U.S. News puts Nursing at top

and BETH TRITTER The University's graduate schools received mixed reviews in U.S. News and World Report's latest survey of the nation's graduate programs, with several ranking at or near the top, and others not even making the list. The magazine's annual rankings of graduate schools placed the Nursing School tied for first, the Wharton School third, and the Law School 11th. Once again, the Engineering School was not mentioned in the magazine's top 25. Although Wharton has held the number three slot for the past three years, it fared well in the magazine's ranking of specific departments, garnering the top spots in four different categories and top five honors in five additional departments. "We are never happy to be ranked number three," said Isik Inselbag, director of Wharton's graduate division, "but relative to last year's rankings in the same magazine, I think we have improved in several areas. In terms of departmental rankings, we have done better than any other school." Wharton's finance, real estate, insurance and risk management and entrepreneurship departments were rated highest in the nation. Nursing shared its first place slot with the University of California at San Fransisco and the University of Washington. Florence Downs, director of Nursing's graduate division, could not be reached for comment last night. For some, the ranking yielded a minor disappointment. The Medical School slipped two places from sixth to eighth. And the Law School slid down a notch from last year's tenth place spot to hold spot number 11. Gary Clinton, assistant dean of the Law School, said that while this fall was "disappointing," the Law School "doesn't live and die by U.S. News and World Report." The Graduate School of Engineering was conspicuously absent from the list, once again failing to be numbered among the top 25 Engineering Schools. It was placed, however, among "the next 25," holding its own at the bottom of the list in the 20th spot. "Naturally I would prefer that [U.S. News] have perception to include us in the top 25," said Engineering Dean Gregory Farrington. But, he added, "give us 10 years at our current trajectory and we'll have a very nice spot on the list."