How many schools are you applying to?

[amy.]

Im interested in learning how many schools is it reasonable to apply to? Of these, how many are "dream schools," how many are "schools you stood a chance to get into" and how many are "safe-schools"?

[Branwen daughter of Llyr]

Im interested in learning how many schools is it reasonable to apply to? Of these, how many are "dream schools," how many are "schools you stood a chance to get into" and how many are "safe-schools"?

I'm applying to 13 PhD and 3 MA programs. All the MA's are "plan B" programs (i.e. I'll only go if i don't get in to ANY PhD program). I'd be perfectly happy to go to any of the 13 PhD programs (each for it's own reasons), but there are about 4-5 schools on the list which I will go into When Harry met Sally type orgasmic spasms if I get in, about 5 that I'd jump around screaming, and 3-4 that I'd just jump around with little yelps (a slightly decreasing scale of utter excitement).

NONE are safe schools, since there is NO SUCH THING in English PhDs. We're lucky to get in anywhere that has a good program that suits our needs.

[wreckofthehope]

At the moment, I'm thinking that I will be applying to 4 programs in the USA, 3 in Canada, 2 or 3 in the U.K. and 1 in Denmark. So, that would be 10 - 11 app's altogether - however, British deadlines for funding consideration are not until mid-March, so if I get in anywhere before that date I'm unlikely to be applying to the 3 U.K. universities on my list. Hopefully that will be the case, as I'd prefer a change of environment and the U.S. and Canada are really where the scholarship is in my field, save a few British trailblazers.

It could rise to 4 in Canada... I'm still debating with myself on that one.

Oh, and there's Amsterdam too, but again that deadline is much later than those in North America.

Edited August 10, 2010 by vallensvelvet

[newms]

I'm planning on applying to 10 - 7 Phd and 3 Masters

[balderdash]

7, all PhD, all in the US. Total cost of applying: $635.

[surprisecake]

3 dream, 2 reach, 4 fits (Perhaps!), 2 safety MS programs.

But i get the feeling that if i dont get into my dream or reach schools, i will probably just wait another year to apply :/

[Alette]

NONE are safe schools, since there is NO SUCH THING in English PhDs. We're lucky to get in anywhere that has a good program that suits our needs.

I second this!

That said, I worked with professors from my MA program to determine a list of schools that suit my research interests and have a history of accepting students from our program. I have 5 schools on this list (narrowed down from 12-13). Estimated cost (including GRE/Lit exams, transcripts, etc.) is approaching $700. 5 schools is enough!

[Branwen daughter of Llyr]

I second this!

That said, I worked with professors from my MA program to determine a list of schools that suit my research interests and have a history of accepting students from our program. I have 5 schools on this list (narrowed down from 12-13). Estimated cost (including GRE/Lit exams, transcripts, etc.) is approaching $700. 5 schools is enough!

Good luck -

I've been out of school for 10 years, and after last years application season (applied to 4, got in nowhere) I've decided to apply on a MUCH wider scale (and am applying only with a BA so a history of accepting from my program is really not relevant - I graduated in 2001, after all! I'm sure lots has changed since then). Costs are going to be high, but so be it. I WILL BE IN GRAD SCHOOL IN 2011 IF IT KILLS ME (the other option is remaining a technical writer, which will also kill me ).

I hope 5 is enough for you!

[adaptations]

I will probably apply to around 15 schools. I don't consider any of them safety, and although many are my "dream" schools, I also think there is a realistic chance to get into one or two of them.

[newms]

I'm with Branwen on this - Its been 2002 since I left school with my BSc and I applied to 4 schools last year with no luck. I've always wanted to go back to grad school, but life kept getting in the way. I'm doing everything I can to get in this time.

[tskinner]

I applied to seven schools. All were PhD programs, and all but one were "dream schools" that I didn't have a shot at getting into. I applied to Stanford, Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD, Harvard, Yale, and Davis.

I considered Davis my safety school and UCSD was my top choice. Interestingly, those were the only two programs I got into. I heard from Davis first really early on, which I think was the universe telling me that "everything was going to be OK," and then I slowly heard from all the others until I got an e-mail during Econometrics from UCSD. My hands flew up to my face in shock and I started to shake when my professor noticed me and asked if everything was okay. I said I had just gotten into UCSD and he definitely started a slow clap.

So I got into my bottom pick and my top pick. I'm still in shock over it and I start next month!

[Argonaute]

I am planning to apply to 9 US universities (PhD) and 2 MS programs in Europe (Netherlands and Belgium).

[Alette]

Good luck -

I've been out of school for 10 years, and after last years application season (applied to 4, got in nowhere) I've decided to apply on a MUCH wider scale (and am applying only with a BA so a history of accepting from my program is really not relevant - I graduated in 2001, after all! I'm sure lots has changed since then). Costs are going to be high, but so be it. I WILL BE IN GRAD SCHOOL IN 2011 IF IT KILLS ME (the other option is remaining a technical writer, which will also kill me ).

I hope 5 is enough for you!

