aevertts

It's probably best to use rankings only when getting a rough idea of what schools you'd like to apply to. A better idea is of course to ask professors/friends/colleagues about the schools they deem best in your academic area. If you've been lucky enough to visit the schools you're considering, the "quality" of the program should be apparent after the visit. Use that judgment of quality rather than some poorly designed rankings from US news. The rest of the factors in choosing a program - research interests, placement, school location - can all be considered along side.