Importance/Lack Thereof of Grad School Rankings

[autismadvocate]

As shown by my signature, I already have mostly decided where I'm applying...but I was wondering if I used the right criteria to help me decided? Since, as the name implies, I'm interested in autism I looked at schools that have good autism-related tracks/resources in their programs (and aren't too expensive, also an important trait) regardless of whether or not they had good rankings. I haven't even checked the rankings for some of these schools.

 

My question is, do rankings really matter? If I do end up going to a low or mediocre ranked school, could that hurt me at all? Or should the wanting population-specific training outweight that concern? (Also, side question - are there any schools with good autism tracks that I don't have listed in my signature? FSU, UCF, Marshall, Texas State)

 

Thanks so much!

Edited December 28, 2013 by autismadvocate

[pqo309]

I think this is a question everyone grapples with, but eventually you'll realize ranking isn't important. From what I gather, ranking is mostly based on the research being conducted at the institution and some other nebulous factors. While good research can mean good faculty, there are plenty of rockstar clinicians who don't have a PhD. I say, as long as the school has ASHA accreditation, it is meeting minimum standards (which are plenty rigorous in themselves), and that should be good enough. This field seems to attract a lot of overachievers, but there's only so much you can learn in two years, even from the top schools, so consider your own standards and what you think matters (which you have), and decide based on that. Besides, the demand is so high, you'll find a job no matter where you go.