Graduate physics program rankings

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the availability and relevance of rankings for graduate physics programs. Participants explore sources for these rankings and consider factors beyond rankings that may influence program selection.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about online sources for graduate physics program rankings.
  • Another participant suggests that US News provides such rankings.
  • A third participant references a previous post for guidance on where to find rankings, noting that the data may be outdated.
  • Some participants propose that rankings should not be the sole focus and emphasize the importance of departmental strength in specific fields of study.
  • One participant expresses interest in rankings despite having multiple offers from programs with strong research opportunities, indicating that rankings are not a major deciding factor for them.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is no consensus on the importance of rankings, with some participants advocating for their relevance while others suggest a more nuanced approach that considers departmental strengths.

Contextual Notes

Participants have differing views on the significance of rankings versus departmental strengths, and there is an acknowledgment of the potential limitations of using outdated data.

arunma
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Anyone know of an online source that provides rankings for graduate physics programs?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
US News (a magazine in the US) does I think.
 
Take a look at the second post in this thread. The data is a couple of years old, but it should tell you where to look for the rankings. :)
 
In my opinion, one needs to look beyond these rankings [over all fields in physics] and consider something more relevant: the strength of various departments in your intended field of study.
 
robphy said:
In my opinion, one needs to look beyond these rankings [over all fields in physics] and consider something more relevant: the strength of various departments in your intended field of study.

Yes, I certainly agree. But I've gotten into a couple different graduate programs, both of which offer some excellent research opportunities, and I'm just interested in how they both rank. It won't be a major factor in which school I decide to attend.
 

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