Wash. U. was not my first choice. There, I said it.

The thing is – it should have been. I’ve been here just over a week, and I can already tell, this place is the place for me.

To most people that probably sounds like some kid who is just trying to console himself that Harvard’s admission officers didn’t think he was good enough. Hell, that’s probably what I would’ve called someone like myself had I gotten into Harvard. Being that kind of scumbag basically sums up the reason I wanted to go: bumper sticker retail.

What a load of crap, eh?

At least, I hope you all think it’s a load of crap. If you don’t, it probably has something to do with those U.S. News college rankings. You know, the ones that Wash. U. has just been demoted to 12th in. So much for med school. Now, I’ll have to shovel elephant dung at the zoo for a living.

Seriously people, there are two things that separate Wash. U. from Harvard or Princeton or any other Ivy Leaguer. The first is name recognition. There’s no denying it; random people are far more likely to respond to a bigwig school name drop than they are to our beloved university. It’s okay – I can live without bragging via bumper sticker. More importantly, employers and grad schools and anybody worth their salt know that Wash. U. is kind of a big deal. What I mean is, you shouldn’t care if Joe Schmo is confused that you don’t mean Washington State or Washington, D.C. because he’s not the one you need to prove anything to.

The bigger difference, though, is a big win for Wash. U.: Wash. U. actually needs its students. Imagine if instead of sending out brochures talking itself up, Harvard sent out personalized hate-mail… they’d still have 20,000 applicants a year. Wash. U., on the other hand, is without such notoriety, and as such devotes considerable effort to thinking up ways it can treat it’s already pampered students even better. Our food is top notch, our campus is gorgeous, and most dorms are like palaces. Have you been to my dorm? It’s nicer than my house. Don’t forget the educational perks. We have four-year advisors, peer advisors, a writing center and free tutoring in every subject. Honestly, you’d have to plan out in exquisite detail your failure to mess up at this place. That’s just why Wash. U. kids shouldn’t care about the rankings.

The real truth is no one should care. U.S. News’ biggest determining factor is selectivity, which translates as this: the rankings are a glorified poll of what universities high school seniors have the hots for. The kids who already won gold medals in the Olympics or are the lead singer from Weezer or are otherwise unturndownable decided to go to Ivies based on name recognition and that leaves less spots open for the rest of us. I don’t know about you, but having the dude from Weezer live next door wouldn’t help me pass midterms. The only ranking that should exist doesn’t: which school is most able to help you succeed in the ways that matter most to you. Try to think of reasons why Wash. U. doesn’t absolutely dominate in that category.

Anybody remember Good Will Hunting? It’s written by Harvard Alum Matt Damon. Speaking to a Harvard student, Damon’s character says, “You dropped a hundred and fifty grand on a f-in education you coulda got for a dollah fifty in late chahges at the public library.” Wikid smaht guy that Damon. I’m not saying all of us are capable of teaching ourselves Calc III, but the truth is anybody at this school would do just fine no matter where they went to college. I’m going here because I love it here. If you’re at Wash. U. for any other reason, especially rankings, then you’re here for the wrong reason.

Greg is a freshman in Arts & Sciences. He can be reached via email at [email protected]

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