QUICK QUESTION-JOINT PROGRAMS

[rezamza]

Quick question…if Im applying to a school and am given the option to apply for a joint degree program or not, will there still be a chance of me being accepted into the school even if I am no accepted into the particular joint program? And how do schools look at joint degree applicants…favorable or constraining? If it matters, Ill be finishing most of my applications before mid-January, at least a month before most of them are due.

Thanks

[Andrew Ash]

Hi Rezamza,

The answer to this question is going to depend heavily on your individual situation and the school you're applying to.

Generally speaking, though, each graduate school that you're applying to is going to make a separate admissions decision. So if you apply for a JD/MBA dual degree program, for example, and the law school decides to admit you but the business school doesn't, then you will still be admitted to pursue a JD. And if you're admitted to both programs but you only decide to accept one offer, that's fine too.

In general, each graduate school is going to treat you just like they would any other applicant, so applying for a dual degree isn't going to have an effect on your admissions chances either way. Be sure to make clear in your personal statements why you're interested in pursuing a dual degree and how you think it will help you.

Again, all of that advice was general. The best thing to do is to do some specific research on the school you're looking at - maybe even contact the admissions office - and find out what their take is on dual degree applicants.

If you're on the fence about whether to apply for a dual degree or not, think about what you're personally looking for. Will the extra opportunities that a dual degree gives you outweigh the extra time and money spent on school? If the answer is yes, then go for it.

Best
Andrew Ash