hi! im gonna let other people speak about how it compares. I don’t wanna say anything incorrect. also, gonna try not and doxx myself so im not going to explain how i know udel so well (im also applying to PhDs this year hi)
the faculty are amazing — so kind! one of the professors I know very well publishes regularly in collaboration with faculty from MIT and Harvard. also, yes you’re very right in terms of alumni. professors often exclaim about the number of udel alums in academia or institutions. it’s actually a lottttt more than I ever thought. everyone that I encounter seems to say it’s a very well regarded program and I remember seeing some statistic they released saying their grads did just as well as Harvard and Yale ones?
Also, Newark is really not too far from Philly so you get a lot of great curatorial opportunities there.
However be warned … they said they are taking less people this year and it’s going to be a tough cycle. the shrinkage apparently started last year…. sigh