How many graduate schools (PhD) does one usually apply to?

Question

I'm applying to 15 different programs. Is that too much? I'm in the social sciences, not medicine or law or anything.

Answer 1

I think 15 is a lot, but not because it's too many to keep track of. If you're a decent student, it shouldn't be too difficult to be organized during your application process...after all, college is a 4-year lesson in time management. If you've already gotten your Master's degree (as I have), you've had even more intensive training in organization.

I'm applying to 7 (possibly 8) schools. I'm not applying to more for two main reasons:

1) It starts to get really expensive. Between the GRE (both General and Subject tests), extra score reports, transcripts, and application fees, each school I apply to ends up costing me around $100.

2) I've researched the programs I'm applying to. I don't need to apply to more because all the schools I want to go to are on my list (including one "safety" school).

I don't think it sounds like you're insecure about getting in, but you may not know enough about all the programs you're applying to, and that's why you're applying to so many. However, if you can afford it and you'd be happy going to any of the schools you're applying to, I can't think of a reason to tell you why you shouldn't apply wherever you want.

Good luck!

Answer 2

It depends on the degree and the quality of the schools.

In 1974, I applied to three math programs -- Delaware, Duke and Minnesota. I applied to Delaware, because I knew they would accept me. Duke was a top 30 program at the time, and Minnesota was a top 15 program. I got into all three. I knew that three was enough -- because Minnesota is a huge school that needs a lot of Math TAs -- so they literally accept dozens of students each year.

I never finished that degree. In my 40s, I went back to school, getting an MBA at Duke. I decided to go on for a PhD in Finance. I applied to nine schools -- all ranked in the top 12. I didn't apply to a safety school -- because at my age it wasn't worth getting a second rate PhD.

I knew that I was qualified to get into all of these programs. But I also knew that they would be really hard to get into. Wharton gets about 350 applications per year, and only accepts about four students. Berkeley (where I ended up going) gets 250-300 applicaitons per year and takes between four and six. Most ofthe other schools on my list had similar admissions numbers. I ended up getting into two of the nine programs. Most of my classmates at Berkeley applied to a similar number of programs and only got into two to four schools.

15 applications may be on the high end -- but if you are applying to the best schools and are in a discipline where they don't accept many students -- then it is not a bad idea to cast a wider net. Apply to a couple of reach schools and at least one sure thing.

Answer 3

that depends on many factors. there is no "correct" number of apps to send out. but 15 will probably do the trick.

what is more important is which schools to target, not the number.

a good idea is to do the following for apps:

first, send out a bundle to schools where you think you have a real chance of acceptance and that you like.

second, send out one app to a school you think may be beyond your reach and you have no chance at. what they heck, not only may you be better than you think, it also takes away future doubts in your life... ("could i have, should i have applied for school X a long time ago?")

third, apply to one school you know is below your abilities, just in case you have severely overrated yourself. ;)

some key points to consider for accepting a school's offer of accpetance are...

1. make sure THEY pay for your time there with tuition waiver, stipends, scholarships, whatever. if they dont want to pay to have you there, it means they dont think you are all THAT good. and, it means that you may not fare well against your fellow grad students in terms of grades, etc. this will hurt you later when you apply for jobs and the profs compare you to your classmates when they write letters of rec.

2. look at the profs and their research agendas. what are they publishing? is that exactly what YOU want to study? if not, then why bother accepting and going there?

good luck to you.

Answer 4

I kept it to five. It's hard to keep track of more and you're more likely to burn out sooner. It kinda sounds like you have insecurities about getting accepted.