St. John’s University Featured in New 2008 Edition of The Princeton Review Guide: "Best 366 Colleges"

August 21, 2007

St. John’s University offers students an outstanding undergraduate education, according to The Princeton Review.  The New York-based education services company features the University in the new 2008 edition of its annual book, "Best 366 Colleges" (Random House / Princeton Review, August 21, 2007).  Only about 15% of the four-year colleges in America and two Canadian colleges were chosen for the book.  It has two-page profiles of the schools and student survey-based ranking lists of top 20 colleges in more than 60 categories.  The Princeton Review also posts the book's annual ranking lists on its website: www.PrincetonReview.com at which users can read FAQs about the book, rankings and survey.    

Says Robert Franek, Princeton Review's V.P., Publishing, "We chose schools for this book primarily for their outstanding academics.  We evaluated them based on institutional data we collect about the schools, feedback from students attending them, and our visits to schools over the years.  We also consider the opinions of independent college counselors, students, and parents we hear from year-long.  Finally, we work to have a wide representation of colleges in the book by region, size, selectivity and character."

In its profile on St. John’s University, The Princeton Review describes the school as "moving inexorably forward without forgetting its history and traditions."  The profile also quotes extensively St. John’s University students who were surveyed for the book by The Princeton Review. Among their candid comments on the college they credit the school’s administration for being committed to constantly “updating the university’s facilities, offering brand-new laptops to all incoming freshman while implementing wireless technology throughout its campuses, and offering amazing academic opportunities with the implementation of the Institute for Writing Studies and the Discover The World study abroad program."

The ranking lists in the 2008 edition of "Best 366 Colleges" are based on The Princeton Review's survey of 120,000 students (about 325 per campus on average) attending the 366 colleges in the book.  A college's appearance on these lists is attributable to a high consensus among its surveyed students about the subject.  The 80-question survey asked students to rate their schools on several topics and report on their campus experiences at them.  Ranking lists report the top 20 schools in categories that range from best professors, administration, and campus food to lists based on student body political leanings, race/class relations, sports interests, and other aspects of campus life.  The Princeton Review does not rank the colleges in the book 1 to 366 in any single category, nor do the rankings reflect The Princeton Review's opinion of the schools. 
 
St. John’s University is highlighted on the following ranking list in the 2008 edition of the book:  #15 – Diverse Student Population.
 
In a "Survey Says. . ." sidebar in the book's profile on St. John’s University, The Princeton Review lists topics that St. John’s University students surveyed for the book were in agreement about. The list includes: "small classes, great computer facilities, diverse student types on campus and great athletic facilities.”
 
"Best 366 Colleges" is one of nearly 200 Princeton Review books published by Random House.  Over the years, various ranking lists in the book have been favorably referenced by President Bill Clinton and Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings and praised by USA Today as "a public service."  The Princeton Review book line also includes "Best Northeastern Colleges: 222 Select Schools to Consider" and "The Complete Book of Colleges," both of which are also now out in 2008 editions.  The Princeton Review (www.PrincetonReview.com) is a New York-based company known for its test preparation, education, and college admission services.  It is not affiliated with Princeton University and it is not a magazine.
 
For more information involving St. John’s University contact Dominic Scianna, Director of Media Relations at (718) 990-6185 or e-mail inquiries to sciannad@stjohns.edu. Media Contact for Princeton Review Books: Jeanne Krier, 212-539-1350, Jeanne@Jeannekrier.com.