1. Create Account
  2. Login
StudyUSA
Match Me
  • Create Account
  • Login
  • School Search
  • Resources
    • All Resources
    • Articles
    • Student Voices
    • Videos
    • Magazines
    • Podcasts
  • Services
    • All Services
    • Accommodation
    • Support
    • Career
    • Financial
    • Testing
    • Other
  • Apply
  • Chat

University Rankings: A Student Perspective and Experience

University Rankings: A Student Perspective and Experience

Aug 25, 2020

By Smit Pujara                         

One of the first things that comes to everyone’s mind while choosing U.S. universities is “Ranking.” Rankings can give you a basic idea about universities, but are these rankings really the main thing to keep in mind while choosing universities? The answer is no. The ranking of a school is not the only thing that describes the value of a university. There are a lot of different factors to consider while choosing a university. Some of these are facts like the size of the university, the average size of classes, the ratings of the professors. Other important factors include the experience you will have as a student, such as the sense of community on campus, ways to get involved, and the locality of the campus.

I am currently studying at SUNY Plattsburgh. I first learned about this university from the Internet. At first, I looked at the ranking of the university, as I used to think that ranking really matters. After doing more research and comparing some highly ranked universities with some with lower rankings, I found that the biggest difference between the highly ranked universities and the others is that they just charge higher fees. Most of them offer a normal, quality education, which you can easily get at a lower price in other colleges. In SUNY Plattsburgh, I found out that the professors are really helpful to all of our international students. A lot of my professors have an international background, so they can understand international students better.

Another thing to keep in mind while looking for universities is the community and the locality. Community really matters a lot. As an international student abroad, you need to have a good network of friends around you since you will be living very far away from family. However, if you find a good community on a U.S. campus, they ultimately become your family in the U.S. One more important consideration is the size of your classes. It is really more comfortable and effective to study in a medium sized class rather than a big class. It is easier to raise your voice and ask questions when there are fewer students in each class. This way you learn communication skills more easily, as you will actually be speaking in the class as you learn. In a bigger class, you lack that sense of comfort.

Getting leadership experiences outside of class on a U.S. campus is very important. Try to see what kind of leadership opportunities are available on the campus. A U.S. education really focuses on practical knowledge. Many U.S. campuses are designed in a way that students can learn, explore their knowledge and they can get a lot of diverse opinions both inside and outside of the classroom. Leadership opportunities include some cultural clubs, educational clubs, resident assistant positions, and several other positions. These activities and jobs can help you develop your personality and even your resume.

Finally, I want to stress that rankings do play a role in selecting universities, but blindly relying on those rankings will stop you from considering some excellent schools available for you. You may start your research with rankings, but you should also look for the above mentioned factors while selecting universities.

Follow us:
Written by

Smit Pujara 

Get matched to the best program for you

Let us know what you're looking for so we can find the best school for you.

Get matched
Call to action background image. Decorative.

Useful Articles

Main image for the article titled How Do I Get a Physical Therapy Degree in the USA?
How Do I Get a Physical Therapy Degree in the USA?
Main image for the article titled How Do I Get a Design Degree in the USA?
How Do I Get a Design Degree in the USA?
Main image for the article titled Chico State Helps Rebuild Communities
Chico State Helps Rebuild Communities
Main image for the article titled American Slang Words You Need to Know in 2023
American Slang Words You Need to Know in 2023
Read more

Check Out These Schools

State University of New York, Plattsburgh

State University of New York, Plattsburgh

$10,000 — $15,000 Year

Bachelor Degree Certificate/Short Term Masters
Contact
California State University, Monterey Bay

California State University, Monterey Bay

$25,000—$30,000 Year

Bachelor Degree Certificate/Short Term Summer
Contact

Featured Programs

Shoreline Community College

Typical cost per Quarter: $1,000—$5,000

Bachelor Degree Secondary/Boarding Certificate/Short Term
Learn More

Northwest Missouri State University

Typical cost per Semester: $15,000—$20,000

Bachelor Degree Masters Certificate/Short Term
Learn More

Lycoming College

Typical cost per Year: $25,000—$30,000

Bachelor Degree
Learn More

Related Stories

Kayode Adiatu, from Nigeria, is majoring in Urban Planning at Minnesota State University Mankato

Main image for the article titled Kayode Adiatu, from Nigeria, is majoring in Urban Planning at Minnesota State University Mankato
Ana from Brazil is a senior majoring in Political Science at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

McNeese State University garden
My Hai Chung from Vietnam: Majoring in Nursing and Minoring in Music at State University of New York at Plattsburgh

Main image for the article titled My Hai Chung from Vietnam: Majoring in Nursing and Minoring in Music at State University of New York at Plattsburgh
Victor Diaz from Venezuela is a Sophomore Majoring in Information Technology at Bay State College

Main image for the article titled Victor Diaz from Venezuela is a Sophomore Majoring in Information Technology at Bay State College

Start your U.S. adventure with Study in the USA

What's your dream? We can guide, advise, and connect you with your perfect U.S. school. We can also help you with the application process.
More about us
Partner Services

Learn About U.S. education financing, housing, and more

Partner service logo for A world of greater possibility.

A world of greater possibility.

Follow your dreams with the TOEFL iBT® test, which has helped millions of students study abroad.

Read more
Partner service logo for A cheaper, faster way to send money abroad

A cheaper, faster way to send money abroad

Join over 6 million people and businesses who get a better deal when they send money with the real exchange rate.

Read more
Partner service logo for There’s a business school for everyone. Meet yours at a free upcoming event!

There’s a business school for everyone. Meet yours at a free upcoming...

Ready to make your MBA dreams a reality? Register now for a virtual or in-person event with The MBA Tour! Don’t miss your chance to speak directly with leading business schools, such as Harvard University, Boston University, Columbia University, UC...

Read more

Testimonials

Quotation mark.

Study in the USA provides me with information about new colleges. My plan is to transfer, so it gives me more options for choosing my next college.

Zepei Zang China

I applied to UNT (University of North Texas). I got in and I'm set to start my second semester now in January 2019. Thanks for all your help!

Inger Mariama Marong Norway

It cleared many questions that I had prior and during my time here in the United States. The website was very helpful and detailed for things that we have no idea about and have to learn as we go.

Amadeu Guimaraes Brazil

Resources

Learn about American culture and education direct from our experts at Study in the USA. Read more

Achieving Your Goal
Admissions and Placement Testing
Beyond the Basics
Education System in the USA
Financing Your U.S. Education
Frequently Asked Questions
Life in the USA
Resources
Student Experiences
For students age 10-18
Study in Canada
Podcasts
Magazines
Videos
Student Voices
Ask StudyUSA.com

Subscribe to get the latest from Study in the USA

You can unsubscribe at any time.


StudyUSA
Explore

  • School Search
  • Resources
  •   Articles
  •   Student Voices
  •   Videos
  •   Magazines
  • Partner Services
  •   Accommodation
  •   Career
  •   Financial
  •   Other
  •   Support
  •   Testing
  • Apply
  • Chat
Information

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Course Index
  • Article Index
  • Create account
  • Sign in
  • For Educators & Institutions
Match Me
  • English
    العربيـة English Español Français Bahasa Indonesia 日本語 한국어 Português Русский ภาษาไทย Türkçe Tiếng Việt 简体中文 繁體中文

  • Privacy & Policy
  • /
  • Terms

Study in the USA logo

© 2023 Study in the USA. All Rights Reserved.

Global Study logo
A member of the Global Study network

When you visit or interact with our sites, services or tools, we or our authorised service providers may use cookies for storing information to help provide you with a better, faster and safer experience and for marketing purposes.