Our book stands apart from other college guides because we alone combine the statistical data we gather from the schools with opinion we collect from over 120,000 students attending the schools. All of this information goes toward crafting hundreds of school profiles, profiles that offer readers not only application and admissions info but firsthand feedback from students on campus life and the student body.
Each of our 62 ranking lists (including a new “Best Athletic Facilities” list) is based entirely on our student surveys. We tally our rankings in categories that range from academics/administration and demographics to campus social life and extracurriculars. These rankings do not reflect our opinion of the schools (we think they’re all outstanding) but the opinions of their customers. Our belief is that students’ perceptions are quite valuable. After all, what better way is there to judge a school than by how its students feel about it?
In addition to our rankings lists, our Best Colleges book includes school ratings (numerical scores) for issues such as admissions selectivity, quality of life, fire safety, financial aid, and for the first time, a green rating. All of these features contribute to our unique, multi-faceted profiles on each college. Hopefully they will help our readers decide which schools they want to further investigate, apply to, and ideally visit.
At The Princeton Review we believe the key issue for college applicants and their parents isn’t which college is best. (There’s no such thing!) The toughest – and most exciting challenge – is which college is best for you.