"The rankings played a bit of a role," said first-year law student Bruce W. Hickey, "But you take these things with a grain of salt. They're trying to make distinctions that you can't capture numerically in terms of overall assessments of an institution."

For second-year business student David O. Mann, the rankings were a "keystarting point for myself and most of the people Ispeak to."

But Mann said he believed a drop from numberone to number two is not overly important, as mostpeople already have their own opinions of whichschools are the best.

The magazine changed its ranking methods thisyear, according to Kathleen A. Crocker,communications manager for U.S. News and WorldReport.

Among other changes, the magazine adjusted themeasure of instructional expenditures in the lawschool category to account for cost of living.

It also amended its definition of total pay toinclude signing bonuses given to business schoolgraduates, and eliminated the practice ofmeasuring the number of recruiters to visit theschool.

Crocker said the recruiting figure has lostrelevance as an increasing number of businessschool graduates go on to form their own start-upcompanies.

Like his fellow administrators, Michael J.Chmura, news director of HLS, said he feels therankings fail to reflect all pertinent features ofa school.

According to Chmura, HLS has a "depth andbreadth" of offerings not made evident by therankings.

He cited the law school's size, student body,library and selection of special programs asfactors not recorded by the magazine.

Chmura said he anticipates no change in thesystem, and predicts that unless such a changearrives, Harvard will continue to fall behind itsNew Haven rival.

"I'm always confused by [the magazine's]placement figures," Chmura said. "But I say thatevery year--people are probably getting tired ofit by now.