phddestiny Posted November 21, 2014 Share Posted November 21, 2014 If a school says what other program would you like to be considered for if you cannot get an offer for your desired program? Is that a trap? I mean - if i list another program, say PhD econ adsa substutute for say, PhD policy, will it signify that i am not keen on gettjng a PhD policy and I just want to get into that school OR can it somehow help in that they will give me the other program? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XanthusARES Posted November 21, 2014 Share Posted November 21, 2014 I didn't have that question on any of my applications. I can see how it might be a trap for some programs, but I can see how it might be ok for some programs (i.e. Stanford GSB quant marketing and econ). I can't say specifically what to do here, others may have better advice. My gut feeling is that it probably isn't a trap, assuming you don't say that if you don't get into this business school you are interested in getting accepted into the health science department. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YaSvoboden Posted November 21, 2014 Share Posted November 21, 2014 I think I remember that from applying to Duke. I would guess that it is a graduate school designed piece of the application and it is unlikely to matter. If there is another program that you are honestly interested in, put that one down. Otherwise, I wouldn't put anything. Personally, I wouldn't have been interested in anything other than a PhD in accounting at any of the schools I applied to. Some programs probably overlap enough for a second choice to be valid, but it seems weird to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhDPlease Posted November 21, 2014 Share Posted November 21, 2014 I think you are over-thinking this and whether or not you put a 2nd choice will not affect your chance of getting admitted to the first choice. I would put a 2nd choice if there is a 2nd choice that you'd really consider attending, and leave it blank if you would not consider attending any 2nd choice at the school, and then not worry about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mktngapplicant Posted November 22, 2014 Share Posted November 22, 2014 I don't think this is a trap. I was accepted to schools where I checked off interests in other programs. I was even accepted to one school where I wrote in my SOP that I would consider an econ admit as well. Since my interests were clearly at the intersection of econ and marketing, I don't think this was viewed in a negative way. One reason they ask is because other departments may want to try to recruit you. I know people who were accepted to the marketing departments at CMU and NYU after applying to other fields because they thought they may be a good match. I suspect this happens in other fields where the desired skill sets of the applicants of various fields have considerable overlap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phddestiny Posted November 22, 2014 Author Share Posted November 22, 2014 Frankly, I'm very, very interested in another program. Please how can I put this in my SOP in a way it doesn't suggest I want anything. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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