How do graduate schools judge part time graduate applications

[trickslapper]

Basically part-time graduate students are paying their own way through grad school. At the least they probably aren't receiving much if any assistance from the university. Because of this, are university departments less strict on the criteria for admitting a part-time student?

If i put myself in the shoes of a university official a part-time graduate student application is free money. I hate to put it like that but, it is what it is. So doesn't it make sense that it would be easier to be admitted as a part-time student vs a full-time student?

Just something that popped into my head the other day.

 

[Choppy]

There's no such thing as free money.

Professors are genuinely interested in advancing their research. Admitting a graduate student part-time means that whatever project that student will become a part of will take about twice as long to finish (perhaps more so since people tend not to be as productive with more interruptions) and full time graduate students already take long enough to get up to speed and become productive.

Also with respect to advancing research, they generally want the strongest candidates they can recruit to work on their projects.

I'm sure there may be schools out there that look at graduate students as some kind of cash grab, but you might want to ask yourself - is that really where you want to go for your graduate studies?

 

[Vanadium 50]

To add to what Choppy said, the Department admits students for graduate work, and while the way the accounting is done varies by university, typically the Department does not receive any net income from teaching graduate courses. So the financial incentive you describe is small or nonexistent.

 

[ZapperZ]

Basically part-time graduate students are paying their own way through grad school. At the least they probably aren't receiving much if any assistance from the university. Because of this, are university departments less strict on the criteria for admitting a part-time student?

If i put myself in the shoes of a university official a part-time graduate student application is free money. I hate to put it like that but, it is what it is. So doesn't it make sense that it would be easier to be admitted as a part-time student vs a full-time student?

Just something that popped into my head the other day.

There are several ambiguities here:

1. Is this in physics? Nowhere in here did you mention the subject area. Part time MBA is not the same as part time in physics.

2. What degree level is this for? I have seen part time physics M.Sc students enrolling in such a degree that had the option of no research, but rather, passing a qualifying exam-type. For a Ph.D in physics, I have never come across anyone doing it part time. The commitment required is just too much to do it that way. Think about it. If you are doing experimental high energy physics, and your research requires that you spend 2 months at a time doing your shift at the LHC, you can't do this "part time". The same with many other areas of physics where long stretches of data-taking are common.

Zz.

 

[Matrix0]

I can understand the perspective of both the graduate student and the university when it comes to part-time graduate applications. While it may seem like a "free money" situation for the university, there are several factors that are considered when evaluating any graduate application, regardless of whether the student is applying for part-time or full-time enrollment.

Firstly, universities want to ensure that all graduate students, regardless of their enrollment status, are capable of handling the rigorous coursework and research demands of a graduate program. This means that the admissions criteria for part-time students are typically similar to those for full-time students. Graduate schools want to attract and retain high-quality students who will contribute positively to the academic community and ultimately, the reputation of the university.

Secondly, graduate programs rely on the success of their students to maintain their own reputation and rankings. This means that it is in the best interest of the university to admit students who have the potential to excel in their studies, regardless of their enrollment status. Admitting underqualified or unprepared students, even if they are paying their own way, can ultimately reflect poorly on the program and the university as a whole.

Additionally, many universities offer financial aid and scholarships specifically for part-time graduate students. This shows that they value and support part-time students just as much as full-time students. Therefore, the idea that part-time students are viewed as "free money" is not entirely accurate.

In conclusion, while it may seem like part-time graduate students have an advantage in the admissions process, the reality is that universities have a responsibility to maintain the quality and reputation of their graduate programs. Admissions criteria are typically not less strict for part-time students, and their applications are evaluated with the same level of scrutiny as full-time students.