Accepted into program you didn't apply to?

[EMGagne]

I've seen a few posts on the results page saying people were rejected from a PhD program but offered a spot in the MA program even though they didn't apply.

What's up with this?

[grad_wannabe]

Many schools shuttle rejected PhD applications into consideration for the in-house/associated MA. There's usually a box on the application that says something like "if we don't feel that you're a good fit for our program, may we share your applications with others?"

[Owlet]

Does anyone by chance know which schools have these kinds of offers?

[brown_eyed_girl]

University of Chicago is an example of a school known for doing this (for the humanities/social sciences at least). They may not think you are qualified for the highly selective, fully funded PhD program, but they are willing to take your money for an unfunded MA. Programs like these are often considered "cash cows," but they also offer students who didn't get into PhD programs on the first round a chance to beef up their resume with a degree from a prestigious school, and they seem to have decent PhD acceptance rates.