Colleges and universities earn bragging rights for appearing at the top of “America’s Best Colleges” lists, but what do these rankings really mean? What kind of impact does it translate to for the student who did… or didn’t…. attend one of these nationally acclaimed institutions of higher education?
Does Your Undergrad Institution Hurt You?
As a student, you would have to be clueless to NOT be concerned about whether college rankings really impact your chances of going onto grad school after leaving campus for good. After all, the competition can be pretty stiff, and getting an acceptance letter can feel like… well, life or death.
If your college or university isn’t sitting pretty on the top of the U.S. News and World Reports rankings, you can breathe a little bit easier knowing that you HAVE NOT dashed your chances of getting into grad school. As a matter of fact, you can still have a shot of getting into a TOP ranked graduate program. Why? It’s because of a little thing called diversity.
Admissions Committees LOVE Diversity
Diversity isn’t just ethnic/cultural background, as some people would lead you to believe. Your undergraduate institution also figures in as well. Think about it – we couldn’t exactly claim diversity if every lawyer, doctor, MBA or Ph.D. came from Yale or Harvard or another Ivy League. And besides how boring would that be?
Higher education beyond the undergraduate level has a whole lot to do with creativity, innovation, critical thinking and exchange of ideas. Graduate programs actually benefit from diversity that exists when you bring together applicants from a broad cross-section of America – and heck, the entire world, really!
Now whichever undergraduate institution stamps your diploma, it is your responsibility to make sure that they are indeed accredited. Accreditation gives you peace of mind that you have covered all basic educational requirements. You definitely the basic plus EXTRAS in the form of specialized courses in your major that will prepare you for graduate study.
Mine Your Social Network
Also, to ease your anxiety levels, do some investigation work of your own. Sometimes a little “social proof” goes a long way. Ask undergraduate advisors or initiate a conversation with your professors about going onto grad school. Inquire whether they have ever worked closely with students who have already been admitted to graduate programs.
Regardless know that you have absolutely NOT placed yourself at any kind of disadvantage. And know that the “successful” aren’t only born and bred at colleges on Top Ten lists.
