Could being a guy help?

[eastcoastdude123]

Hello all,

I recently attended an interview session for an M.Ed. degree. While at the event, I couldn't help but notice that I was one of approximately five guys (out of 60 total candidates) there. Furthermore, I was one of two men interviewing for my specialty (out of like 15 or so). Also, this particular field in the "real world" is dominated by females. So, in terms of being admitted, could being a guy actually help me out? Let it be known, I'm not trying to sound sexist or anything like that, I'm just trying to ease my nerves, because I've still got 2-3 weeks to hear a decision )-:.

As always, any responses will be appreciated.

Edited February 26, 2010 by eastcoastdude123

[eleanorrigby]

Funny I was just wondering about the same thing the other day...

[someDay]

Unless you sleep with the (presumably female) adcom members, most probably not. These people are usually professional enough to make their decision purely based on merit, not on the gender of the applicant.

sD.

[eastcoastdude123]

.

Edited February 26, 2010 by eastcoastdude123

[siolanthe]

As a female science teacher, I think it's possible that you'd have an advantage, especially if you going are applying for curriculum/instruction or elementary ed. There's a serious lack of male role models in schools, and I hear people bemoan that fact every time we go to hire someone. In other words, yes, you're an 'underrepresented minority' that is in high demand.

I don't think it demeans the professionalism of the committee at all to acknowledge this gender inequity.

[chimerical]

Schools don't openly discuss this kind of thing, but from what I've heard, being part of an underrepresented group can sometimes help on the margins. Even those schools that do take representation into account, however, won't admit you over a much stronger female candidate simply because of your gender. Rather, if they see you and a female candidate as roughly equal, being male might give you an edge.

[oldlady]

I concur with siolanthe.

[adam_cs]

dude , you are fall under diversity.

Should have applied to UNC

[aditi123]

I don't think it would make a difference.At the end of the day a university is more interested in what's your worth than what's your gender.Most/All of them clearly maintain a stance of equal opportunity irrespective of race,religion, gender etc as it must already be known...

[socialpsychg]

A professor has admitted to me that her social psych program (and others) has unofficial affirmative action for more male recruitment into the program.

To what extent does that sway decisions? Probably not much, but she did confirm that there is some special attention paid to males (who are underrepresented in social psych grad cohorts)

Edited February 26, 2010 by socialpsychg

[pea-jay]

Whether it's looking at those full gloss university brochures or observing the student body mix first hand, I sometimes get the feeling that some balancing *has* to be going on, even if it is unofficial, unwritten or even unconscious. There is no way the gender/ethnicity/nationality of the applicant pool matches the ultimate student body for some of these programs. Not saying it's bad or good, just yet another thing to contend with.

[Kam]

Though, the pictures on brochures are definitely chosen for their diversity aspect.

My school had a picture on the website that was probably the most multicultural picture possible. We're a really diverse school, but the chance that all of those people were walking together down the street in a nice row like that is pretty slim.

That being said, I think I'd have to agree with chimerical.

[The Pseudo grad student]

I truly wish that were true. Being a women in engineering is still rare these days so I was hoping that would give me an added advantage towards the usual guys.

Also on word of mouth from professors from Georgia Tech, UIUC, and Beijing University, every single one of them reassured me that it is definitely a selling point to the adcomm. But maybe this is just for engineering or they were trying to make me feel better. I also heard that if you somehow find your own funding, that schools would be more willing to accept you (obviously) but it was a good point at the time when I didn't know much about grad schools and the whole arduous process.

[jkppkj]

It will never be written on paper, but absolutely it is an advantage for you and something the admissions committee will discuss.

I interviewed at a program that currently has 16 female and 7 male students, and at the interview weekend there were 2 (counting me) male and 13 female interviewees for about 5-6 spots in the program. A member of the admissions committee let it slip that they were looking for students like me referring to me being male, but also to me being a first-generation student. Additionally, at the ripe old age of 27 I was actually older than most of the current students and interviewees - it seems most were fasttracked through a 4 year undergrad and went straight into starting the Ph.D. at 22-23. I can't remember exactly what was said but it was something like, "we are looking for a few more guys in the program, and some more mature or older students who have done things other than just being in school," Sounded like good news to me, as it is one of my top choices, yet I have still to hear back from them a month after going to interview. I thought, gender aside, that I had done well during the interview and that the program was great fit for me and vice versa.

I think that my only chance may be that they've extended an offer to someone else, not likely the other guy as he was interested in a completely different group of researchers, and if the other person declines I may receive a second-round offer.

So all-in-all, I can say from my experience that much like what has been stated in the thread, Adcoms do acknowledge all kinds of skewed numbers in the applicant pool but it is no guarantee.

[jkppkj]

Actually just received an acceptance from this school, so I can firmly say that yes being a male can help.

[liszt85]

A professor has admitted to me that her social psych program (and others) has unofficial affirmative action for more male recruitment into the program.

To what extent does that sway decisions? Probably not much, but she did confirm that there is some special attention paid to males (who are underrepresented in social psych grad cohorts)

When I applied to Psych, all I saw on grad school/dept websites was : "We encourage female students to apply".

While it may be true that females outnumber males in Psych depts, I don't think they consider males as underrepresented. I think it helps to be a female these days when applying to grad school (especially in the Sciences! I've had first hand experience with this..females with much lower credentials than their male counterparts got into much better universities last year, among people that I knew. I am not trying to generalize based on this but it does seem to be the case more often than not, correct me if i'm wrong)