Good luck back at you

I am concerned about 5 - I haven't gotten the go ahead from my opinionated team of professors so that could change . It's insane how prohibitively expensive the entire process is! But I certainly don't want to be penny wise and pound foolish. There are certain factors working in my favor that might solidify a spot in at least one of my desired programs, but that's a big "might" after all. In the end, I trust my professors' advice - they know people and thus the environments in these programs, as well as me and my work, and have guided others through this process many times - and that's what I'll follow.

[Gerri]

I'm applying to eleven schools - five PhD programs and six MA programs.

And yes it's extremely expensive because I have to pay for transcripts, application fees, and the $23 fee to send my scores to each of these schools. Around 3/11 are safety schools and the other 8 could swing either way.

Cheers,

Holly

[anxious2011]

Does the typical number of schools people apply to change based on what programs you are applying to? (Physics vs. English vs. Econ etc.) I'm going to be applying for a PhD in Finance and have gotten myself down to 10 to 12 programs that I would love to go to. Some of course are the dream schools, others safer buts, but probably still very challenging to get into.

Any idea on if this is a good number for Econ/Finance type programs?

I'm also worried about burdenning Professors with too many LORs to submit. Do people tend to ask the same three professors to submit to all 10 programs or so?

[newms]

I'm also worried about burdenning Professors with too many LORs to submit. Do people tend to ask the same three professors to submit to all 10 programs or so?

I'm concerned about this too, but you have to remember that most of the LORs will be very similar. Chances are the profs will have to fill out a simple form for each school, rating your strengths in various areas and then upload the LOR (which can practically be re-used for most schools). I'm planning on asking 4 profs/lecturers to do LORs for me, so they wouldn't each have 10 LORs to submit.

Edited August 17, 2010 by newms

[Mr. Wonton]

Applying to 7, all PhD. I was tempted to apply to more, but the application fees were a bit much... crossing my fingers and hoping for the best!

[adaptations]

When I applied last time around, I think I applied to 17-18 schools. I had three professors provide all of my recommendations, and although I know they weren't big fans of doing LORs, nobody complained about how many schools I applied to. I also made sure to give them a nice thank you card/present after the ordeal, which may actually payoff since I'll be asking one of them to do it all over again this year.

[balderdash]

When I applied last time around, I think I applied to 17-18 schools. I had three professors provide all of my recommendations, and although I know they weren't big fans of doing LORs, nobody complained about how many schools I applied to. I also made sure to give them a nice thank you card/present after the ordeal, which may actually payoff since I'll be asking one of them to do it all over again this year.

Absolutely true... I found that my Jamaican professor enjoyed a really nice bottle of rum (the Ron Zacapa 23, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Zacapa_Centenario ) and I gave another one a nice bottle of champagne. Looks like it's a good thing I did that since I'm now applying for PhDs and they've agreed to write letters again.

[modernityisdead]

Since I'm still torn between Political Science and Sociology, I'm thinking of applying to both this coming December. Hence, the breakdown goes like this: 10 Phd programs and 1 MA program in Political Science, and 5 Phd Programs in Sociology.

By the way, does anyone know if the admission committee will take it against me if I'll be applying to two different programs in the same university?

Good luck to all of us!

Cheers!

[tskinner]

Since I'm still torn between Political Science and Sociology, I'm thinking of applying to both this coming December. Hence, the breakdown goes like this: 10 Phd programs and 1 MA program in Political Science, and 5 Phd Programs in Sociology.

By the way, does anyone know if the admission committee will take it against me if I'll be applying to two different programs in the same university?

Good luck to all of us!

Cheers!

At most schools (I don't know of any that have a different policy, actually) you're just not allowed to. If you will be applying to both kinds of programs, do not hint at it anywhere in you applications!

[modernityisdead]

At most schools (I don't know of any that have a different policy, actually) you're just not allowed to. If you will be applying to both kinds of programs, do not hint at it anywhere in you applications!

Oh, okay. Thanks for the heads-up!

[tskinner]

Since I'm still torn between Political Science and Sociology, I'm thinking of applying to both this coming December. Hence, the breakdown goes like this: 10 Phd programs and 1 MA program in Political Science, and 5 Phd Programs in Sociology.

By the way, does anyone know if the admission committee will take it against me if I'll be applying to two different programs in the same university?

Good luck to all of us!

Cheers!

Most (if not all) universities will not let you apply to two programs. I've never seen one that does. And I think that even if they did, the departments would hold it against you. At the end of the day, they'll have a few dozen applicants that are largely identical, and it's just a crap shoot at that point whether or not they choose you. If they see you're not sure you want to do political science, why should they invest tens of thousands of dollars in your education?

[natsteel]

Just for the record, I will likely be applying to 10 schools (4 dream w/ 2 really good fits, 4 possible w/ good fits, 2 safe bets). Though I am considering dropping two of the "dream" schools.

[imda2001]

How do you guys have the energy to apply to so many schools? 1 dream, 1 reach, 1 safety for me...