A recent publication of Student Life has yet again illuminated an issue of ostensibly infinite concern for many Washington University students: rankings. A news report and a staff editorial brought to our attention the fact that the University’s international reputation does not seem to match its national reputation. The staff editorial emphasized the influence of the graduate schools on rankings and opined that the school should strive more to improve its graduate programs.

I concur with that, and I am glad it was written. Nonetheless, like other columns regarding rankings, or a closely related topic on the name-value that I’ve had a chance to read, it misses on another important attitude to take on these matters that I’ve wanted to address at some point.

I admit that I too care about the rankings. But ever since making the resourceful decision to entrust Wash. U. with my four undergraduate years, I’ve come to view it primarily as “my school” more than some school with a curiously long name a and national or worldwide ranking of 14th or 41st or whatever. Therefore, although I would visit www.usnews.com at the end of every August, the rankings were trivial when I could do things to contribute to the University’s procurement of higher rankings and reputation in future compilations, which would in turn benefit me as well.

I hope that that last statement didn’t immediately sound pretentious. All I meant to say was that since matriculation I’ve come to focus much more on doing my best as a student of Wash. U. and as a future graduate, which, in my opinion, also happens to be the best contribution I can make at an individual level to improving the school’s reputation, rankings and name-value. This shouldn’t be bewildering. It should be plain.

Students make up a huge part of the face of a university. Its rankings and reputations will in large part pivot around the students who attend the institution. People judge a university for many things, not the least of which is its students and their achievements.

Good, urge the University to improve graduate programs. They matter. Fine, care about rankings and keep yourself aware of them. We rightfully should. But never digress: The first and foremost goal for us is to strive for our own betterment and personal success, both during our time as students and during post-graduate life. If this is not why you came to college, you are in serious trouble. If it is, well, you just do that, and Wash. U. will be respected the way you want. People will think more highly of Wash. U. through you.

Some students here seem to feel an unexpressed insecurity against the Ivy League schools, but the Ivies’ fame was not a gift from heaven. People earned it for them through respectable personal and academic successes. People built the current Wash. U. reputation. If you aren’t cool with it (I am), or if you are but still desire a better reputation (heck yeah, why not?), know that you can strive for its betterment yourself, simply by giving your best, truthful endeavor for your own betterment. Note too that the Ivies are much older. Years from now, depending on us, maybe nobody will confuse Wash. U. for any other school with “Washington” in its name, just as hardly anyone mistakes University of Pennsylvania with Pennsylvania State University.

Naturally, a rise in ranking and reputation brings promising talents, who will then contribute to further University prestige. We, the current students, can and should be the catalytic propellant of this positive feedback. We can be a part of school history from which all current or future Wash. U. citizens will benefit.

If you simply cannot cope with Wash. U.’s current rankings or its name, stop prying and transfer to Harvard or Penn. No? Then life will be much better if you can learn to live with the status quo. I say the best way to do it is to focus on YOU, not the University, and try treating this place more as “your school” than as Washington University in St. Louis, the 14th best university in the United States. Regardless of the rankings and your insecurities about them, this is undoubtedly more than an excellent institution for you to better yourself.