Is college ranking important for you?

The recent report, UCLA Freshman survey: Fall 2007, says that many college applicants (82.4%) do not consider national rankings provided by major news magazines like US News & Report as important as college presidents and admissions deans would have believed.

Here is the actual UCLA Survey question and top 15 reasons that this conclusion was based on.

Q. Reasons noted as "very important" in influencing a student's decision to attend this particular college:

• College has very good academic reputation 63.0%
• This college's graduates get good jobs 51.9%
• A visit to the campus 40.4%
• I was offered financial assistance 39.4%
• Wanted to go to a college this size 38.9%
• College has a good reputation for social activities 37.1%
• The cost of attending this college 36.8%
• Grads get into good grad/professional schools 34.1%
• Wanted to live near home 19.2%
• Rankings in national magazines 17.6%
• Information from a website 17.0%
• Parents wanted me to go to this school 13.0%
• Admitted early decision and/or early action 11.4%
• Could not afford first choice 9.7%
• High school counselor advised me 9.0%