Ladril

Also check out these surveys made by Prof. Fabio Rojas from Indiana. They are more of a rumour mill but they can help: http://orgtheory.wordpress.com/2009/01/05/soc-phd-programs-1-stratification/ http://orgtheory.wordpress.com/2009/01/13/soc-phd-programs-2-education/ http://orgtheory.wordpress.com/2009/01/28/soc-phd-programs-3-organization-studies/ http://orgtheory.wordpress.com/2009/03/22/soc-phd-programs-4-culture/ http://orgtheory.wordpress.com/2009/04/21/soc-phd-programs-5-urban-sociology/ http://orgtheory.wordpress.com/2009/06/21/soc-phd-programs-6-social-psychology/ http://orgtheory.wordpress.com/2009/06/28/soc-phd-programs-7-demography/ http://orgtheory.wordpress.com/2009/09/27/soc-phd-programs-8-political-sociology/ http://orgtheory.wordpress.com/2009/12/28/soc-phd-programs-9-health/ http://orgtheory.wordpress.com/2010/03/07/soc-phd-programs-10-gender/ http://orgtheory.wordpress.com/2010/04/04/soc-phd-programs-11-race-and-ethnicity/ I'm almost certain that's all of them.

US News and World Report includes a ranking of sociology programs: http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-humanities-schools/sociology-rankings There is a drop-down menu titled "Specialty". It gives you a list of the best Sociology departments in a number of subfields. If you rank by specialty you will find several departments that, while not top 20 in the general ranking, are quite strong in a specific area (Florida State for demography, UC Santa Barbara for culture, Iowa for social psychology/social movements, etc.).

Oxford and Cambridge rank high here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/table/2008/dec/18/rae-2008-sociology And both are among the best Sociology schools in the world.

You should get acquainted with the work of the faculty in both Universities, and see which one fits better your research objectives and the theoretical and methodological tools you want to learn. This is changing a bit in recent times, but Sociology departments in UK universities are mostly filled with professors who do qualitative research. Many universities have a separate Social Statistics department where the more quantitative-minded professors cluster. Oxford is a bit of an exception to the rule, since it's a department with a strong quantitative and qualitative focus. Conversely, in the average US Sociology department there is more of a quantitative/qualitative mix. In Boston College, you're going to meet a faculty with more diverse interests, which will allow you to switch more easily between subfields if you ever feel the need. If I were you I would probably pursue the masters in a US university, find a research topic that really interests you, write a good masters thesis, and then move to the UK for the doctorate. But as they say, I may be talking bollocks. Make sure to gather other opinions.

The main difference is that much of econometrics deals with continuous dependent variables. In sociology, categorical dependent variables are more common. Also, some types of models - such as instrument variable models - are more common in economics, while others - such as structural equations models - are more common in sociology. It's a combination of the types of questions asked in each discipline and also simple preferences within specific scientific communities.

A bit too wordy - but hey, you're into qual, aren't you? - this book is quite good: http://www.amazon.co...z/dp/0029281601

Further detail: there is a subfield called "mathematical sociology" which at this time focuses mostly on agent-based simulations of social behaviour. Obviously it involves a lot of math. One of the most accessible texts I've found on the subject is: http://books.google.com.mx/books?id=TzeGLSUheOoC&dq=billari+simulations&source=gbs_navlinks_s

The American higher education system is so complex it's no wonder even Americans have a hard time keeping track of all options.

Sociology mostly uses multivariate statistical models and quantitative methods for social network analysis. However nearly all areas of mathematics have been found to have sociological applications (set theory, boolean algebra, differential equations, to name a few). I'm not sure there is an area that can be called "quantitative sociology" per se. Most subspecialties make use of qualitative and quantitative methods. I assume you're mostly looking for a selection of texts which may allow you to gain a feeling for the most commonly used methods in the discipline. I would suggest you take a look at the SAGE series "Quantitative Applications for the Social Sciences". Complete list here: http://www.sagepub.com/productSearch.nav?seriesId=Series486 You should also take a look at the work of professor Charles Ragin here: http://www.u.arizona.edu/~cragin/cragin/publications.shtml. He has written a lot on innovative applications of mathematics to social research.

I'm probably going off on a tangent here, but US News & World Report keeps a ranking of criminology programs which is separate from their sociology rankings: http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-humanities-schools/criminology-rankings If your focus is criminology consider applying to these as well. Getting into top sociology programs is not easy.

I may have been exaggerating a bit for the sake of argument and effect, but having been through this process, I can tell you there is no single element that will guarantee you admission to a graduate program (I did not save any children in Africa, mind you). If you go to the Peace Corps, do it because it's the right thing for you, not because you believe it's going to be a sure ticket to a graduate program. It most likely won't.

Just for the record, Rutgers is a Top 40. I see your general point, though.

