<p>So, this is an odd question. I doubt if there is any reliable answer, but I feel like throwing it out there anyway. So, I know that graduate acceptance rates are anywhere between, say, 1-20 percent. However, does anybody know what percentage of those who apply for grad school get accepted to at least 1 of their possible applications? </p>
<p>I know its an odd question, but I'm sure others have wondered about it also.</p>
<p>Vic,</p>
<p>Grad acceptace rates are higher than 25% at some schools, in some programs. Also, it seems to be rare that a decently qualified applicant (i.e. not someone who has a 3.1 GPA in earth sciences applying to a Clinical Psychology PhD at Yale) gets rejected fron all schools applied to.</p>
<p>Totally depends on the school, program, degree, etc. Some have an acceptance around 1%, others are close to 100% - provided the applicant meets admission standards. With wise preparation and selections regarding a grad school future, odds seem pretty good that someone would be accepted to at least one program.</p>
<p>jm,
I know of 2 well qualified students from my S's school (an "elite" LAC) who were not successful in any of their Ph.D. applications. Same undergrad major applying to Ph.D programs in the same field. I am sure, though, that they were applying to highly ranked programs only. I'm not sure that this is "rare" as you have opined.</p>
<p>Mom,</p>
<p>No offense, but it seems like your comment was meant more to plug the fact that your kid got into a PhD program rather than to add anything relevant to the discussion. We all know your son got accepted into a PhD program and we are all very proud of him. However, this discussion wasn't referring specifically to PhD programs but rather to grad programs in general. Everyone knows that getting into a PhD program is much harder than getting into most masters programs. Hence, when I stated that accross the board rejections were "rare," I meant more specifically when an applicant is applying to masters programs. it is not rare for someone applying to Philosophy PhD's straight out of undergrad to be rejected everywhere he/she applies. I think everyone who has any knowledge of grad admissions it aware of this.</p>
<p>As LAGator indicates, the problem with a question like this is that the number of variables involved makes it effectively meaningless. </p>
<p>For example, you can look at acceptance rates across all programs at the University of Minnesota here:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.grad.umn.edu/data/stats/%5B/url%5D">http://www.grad.umn.edu/data/stats/</a></p>
<p>Note that overall the admit rate is 37%, with the masters rate at 48% and PhD at 27%. Lest anyone think UMn is not a top school please take a look at the rankings here:</p>
<p>before you comment. Now, with all that in mind, the conventional wisdom is that for any reasonably qualified individual, there's a program somewhere. </p>
<p>People seem to run into trouble in 2 general areas:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>By getting hung up on "prestige" - by assuming that the "ranking" of their undergrad school (i.e. an Ivy, or an "elite LAC") will assure them a spot in a top program at the expense of research, and so forth.</p></li>
<li><p>By applying only to programs that are so competitive that even a "perfect" applicant will be rolling the dice.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>So, to get back to the OP, there are programs to which it is very, very difficult to gain admission. But for a well prepared student who makes careful choices, the "odds" are very good.</p>
<p>Will C brings up some sold points, accross the board. Although grad school is competitive, it is much less so for masters programs, especially programs that are basically terminal or professional degrees. PhD's are competitive no matter where you go, with very qualified applicants vying for few open spots. That is common knowledge, however, since many schools invest serious time and money in PhD students. As Will C stated, the biggest proble is that alot of CC posters are applying to extremely competitive programs, where, as he stated, even top applicants are taking a chance at getting rejected. Although there is nothing wrong with applying to great schools, the fact of the matter is that you may very well be rejected from many of them. Hence, when you run accross a poster that applied for a Chemistry PhD at MIT, Harvard, and Berkeley and got rejected by all three, you shouldn't exaclty give up on your plans to apply for a Public Administration Masters at SUNY.</p>
<p>Well, JM, no offense taken because "everyone" does not know how hard it is to get into Ph.D. programs. I didn't until this year. And please show me where in this thread I mentioned my S other than to note that there were two "well-qualified" students from his school. I was shocked that these students were not successful. Additionally, I didn't realize that you were referring to masters programs. I'm not a mind reader and your original post certainly didn't say that. Neither you nor anyone on this board has to be "proud" of my kid. I said NOTHING about him in this thread other than he went to a certain school with two other kids. In Post #2 you said, "it seems to be rare that a decently qualified applicant...gets rejected from all schools applied to." I was merely trying to point out a real life recent example which seemed to contradict that statement. Sheesh. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Mom,</p>
<p>I'm glad to see my comments didn't touch a nerve... </p>
<p>Although there is nothing wrong with being proud of your son who's success which, as I have already commented, we are ALL very much aware of (maybe it's your close to 500 posts on this board that tipped us off...) I don't know if you should neccesarily wave it around at every possible opportunity. I have always been of the opinion that parents should tread extremely lightly in these threads, for the primary reasons that many posters, msyefl included, harbor mixed feelings about the overinvolvment of parents in their adult childrens educational pursuits.
Please don't turn this into a flame war, because I doubt that would befit either you or I. All I am saying is that your sons succesful grad application is not the be all and end all of news on this board.</p>
<p>Again, JM, no offense taken. But I wish you would have answered my question about where I said anything in this thread about my S. I should feel honored that you have attempted to skewer me for no apparent reason. You've already taken on Professor X. Please, go about your business being the "sage" of this board. I won't interfere anymore.</p>
<p>Parents are just as welcome on this board as they are anywhere else on CC, and there's no reason to be unnecessarily rude to them.</p>
<p>Since this section of CC is for graduate school admissions in general, it's important and appreciated for posters to provide context for their statements -- it's much more useful to say "in the humanities" or "for PhD applications" than to make a blanket statement that doesn't really apply to everyone. </p>
<p>I don't see anything in momof3sons' original post that indicates bragging, and to be honest, I think jmleadpipe's responses were totally unprovoked and rude.</p>
<p>JM- I really did not know that momof3's son was admitted to his PhD, nor did her thread indicate anything about that.
Most parents here are trying to share info, not brag, so perhaps a less cyncial view of postings would be helpful ;)</p>
<p>Good Lord...</p>
<p>Everytime a comment about a parent being overinvolved in his/her kids education is made, a crusade by the parents on this board immediately follows.</p>
<p>Listen, I'm sorry if I touched a nerve or two, or three, or the nerves of every parents on this board. Do I think parents should be on the internet talking about their 30 year olds PhD admission? Not really, but if that's what floats your boat, feel free to do it.</p>
<p>I should have refrained form posting what I originally did, simply because I didn't want this thread to be hijacked by cantankerous parents and self righteous MIT grad students.</p>
<p>If you guys want to open up a thread so you can lambast me, please feel free to do that. I will show up and partipate in the rumble, I promise. But for the moment, lets just all agree to disagree and get back on topic.</p>