<p>I am a computer science student applying to a PhD program. </p>
<p>I wanted to know what are the advantages and disadvantages of getting into the best Phd programs in the nation, say top 10, compared to lesser program, say top 30 to top 50?</p>
<p>With my stats i don't think that i would be able to get into the top programs; i also want to know whether it is still worth getting a PhD from lesser ranked schools in terms of getting research positions in industry and teaching positions at universities after getting my PhD.</p>
<p>If there aren't many CS specialists on this form a general answer would also be appreciated.</p>
<p>If you love CS get into the best program you can. Your PhD research, publications, work etc all will help you land industry or teaching positions. Granted, if you do not get into a top tier program it will take you longer to get where you want but no door is permanently shut just because your program is no 40 and not no 1.</p>
<p>In this, as in many other things, love and do what you will.</p>
<p>Prestige of program is somewhat less important in terms of industry. Who you worked with and what you did will be very significant. </p>
<p>In many academic fields, there is a trickle-down effect where PhDs from more prestigious programs tend to fill positions in slightly less prestigious programs and so forth. This is less true in high demand fields like CS, Finance, and many branches of engineering but may still be a factor to be aware of.</p>
<p>Talk to your professors. You may find that stats, as long as theye are above a certain point are less important than your research experiences and LORs.</p>
<p>Finally, read the first two pages of the "Grad School Admissions 101" thread.</p>
<ol>
<li> Carnegie Mellon University (PA) 5.0
Massachusetts Institute of Technology 5.0
Stanford University (CA) 5.0
University of California–Berkeley 5.0 </li>
<li> Cornell University (NY) 4.6
University of Illinois–Urbana-Champaign 4.6 </li>
<li> University of Washington 4.5 </li>
<li> Princeton University (NJ) 4.4 </li>
<li> University of Texas–Austin 4.3
University of Wisconsin–Madison 4.3 </li>
<li> California Institute of Technology 4.2
Georgia Institute of Technology 4.2 </li>
<li> University of California–San Diego 4.0
University of Maryland–College Park 4.0 </li>
<li> Harvard University (MA) 3.9
University of California–Los Angeles 3.9
University of Michigan–Ann Arbor 3.9 </li>
<li> Columbia University (NY) 3.8
Purdue University–West Lafayette (IN) 3.8
University of Pennsylvania 3.8
Yale University (CT) 3.8 </li>
<li> Brown University (RI) 3.7
Rice University (TX) 3.7
University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill 3.7 </li>
<li> Duke University (NC) 3.6
University of Massachusetts–Amherst 3.6
University of Southern California 3.6 </li>
<li> Johns Hopkins University (MD) 3.5 </li>
<li> New York University 3.4
Rutgers State University–New Brunswick (NJ) 3.4
University of California–Irvine 3.4
University of Virginia 3.4 </li>
<li> Pennsylvania State University–University Park 3.3 </li>
<li> Ohio State University 3.2
SUNY–Stony Brook 3.2
University of California–Santa Barbara 3.2
University of Chicago 3.2
University of Colorado–Boulder 3.2
University of Minnesota–Twin Cities 3.2 </li>
<li> Dartmouth College (NH) 3.1
Northwestern University (IL) 3.1
University of Arizona 3.1
University of California–Davis 3.1
University of Rochester (NY) 3.1
University of Utah 3.1
Washington University in St. Louis 3.1 </li>
<li> Indiana University–Bloomington 3.0
North Carolina State University 3.0
University of Florida 3.0
Virginia Tech 3.0 </li>
<li> Arizona State University 2.9
Michigan State University 2.9
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (NY) 2.9
Texas A&M University–College Station 2.9
University of Pittsburgh 2.9 </li>
<li> Boston University 2.8
University of California–Santa Cruz 2.8 </li>
<li> University at Buffalo–SUNY 2.7
University of Illinois–Chicago 2.7 </li>
<li> Colorado State University 2.6
George Mason University (VA) 2.6
Iowa State University 2.6
Oregon State University 2.6
University of California–Riverside 2.6
University of Notre Dame (IN) 2.6
University of Oregon 2.6 </li>
<li> Case Western Reserve University (OH) 2.5
Syracuse University (NY) 2.5
University of Iowa 2.5
University of New Mexico 2.5
Vanderbilt University (TN) 2.5 </li>
<li> Northeastern University (MA)** 2.5</li>
</ol>
<p>At the PhD level, the quality of research is far more important than the school where the work is pusued. Publication of papers in refereed journals carry a lot of weight. Presentations at conferences have two fold benefit - you get to showcase your work personally and you get to make contacts. Establish contact with key researchers in your chosen field and ensure that they will come to remember you for your contributions to the field. Also, many universities allow a PhD student to get a co-advisor from outside the institution. Getting a summer internship in industry while pursuing PhD is a good stepping stone for landing a good job at the end.</p>