How Much do Rankings Matter? (Math PhD)

[epsilon>0]

Hi all,

I'm trying to decide where to go for graduate school, and I'm wondering how much attention I should pay to the rankings. Is a top 10 significantly better than a top 20, 20 better than a 30, 30 better than 40 etc.

My 5 - 10 year plan is a good post doc(s), and to at least try to end up at a research university. How important is the school you attend?

How much do rankings matter for industry jobs?

Thanks.

 

[daric soldar]

First of all, what are you studying? How far do you plan to go (M.S., PhD, another professional degree such as an MBA, ME, etc.) ? I don't have all the answers, but more information would greatly help those that do :D

EDIT: Sorry; missed the information you put into the title. In that case, what are your career goals? If you want to be a professor at one of those top universities, a PhD from a top university will be necessary. Just want to teach high school math? Not so necessary.

 

[epsilon>0]

First of all, what are you studying? How far do you plan to go (M.S., PhD, another professional degree such as an MBA, ME, etc.) ? I don't have all the answers, but more information would greatly help those that do :D

EDIT: Sorry; missed the information you put into the title. In that case, what are your career goals? If you want to be a professor at one of those top universities, a PhD from a top university will be necessary. Just want to teach high school math? Not so necessary.

After a phd, I would like to get a good post doc, and then my goal would be to land a tenure track position at a top university (say an AMS group 1). To do this would I need a phd from a top 10, 20, 30 etc?