Accepting vs. Reapplying

[1234567890]

I have been accepted to four schools, all with full funding. I try not to pay too much attention to rankings, but two are top 40 programs and two are top 30. None are my first choice, but all have several people I am interested in working with. The locations are all great, and the job placement records (at least for three of them, not sure about the third) are solid. There are elements of my application that I didn't take seriously enough--namely, the GREs (general and subject). My verbal was in the 93rd percentile, but I didn't do very well on the subject test. I fear this might have kept me out of the equation at some places--this, coupled with, perhaps, the fact that my undergrad institution is not very prestigious.

Here's my dilemma (a good problem, I know)--since there are concrete improvements I could potentially make to my application, should I reapply next year with a slightly improved application, hoping to get into one of my top 3 choices? I am primarily concerned with getting a great job. I know any job is an accomplishment in this profession, but I am at an early enough stage to remain unrealistically ambitious. I'm not sure, but the idea of reapplying while attending one of these institutions seems a bit dishonest, and it may ultimately compromise my work.

[booksareneat]

As with all these conversations, you should directly ask the DGS what their placement rate (and where they place) for grads. That is the most important thing. Unless you were accepted somewhere I was waitlisted in which case... yeah you should totally wait for next year.

[Spritely]

I can't imagine turning down four funded offers to top 40 schools in this economic climate. I simply can't!

1) There is no guarantee you will improve your tests scores. I studied a lot and my subject test score went down. That certainly did not help me out, and I was forced to apply mostly to schools that do not require the test.

2) As many can attest to, cohort sizes and funding are shrinking. There is no guarantee that this will improve or even that it will not get worse next year. Many schools will probably be making additional cuts in cohorts or funding by the next time you apply. If Top 50 schools are accepting cohorts of 3-6%, then your top choices may be even selective if they are top 10 or top 20 schools. Maybe you really are that spectacular of an applicant, but if none of your three top choices waitlisted or accepted you, maybe this is not hopeful for next year.

3) I ultimately agree that it is dishonest to go into a program knowing you are going to apply elsewhere and want to leave. I also find it hard to believe that you applied to all four of these schools without a serious interest in attending them. We all experience the nagging question of opportunity costs and what we are missing out on by wherever we may go, but I think your perspective is not reflecting the grim reality of grad school applications.

I don't want to kill your optimism or dreams of ideal programs. Yet, as someone who has applied to graduate school four times (for my Master's, second Masters but didn't go back, first try at PhD and didn't go back, and this year when I will go for my PhD), I can say that your application will probably become stronger, but there are no guarantees. I was rejected this year at a school that accepted me last year, just as one example.

Good luck with your decision and I hope you're happy with wherever you go. And if you don't go anywhere, knock them out next year!

[sundv004]

It's your choice and your life, but I would go to one of the schools that accepted you. Especially if you're getting funded. Besides, I am strongly convicted in the belief that applicants over-determine the weight given to the GRE when it comes to adcoms. The GRE might be used as a yardstick to cut a pile of applications in half, but it's not the thing that's going to get you in. When it comes to down to brass tacks, I am quite sure that writing sample, letters of rec and your statement letter are what really makes you or breaks you. Besides, do you really want to have labor over the GRE again--just for the mere possibility of getting into a slightly better school? Bah: sounds nightmarish.

[Minnesotan]

I don't believe this is a real question.

We get these from time to time.

[1234567890]

yea, all sounds good. thanks for the feedback.

[immersion]

No one cares about the GRE Subject Test at all...I was accepted at two very prestigious schools and didn't even take the damm test...both schools require it (I can't believe I'm going to mention rankings) but both schools are in the top 5..ewww...

[latetothegame]

Go jump in a lake. Seriously. Four funded offers? First or second tier programs?

I scored 99th percentile on my verbal, by the way, and scored well on subject tests. I am not getting into any of my top three choices, and there's nothing my scores can do about it.

[Yellow#5]

Ha! Next you'll post that there are four beautiful women fighting over you; two are current models, but only for Sears catalogues; 2 are FORMER Victoria secret models (note, that's FORMER), and you've noticed one of them has a slightly longer second toe than her big toe. The second one seems perfect, except she doesn't like "Family Guy" and all your uttered speech quotes exclusively from "Family Guy" so you worry that the two of you don't share any common values. Was that your next question?

Life is hard.

[Minnesotan]

Life is hard.

Who has time to decide between Harvard, Yale, Berkeley, and Brown when all these models (and ex-models) are hanging around my beach house? Or my ski lodge? Or my modest castle in Scotland? Or my private island in the South Pacific?

BTW, can anyone tell me where I should vacation next?