University School Rankings

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Introduction I sought out to answer a rather intangible, philosophical question, which somehow is almost central to what makes this university successful. In fact, its success is the question! I wanted to understand what it is about UNC that makes it a “good,” and prestigious, school. Toward that end, I needed to investigate the intricacies of this institution, and of this question. Because the terms “good” and “prestigious” are highly subjective, I did not attempt to objectify them, but I instead sought to get a working definition from each interviewee as well as refer to some of the contemporary big names in school rankings for their definitions. Some of the ‘big names’ that come to mind are the US News and Forbes lists of universities. The topic itself was one that was sparked out of my own curiosity to better understand why I chose UNC as an institution to transfer to, and also what made me choose the other schools that I applied to. Needless to say, they were all prestigious institutions as well. But what makes an institution prestigious? I believe that it has a lot to do with perspective: the answer and value will be at least slightly different for everyone. As this autoethnography will examine, this question has many intricacies that can only be examined and understood so well; I do not believe it is feasible to fully account for all the factors that go into making a school known as a ‘good’ one. Statement of Positionality I came to UNC at the end of a very nontraditional path through the educational system. As a child, I despised school in all its forms from the core of my being. Perhaps it was because I never enjoyed school from the start, and so through all the rest of my time spent in grade school I never cared for it... ... middle of paper ... ...d not be viewed in place of one another. It is interesting to note how all of this relates to the historical notion of a university. In ancient Greece, the university had a much different role in society, and it focused on nothing other than the liberal arts. Today, the university is a place for career advancement, research and technology, as well as the instruction of the Liberal Arts. Therefore, all conclusions about ‘which university is better’ will be inherently flawed, since there are so many contributing factors and ways in which we could measure this. Just as there is a top college for partying, there will be a top college for the liberal arts. It is important to remember that the process of seeking this information is, in itself, an enlightening process that can help one better appreciate their institution, regardless of where it stands on a list of schools.

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