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On some level, college rankings appeal to all of us. We want to go to the best college, choose the best major, get the best job, have the best life.... This is America, after all. I deserve the best. Don't you?

Anecdotal evidence aside, Duke University professor Adrian Bejan's physics theory can explain the popularity of college rankings and why these rankings persist.

Bejan is best known for his conception of constructal law, which arises from the natural tendency of flow systems to evolve over time into configurations that make their movements faster and easier. The mechanical engineering prof says that a similar flow, in which top-ranked colleges distribute ideas to others, works for the benefit of the so-called best colleges and is unlikely to change without radical shifts in higher ed.

The fact is, he claims, college rankings tend not to change very much from year to year because universities are part of a relatively rigid, predictable network.

According to the theory, the hierarchy of college rankings persists because that structure supports the easiest flow of ideas. Bejan says the hierarchy is here to stay, adding that the top-ranked colleges serve everyone well because they serve the simple flow of ideas.

One of his more interesting (and more understandable to the nonscientific mind) findings is that college rankings follow a hierarchical pattern that mirrors city size. The more highly ranked the university or the larger the city, the fewer competitors it has. The opposite is true, too: the lower the rank, the more candidates competing for their slots.

What does it all mean? We hedge our bets, invest in test preparation services, hire college consultants, and practically sell our souls to get into the schools that someone else has said are the good ones, when in fact, these "best colleges" are just the ones that are in the right city, or have the most popular faculty research, or have Ivy leaves growing up the walls.

Where are we getting our definition of success? If we're taking our cue from some black-and-white numbers that have been inked on the page since before time began (well, almost), maybe it's time for a second look. You may find that the top-ranked colleges are tops for things you don't care about, and schools lower down the pike have everything you've ever wanted.

And don't you deserve the best?


Robyn Tellefsen is a frequent contributor to The CollegeBound Network. Learn more about finding a school that's right for you.

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