How to effectively rank Ivy League schools?

I've begun considering colleges and Ivy League schools are obviously a big deal. I want to evaluate them based on my major, class size comfort, and location, rather than just off of their prestige. How do I effectively go about this? Looking for insights from people who have made similar choices.

Firstly, kudos to you for not using prestige as your single deciding factor here! Ranking Ivy League schools (or indeed any schools) should be personalized to your individual preferences, like you've noted here.

To start with evaluating them based on your major, consider the strength of the department and the course offerings in your chosen field. Look at the faculty, their research interests, how renowned they are in their field, and what stand-out opportunities (like unique classes, research initiatives, internships, and career support) are offered. Also consider how flexible the curriculum is, especially if you might be interested in double majoring or minoring in another field.

Now for class size comfort you'll want to look at the student-to-faculty ratios and the typical class size for your major. Do you prefer a seminar-style class or large lectures? Keep in mind, however, that the overall student-to-faculty ratio of a school might not always reflect the conditions within individual departments or majors. Sometime, introductory classes are larger while upper-level classes tend to be smaller.

In terms of location, consider the climate, cultural opportunities, proximity to home, and the rural/urban nature of the area. Perhaps you're someone who thrives in a bustling city or maybe you prefer a quieter campus with close-knit community. Additionally, some cities or areas might offer better opportunities for internships, part-time jobs, or networking in your field of interest.

Finally, consider "fit". Look at the mission and values of each school, the student body makeup, the atmosphere, traditions, and values to see if they align with your own. Visits, attending virtual events, talking to current students or alumni, or using resources like CollegeVine can help to get a sense of this and let you see if you can picture yourself being happy there.

Basically, creating your rankings is about knowing your priorities. There's no universally right or wrong way to do it as long as it reflects your values and preferences. For a more quantitative way to rank, you can even assign weights to these factors based on what is most important to you and score each school accordingly. But remember, these rankings should primarily be a personal tool to guide you, not a definitive measure of a school's worth or suitability.