University rankings are lists published by sources like the U.S. News that order all of the country’s universities based on how valuable the education they provide is. The U.S. News Rankings are one of the most highly regarded sources for students across the nation who want to determine which university they want to attend. Even so, should college decisions really be determined by someone else’s opinion?

University rankings are not completely useless as they do provide students with valuable information. These rankings accurately show data from universities, such as the average SAT scores and GPAs of admitted students and graduation rates. All good things have their limits, however. Unfortunately, these national rankings fall short when it comes to reporting the affordability of universities and staying consistent every year.

Amrit Ahluwalia, the director of strategy at  Modern Insights, states that a school’s ranking has no real connection with the quality of education. Instead of relying completely on these numbers, students should focus their attention to schedule flexibility, relevancy to employers, and the tutoring and coaching available to students.

In summary, while rankings are a good start for high school students just starting to look at colleges, they are not the only things to consider. There are many variables that are not included in the rankings, and a school’s prestige does not necessarily mean that it will be a good fit for you. Do not get distracted with shiny rankings, and focus on what you want and what you think the best university is for you.