Insider tips for the week of May 28, 2018

15 things to know about college rankings – Lynn O’Shaughnessy does a nice job of explaining “how the sausage is made” with the popular US News college rankings, and it isn’t pretty. A must-read if you are at all using rankings in your search, and remember there is no such thing as a best ranked college — only a best fit.

Student Loans from A to Z – Trying to figure out the borrowing side of college? Road2College.com has a nice summary of student loans and pros and cons of each type. One important message: Students should always max out federal loans before looking into private loans, but you must fill out the FAFSA to qualify for federal loans!

5 reasons why your college major doesn’t matter – Ethan Sawyer from collegeessayguy.com writes an excellent, research-based piece on why it doesn’t really matter what you major in. Key takeaways: Majors don’t necessarily lead to careers, your job may not even exist yet, and medical and law schools don’t care what you major in. Worth the read.

3 ways to factor financial considerations into your college selection process – CNBC’s Anne Nova cites a survey that found only 7.5 percent of families selected a school because it was affordable and shares 3 ways you can give affordability more attention.