Well, I have finally found a grad school. Turns out it had a lot less to
do with want, than need. I had relatively few options of January entry, much
less any financial support. So, I'm now at U. of Cincinnati.
The change from a semester system to a quarter system takes some getting
used to, as well as all the new faculty and campus layout. Yet, after all that,
things are pretty much the same: Financial Aid Dept is still your enemy,
administration will always dominate competence, and computer labs will always
malfunction when you need them most.
I think there are really only a few differences among so called "good"
schools and the rest: reputation (which may be undeserved), campus size (which
may only mean you'll be more annoyed), and more departmental programs.
The last
can actually be significant if the overall college (business, engineering, etc)
has more departments to offer and/or a broader range of sub-disciplines than
your previous university. This can definitely help one get more exposure to
intricate areas that may be more tied to a specific industry. This is the case
for me so far at UC. The last important difference, of course is money. Who has
it, and who plans on having it. Research grants are the sole of most places
(for all disciplines), and this alone may be what defines a "good" college.
Faculty is thought to play a role, but odd situations can arise. What happens
when a PhD graduate of a "good" school starts teaching at a "mediocore" school?
Is the lower raised, or the faculty's reputation lowered?
Another nitpicky thing to keep in mind when applying is application
materials. Many schools have all these forms and letters to send, and some even
supply a little postcard they can return to you if something is missing. Do not
trust them, the postcard, or anything else. After a month, start calling or
emailing to find out if they have indeed received all of your materials. I can
tell you that some pretty well thought of schools are lacking in this area.
Perhaps they don't care, or are simply unable to track this. I don't know, and
I don't care, just find out. Do not assume they will let you know one way or
the other.
So, my advice is look for specific areas of interest and who has the money
. This is unfortunate really, but depending on your future goals, may be the
only thing that separates you from another candidate.
Clayton Berry, 1996.