Does graduate school ranking mean a lot?

Graduate School
1

<p>Hi, I am planning to study counseling psychology for my masters(M.Ed).</p>

<p>I was wondering if the grad school ranking mean a lot.</p>

<p>This is the counselling psychology ranking I found in the internet.</p>

<li>University of Maryland – College Park </li>
<li>University of Florida </li>
<li>University of Minnesota – Twin Cities</li>
<li>Ohio State University – Columbus </li>
<li>University of Georgia</li>
<li>University of Wisconsin – Madison </li>
<li>University of Illinois – Urbana - Champaign </li>
<li>Indiana University – Bloomington </li>
<li>University of Missouri – Columbia </li>
<li>Penn State University – University Park </li>
<li>University of Iowa </li>
<li>University of Virginia (Curry) </li>
<li>University of North Carolina – Greensboro </li>
<li>Michigan State University </li>
<li>Arizona State University – Main Campus </li>
<li>Florida State University </li>
<li>Teachers College, Columbia University (NY) </li>
<li>University of Kansas </li>
<li>University of North Texas </li>
<li>George Washington University (DC) </li>
<li>University of Texas – Austin </li>
</ol>

<p>Does ranking like this reflect the quality and the reputation of the grad program?</p>

<p>I wanted to go to Teacher’s College @ Columbia University…</p>

<p>Although the “Ivy-Columbia” stands as #2 for the overall ranking in education grad program, the ranking for counseling psychology program is quite low here.</p>

<p>I have heard that the reputation and quality of grad school is much more important compare to undergrad.</p>

<p>Also I heard that for grad programs, many not so-prestigious schools have very good programs in specific fields.</p>

<p>For example, I haven’t really heard about schools such as University of Maryland, University of Florida, etc. Yet, these schools are the top schools in in the counseling psychology program according to the ranking.</p>

<p>Anyway, I was wondering if these rankings mean a lot. If so, would it be not wise to go to Teacher’s college @ Columbia instead of the schools listed on the top?</p>

<p>Thank you</p>

2

<p>teachers college is pretty awful</p>

3

<p>in what ways specifically?</p>

<p>Would it better to go to University of Toronto (my advisor told me that it has one of the best counseling psychology program in Canada) rather than any schools listed in the ranking list?</p>

<p>I am a Canadian so the tuition fee would be much lower for Canadian Universities</p>

4

<p>IntotheBlue - Don't ever pay much attention to an unqualified comment like the one you just received. If someone has such an extreme opinion without actually elaborating on it, they're likely just BSing you.</p>

<p>I don't know how Teachers College is, but I am a bit familiar with the whole grad school admissions process, and I can give you my take on things (with a grain of salt, since I'm not in your field).</p>

<p>In general, there's a bit of a correlation between rankings of schools and the quality of education you'll get there, but rankings aren't everything. For mathematics programs, to which I applied, it seemed pretty apparent that the top 5-10 schools were really the best programs in the country, and they were recognized as such. Then the next 30-40 programs were all still pretty damn good schools. And then below that, there were a lot of fine schools, some mediocre ones, and then some bad ones.</p>

<p>Of course it would be wonderful to get into a top-5 or top-10 program, but if you don't, then it's certainly not the end of the world, and it probably won't mean you'll be at an "awful" school. And additionally, sometimes there's some pretty amazing professors working in your subspecialty at schools that aren't even in the top 50, but it would still be great to work with them.</p>

<p>So of course nothing I'm going to say is going to get you to stop looking at the ratings, as I don't even think that's necessary. But it is a good idea to step back and not pick Michigan State over Florida State simply because it's ranked two places better. There's much more that should be going into your decision.</p>

5

<p>I would actually advise that if you're going to start looking at rankings, you should look at more than one. Different sources value schools differently, and you don't want to have only looked at one ranking only to find out that that particular ranking is wildly different than the rest.</p>

<p>Just my 2cents.</p>

6

<p>the masters programs at TC are very unorganized, unchallenging, and diploma factories. the phd programs are slightly better.
take a look at the psych forums on studentdoctors.forums.net</p>

7

<p>the rankings in the OP are most likely for phd programs. when you are looking at psych phd programs, the only thing you should be worrying about is the particular professor you want to work with. true story.</p>

8

<p>Thank you for the replies. </p>

<p>Now I am unsure if it's worth the money to go the Teacher's College @ Columbia (Or other well known prestigious school such as Harvard, UPENN,etc)</p>

<p>I was looking for rankings since I don't really have good sources relating to counseling psychology programs in the States.</p>

<p>It seems like the advisor and profs don't really know in-depth information about the program in the states also.</p>

<p>They seem to think that the counseling program in prestigious schools are good since the schools themselves already have excellent reputation.</p>

<p>In fact, for places like Harvard and Teacher's College @ Columbia, they are ranked as #1 and #2 in the Educaton Graduate program.</p>

<p>However, when I look at the more specific ranking-the counseling program within Education Graduate program, those schools are ranked quite low...
and I have heard that not every program in Harvard or Columbia is good</p>

<p>Unfortunately, US news is the only source I can find about the counseling program ranking...and I think they only provide those 20 schools.
TC is ranked in 17 among 20 and Harvard didn't even make to the list.</p>

<p>Unlike the math programs, it seems like there isn't a list below the "top 20".
I assume it is because there aren't as many counseling program compared to other programs.</p>

<p>Anyway, I was thinking of applying to TC now since their deadline is April. They don't require GRE for master's counseling psychology and there is no required minimum work experience. </p>

<p>University of Toronto is another school I want to go, and I know they have good program in Canada, but I have to wait until Fall 2007 since I didn't apply before the deadline due to the lack of volunteering/work experience</p>

<p>Currently I am in my 4th year..I was expecting to stay one more yr in school while I get more volunteering experiences. In this case I was also thinking of taking GRE in this summer.</p>

<p>If I were assured that TC has a good counseling program, then I would like to start the master's degree there in Fall 2007 despite the cost of the money.</p>

<p>However, as I have mentioned, now I am not really sure if TC (or other prestigious schools such as Harvard) has good counseling psychology program that is worth the expansive tuition compared to UofT.</p>

9

<p>harvard is a perfect example. while overall its ranked high for psychology, their clinical program (the most popular area for psychology) is not even accredited, and have only 2 full time professors. you really have to do your research before investing in a graduate education.</p>

10

<p>I am not really thinking of getting a Ph.D degree since I want to become a school counselor/guidance counselor or an academic advisor.</p>

<p>I think the ranking listed above is from the US news.</p>

<p>Can you tell me some good master's program in counseling psychology?(I would like to go to the schools that have both good overall reputation and good program if possible)</p>

<p>Oh and the website(studentdoctors.forums.net) you have provided is under construction</p>

11

<p>um - if u plan on returning to canada, then u won't be doing wrong by going to U of T. in canada, if UT is the standard, then that's all u need. i don't think a columbia or even harvard degree will put u ahead when applying to jobs in canada.</p>

12

<p>sorry, wrong link:</p>

<p>forums.studentdoctor.net</p>