The Truth About Finding Great Academic Fits in Your College Search

This is the eBook version of the printed book.

This Element is an excerpt from The College Solution: A Guide for Everyone Looking for the Right School at the Right Price (9780132365703) by Lynn O’Shaughnessy. Available in print and digital formats.

Why you’d better not rely on the college rankings! A cautionary tale…and a better way to find the right college for your child.

On a hot summer day in 2007, Antioch College announced its own obituary. The 155-year-old college, which had been founded by abolitionists, had imploded: it was out of money, students, and time. Why dwell on Antioch’s problems? It can serve as a warning to any students or parents who are tempted to rely too heavily on rankings. Here’s why: Despite its severe problems, those ubiquitous college guides were still praising Antioch....