The Myth of Being the Best: What does #1 really mean for Vet Schools? (#324)

Graduation season is upon us. Across campuses and live streams around the world, proud deans will take the podium, look out at rows of robed graduates and their beaming families, and proclaim, without hesitation, that their institution is the number one veterinary school in the world.

It’s a phrase that’s almost ceremonial at this time of year, rolled out like confetti.

But as those words echo across auditoriums, it’s worth pausing to ask:

Who gets to say so?

What does it really mean?

Is there a more honest, inclusive way to acknowledge excellence?

Rankings: A Game of Metrics

University rankings are determined by organizations such as QS World University Rankings, U.S. News & World Report, and Times Higher Education. Each uses its own blend of criteria: research output, reputation surveys, employer feedback, faculty-student ratios, international diversity, and more.

None of these rankings is a perfect mirror of educational quality.

These rankings do not account for qualities that matter deeply to students and the profession: mentorship, hands-on training, student well-being, ethical leadership, or clinical preparedness.

In veterinary medicine, the differences between top programs are often marginal. More a matter of emphasis than superiority. Some schools excel in public health, others in equine surgery, exotic animal medicine, or comparative neuroscience.

To say one school is the number one in the world is not only simplistic, it is misleading.

The Problem with Superlatives

The phrase number one implies a fixed, enduring status. But academia doesn’t work that way. Faculty retire or move. Funding changes. Curricula evolve. A school that tops the list this year may drop to third or fifth the next. Not because it declined, but because the metrics or emphasis shifted.

There’s also the danger of hubris. Proclaiming oneself the best can alienate rather than inspire. It ignores the collaborative nature of veterinary science, which thrives on shared discoveries and international partnerships, not competition alone.

A More Honest Alternative

Instead of striving to be the best, perhaps we should aim to be one of the best.

Perhaps we should embrace growth, humility, and context.

One of the best veterinary schools in the world acknowledges excellence without dismissing the achievements of others. It suggests a commitment to quality, but also a willingness to share the stage. It invites comparison, but also, conversation, cooperation, and self-reflection.

Rick’s Commentary

Let’s be cautious with our claims, especially when it comes to educating the next generation of veterinarians. Words shape expectations. When we tell students they’re attending the number one school, we may saddle them with pressure or mislead them about what truly matters.

What matters most is not the rank, but the education.

Not the title, but the teaching.

Not the number, but the values we live by.

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