Applying to only a few programs a bad idea?

[fenderpete]

Hi all...

When I started out planning to apply for grad school in Fall 2012 I was planning on applying to around 10 programs - as I understand how a lot of the process can be down to luck in terms of your perfect program not having space etc. I whittled that down to six, but the more I've researched schools and looked at POIs I've kind of discovered there are only really four schools I really want to go to (and one of them is a bit iffy).

The programs all offer a brilliant balance of what I want (topic areas, management training and practical training) that I just don't see in some other programs which are either quite ivory tower or are in cities I don't want to live.

Is it suicidal to apply to only four programs? I think I should hopefully be competitive at all of them (well, not Princeton... but who is) and they are also the only places that I know offer the kind of funding I'd need to be able to go in 2012...

It'd be good to get some feedback on whether you think it's a bad idea, or whether the 'apply to lots of programs' rule doesn't apply to professional programs as much...

Thanks!

[theadvancededit]

The "apply to lots of programs" rule only works if those programs you apply to are ones that are actually feasible. If you truly cannot see yourself at any other schools but those four, then there's no point in applying to any others. But if-- Zeus forbidding!-- you don't get into any of these four, what would your next logical step be? If "wishing you had a backup" is one of them, then maybe you should add to the list. However, if not, then you're better off saving the money from extra application fees.

[northstar22]

I only applied to two programs, and was accepted to one. If only four programs interest you, and you are confident you can get admitted to these schools, why waste your and the acceptance committees' time by applying to programs that aren't good fits?

[fenderpete]

If I don't get in, or don't get in with the funding I'd need I'm going to hold off a few years more, save some cash, get a bit more experience and then maybe look at mid-career one year programs instead of two year programs.

Thanks a lot for the reassurance though, it sounds like following my heart/head on this one is the right thing to do, and as you say I don't want to take up adcomms time or take a place away from someone who really wants it if I got into somewhere that I wouldn't really be happy to go.