How accurate are college rankings?

For Jia Zhenmei, choosing the right university for her 18-year-old daughter next summer is a critical decision - but pinning her hopes on China's college rankings could be a big mistake, according to experts.

"This could be a life-changing decision, so I can't afford to get it wrong," said the 42-year-old mother. "We don't know much about universities, we just want to get as much information as we can so I will definitely be buying some books to find out the university rankings."

She is not alone. Parents across China, as well as overseas students will feverishly check the national rankings to help them decide which institution to put their faith in.