Likelihood of attendance, a factor?

[Catria]

 

 

I don't feel that this entirely breaks the rule of thumb that if a program considers you to be a strong fit, they will accept you. But to say this we have to think of "fit" even a bit more broadly than we have been doing. Fit isn't necessarily limited to alignment of interests, methodology, atmosphere/environment; maybe it also means, if not talent, at least preparation, ambition. A school may recognize that it is not a strong match for (what adcom members perceive to be) your ambitions and that even if you accept, it's likely that in a year or so you'll feel stifled, unsatisfied. Programs don't want dissatisfied students. Adcoms look for students who can rise to the challenges their program presents, one of which is the discourse of your peers, so it makes sense that students with comparable levels of preparation would be admitted. 

 

So one would say that there is an oft-overlooked factor when looking at fit: your peers. 

 

Although in most fields, many, if not most programs, would rather admit the very best students they can than the more lackluster students that will likely accept their offer, for some reason, some low-end departments may put more weight on the likelihood of attendance than higher-end departments.

 

But is the likelihood of attendance (if admitted) actually a factor in admissions? Are there fields where it is more of a factor than others?