What role does the DGS play in decision making?

[cokohlik]

Hey guys! I've been wondering this for a while & just now decided to ask...

What role does the DGS play in decision making? Is s/he on adcoms? Does s/he have lots of pull regarding who gets in? Or are they simply the ones who send out emails?

[bentharbour]

I have absolutely no idea what the consensus is, but at my undergraduate institution (A very small Canadian University), the DGS is involved in the decision making process. The only reason I know this is because I had a direct conversation about it with him.

That being said, I have no idea about larger universities. I would speculate that no, the DGS would not play a role in decision making at larger schools. I would imagine that there are just too many applicants in far too many disciplines. The DGS has other things to deal with.

[Sparky]

At both my MA and PhD school, the DGS of my particular dept has been on the adcom. I don't think that they have had any special pull--I heard from another prof on the adcom at my old school that the DGS had fought *hard* to get me funding for the PhD but was overruled by a vocal faction who wanted the dept to go in a particular direction.

But I would assume it's very dependent on particular programs.

[MediaMom]

My guess would be that it's different in every department. Each department has its own "culture" and its own way of doing things; I'm sure some allow and even expect the DGS to take the lead in these decisions, while others expect him/her to have only the same say as other faculty members. I'm finding that no two schools seem to handle the application and admission process in quite the same way.

[Megan]

At at least one place where my friend is a PhD student, the DGS isn't on the adcom at all.

[kgumps2012]

from the emails I have recieved from the DGS of the programs I applied to, they are not directly involved in the decision making process. I wish they were though. I think it depends on the program and school you are applying to.