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by Brian Burnsed
Growing application numbers force more colleges to reject qualified students
It's the small, white envelope that graduate school applicants fear the most. It has the official school letterhead in the upper-left corner and contains a single sheet of thrice-folded white paper. Applicants needn't read past the opening few words of the letter inside to get the message; "Despite" or "We regret" signals what comes next. It's the dreaded rejection letter, and an increasing number of graduate school applicants are receiving them. They have the economy to thank for their woes.
Nearly 5 million workers in the United States were part of mass layoffs in 2008 and 2009
according to the
While this seems to be a wise strategy, it's one that millions of recent graduates and laid-off workers
have followed. Though the trend isn't universal, many graduate schools across the country have seen
application levels significantly jump over the past two years. And while some schools can accommodate
the rise by accepting more students, many are simply having to say no more often, turning away students
that they would've otherwise accepted without the deluge of applications. "Typically, in a recession,
students do turn to graduate school," says David Daleke, associate dean at
the
At the
What should the students who are being edged out by the increase in competition do? Admissions officials argue these students shouldn't give up, saying that they should be more vigilant in their efforts to strengthen the weakest points of their applications. Be it finding some entry-level work experience during or soon after college or retaking a graduate admittance test like the GMAT, applicants need to do more than the bare minimum to keep the rejection letters at bay in this environment. Another way to get ahead amid heightened competition is quite simple but often overlooked: Don't procrastinate. Bouffides notes that candidates should get their applications in as soon as possible. "Once your application is ready, don't wait around," he says. "There's a better chance of getting in earlier rather than later in the admissions cycle."
© U.S. News & World Report
Education: Getting Into Graduate School Made Tougher by Recession | Brian Burnsed
© U.S. News & World Report