Playboy party list has little effect

The University at Albany's party school ranking by Playboy U has little to no effect on students, according to administrators and students themselves.

Incoming freshmen said the No. 25 ranking doesn't effect their decision to attend this university, and outgoing seniors don't see the ranking affecting their job or internship search. Administrators are taken aback by the ranking, but think it holds no merit when it comes to the quality of education at UAlbany.

"If employers use this list then they have to admit they read Playboy," UAlbany spokesman Karl Luntta said. "Most good employers look at much better criteria to rank a degree."

The top 10 party schools on Playboy U's list were ranked on a point system on a series of categories, including a bikini index.

"We took the highest average temperature on campus in May + the number of days of sunshine + the number of tanning salons near campus + the number of cosmetic surgeons and multiplied that by the girl percentage from the guy-to-girl ratio, then added the number of nursing majors and our rank of their cheerleaders," the site said.

Other ranking factors, completed by Playboy U's research staff, included campus life, sports, brains and sex.

"We took a scientific approach to the ten best by developing algorithms to equally weigh all of the things that are crucial to the college experience," the site stated.

The other 15 schools were ranked solely on "the quality of Playboy U submitted nominations," according to the Web site. The nominations for 2010 party schools, which was how the 2009 bottom 15 were ranked, include questions like: do you consider your school to be a Party School? What is the best college party that you've personally attended? In your opinion, is there a high level of hot girls on your campus?

"The formulas are unclear to me. I don't know how they did the ranking," Luntta said. "Playboy ranking colleges just doesn't fit."

Vice President for Student Success Christine Bouchard said she was surprised by the list. "The fact that a magazine such as Playboy ranks institutions of higher education seems odd to me," she said. "It's kind of amazing to me that they would even be in the business of ranking institutions of higher education."

Here's what Playboy U said about why UAlbany made the list:

"While their academics and athletics leave much to be desired, Albany just barely makes the list on merit of their epic parties. If they hope to be here again the students better start going to class."

Only one of the comments left about the list mentioned UAlbany.

"SUNY Albany all the way! A lot of people are asking why - come party and you'll see!."

Incoming freshman Adam Feureisen already thought UAlbany was a party school before the Playboy U ranking. He said he will have to stay more focused on his work, though, "and in my opinion will mean that there will be more to do and I will have a good time."

Another incoming freshman, Ariel Rehr, is allergic to alcohol and said the party school reputation didn't affect her decision to come to UAlbany.

"My mom knows that there are plenty of people who party here but it balances out because a lot of students study hard too," she said. "Hopefully kids can find their own balance between the two."

Bouchard said she believes most incoming students do not take the ranking into account when deciding whether to attend UAlbany.

"I am pretty certain that there are not many high school students or parents referencing Playboy as a guide for picking a school," Bouchard said.

UAlbany sophomore Brenden Thomas was surprised at the No. 25 ranking. "Really, that's it?" she asked of the last place standing.

Some class of 2009 seniors don't think the ranking will hurt their future professional endeavors either.

Senior Ashley Cantor said that her graduate school was excited when they heard she was going to be a UAlbany alumna. "I don't think anyone cares," she said.

"I personally do not think that Playboy's rank of UAlbany affects the education I can get at this university," said Renata Daconti, who plans to attend Tulane for graduate school in the fall. "I believe that by taking challenging and diverse classes, along with participating in extracurricular activities determined the education I got."

Other schools on the list include Florida State, Michigan State, Ohio University, Lehigh University, Washington State, Arizona State and the University of Texas.

"The company we're in isn't bad," Luntta said. "There are all terrific universities."