How to answer questions about whether you are taking on new doctoral students when admission is determined by a committee and a competitive process?

You give one of the two possible answers:

  • No, I am not taking on doctoral students.
  • Yes, I am interested in taking on doctoral students but who actually gets a place is decided by the admissions committee, not by me.

I explain that admissions decisions are made by committee and encourage the student to apply. No matter how strong or weak the prospective student is, the decision is not mine to make.


I answer truthfully either "yes" or "no". Whether or not I am taking students cannot affect whether applicants are accepted, but it can affect whether or not they choose to attend my institution; so I feel it's important to be honest.

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Graduate Admissions

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