Spring Break
Miami ranks 276 on Forbes' best college list
Austin Fast
Issue date: 9/12/08 Section: Front Page
Miami University repeatedly places in the top of U.S. News & World Report's list of the best American schools, but a new ranking by Forbes puts Miami solidly in the middle of the pack.
Forbes ranked Miami at 276 on its list of more than 550 American universities, compared to Miami's spot at No. 66 among schools nationwide in U.S. News & World Report.
Claire Wagner, assistant director of university communications, explained that university administrators generally acknowledge ranking results but try not to attach too much significance to them.
"Overall, we are aware of it, but we know who we are as a strong undergraduate liberal arts education," Wagner said. "We look at what are we doing and ask 'Are our students succeeding?' and make changes based on that, not on the rankings."
The rankings may serve as a good reference for high school students, but Wagner hopes prospective students investigate further when looking at Miami.
"(The rankings are) a good vehicle for Miami to be noticed by students and parents, but by no means should it be all that they use to evaluate us," Wagner said. "Most ideally, they come visit and get a feel for the place."
Miami University tour guide Sean Wright said rankings shouldn't be blindly trusted either.
"Visiting the school gave me a much better experience of the campus," Wright said. "I can tell among the people who visit that visiting campus makes a difference in their decision."
Wright said that the discrepancy between the two scores shows that something must not be completely accurate with the ranking processes.
Senior Angie Chan also expressed concerns that ranking systems are not always accurate or all-inclusive.
"I don't think the areas they reach are indicative of enough students on the campus," Chan said. "Just taking a small handful of the elite and trying to judge against other schools doesn't always work."
Forbes' Web site claims that its list exists as an alternative to the "monopoly" that U.S. News & World Report holds on higher education and "attempts to put itself in a student's shoes" when ranking schools.
Forbes ranked Miami at 276 on its list of more than 550 American universities, compared to Miami's spot at No. 66 among schools nationwide in U.S. News & World Report.
Claire Wagner, assistant director of university communications, explained that university administrators generally acknowledge ranking results but try not to attach too much significance to them.
"Overall, we are aware of it, but we know who we are as a strong undergraduate liberal arts education," Wagner said. "We look at what are we doing and ask 'Are our students succeeding?' and make changes based on that, not on the rankings."
The rankings may serve as a good reference for high school students, but Wagner hopes prospective students investigate further when looking at Miami.
"(The rankings are) a good vehicle for Miami to be noticed by students and parents, but by no means should it be all that they use to evaluate us," Wagner said. "Most ideally, they come visit and get a feel for the place."
Miami University tour guide Sean Wright said rankings shouldn't be blindly trusted either.
"Visiting the school gave me a much better experience of the campus," Wright said. "I can tell among the people who visit that visiting campus makes a difference in their decision."
Wright said that the discrepancy between the two scores shows that something must not be completely accurate with the ranking processes.
Senior Angie Chan also expressed concerns that ranking systems are not always accurate or all-inclusive.
"I don't think the areas they reach are indicative of enough students on the campus," Chan said. "Just taking a small handful of the elite and trying to judge against other schools doesn't always work."
Forbes' Web site claims that its list exists as an alternative to the "monopoly" that U.S. News & World Report holds on higher education and "attempts to put itself in a student's shoes" when ranking schools.
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 7
xuan
posted 9/12/08 @ 6:11 AM EST
Old Chinese saying: "Live by PR and hype, die by PR and hype."
Bon Jovi
posted 9/12/08 @ 9:11 AM EST
Seems that Miami's ranking in Forbes is about equal to its average class.
Bon Jovi (corrrection)
posted 9/12/08 @ 10:23 AM EST
Seems that Miami's ranking in Forbes is about equal to its average class SIZE.
(Sorry about the omitted word--I was posting from my laptop while sitting in Acc 221 with 249 other students and I sorta dozed off at the end. (Continued…)
Gina
posted 9/12/08 @ 10:52 AM EST
I can't say it surpises me. Miami forgot about education a long time ago. The school is all about the shiny trappings of progress. Dr. Shriver knew how to push education. (Continued…)
ryan
posted 9/12/08 @ 4:32 PM EST
Don't be too upset about it. Those rankings have no validity of any kind. They would put Harvard dead last if they thought it would mean selling more magazines. (Continued…)
Dave
posted 9/12/08 @ 11:00 PM EST
I wrote to the student 2 years ago when they decided to make ACC 221 3, 300 student sections. The teachers loved the letter, Rubin didnt. That was the worst decision the business school ever made. (Continued…)
Michael
posted 9/14/08 @ 4:52 AM EST
Dave,
Why was it bad? I'd much rather have smaller upper level classes than personal generic Intro-business.
What the business school really needs to do is crank up the admission criteria and make it a selective program, so that students can get jobs outside accounting. (Continued…)
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