I believe admissions commitees for PhD programs are not going to put much emphasis on professional experience which is not related to research. Put bluntly, they are not going to care much how many children you saved from starving in Africa. This kind of experience will probably be more helpful if you are aiming at a professional degree in development studies or something similar. Experience related to research will be taken seriously by them, independently of whether the research is done in a university, a government institution, a think-tank or a research firm. It will be extremely helpful if you can tell them how your research experience ties in with your interest to do doctoral-level research. I do not mean to say that professional experience is useless. If you can weave an interesting story on how your past work experience led you to your current research interests, and reflect that in the admissions essay, it will be a plus.

Another thing to keep in mind is that, no matter where you went to school, getting a tenure-track job at a top 20 institution is VERY difficult. Even the brightest students from those schools have to settle for jobs in schools lower down the hierarchy, while waiting for better opportunities to come (some make it, most don't). The turnover of assistant professors in top 5 departments is huge, because most of them don't make it, no matter how bright. Even having Doug Massey or Randall Collins as your advisor is no sure ticket to an elite job, considering how overcrowded the market is and how competitive things are at the top.

} You're not doomed going to school anywhere. However, it is always easier to find a job at a school in the same tier or below the one you went to. Upward mobility is not easy, but it's still possible.

Also, Sociology is one of the favourite fields for university administrators to eliminate when the times are rough. There were rather good Sociology departments in Rochester and Washington University in St. Louis before they were closed for financial reasons. In the case of Arizona State, I believe at least part of the department is being reoriented to the School of Transborder Studies.

Thanks. I already have been accepted to a great program, so I did not start this thread in order to obtain information for myself. I can, however, share some experience for other people's benefit. One of the programs I applied to was outside the Top 40. This was a conscious strategy since I needed to maximize my chances of admission this year (at the risk of losing the Fulbright). What I did was to look for a department with a good thematic fit. The one I applied to, despite its rank, had several researchers who have collaborated with people in Top 20 institutions. I also had a prospective advisor there who I'm sure would have been great for me. And despite what other people have suggested in this forum, if that had been my only acceptance I would have gone there and am sure I would have had a great time. Of course, my situation is not like that of everyone else. I already have a masters degree, can run advanced statistical models, and am knowledgeable about the main debates in my specialty. For me getting a PhD is more about credentials and the ability to build more social networks. This will most likely not be the approach of somebody applying to a PhD fresh out of undergrad who has not had as much time to devote to a research topic.

} They are either reassigned within the university or - more likely - have to look for a job elsewhere.

13 out of 21 posts completely outside the original topic of the thread (or mostly not about it). Time to get back on track, guys and gals.

I'm 35 and entering a top 20 program this Fall. I think my professional and research experience was a plus, but since I was also rejected by several programs, I can attest it's no golden ticket to anywhere. I also felt that writing good admissions essays was key. The law does not allow American universities to discriminate on candidates based on age, so your age alone should not be a determining factor for admissions. However older applicants will need on average more funding than people in their twenties, due to increased responsibilities. As for experiences inside the classroom, I cannot give any first hand ones yet, but I would not worry too much about it, especially if you're pursuing a doctoral degree.

I'm familiar with the points made by the orgtheory folks. However, I think we can benefit from different perspectives as well. This is why I started this thread: to hear from people who have had productive careers outside of departments conventionally considered to be the best ones. I think sociologygradgirl and a few others hit the nail on the head. Going to a top 20 department gives you much more social capital than the rest (and going to a top 10 yet more than going to one in the 11-20 range). But I'm also aware of people who went to less prestigious universities and still managed to land jobs at R1 institutions. It all boils down to a combination of doing good work, learning to network, and luck (in this profession, you're going to need a lot of luck even if you go to a top 10). Going to a department outside the top 40 is far from a death sentence.

I seriously doubt there is some conspiracy afoot to favour foreign students over American students at some programs. I also cannot think of any rationale for doing it. In fact, the opposite tendency is the usual situation. If there is really an overrepresentation of foreign students at some programs, this is likely to be something contingent and temporary, probably as a result of the recession. But Jesus, man, what the heck? It's not like you lost an eye or a limb. Your current job may be tedious and unfulfilling, but at least you and your family have an income you can fall back on. Go check the unemployment statistics in Europe and consider yourself privileged. I guess you're not one of those wondering what your children will have to eat tomorrow. There is always time for polishing your application or thinking about an alternative plan. There are lots of great things to do in life besides becoming a university professor. There is no need to start a thread with a tirade about how others are taking opportunities from you. You tried and you failed. Very well, now do something about it.

This topic intrigues me. Are the prospects of finding a job if you don't come from a top 40 sociology program really that dim? Is it a waste of time to apply to them? Please discuss. Experience from people in those programs is especially welcome.

In defense of my off-topic digression, I'm going to say that at first I entertained the hypothesis that you might have started this thread in order to learn about MA programs which could serve as backup plans in case you did not get into any of your choices. This is turn made me look at your choices and go OMG (no offense). This in turn made me rant about how to help you maximize your chances of admission, and then chaos ensued. As for your original question, I am not aware of any ranking of US masters programs in sociology, sorry. I suppose most of the responses you'll receive will be based on reputation rather than a scientific methodology.

"Declared at UGA". Sorry, does "UGA" mean "University of Georgia"? Just trying to increase my knowledge of acronyms.