Report important, but not the be-all, end-all

In a recent college ranking study published by U.S. News & World Report, MSU was ranked last out of all the colleges currently in the Big Ten Conference. When it’s phrased that way, it sounds pretty awful, and kind of demeaning. But in most cases, the MSU experience is not one that can be captured by a number.

This study is nationally regarded as a credible, reliable college ranking source. So, the numbers should not be completely disregarded. Prospective students could look at the study and base some of their college goals and choices upon it. A high rank on this list initially could draw competitive students from around the country and the globe to any college or university, simply because it is one of the “best.” It gives the highly ranked institutions an edge of sorts, something they can brag about during their orientations.

However, choosing a path of higher education is not a decision that should be made simply by facts and figures. It’s a hugely personal choice, and what people find appealing when picking out a college or university varies greatly.

Financial situations, choice of major, athletic interest, individual preference and other factors that can’t necessarily be encompassed by an overall ranking are taken into consideration as well. Also, colleges can be different in reality than they are in facts and figures. Depending on taste, the very atmosphere of a university can be a turn-off. Likewise, it could convince a student he or she has found the perfect fit. A ranking conveys a number, but can miss other tangible factors.

Additionally, it’s important for anyone considering a college education to note that personal success cannot be gauged by any given institution’s success. One doesn’t have to go to Harvard or another top ranked school to get what they want out of life and to make his or her future the best it possibly can be. It might be advantageous to attend those schools, but it’s not the final word.

MSU students should not feel their education is worth less because it’s last in the Big Ten Conference according to the U.S. News & World Report. Future leaders in any given career field could be walking along the banks of the Red Cedar River right now.

The university will continue going about its daily business. It’s not as if they will go through massive curriculum overhauls because of the score it received in a report. Any institution has issues that could be fixed or improved in some way, but it wouldn’t be practical to blindly imitate the schools that the U.S. News & World Report considers the best. MSU’s uniqueness adds to its appeal as a university and rushing headlong into changes would not be beneficial to anyone in particular.

In the end, what a school means to a student cannot be solely based on what rank it acquired in a nationally accredited study. The value of an education and overall college experience is very individualized. Regardless of the ranking, there are plenty of people who will always consider MSU their No. 1 college in the U.S.