'U.S. News' posts grad rankings

The Wharton School saw a slight rise in this year's edition of the U.S. News and World Report annual rankings, released yesterday.

Penn's Law School and the School of Medicine both maintained their previous ranks, while the School of Engineering and Applied Science graduate school and the Graduate School of Education each fell one spot.

Wharton's graduate school is tied with Stanford University's for second, trailing just behind Harvard University's, according to the report. Last year, Penn's business school was ranked third, behind both Harvard and Stanford.

The Law School again saw a rank of seventh this year, tied with the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. Among the top-ranked law schools were those at Yale, Stanford, Harvard, Columbia and New York universities.

Penn's Graduate School of Education was ranked sixth -- just below last year's number five ranking -- following Harvard, Stanford, the University of California at Los Angeles and Columbia and Vanderbilt universities.

The Engineering School was ranked number 29, tied with the University of Washington, down from last year's number 28 ranking. This year's top-ranked engineering schools include the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford and the University of California at Berkeley.

For the third straight year, Penn's School of Medicine was ranked fourth as one of the nation's top research-oriented medical schools.

"The ranking reflects that we have one of the best medical schools in the country," said Arthur Rubenstein, dean of the Medical School and executive vice president of the University of Pennsylvania Health System. "I am confident that students and faculty, even without the ranking, would come to the same conclusion."

The results of the survey, to be published in the magazine's April 14 issue, also rank specific specialty medical programs across the country. The Medical School's pediatrics specialty was tied for first, the women's health program was ranked second, the drug/alcohol abuse program was tied for fourth, internal medicine was ranked fifth and the AIDS specialty was ranked 10th.

According to the study, the top medical schools, in rank order, were Harvard University as first, and Johns Hopkins University and Washington University in St. Louis tied for second. Duke University was tied with Penn's Medical School for fourth place.

The magazine's survey incorporated a large number of factors in determining the rankings.

"The survey uses both objective and subjective information, including student selectivity, faculty resources, research activity, academic reputation, in addition to other criteria," said Richard Folkers, U.S. News and World Report director of media relations.

One of the goals of the survey was "to try and inform the people who are contemplating a very expensive and important decision," Folkers added. "However, the rankings should not be the sole factor in an applicant's decision."

The academic reputation criteria was especially meaningful to Rubenstein. Penn received a 4.6 out of 5 possible points.

"Peer assessment is important because informed, external opinion gives credence to our reputation and the ranking," Rubenstein said.

He noted that while the survey is a helpful guide, it is not as precise as it implies.

"The exact number ranking is not that important," he said. "There is not a big difference going from a ranking of three to four to five, or even to 10... they are all great schools."

This year marks the sixth consecutive time that Penn has ranked among the top five medical schools in the country by this survey, noted Rebecca Harmon, the chief public affairs officer of UPHS.

"Our consistent ranking is a testament to the high quality of our students and faculty," Harmon said.

In addition to recognizing the Medical School, David Kennedy, a professor of otorhinolaryngology and the vice dean for professional affairs, said that the rankings are "an appropriate recognition for the faculty who have demonstrated a strong commitment toward students in the tight economic situation in healthcare."

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