When is the best time to apply-PhD programs?

[harvardlonghorn]

I am currently working on my Masters in English Literature and anticipate graduating in November 2013. I will be done with my class requirements fall 2012 and solely working on my Masters thesis. My concern with submitting applications for fall 2013 is that 1) my application will only reflect my gpa through summer 2012 which would likely still be a 3.67 (A-). If I continue to earn A's in my final two courses and my thesis, my gpa would be a 3.76. I know this is only a small difference but it is the small differences that determine acceptance vs rejection. 2) If I submit in fall 2014, I could take a few extra courses and finish with a 3.82 and make the Dean's List. It would also give me additional time to focus on both GRE exams. The downside to waiting an additional year is I feel like I'm stuck in limbo. I am 31 years old. I received my bachelor's degree at age 20, nearly 11 years ago. I worked for several years before returning to graduate school. There is a part of me that feels if I wait until fall 2014, my focus will no longer be on school. Whereas, right now my focus is entirely on school and succeeding. For those of you that have applied (and reapplied) to PhD programs, did you feel you fared better by waiting an additional year?

[Stately Plump]

I haven't reapplied in subsequent years and I'm probably closer to the age of a "traditional" student entering a PhD program, so I can't speak to that portion of your application. However, I highly doubt that the small differences in GPA will have an effect. Even the difference between 3.67 and 3.82 is, I think, too insignificant to make a difference. Schools use those numbers as minimally as possible; if they were trying to decide between two students, there's no way they would say, "Well, this one had a 3.82 and this one only had a 3.67." If you make it to the point where they're deciding between you and someone else, it will come down to "fit" (broadly defined) and GPA will have no bearing whatever.

If it were me, I would apply sooner rather than later. Worst case scenario is you don't get accepted and have to reapply. Chances are, if you don't get accepted, it will only help you to realize the parts of your application that you can make stronger. And if you do get accepted, then you don't have to worry about retaking GRE exams, boosting your CV, revising your writing sample, etc.

[MrBrooklyn]

I concur with the watercolor Stephen Colbert.

[Stately Plump]

I concur with the watercolor Stephen Colbert.

HA!

[pinkrobot]

I am "traditionally" aged, so please take this with the huge grain of salt that is my inexperience in your particular situation. But, to add a different perspective, ...

I've applied twice. The first time, I waited rather than applied straight out of undergrad for the exact reasons you describe: I wanted my senior spring grades represented, and I wanted to pursue additional coursework and have the chance to put more time into the exams and the written parts of the application. Then, after my first round, my intent was to reapply that fall itself, but I again took extra time. (In part my decision to take more time before my second round had more to do with personal rather than academic circumstances, but it turned out to be an academic boon to boot.)

While I'm not sure if the benefits I gained from waiting in either scenario made any particular difference in the evaluation of my materials, I do know that in both cases the wait made a world of difference in what I put forth. For example, I have no way of knowing whether the literature GRE score I submitted this season was a significant factor anywhere, but I do know that my literature GRE score was higher because of the additional time than it would have been without it. On that note, I think that there's so much about this process that is impossible to understand from our vantage point that it is a great comfort to be able to feel as good as possible about what you submit. So, although the quantitative difference between your GPA now and what your GPA will be later may be minimal, I wonder if it wouldn't be worth it to wait anyway, just so you're not wondering "what if..."? The "what if"s can be deadly hard to sit with, especially in a situation where you may never have a concrete sense of whether or not they are strictly warranted.

If it were me, I'd wait. And I feel like if you went for your MA after spending 11 years out of school, it does not to me seem likely that you will lose your desire to apply by waiting 1 year with an MA in hand, but obviously this is the most "YMMV" part of this entire post of mine, which is entirely a "YMMV" post!

[JeremiahParadise]

I met a prof at a top-10 school the other day, and he told me the adcom looks at things in this order: writing sample, SOP, letters, grades, scores. I think if your writing and research interests are ready to roll in 2012, you shouldn't let your grades (which are still good) stop you. The questions of fit and potential research/writing ability are by far the most important pieces, he said. I say go for it.

[WendyMoira]

I am "traditionally" aged, so please take this with the huge grain of salt that is my inexperience in your particular situation. But, to add a different perspective, ...

I've applied twice. The first time, I waited rather than applied straight out of undergrad for the exact reasons you describe: I wanted my senior spring grades represented, and I wanted to pursue additional coursework and have the chance to put more time into the exams and the written parts of the application. Then, after my first round, my intent was to reapply that fall itself, but I again took extra time. (In part my decision to take more time before my second round had more to do with personal rather than academic circumstances, but it turned out to be an academic boon to boot.)

While I'm not sure if the benefits I gained from waiting in either scenario made any particular difference in the evaluation of my materials, I do know that in both cases the wait made a world of difference in what I put forth. For example, I have no way of knowing whether the literature GRE score I submitted this season was a significant factor anywhere, but I do know that my literature GRE score was higher because of the additional time than it would have been without it. On that note, I think that there's so much about this process that is impossible to understand from our vantage point that it is a great comfort to be able to feel as good as possible about what you submit. So, although the quantitative difference between your GPA now and what your GPA will be later may be minimal, I wonder if it wouldn't be worth it to wait anyway, just so you're not wondering "what if..."? The "what if"s can be deadly hard to sit with, especially in a situation where you may never have a concrete sense of whether or not they are strictly warranted.

If it were me, I'd wait. And I feel like if you went for your MA after spending 11 years out of school, it does not to me seem likely that you will lose your desire to apply by waiting 1 year with an MA in hand, but obviously this is the most "YMMV" part of this entire post of mine, which is entirely a "YMMV" post!

I'm with pinkrobot. I took one year off after undergrad. Well, really, it was deciding not to apply during my last year that did it. In that year, I published twice, presented at two conferences, retook the GRE and scored significantly higher, and revised my writing sample so I was truly confident in it. I think it made all the difference. I also think pinkrobot is right in that there are so many factors we, as applicants, don't see. I liked knowing I had the strongest app I could. And, looking at what my app would have been and looking at it with that extra year, I see a stronger scholar. BUT, all that said, my situation is pretty specific and you'll probably already be a much stronger applicant than I was by already having your MA. So I would ask yourself if the GPA is the only thing bugging you or if there are other things. If the GPA is your only concern and you feel like your app is the strongest it could be otherwise, why not apply? If you feel like you could use that time to strengthen other areas, why not wait? Two semesters go by so quickly anyway.