Funding and Money

[lilgreenblatt]

Does not needing funding or money make schools more likely to accept you? Even if they claim financial status doesn't affect applications?

*not coming from a place of privilege, but just curious if this makes an impact*. 

[UndergradDad]

Were you referring to Phd programs or Masters?

[WildeThing]

I don’t think it would make a difference or at least it shouldn’t. Investment in a student goes beyond the financial and so having a larger class than intended because some can pay their way in would limit opportunities for everyone involved. I wouldn’t put it past some schools to look into something like this, especially given how cashcow MAs have been used for so long.

[lilgreenblatt]

@UndergradDad Masters programs! Thank you!

[lilgreenblatt]

@WildeThing Thank you! I like to hope that schools want to give everyone opportunity, but with all the financial issues COVID has caused in the past year, I worry that an applicant's financial status will be given more weight than it ever should. 

[UndergradDad]

In terms of acceptance rates, unfunded Masters definitely have higher acceptance rates. For Phd programs, you are usually looking at a 5-10 percent acceptance rate in general, versus some unfunded Masters have 30 percent or higher acceptance rates. Funded Masters are fewer in number so harder to get a good read on those acceptance rates

Hope that helps.