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Type the phrase “graduate school rankings” into Google and you’ll get hundreds of results listing the best graduate schools in the country. But who determines those rankings? What criteria do they use? Is it the same criteria you would use?

The truth about university rankings is that they’re completely subjective. What might be the best to some people may not be what’s best for you. Rankings can provide a good starting point for your research, but unfortunately are based highly on peer name recognition and can be artfully skewed. You can use them to learn about new schools, find schools in your area, and see which schools have good programs, but you shouldn’t choose a graduate school based solely on its rank. (Check out this recent Poets & Quants article for some reasons why.)

Here are five other important things to take into consideration as you decide where to get your graduate degree.

 

What To Consider When Choosing A Graduate School

1. The Campus & Facilities

A graduate school’s campus is important to consider—you want to make sure you’ll be comfortable with the environment, as well as how the campus is laid out. It’s also important to determine the quality of their facilities and whether or not they’re up to date. This means libraries, computer labs, research facilities, and more. These locations are where you’ll spend a large portion of your time during grad school, so you’ll want to make sure they offer everything you need.

Another thing to consider is the surrounding area. Schools that are in or near large cities (for example, Bentley is right by Boston) can be great for several reasons. Grad school in itself is a great way to build a professional network, but being near a large business hub like Boston lets you use that network to take advantage of the many career opportunities in the city.

Obviously, the best way to learn about the campus and surrounding area is to visit. Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, visit and take tours of the schools that interest you the most, if possible.

 

2. The Support Of Their Staff

The friendliness of a school’s staff, and the amount of help they’re willing to give, is a good indicator of how you’ll be treated as a student there. A good way to find out how helpful they are is to come up with one or two questions to ask the admissions office. Send them an email with your questions, and see how long it takes them to get back to you, how well your questions are answered, and if they are answered in a friendly, professional manner.

Most graduate schools are happy to help a potential new student. If they aren’t willing and excited to help, that may not be the school for you.

3. The Reputation Of Their Faculty

Esteemed professors should be high on your list of priorities for a grad school—they’ll have control over what you learn and how. Find out what the professors in your interested field are currently working on, and see if you can meet with one in person or through email to ask some questions. To find out more about faculty, speak to any current or former students you know who went to the school, or go to a website like Rate My Professors to find out what other students think.

You’ll also want to look at the student to faculty ratio—there are benefits to both large and small class sizes, so decide which is ideal for you and find a school that aligns with your preference.

4. The Quality & Curriculum Of Their Programs

The quality of the school’s programs is perhaps the most important factor of all. Once you’ve decided on your area of study, you’ll want to choose a school with a program that aligns with your goals and gives you the skills needed to further your education and career.

Even though different schools may offer the same program, the curriculum within those programs can vary, so do some research around the particular things each school’s program focuses on. Again, speak with current or former students in your desired program and ask what they’ve learned and how they’ve been able to apply it.

There are also other factors to consider when it comes to the type of program the school offers, like full- vs. part-time programs, or online vs. on-campus programs. You know which options are best for you, so choose a school that offers what you need.

5. The Employment Rates

Chances are, you’re choosing to attend graduate school to help further your career. That means you want to attend a school with high post-graduation employment rates. A good graduate school will have a strong career services department that works to build and maintain relationships with students and employers, and has a fairly substantial list of companies their students go on to work for.   

Look at each school’s website to see if they offer this career information, or ask for it in an email to admissions. Good employment rates usually indicate a good graduate school.

 

It’s Not Just About The Rank

Just because a graduate school is highly ranked, doesn’t mean it’s the school for you. Only you can decide which school is the best—so don’t base your decision on something so subjective. Instead, use the above criteria to find a program that aligns with your goals and preferences, and offers the skills you need to advance in your career. If possible, visit the campus for yourself and talk to people you meet for a real evaluation.