And in a recent groundbreaking survey, it looks like most graduate and doctoral students at Washington University are more satisfied than their counterparts across the country.

More than 32,000 graduate and doctoral students recently graded doctoral programs throughout the country in an online survey conducted by the National Association of Graduate-Professional Students.

Students graded their program's implementation of educational practices recommended by the National Academy of Sciences, the Association of American Universities and several other educational leaders.

Respondents ranked nine University programs in the top three in overall satisfaction. The anthropology and German departments, both in Arts & Sciences, each ranked No. 1 in their peer groups.

Romance languages in Arts & Sciences, and genetics, immunology and microbiology in the School of Medicine ranked No. 2. Psychology and history, both in Arts & Sciences, and the George Warren Brown School of Social Work ranked No. 3.

"I was delighted, but I wasn't surprised," said Robert E. Thach, Ph.D., dean of the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. "We've worked hard in addressing the concerns of our graduate students; that has been a hallmark of Washington University. I was delighted to see that our efforts have made a difference."

The online survey was the first of its kind. It showed that students are most satisfied in doctoral programs where they have the freedom to pursue a broad range of career options. A particular area of concern among most students in the survey is the lack of information about the career outcomes of former students.

Thach said it wasn't surprising that nearly every graduate program at the University finished in the top 50th percentile of its peer group.

"We've worked hard to address every concern that has come to our attention" Thach said, "from housing to the quality of advisers and full funding. We are the only university in the country that awards Ph.D. candidates funding for six years as tuition assistance or cost-of-living assistance."

Still, despite the overall satisfaction rate, Thach said improving the quality of life and programs is an ongoing process.

"The next step is to begin to implement some of the ideas that the deans of the eight schools have put forward," Thach said. "Recruiting students from underrepresented minorities is a big push for us. The first wave of an expanded effort was last June, and the second round will be this June when we bring to campus some 80-100 college-rising seniors who are thinking about graduate or professional schools. We also want to find a new space for graduate student organizations.

"The bottom line is that while this survey result is great news, we can still do more."