There's Only One College Rankings List That Matters

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

1. It's unfortunate that too many parents and their college bound kids have bought into

Last edited Wed Mar 29, 2023, 11:20 AM - Edit history (1)

the BS of needing to attending a prestigious school. There are thousands of colleges and universities in this country, and many of them are very good to excellent.

If you're a parent of a kid who will be going to college, please, please, please read Colleges That Change Lives and Looking Beyond the Ivy League, both by Loren Pope. I had the good fortune to discover them when my older son was in 8th grade, and they made the entire college decision easier and more straight-forward.

Also, I'm a rare person who has attended more than one college or university. Six actually: University of Arizona, Northern Virginia Community College, George Mason University, University of Minnesota, University of Colorado Boulder, and Johnson County (Kansas) Community College. So I feel that I can do a certain compare and contrast about colleges.

I'll say this. Community Colleges are possibly the best thing out there. They are inexpensive. They offer lots of degrees or certificate programs that can lead to actual jobs. Most people have no business getting a four year degree in some esoteric field. They really are going to need to get a job, work for a living, and that should honestly be pretty much front and center during their college years.

For what it's worth, My Son The Astronomer has himself attended six schools, two of which are the same as mine: Reed College in Portland OR, Johnson County (Kansas) Community College, Kansas State University, University of Missouri Kansas City, Missouri State University Springfield MO, and George Mason University.