PhD Admissions Down

[natofone]

Ph.D. Admissions Shrinkage

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/03/30/phd

Top Ph.D. Programs, Shrinking

http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/05/13/doctoral

It looks like next year will be especially bad and possibly worse than this year (which sucked). Thoughts?

[junebug62]

I don't see the point of worrying about stuff like this. Its always some story like "SAT/GRE scores are higher than ever" or "its getting more competitive every year" or "oh the economy is so bad right now so apps are up." If you are good enough to get into a PhD program, you are good enough to get in. If you aren't, oh well. Find another calling in life. That's my take at least.

[rustytrix]

I don't see the point of worrying about stuff like this. Its always some story like "SAT/GRE scores are higher than ever" or "its getting more competitive every year" or "oh the economy is so bad right now so apps are up." If you are good enough to get into a PhD program, you are good enough to get in. If you aren't, oh well. Find another calling in life. That's my take at least.

i think the economy issue is different from the other "higher gre" etc etc issues ... because funding for schools have gone down in real terms...and # of quality applicants have gone up ... so i dont think its an issue we can brush aside so easily

[junebug62]

This isn't the first time the economy has gone into recession and suddenly its an academic crisis. I know of relatives and friends who experienced this years ago when applying to graduate school and facing tougher odds. And quality is always relative to your cohort. Perhaps there are more applicants now due to global population and development/education trends, but its still not enough to make me worry. Focus on improving yourself and don't make excuses that you would have gotten in last year given whatever factor.

If there are less PhD spots available, its a signal the market for PhDs sucks and people need to stop seeking one.

[rustytrix]

This isn't the first time the economy has gone into recession and suddenly its an academic crisis. I know of relatives and friends who experienced this years ago when applying to graduate school and facing tougher odds. And quality is always relative to your cohort. Perhaps there are more applicants now due to global population and development/education trends, but its still not enough to make me worry. Focus on improving yourself and don't make excuses that you would have gotten in last year given whatever factor.

If there are less PhD spots available, its a signal the market for PhDs sucks and people need to stop seeking one.

there is difference between market signalling less poli sci spots specifically and all phd spots in general. and as things stand, the market is not signalling for less poli sci phds only. I agree that it would be irrational for anyone to whine about the economy and use it as an excuse for suboptimal preparation but it would also be irrational to say that a contracting economy has no effect on phd placements

[doctorwho]

Yeah this one ought to be irrelevant to applicants. (I say "ought" because it obviously can add to the stress of the situation). If you're serious about applying to a PhD program, I don't see how this would affect you. It's not like you're going to do anything differently, right? Presumably you're already giving it your best shot, so I don't see how this is relevant news to serious applicants.

I guess if you get in, you feel even better about yourself, and if you don't get in, at least you have some consolation that it was "one of those really tough years."

[PeaceDoc]

I'm going to admit up front, I read nothing but the thread title.

We admitted fourteen this 09/10 year. That keeps our yearly average at, you guessed it, fourteen. For context, we're a mid-sized program (~30 faculty) and large school which just doesn't admit a great number of kids. I know of some schools which had debated admitting a class at all this year, and others only a partial; but those I am close with have indicated only a marginal reduction, if any. Take the upside if you didn't get admitted somewhere. You just saved yourself 4-6 years of going blind on reading, writing, and arithmetic. Take the opportunity and travel a bit. Better yet, with washout rates of +50%, be happy you didn't spend 3 years doing something you ultimately realized you may not enjoy, and/or be cut out for. Cheers.

[Ferrero]

I didn't read it either, but for different reasons. Folks, don't let internet posters psych you out about applying to graduate school. It is in their interest to deflate the applicant pool because it improves their chances. Keep your heads up.