Nowadays, ‘Rankings’ are ubiquitous; one can find them almost everywhere! It may be a law school, business school, college, or even high school – chances are there is someone out there who has come up with a ranking system. Their sheer ubiquity means that rankings are the one aspect nearly every applicant consults while making their application decisions. No doubt, these numbers have their use, especially at the start of the selection process when you need solid indicators to help you narrow down your choices. But, it is always useful to know a few things regarding rankings and their usage.
Know That Rank Does Not Equal Quality
Even though the law schools in the “top” of the rankings are mostly good schools with great reputations, this does not mean that law schools in the lower rankings are deficient or less worthy of consideration. Generally, rankings do not take into account specific and unique attributes of the law school programs they rank. They also do not take into account how these unique qualities may fit for a particular applicant. Therefore, you should concern yourself with which schools are the best for you, not just those with the best ranking.
Besides, keep in mind that the general rankings base a large chunk of each law school’s rankings on “assessments” by peers, lawyers, and judges. What does this mean? Almost half the weight of a law school’s placement within the ranking comes from a completely subjective score people in the industry give it. Tangible items such as job placement, return on investment, or ability to pay back education loans post-graduation are not in that score. Remember that the program popularity plays a large role.
There Are Multiple Ranking Systems
The popular rankings are not the only rankings to explore. There are various other “methods” out there to assess this ranking. Many people and companies get into the law school rankings game – which means that there are many at your disposal. You should use as many of them as you can in order to get a broad picture of each “rank” as possible.
They Are a Business
Taking these numbers to heart when making law school decisions might become a risky move. So, it is important to remember a few things:
1. Law schools know that students use rankings to determine where to apply.
2. Ranking companies know that aspiring law students use rankings to determine where to apply.
3. The methodology used to rank is generally widely known.
For example, law schools can inflate their rankings by only accepting students with UGPAs and LSAT scores above a certain number. Moreover, law schools know how to affect their ranking. Students should therefore be aware that these scores do not happen in a vacuum and that schools can manipulate them, even slightly. Though this can end up with positive results for the applicants, it is worthwhile to note that law schools can significantly affect these numbers. This means they are widely subjective, so keep that in mind!
Ranking Is Not an Exact Science
Keep in mind, mistakes or inaccuracies can definitely happen. Moreover, what one rank provider considers unimportant or less important, might be something that you consider extremely important. For instance, let us look at the methodology some use to rank law schools. They may count “Assessment Scores,” or how people in the law school business sees a particular law school, as say 40% of the overall ranking! They only count “Placement Success,” or the number of graduates that secure a legal job post-graduation at say 20%. Ask yourself: Which is more important? How other law school Dean or professors view a particular law school or the likelihood of you getting a legal job after you graduate? Most students are likely to weigh the latter more highly.
The Ranking Systems Are Sensitive
It has been found that rankings can change often, and sometimes dramatically, over the course of a single year. In fact, even slight particulars can have a large impact! The most widely-used systems take consider “public perception” as the most significant percentage of their formula. This clearly means that any shift in public opinion can alter the ranking significantly. This breakdown is not meant to discount the importance and usefulness of rankings; however, it is a cautionary tale. Be careful of taking rankings at face value. Instead, take them with a grain of salt. If you use them, use them carefully, sparingly, and at the start of your research. So, do not use them as a deciding factor in your decisions!
If you are not sure how to come up with a decision, here are some guidelines:
1. Use multiple sources: There are so many available to the public. Use them all and combine the knowledge into a comprehensive picture of the law schools you want to apply to.
2. Use public perception to your benefit: Before choosing a law school, consider where you want to work after your graduation. Investigate which law schools those firms/companies consider the best! Fashioning your education and approach to fit in with your future employer makes more sense than going by impersonal rankings.
3. Use your knowledge of the law schools: Do not make decisions solely on numbers. You are looking for the best fit. Choose law schools on what you know they can offer you above and beyond numbers! A school’s rank does not necessarily indicate it fits with your goals, ambitions, and aspirations.
4. Use your location: If you plan to work in a specific city, choosing a law school in that vicinity makes sense. Not just financially, but also because companies and firms have historically employed a higher percentage of graduates of local law schools. Rankings are not everything; location can sometimes trump the rankings card.
There can be no denying that rankings have their place in the law school admissions and application process. However, one needs to be careful of turning them into the keystone of their application decisions!
