<p>Unfortunately, I didn't get into my top choice schools so it looks like my decision will come down to two PhD programs, one ranked by USNews at 10 and the other at 19. Does the rank really matter or should I just choose the school that has the best research I'm interested in pursuing?</p>
<p>I would go with the latter. A top 20 school with the best research your interested can't get any better.</p>
<p>The school you get your degree from is only a small portion of the overall quality of your graduate education. You should try and go where ever you will be able to work with the best possible advisor based on your research interests. The school you got your degree from doesn't dictate where you will go after you leave. It is your advisor who will be your lifeline to the professional world. I recently talked to a professor about how to weigh different things by importance, he said, "On a scale of 1 to 10, the prestige of the school is about a 4 or 5, but the prestige of your advisor is about a 8 or 9."</p>
<p>what if the potential advisor is already in his 70s. He's not thinking about retiring anytime soon, but fate might have a different plan...</p>
<p>Like Smalley? I know he still has a "research group" at Rice even though he has passed on.</p>
<p>Picking an old advisor is a risk one might have to take, but it's no riskier than picking an advisor that might not get tenure.</p>
<p>So what's the better choice in this scenario:
1. One of the leaders in the field, but is on his last leg. Might expire before I finish my degree or soon after as to become a noninfluence before I enter the job market.</p>
<ol>
<li> Less well-known professor but who's going to be around the field for a while.</li>
</ol>
<p>..or picking an advisor that takes a position elsewhere and moves half way through one's PhD program.</p>
<p>Just to clarify, this is regarding a biomedical engineering Ph.D. at UMichigan vs Columbia.</p>
<p>I think if you have a choice between one of the top 3 and a school that's ranked around #19, then go to the top 3. but i don't think #10 and 19 makes that much of a difference. It's mainly what research you do.</p>
<p>If:
1. Your goal is clearly a Ph.D.
2. #19 school clearly has one of the best program of your interest</p>
<p>I would go to the #19 school as opposed to a top 3 school.</p>
<p>But.. of course, it would be important for YOU to get involved with the faculty members of your interest... and plan ahead some courses you are interested to take.</p>
<p>I chose a school ranked around 13th in its field over one ranked second for my adviser, and after a year I still have no doubts that I made the right decision.</p>
<p>I meant to say that ranking doesn't matter if you know exactly what you want. If you don't, then consider a place with overall good ranking.</p>