Ph.D. Applicant Pool Continues to Grow

For the second year in a row, the number of applicants to SPP has surpassed 100, suggesting that the program is continuing to grow in popularity both nationally and internationally, according to statistics compiled by the SPP Graduate Admissions office.

“ As we've become a more established program and the word has spread, our applicant pool has grown substantially. And, as there have been more students from which to choose, we've been able to be more selective in our admissions process,” said Leslie Levin, Director of Graduate Admissions.

Some 104 perspective students applied to the program this year, compared to 109 in 2004 and 77 in 2000. The increase has resulted in a more highly qualified batch of students entering the program each year. This fact is evident in the recent rash of student awards (including five students who recently became Presidential Management Fellow finalists) and honors.

However, admissions statistics also provide a clue that SPP’s class rolls are being filled with students who have higher test scores and better GPAs. Between 2000 and 2005, admitted students’ combined analytical, quantitative and verbal GRA scores rose by 251 points. Statistics are not available for GPAs in 2000, but the average Master’s degree GPA for this year’s admits was an impressive 3.64.

The increase in applicants has also allowed SPP to continue to diversify its student body. Of this year’s 104 applicants, 43 have been offered admission. They comprise 21 domestic students and 22 foreign students from 10 different countries.

But Levin says that SPP has only just begun to earn its reputation as a top-notch choice among aspiring Ph.D. policy students. She said, “The fact is that our Ph.D. program is still young compared to other Ph.D. programs across the nation. Despite the program’s youth, SPP has been able to accomplish in a short time what it takes other programs decades to achieve. The School should be very proud.”