Brian Rosenberg, president of Macalester College (MN), writes: I have been assured by a very knowing Administrator of my acquaintance that many colleges are willing to spend a good deal of money to improve their position in The Rankings. I suggest, therefore, that U.S. News determine the order of its lists not on the basis of some complex and mysterious formula, but simply on the basis of money: To the highest bidder would go the highest ranking. Colleges would be encouraged to bid actively against one another, creating a spirited and friendly tournament. Since Swarthmore will always be able to offer more than Susquehanna, and Harvard more than Howard, there would be little alteration at the top of The Rankings. And, since no one much cares about the order of colleges beyond the first few dozen, any shuffling in the lower tiers would be of little consequence.