for PHD: which is important: University RANKING OR Professor RESEARCH INTEREST?

Question

When choosing a university to apply for PHD..?

What kind of criteria should i take into concideration when applying for PHd?

Answer 1

I have listed the steps toward selecting appropriate PhD programs for you, and I have added some information about applying to the programs you choose.

The first step is the most important.

1) Identify scholars in your field whose work (METHOD and/or AREA of specialization) you admire. Google their names, and find out where they teach, and whether their university has a graduate program. If not, FIND OUT WHERE they did their graduate study. <--------- (This step is SO important.)

2) Speak to your current professors, especially those in your field of study whose METHODOLOGIES and/or AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION you find congenial. Ask them which grad programs they'd recommend for you.

3) Research graduate schools. Barron's publishes reference guides for every field, identifying every graduate program in that field. It is worth the investment to buy those guides, but if you simply cannot, the academic advising office at your university, or your university's library, should carry up-to-date versions of these guides. Alternatively, if you are a member of a scholarly association (if you hold a Master's degree, you may already be a member of such an organization), their website may contain an exhaustive list of all programs in that field.

3) Using the advice of your professors, your knowledge of where the top scholars in YOUR AREA OF INTEREST studied, and the appropriate Barron's guide (or scholarly association website), narrow down your options to five or so schools. Visit the websites of these schools, and find as much information as you can about their graduate programs in your area of study. Get all the answers to your basic questions here.

4) Contact the DIRECTORS OF GRADUATE STUDY (not the department chairs) at these schools. Email inquiries are best, but telephone calls are fine. Apprise them of your interest, and after introducing yourself and familiarizing them with your particular area of interest, ask if you might correspond with them and/or speak to them about some other questions you have. In your next email or telephone appointment, ask these questions:

Are campus visits encouraged? (Some programs can even help you defray the cost of your visit, but don't ask this question outright. The graduate director will tell you if funds are available.)
What are the particular resources this program has pertaining to your specific area of scholarly interest?
Do most students complete the program?
Of those that do, what do these students do afterwards?
Is there strong mentoring of students by the faculty in the program?
Are there language requirements?
Is the thesis (or portfolio, depending on the program) requirement integrated into the program? How?
Are most students who are accepted into the program supported? Does this support include full tuition remission? Is there a stipend?
Are stipends only given to teaching or research assistants?
Is there a separate method to apply for an assistantship?
Can non-funded students serve as teaching or research assistants?

If you follow these steps to the letter, you should be able to narrow down your choices to those four or five grad schools, and you should have all the information you need to begin application.

I promise that this is the best darn advice you could possibly receive.

Answer 2

There are professors that love what they do and make it extra exciting because of their devotion to the concern remember. some universities have correct rated courses because the professors over those courses have received awards and had articles revealed relating their body of work. besides the undeniable fact that, some professors do not income from the politics that flow on at large faculties and are content fabric to coach at faculties that are a lot less nicely prevalent merely so that they could concentration on doing what they love particularly of placating social elitists egos. for instance, one among my in demand professors that opened a international full of excitement and new annoying circumstances teaches the better lever sciences yet has a love for and particular devotion to Microbiology. Had I taken that concern lower than all people else i comprehend that my adventure would were very diverse. i have had professors that were very knowledgeable yet they couldn't practice or pull you into their adventure and that is the type of professor that you're searching for it type of feels. you do not merely opt to study by utilizing rote reminiscence and recitation. you want an adventure. do not seek for a school or college. stumble on a professor that delivers you with this kind of ecosystem wherein to study and their pastime will change into infectious and then you would nicely be content fabric.

Answer 3

Hi
I am a Professor of International Business.For PhD, the most important thing is to get an appropriate guide who has good expertise in the research area.If you are interested in a particular area of research, then look for competent Professors to be your guide first.If you have not yet selected your specific area of research, then you may choose a good university and get in touch with Professors in your subject.
All the Best
Shanath