How much money did you spend on your graduate school applications?

[meep95]

i would say about 500-600. My most expensive application fee was $100, and the least was $30.  I applied to 6 schools. There were also about $80 transcript fee's, and GRE scores

[Asperfemme]

I applied to only two programs and I think it was $200-ish in total.

[ellieotter]

I applied to 12 and I think if I just include GRE scores/test (what a joke!), application fees (average cost $60), background check, transcript fees, etc. it added up to about $1,200 roughly. Then I tried to drive and stay with grad students for my interviews but had to fly across the country for one interview so I'd say I spent 700ish (flights $350, hotels $200) on hotels/flights/food while traveling.

So happy I can say I got accepted and that it was worth it because my wallet hasn't stopped crying since August

[Neist]

Granted, I applied last year, but I think I spent around $600. 

It helped that I didn't apply to many ivies. Their application fees are a wee bit expensive. I think Cornell's was $95.

[NewMentality]

About $450 for five programs through SOPHAS. I balked at the idea of paying an additional $90 for "professional transcript entry" instead of doing it manually. Ha!

[Adelaide9216]

I applied to four different masters program for a total of 400$ CA (approx. 100$ CA per application). I applied to four universities because I was unsure where I wanted to do my MSW and also because I wasn't sure if I was going to be accepted in any program (although I have good grades, research experience and a good CV).

I ended up giving up one application because I did not get the SSRHC scholarship at that specific university, I was deemed not eligible because of 0.3% missing for my grades for my second year of study full-time.

[Anthonybobjones]

I spent $0 on 6 Ph.D. applications this year because of the McNair Scholars fee waiver. Many universities tend to offer graduate school fee waivers to current (and most times, former) McNair Research Scholars. I know this doesn't apply to most people, but if you're a McNair, or from an underrepresented background, check to see if the school offers fee waivers! Some schools also offer fee waivers to other types of disadvantaged applicants (low-income, first-generation, etc.), just check the website or ask the graduate department.

I only applied to programs with McNair fee waivers (fortunately most of the schools I was interested in) and only had to pay to send my GRE scores.

[RBspkRuP]

I ended up spending $1000 CAD (~745 USD) as I applied to 5 schools, but I wrote the GRE twice (yikes! big regret on how I approached the GRE the first time especially given the exchange rate ). Sending transcripts is free at my school and since I only applied to 2 US schools, I did not have to pay extra for sending scores. 

Edited March 8, 2017 by RBspkRuP
added information

[jmillar]

15 hours ago, Anthonybobjones said:

I only applied to programs with McNair fee waivers (fortunately most of the schools I was interested in) and only had to pay to send my GRE scores.

Same for me, so l spent $135 sending 5 GRE scores.

[eternallyephemeral]

I spent about 1,000 on eight schools, including the GRE once, and the conversion rate from Canadian to USD for the four US schools was one of the biggest killers. It would make each application 30% more expensive right off the bat.

[Guest]

Oh gosh..I applied to over 8 schools. Then, had the GRE test fee+sending the scores to additional schools. It had to be something over $700. 

[cokitty]

Here's mine:

GRE total: $506

• Prep: $79
• Test: $400 (had to forfeit $200 when I couldn't bring my passport with me because it was currently in processing with the government and mistakenly thought I could have a notarized photocopy of it, so I had to pay an additional $200 for the test I actually took)
• Scores: $27

Transcripts: $10

Application Fees: $610

Total: $1126

My advice would be to not pay for the GRE twice.  Jesus.  The only reason my score cost was so low is because I 1) sent scores on test day and 2) Northwestern didn't require GRE, so I only had to send one additional score.  Test prep was worth it.  I just wish that I could have found more (any) application fee waivers for me because I'm currently teaching ESL making ~$12000 USD a year, so this was brutal.  I'll be paying it off for a while.  But because I got into my top choice (... and nowhere else...), I guess it was worth it!

[THS]

I applied to 13 schools.  I spent about $2,000 when it was all said and done on sending GRE's, transcripts, and application fees.  I was accepted at only 1 of 13 schools though so I guess it paid off to apply to so many.  

[rheya19]

10 programs, average of $80 per application, plus taking the GRE, sending scores, paying for official paper transcripts (why does anyone ask for offical transcripts before they accept you???), Interfolio fees... over a $1000 easy

[fruitcat]

Not pretty.

GRE twice: $410 (thanks, spontaneous 4 am drunk housemate birthday that happened the night before attempt one)

GRE scores: $108

App fees for 6 schools, one $200 fee waived: $430

Transcripts: $30

Test prep (Magoosh, two books): $100

Rounding up to about $1100 to include all of the late night CVS junk food I stress ate while studying and writing essays after work at the office. 

 

[jazzontherocks]

2 universities for me, and both are in NY. One charged $50 and the other cost me $150. None required GRE though but due to the program length being 2 years (my family would rather have me do an accelerated 1-year Masters) I would have to decline both offers & apply to a couple programs in Cali that match my interest so I would have to take the GRE for those, unless I'm ok with the UK. 

Edited April 26, 2017 by jazzontherocks

[Louly]

15 Applications.

GRE: $650 (Some were resent)

Applications: $500 (McNair helped with the others)

Transcripts: $400 transcripts (I had three transcripts from three different schools)

Total: $1550'ish

[Camilla00]

I spent between the $850-$1000

[AnniKatt]

Two applications, signing up for Slideroom, and ordering transcripts--I want to say I spent somewhere in the $140-$150 range.