Maclean's marks 20th anniversary of popular and successful universities ranking issue

Maclean's magazine is launching its 20th annual edition of the much-talked-about university rankings. The issue is on newsstands starting tomorrow (November 11). To mark the occasion, the magazine announced a $20,000 scholarship that students from Grade 12 to 3rd year university can enter to win (OK, it's not a scholarship, so much as a contest.)

In keeping with the provocative editorial of the weekly magazine, this special  includes a feature that probes students' perceptions of "too Asian" enrollment in hard-to-get-into programs. There's also an interview with Senator Linda Frum asking what she got wrong, and right, in her 1987 guide to Canadian universities. And, as usual, there are rankings of 49 universities, using stats and judgement calls that will give academics, administrators, parents and students something to chew on

Top school in the medical doctoral category is McGill university, which has held top spot for 6 years now, this year followed by University of Toronto and the University of British Columbia. In a demotion sure to cause some academic gnashing of teeth, Queen's University has slipped to fifth place from third. (Inevitably, when this and other rankings are done, the slipees denounce the methodology; when they advance in the standings, they put out a press release.)

In the comprehensive category, based on a broad range of research, undergraduate and graduate teaching, as well as professional schooling, Simon Fraser University came first, University of Victoria second and the University of Waterloo third. No change from last year.

Among primarily undergraduate universities, Mount Allison University maintained its top spot for the fourth year, followed by Acadia University and the University of Northern B.C.