Delaware, Anyone?

[Tritonetelephone]

Did anybody else apply to Delaware?? I know it's a long shot since people around here tend to apply only to higher-ranked programs - but they have the CDAS! My only chance to keep my academic drug and alcohol hobby, professionally!

[coqui21]

I went for a visit a couple years ago and know a few people that are grad students there. Seems like a nice department if you're interested in Disasters, Crim, Drugs and Alcohol, or the construction of social problems. Try to meet with Joel Best if you can, and pay attention to what he tells you. He's got great advice regarding graduate school in general.

[Tritonetelephone]

Cool, thanks!! I remember Joel Best's name... I must have liked him when I was originally doing my research (seems like so long ago now!). I'm VERY nervous about the visit, so thanks for your help!

[That_One]

The NRC rankings put Delaware at 69th. I am wondering what the opportunities in academia look like for someone coming out of Delaware (i.e. similiarly ranked universities)? Tritonetelephone, what are your post-Delaware plans if you do go there?

[Tritonetelephone]

The NRC rankings put Delaware at 69th.

Very interesting! I've seen Delaware ranked as low as 100 on some older lists. They said that is only the second time they've ever flown in applicants/interviewees, and they're having their 3rd annual student conference - so I'm guessing they've been making some changes very recently to improve their rankings. My UG univ is doing the same.

I am wondering what the opportunities in academia look like for someone coming out of Delaware (i.e. similiarly ranked universities)? Tritonetelephone, what are your post-Delaware plans if you do go there?

I want to go into academia no matter what I do, so I know program reputation can be a hurdle there. That's really my only concern with Delaware. But the program's fit is very good for me (a masculinities expert AND a research center for adolescent drug use and HIV prevention!), which can be more meaningful.

A lot more of their graduates (vs. higher-ranked programs) go into government jobs instead of academia, so I wonder if they just don't push their grad students to publish. These are all things I'll have to ask about when I visit.

[coqui21]

Very interesting! I've seen Delaware ranked as low as 100 on some older lists. They said that is only the second time they've ever flown in applicants/interviewees, and they're having their 3rd annual student conference - so I'm guessing they've been making some changes very recently to improve their rankings. My UG univ is doing the same.

I want to go into academia no matter what I do, so I know program reputation can be a hurdle there. That's really my only concern with Delaware. But the program's fit is very good for me (a masculinities expert AND a research center for adolescent drug use and HIV prevention!), which can be more meaningful.

A lot more of their graduates (vs. higher-ranked programs) go into government jobs instead of academia, so I wonder if they just don't push their grad students to publish. These are all things I'll have to ask about when I visit.

The department is a top 15 criminal justice program. So if you're studying drugs and alcohol, you'll probably have more opportunities than you'd think.