More Drama For Columbia University
The fallout from Columbia’s unranked status continues. As reported by The Columbia Spectator, an alum, Ravi Campbell, CC’18, has filed a class action lawsuit against the university on behalf of his graduating class. The lawsuit alleges that he was duped into attending due to Columbia’s high ranking by U.S. News and World Report. Campbell claims that the education and opportunities he received by attending the university didn’t pay off, and that the alleged misreporting is “unethical,” and “immoral.” He is suing the university for $5 million.
A couple of things stand out about this story. For starters, it’s important to note that even if you attend a top university, you have to continue working hard to take advantage of the opportunities afforded by being a student there. And even then, nothing is a guarantee. You can’t take for granted that just because you attended an Ivy League school that your future is set for you. You still have to do the work to prove your abilities out in the world.
But, what stands out most about this story is Campbell’s obsession with the ranking. He clearly worked hard to achieve acceptance by Columbia. But, did he really attend a university because of its ranking in a magazine? The main purpose of the U.S. News and World Report is to sell copies. And it does so by convincing readers that what it has to say is important. Not to dismiss or diminish the publication, but the criteria by which the schools are ranked are not the only factors to consider. For example, one factor in determining the rank is “faculty compensation.” While this is an important factor to consider in socio-political terms, it does not speak to the quality of the education. Nor does the “average alumni giving rate.” Yet, this is another factor by which the university is ranked.
Instead of focusing on the rankings while looking at schools, look at acceptance rates, graduation rates, and job placement and networking opportunities that a university has to offer. Consider class sizes and social mobility options. These are small factors on the ranking scale, but the importance of these factors seems to tell more about a student’s opportunities while attending the university.
