How Many Engineering Application for Mech E Should I Send?

[KennedyMeiji]

How many is too many and how few is not enough?

 

I'm applying for a PhD in Mechanical Engineering and I'm worried that I may not have applied to enough schools. I have good grades, 5 years work experiance, and have already earned a Masters degree.

 

I've applied to 5 schools, UW, Purdue, Minnesota, Illinois, and Northwestern. I know a few more programs have deadlines coming up (ASU) would it make sense to throw a few more applications out if I havent heard anything yet?

 

Thanks

[ankurshah]

i guess 5 should be fine if you a hopeful of an admit. Usually 6-8 apps are good. Many people even apply to more. I guess its a personal opinion, anything more than 6 is your call. when i had applied for master's i put in 16 apps while when applying for PhD am happy with 8 solid applications.

[candy-s]

It just depends. If you have known your aim well and approved by professors, one is enough. But if you are not, maybe you should try more.

[TeaGirl]

It depends. How good your grades are, your research experience, etc.

Five is a good number in general but all of the schools you mentioned are pretty competitive so it may not be enough. Honestly, I'd highly recommend you throw in a couple more applications to somewhat safer schools.