As noted in our Methodology section, our "ranking" uses the average of standard reputational and bibliometric rankings as one of our metrics. This average stands as a reputational and impact component of a programs profile. Of course this isnt perfect, a straight forward average of other rankings might inadvertently over represent one aspect of common methodologies or another. But it is a good first order approximation as to the popular perceptions of a program. This naturall

PhD. granting Physics Departments in the U.S. vary from a few faculty to hundreds of faculty. The argument is generally made that the more the better, larger departments offer more choices to students and therefore a better experience. From a social point of view this might be correct, there are certainly more social overlap groups within the school with similar interests for a student to interact with at a Maryland or a Penn State than at Bryn Mawr or Montana. However, asid