What is FTR? | Forget The Rankings

Forget the Rankings isn’t just a card sort. It’s a whole new way to approach the college search that starts with who you are and what actually matters to you.

The 47-card deck helps students slow down, reflect, and name what they care about. It’s a two-part activity that shifts the focus from “Where can I get in?” to “What’s right for me?” That shift can change everything.

Each deck comes with a membership to our digital platform, where students can explore more than 375 curated college profiles matched to their top values. They’ll find tools like our college essay guide, interview prep, and real, values-based questions to ask admissions officers. The platform also includes timelines, testing advice, and support for students navigating financial aid, scholarships, athletics, and identity-based needs.

Forget the Rankings helps students step away from the scroll that so often leads to detachment, anxiety, and pressure. In its place, they step into real conversations about who they are becoming. It builds clarity, connection, and confidence so that when it’s time to make a decision, they’re not just guessing. They’re aligned.

This is your path.

We’re just here to help you walk it.

Let's Begin

Start with the Criteria Sort

You’ll begin with 16 cards that cover practical factors like size, location, and programs. Read the reflection questions on the back and sort them into piles based on how important each one is to you.

Discover What Matters with the Values Sort

Next comes the heart of the process. You’ll sort 26 value cards by how much they matter to you. This helps you get clear on what really drives your decisions.

Find Your College Matches

Focus on your top values. Scan the QR codes on the back of those cards to explore a curated list of colleges that reflect what matters to you. Each listing explains why the school fits that value and gives you key details about the campus.

Navigate the Process with Support

Use our full toolkit, including the Forget the Rankings Handbook and step-by-step guides for every part of the journey. From building your list to writing essays, our resources help you move forward with clarity and purpose.

Let's Get Started

Forget the Rankings is for the students, families, and educators who want the college process to feel less like a performance and more like a path to growth.

It’s for anyone craving honesty, connection,

and choices that reflect who they are,

not just what looks good on paper.

High School Students

You want to find a college where you can be yourself and actually thrive.
You’re tired of feeling like you have to stand out in all the right ways, check every box, or chase schools that don’t feel like you.
You might feel overwhelmed by the options, unsure what sets one college apart from another, or scared of making the wrong choice.
We’ll help you slow down, figure out what matters most to you, and build a path that fits.

Parents and Guardians

You want to support your child without adding more pressure.
You’re navigating a system that’s changed since you went through it, and it can feel confusing, expensive, and out of reach.
You care deeply and want to make sure your student ends up somewhere they’ll be happy, challenged, and safe.
We’re here to help you understand the landscape, discover great-fit schools, and reconnect with your teen along the way.

Educators (We See you, School Counselors and Teachers)

You care about your students and want them to make meaningful choices, not just impressive ones.
You’re stretched thin, juggling heavy caseloads and shifting admissions trends, all while trying to center student well-being.
You want tools that are practical, inclusive, and actually help students reflect on who they are and where they’ll grow.
We’ve built resources that work with your time and values, not against them.

Independent Admission Consultants

Who are looking for an innovative way to expand their students' mindsets around what makes a college a "good" one
Access curated questions to help students engage meaningfully with admission offices
Utilize value-sorting activities to create personalized college lists
Incorporate mental health considerations into the college search process
Seek ways to stand out from other consultants with unique methodologies

Transfer Students

Who find themselves searching for something different than their current college experience
Who feel like they're starting the stressful college search process all over again
Need to reassess their priorities after having actual college experience
Explore a wide range of colleges that might better suit their evolving needs
Access resources specific to the transfer application process

Hey Educators, Learn More Here!

Students & Families, Come this Way!

Order Here!

Ready to get Started?

Join the Movmeent

At Forget the Rankings, we build our college lists using over 25 years of combined experience in college counseling, admissions, and college access across public schools, private schools, and nonprofit organizations. Our curated lists reflect deep expertise and are grounded in values. Colleges do not pay to be featured.

We draw from years of recommending schools to students and families, insights from campus visits, participation in counselor advisory boards, and ongoing conversations with admission professionals. Our process also includes regular attendance at college admission events and national conferences, along with in-depth research on every school we feature.

To be included in a value-based list, a college must show strong evidence of that value in its academics, student life, and campus culture. Each listing on our site explains how the value shows up on campus and includes links to real-world examples.

Take Back the Process Now!

Learn More about FTR in Schools

Learn More about FTR for Students & Families

Learn about the FTR Founders

When you join Forget the Rankings, you get access to a values-driven platform built to support every step of the college journey. Whether you're a student, parent, or educator, our tools are designed to help shift the focus from stress and status to clarity, purpose, and personal fit.

Membership includes access to our curated list of over 375 colleges, matched to the values and criteria that matter most to you. You’ll also get the Forget the Rankings Handbook, along with timelines, checklists, and guides on testing, financial aid, scholarships, and recommendation letters. We break down test-optional policies, NCAA and NAIA rules, and other important details that can often feel overwhelming.

You’ll find practical tools for writing essays, preparing for interviews, and asking real, values-based questions in conversations with admissions officers. We also offer support for students exploring gap years, transfer options, study abroad or away programs, and for those navigating college with disabilities or underrepresented identities.

For educators, our platform includes more than college admissions. It also features Pathways Forward, a growing library of resources that help students explore direct-to-career programs, trade and technical training, and other meaningful post-high school options through the lens of personal values and growth.

Forget the Rankings is about more than getting in. It’s about helping students move forward with purpose, grounded in who they are and what matters most.

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