Many students are laser-focused on attending a specific top-rated school because of its world-class reputation, learning environment, and quality of instructors. One tactic some students have adopted to maximize their chances of attending that one dream school is applying to more than one of its programs.
However, is this necessarily a good idea? Will the admissions committee see your passion for attending their school? Or is there a risk of appearing unfocused and unserious about your career?
In truth, it depends on the school, situation, and how you position your Statement of Purpose (SOP, or Personal Statement, Statement of Intent, or your Short Answer Questions).
Why your Statement of Purpose matters
One of the most crucial parts of your university submission is your SOP. The SOP highlights your academic background, extracurricular achievements, work experience, and personal and professional goals. Your SOP also allows you to explain why you want to take your desired program at the institution you’re applying to.
However, if you apply for more than one program, can you write an SOP that will work for multiple programs?
In some cases, you may be able to use the bulk of your statement – but don’t forget to customize per program. For example, there may be two different branches of engineering you’re considering, but still not sure which path you want to pursue. Because both courses are in the same field, you can likely tailor your SOP accordingly and apply to both programs.
However, if the two programs are not related at all, such as law and physiotherapy, obviously, you’ll have to focus on and showcase your different experiences in different ways.
Setting expectations for your referees
If you are applying to multiple programs at the same school, each application will require one or more professional and academic references. In some cases, you must use the same referees for each application, and they must submit reference letters for each program.
As mentioned in another article, be sure to give your referees plenty of lead time to submit their letters before the application deadline. We always strongly recommend contacting them at least three months prior to the submission due date. This will maximize the chances of them agreeing to be your referees and providing letters that reflect all your outstanding academic, research, and on-the-job accomplishments as they relate to each program.
Do your research, and don’t make assumptions
It’s important not to make assumptions about any school admissions policies. Every university is different and will have different requirements and lenses. So, do your research before deciding on your best strategy for each program independently.
If you’re trying to decide on your programs, most universities hold open houses where prospective students can tour the grounds, ask questions about campus life, and find out more about application requirements. If you’re still having trouble deciding between programs, you can ask the campus representative directly if the school will allow you to apply to both.
University open days also provide an excellent opportunity to ask about the programs you’re applying to. Inquire about course expectations, how many hours per week are scheduled for lectures, which modules you’ll be taking, and how students are assessed.
Hire an Advancement Coach & Strategist to help
The critical difference in achieving success in your university applications is putting together a submission package that best represents all the unique things about you, irrespective of how many programs you’re applying to.
Hiring an Advancement Coach & Strategist at Apply YourselfTM can help you succeed. Our comprehensive 12-week program is based on the experience of our Founder, Dr. Adrienne Shnier, who has served as a professor, lawyer, and Admissions Committee Member. Our team will be able to answer all of your questions, including which schools accept applications to multiple programs and how to go about applying for them.
Best of all, our program will provide you with an enriching experience and tools designed to bring you success in all your future endeavours. With Apply YourselfTM, it’s not just about your education. It’s about the rest of your life.
Improve your chances of acceptance into graduate schools and professional programs with Apply YourselfTM
Book a strategy call with Dr. Adrienne Shnier, an Admissions Committee Member, to learn about how our signature course, Mastering Academic Applications: From Scratch to Submission, can help you finish your applications with clarity, support, structure, and strategy. We offer customized 1:1 LSAT and MCAT coaching to help our clients achieve their best scores to get into their dream schools.