“How strong is this program’s reputation?” is one of the first questions that prospective students ask when they are deciding where to apply for graduate school. New rankings of doctoral programs at PhDs.org can help answer that question.
PhDs.org’s rankings use data from a new National Research Council (NRC) study that evaluated more than 5,000 US doctoral programs. “The academic community has been waiting eagerly for this data,” says Geoff Davis of PhDs.org, “and we are pleased to offer online resources that use the NRC’s new data to help students pick graduate schools that best fit their unique needs. Programs earn their public reputations in many ways — some of which are more relevant to students than others.
The NRC study evaluates programs on the basis of (1) research activity, (2) student support and outcomes, (3) diversity of the academic environment, and (4) other characteristics such as interdisciplinary activity. Data in the most recent study were compiled from thousands of graduate programs, updating a prior NRC study from 1995.
“Every graduate student is different,” says PhDs.org founder Geoff Davis, a former Dartmouth professor who earned his own Ph.D. in mathematics from New York University. “Some students plan to become professors, while others want to work in industry or government. Some students are qualified for admission to the most competitive programs while others are a better match for strong programs that may not have an international reputation. But what all prospective students need is information — and that is what provide at PhDs.org.”
With PhDs.org’s Graduate School Guide(sm), prospective students can rank graduate programs according to the qualities that matter most to them, such as job placements after graduation, time required to earn a doctorate, or the percentage of women in the program. PhDs.org’s customized rankings use comprehensive data from the U.S. National Science Foundation, the National Center For Education Statistics, and the National Research Council.
The Graduate School Guide(sm) includes detailed information on more than 18,000 programs at nearly 2,000 U.S. universities.
About PhDs.org and the Grad School Guide(sm)
PhDs.org is a comprehensive web resource for graduate students, prospective graduate students, and recent graduates of doctoral programs. Offerings at PhDs.org include the Grad School Guide(sm), job listings for PhDs, and an extensive collection of articles and advice on the graduate school and careers for PhDs.
Dr. Geoff Davis created PhDs.org while a professor of mathematics at Dartmouth College. His current research is focused on graduate education and career options for students entering and emerging from Ph.D. programs. In 2005, Dr. Davis completed the most comprehensive survey to date of scientists in postdoctoral training in the US.
CONTACT:
Geoff Davis, PhD
(415) 823-2542
gdavis@phds.org
www.phds.org