Graduate School Application Trends - Insights From Boston University

Are you wondering how to stand out in college applications? If you re one of many students that are trying to figure out how to get into college, this article is for you!

We interviewed Mr Mark Khan, the Director of Marketing and Enrollment at Boston University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and asked him about the current graduate school application trends, and what advice he can offer to prospective students.

Here all of the helpful application tips we talked about in the interview.

What universities expect from students

1. Universities actively engage with students to encourage them to submit applications.
2. Students then make efforts to persuade the universities to accept their applications.
3. Once accepted, universities continue their engagement efforts to retain the students in their programs.

The university-student relationship during the recruitment phase can be seen as a continuous cycle of mutual persuasion and engagement. Both parties actively participate in this process, with universities trying to attract potential students and students working hard to secure their place.

Competition for limited program spots means students have to put more effort in standing out

As a student, youre no longer just competing with a neighbor down the street youre competing with students from all over the world.

Whats more, as students have gotten savvier: they know what answers schools are looking for in order to get those acceptance letters, and theyre applying to way more schools (3-5 before, and 7-10 on average today) to increase their chances of getting accepted.

This all means that as a student, it’s very important to differentiate yourself in some way.

The next section will focus on what universities look for in candidates, and what red flags can cause your application to be disregarded.

Common student pitfalls

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Demand for shorter programs is growing

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