Home country funding and admission processes

[reixis]

Hey guys, I was wondering if coming with full funding (tuition, fees + living costs) from your home country has any impact on your application. I know it shouldn’t, but I have heard that informally this might make your application more attractive.

 

The reason I’m asking this is because I may only indicate two schools at the application form and I’m not sure if I should aim high or not (sadly, the selective process will take place BEFORE schools start to spread out admissions).

 

Any thoughts on that?

[introspectiveopacity]

Presumably it would, since the reason departments are forced to accept so few is because they only have a few funded positions available. If you can guarantee independent funding, they may be willing to accept an extra applicant.

[MKEPhil]

I think what it will really help with is keeping you off a waitlist   There's no reason to waitlist a fully funded candidate.  This is especially helpful for international students because, as ridiculous as this is, departments pay more to have them study at the school, which gives programs an incentive not to accept international students.