Stanford University was ranked as the top college in the US, according to Forbes. Photograph: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images  As a soon-to-be college graduate, my school has given me countless opportunities to do a little bit of "career soul-searching". One of the most recent opportunities was to work with Forbes Media's social media and product development team on its annual Top College's list.  As a loyal Gettysburg College student, I was interested to see where we ranked compared to other schools, and what those top-ranking schools provided their students that gave them an edge. The more I learned, the more I felt each school's profile was a bit repetitive.  Each school has a diverse and supportive alumni and parent network. Each school has well-qualified faculty members who are each experts in their given fields. Each school provides unique experiences for their students to study abroad, gain internship experience, take advantage of state-of-the-art research equipment and, in every possible way, truly broaden their horizons.  I could go on, but you get the picture. Each school, through various distinctions and unique traditions, provides a one-of-a-kind experience that no student can get anywhere else, except at another institution of higher education.  This led me to question the overall value of a college ranking list. There are multiple lists published each year promising to reveal to prospective students and the larger world of higher education which school is truly "the best".  I see the appeal that this must hold. Prospective students (mainly, their parents) can quickly and easily determine which of their top-choice schools is better by comparison. Colleges and universities can measure themselves against their rivals. And a higher ranking usually means more applicants for the coming school year.  It's simple. It's easy. It boils down the entire college experience into a point scale system against which each institution can be ranked.  As with anything, once it is simplified, it no longer tells the whole story. Although it might take into consideration facts about tuition costs, financial aid and average salaries upon graduation, it ignores so much other valuable input. It would be like if you were given a SparkNotes summary of Les Miserables and then told that you had a thorough understanding of the entire novel. It wouldn't be accurate.  Colleges sell much more than just an education these days; they sell experiences. They provide students with countless resources and opportunities, all with the goal of shaping these students to be the best people that they can be.  How can any list take into account those experiences? It's seemingly impossible, especially since so much of the college experience is completely dependent on the individual students themselves.  About four years ago, when I was touring colleges and preparing to apply, I selected a short list of campuses to tour based on appearance. I wanted to spend my four years on an attractive campus, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. From there, I researched each school that caught my eye. Did they have majors I was interested in studying? Did they have clubs or other organizations I wanted to join? What exactly was their student life like? What types of services did they provide to their students? I looked into the factors that were important to me, again narrowing down the list of possible colleges.  At that point, I visited colleges and ultimately decided on Gettysburg because it just felt right. You know how everyone describes true love as that moment that you see someone and in your heart you just know? That's how it was for me when I visited Gettysburg. I just knew. And then I did something that every college counselor would advise against: I only applied to Gettysburg.  Now that I am doing a bit of "career-soul searching", I know I am incredibly prepared for whatever field I chose to go into. My confidence is directly derived from the experiences that my college has provided me, which (no offense, Gettysburg) are not unlike the experiences available at countless other institutions.  The only requirement for these opportunities is that the student takes the initiative and seeks them out. No college can just give away opportunities without the student being truly engaged first. This puts the entire worth of a college education on the dedication and drive of the students. If the students aren't dedicated, their education and college experience isn't worth a thing.  In the end, it's not about going to the best school in the country; it's about going to the best school for you. Each school has its own incredible distinctions that nearly guarantee an incredible four years that will ultimately prepare the student for life after graduation. It's hard to go wrong provided that you go where you feel inspired and take advantage of what your campus has to offer. Once you graduate, the institution or the degree doesn't matter nearly as much as the abilities of the person who earned it.  I suspect that Ross Perot, who attended community college, and the late Steve Jobs, who dropped out of college, but still found their way onto Forbes' Most Powerful People lists, would agree.
Kasey Varner: The worth of an institution of higher education amounts to what the student makes of it – regardless of what magazines say