day. So much for people here calling it a dumb blonde party school

**drmwevr08** · 08-17-2010, 07:47 AM

Originally Posted by Royalclone

Surprise! Grinnell is the highest ranked college in the state. The cost of the school pretty much as to be inthe upper $40's or higher to make the top 40.

I saw at least Luther in front of Grinnell.

**JD720** · 08-17-2010, 07:51 AM

Originally Posted by drmwevr08

I saw at least Luther in front of Grinnell.

Grinnell is 78th, Luther is 122nd.

**jdoggivjc** · 08-17-2010, 07:53 AM

Originally Posted by Marc936

considering a lot of potential college students look at these while picking colleges, you should. Being that low turns peoples heads looking at the place, not everyone can go to each college and see what it is about, so they judge it off rankings

Are you serious? Unless you're going to some Ivy League or private school, or have the means to go to whatever school across the nation because either your family is flush with money or are raking in serious scholarship $$$, NOBODY looks at these rankings when picking out a school. The VAST majority of people are going to pick the in-state school (or a neighboring state's school if your state has initiatives that give residents of neighboring states in-state tuition) that offers the program of study that most interests them. I didn't even know these rankings existed until I started posting on CF. I chose ISU because it offered all three of Architecture, Civil, and Construction Engineering (which is why I didn't go to Iowa). ISU's ranking in anything didn't even come into play.

**drmwevr08** · 08-17-2010, 08:12 AM

Originally Posted by JD720

Grinnell is 78th, Luther is 122nd.

I saw Cornell after now that I look again. Was only scanning for something else. Not a surprise though that Grinnell was first, they cater to the east coast types.

**GeronimusClone** · 08-17-2010, 08:15 AM

Originally Posted by Marc936

considering a lot of potential college students look at these while picking colleges, you should. Being that low turns peoples heads looking at the place, not everyone can go to each college and see what it is about, so they judge it off rankings

I've never met anybody age 18 that used these rankings or even knew where to find Forbes magazine.

**jdoggivjc** · 08-17-2010, 08:23 AM

Originally Posted by GeronimusClone

I've never met anybody age 18 that used these rankings or even knew where to find Forbes magazine.

Which means the average 18 year old is smarter than the typical paranoid college graduate that posts on CF who think these rankings actually mean anything...

**cyclonenum1** · 08-17-2010, 09:05 AM

Originally Posted by jdoggivjc

Are you serious? Unless you're going to some Ivy League or private school, or have the means to go to whatever school across the nation because either your family is flush with money or are raking in serious scholarship $$$, NOBODY looks at these rankings when picking out a school. The VAST majority of people are going to pick the in-state school (or a neighboring state's school if your state has initiatives that give residents of neighboring states in-state tuition) that offers the program of study that most interests them. I didn't even know these rankings existed until I started posting on CF. I chose ISU because it offered all three of Architecture, Civil, and Construction Engineering (which is why I didn't go to Iowa). ISU's ranking in anything didn't even come into play.

Nobody...you are wrong about that. People, especially parents paying for college, do look at these sort of things. It's not the only thing reviewed...but one of a number of different things.

Not sure it is a "VAST majority" but, yes, many people do go to the in-state schools because they are a more economical route to go. Frankly, the reality is that, with variances for curriculum, most state schools are giving about the same quality of education across the country.

Listen, I love ISU and I value my degree but it does not have the cachet (and value) of a degree from Harvard or Stanford or MIT...that is the reality. A degree from a state school is just that...whether it be from ISU, South Carolina, or Oregon.

**weR138** · 08-17-2010, 09:18 AM

Originally Posted by Marc936

considering a lot of potential college students look at these while picking colleges, you should. Being that low turns peoples heads looking at the place, not everyone can go to each college and see what it is about, so they judge it off rankings

I guess I should clarify that I have a professional degree and kids interested in it look seriously at about half a dozen programs in this region.

Kids interested in the College of Design aren't using a Forbes magazine ranking that is tilted toward small liberal arts colleges.

So, I still don't care nor should I.

**Marc936** · 08-17-2010, 03:22 PM

Originally Posted by jdoggivjc

Are you serious? Unless you're going to some Ivy League or private school, or have the means to go to whatever school across the nation because either your family is flush with money or are raking in serious scholarship $$$, NOBODY looks at these rankings when picking out a school. The VAST majority of people are going to pick the in-state school (or a neighboring state's school if your state has initiatives that give residents of neighboring states in-state tuition) that offers the program of study that most interests them. I didn't even know these rankings existed until I started posting on CF. I chose ISU because it offered all three of Architecture, Civil, and Construction Engineering (which is why I didn't go to Iowa). ISU's ranking in anything didn't even come into play.

i was talking more about out of state students. In state is already set up that people will go in just because its cheaper. Ever wonder why schools boast their rankings and their accomplishments to try to recruit potential students? It gives off impressions that they are the better schools so they get the better students applying.

i'm pretty sure people would love to have their school not to just be considered just a state school. If a person had many options all over the country, any advantage over other schools would be helpful.

and yes, i'm pretty sure you would want the rich kids to come here, they pay more for tuition, that means more funding for the school.

**MrReality** · 08-17-2010, 03:40 PM

Nice, my alma mater is #119.

**synapticwave** · 08-17-2010, 04:03 PM

I'm going to put out a new college ranking system in which the primary measurement is how many geese have permanent habitats on the campus. Secondly, have stadiums named after an African American. Thirdly deducted points for the difference in the year the school was founded from 1856. And lastly if they have a parabolic structure on campus, with extra points if it's a water tower.

I think we'd find that you end up with an equally qualified ranking system useful to just as many people as Forbes.