graduate admissions rep

[blu_skyee]

Hey, I was wondering if graduate admissions rep benefit from getting a lot of people to apply. I have been speaking with a rep and she keeps telling that I have a good chance of getting in and such, but I honestly feel like I won't get in. I have asked her about it and she continues to reassure me. Is there any way that I might be misled into applying just to fill a quota or something like that. I know this sounds self-deprecating but it is grad school and I'm not really that competitive.

[TakeruK]

I very much doubt that there is any benefit in getting a large number of people to apply. However, it is very very rare for someone to say "Don't apply to my school". You would have to know the person well enough to know if it's something they are saying because they personally really want you there, or they are saying it because they don't know your full profile so they want to see it (i.e. you need to apply) before they can make a decision.

However, it's unlikely you would know someone well enough to judge this when you are applying. So, don't get caught up in these mind games and what-ifs. If the program interests you, then you should apply.

[blu_skyee]

Thank you. I have actually been speaking on the phone pretty regularly with this admissions rep and she can see my application before I submit it. She has been super helpful in guiding me through the application process and continues to encourage me saying that I would be a good fit and other things like that.  By now, she knows me pretty well and my credentials, she has even read my personal statement. I was just wondering how sincere that was because my GPA is not competitive, all in all I would say I'm pretty average. 

I also attended the open house where one of the professors said that out of all the applications they receive there are a ton that are not complete. When I asked the admissions rep about it she said that they are honest with their potential candidate about their chances and proceeded to tell me that she wouldn't want me to waste time and money doing something if you don't have a good chance of getting in.

I guess it sounds too good, so I started to  become weary of their real intentions. The program I'm applying to is relatively new but it is at a very well-respected institution.

[qt_dnvr]

Candidates that express sincere interest are likely to attend if accepted. So her motive may be to have you apply, accept you, and know that you are a definite point in her yield- which they are motivated to protect. Also a newer school may have a greater interest in this. 

I agree to try to ignore the mind games, I cannot think of any real motivation for a school to put that much effort into you and then reject you. They are salespeople 1st, but its not that complicated.