Our Social Psychology PhD Program received 381 applications, which is a 64% increase from last year.

Are other PhD programs receiving a similar spike in applications? If so, do you know what is driving it?

The previous high number of applications to our program was roughly 300, immediately after the 2008 financial crisis. so I'm assuming a good amount is due to the dire job prospects for students with undergraduate degrees.

But we also have a new president-elect, who will usher in more positive policies for immigration.

Are other countries experiencing a similar spike as the US (I'm looking at you, Canadian friends)?

Another huge change is that our graduate program--and many others--have offered numerous online application webinars to make the process more transparent.

If your program did not do an online webinar, are you experiencing a spike in applications too?

We also removed the GRE this year which is potentially a barrier to people who either got low scores or don't have the financial resources to take the exam (eg., non-US students are not eligible for the fee reduction waiver: https://www.ets.org/gre/subject/about/fees/reduction/).

Maybe there are other factors at play. But these four factors are all confounded and I'd love to hear from others who might now have implemented these policies to see if we can isolate what is happening.

Bottom line: it's going to be an incredibly competitive year for applicants to PhD programs.

You have my sincere sympathy if you are applying to graduate school this year.