University Rankings? Does it matter?

[seamoro]

Is achieveing a masters/Phd from a top university any different from achieving one from a lower ranked one!...the reason i ask cause i have the oportunity to go to the National university of Singapore(top 3 in asia) which is ranked highly to do a masters. i also have been accepeted to a university with a lesser ranking in Hong Kong. i was just wondering from u guys experience is there really any significance to where you acheive a qualifaction?

[tom jupille]

There is definitely an academic "pecking order". It's more important if you intend to go into academia versus industry.

My personal opinion is that the advisor is a more important factor than the university (i.e., it's better to get your degree from a top person at a second tier school than from a mediocre person at a first-tier school). That said, top schools tend to have top faculty.

[krickos]

I agree with Tom.

If you do not have the possibility to meet faculty staff and students face to face at a fair or similiar, get in touch with students via internet and ask around a bit. As department staff tends to shif around a bit periodiclly, the information is a bit like eggs, the frescher the better. (sharpest brains does not necessary mean good teaching/coaching)

Our oldest daughter starts at one of the world top 3 hotel managment universities early next year, and it was very rewarding that we got the chance to meet staff and both current and previous students before making our decision.

[Jade.Barker]

Don't forget to think about where you want to live.

My understanding is that Singapore is a great place to live. Both my husband and I have been huge recruitment ads in our trade magazines. (He works in computers).

My thinking is if they are desperately seeking Computer Programmers, and Chemists (and other scientists)... then it might be a place worth taking a good look at.

I keep hearing good things about creative solutions they are using for education, municipal water... everything. Plus it's supposed to have great food. I think if you get a chance you should try Sinapore.

Just my 2 cents,
let us know what you pick...

[Ron]

I agree with the sentiment above that the advisor is more important than the school. In some of the bigger groups at top universities you will rarely if ever see your advisor, instead you will be guided by a post-doc, not necessarily a bad thing, but not the reason you joined the group. Also, in some of the larger groups you will be assigned part of a larger on-going project, and the project is not "yours". Once again, this is what often happens in the real world, but not having the freedom to follow interesting results and change the project to fit the data instead of fitting data into a large model means you lose a major learning opportunity. One of the main reasons for getting a graduate degree is to learn how to define and manage a research project.

You can get a very good education at a school that is not ranked as one of the top universities. My oldest daughter is going to a university that is not ranked highly in most of its programs, but it is one of the best in the state in her chosen field.