Applying To Graduate School?

Are you thinking of graduate school? Before starting the application process, it is good to have a plan or strategy. Below, I will list out some things you should do before applying to graduate school (PhD).

1) Ask yourself why you want to pursue a PhD: It is important to think deeply about this question. Do you want to go into academia? Do you enjoy research? Do you want to be an expert in your field? Do you want to increase your salary? Or do you just enjoy gaining new knowledge? Once you’ve been able to point out the reason you are truly interested in getting a PhD then that really pushes you to do your best when applying to schools.

2) Gather undergraduate research experience: During undergrad, it is important to work as an undergraduate research assistant for at least a year. I even tell people to also try industry internships during undergrad. The more experiences one has, the more likely they will be able to identify things they enjoy doing.

3) Have an idea of the kind of research that interests you: You do not need to know exactly what you want to do, but it is good to have an idea of the research field that fascinates you. You can gain this information from your undergraduate research experience, or through summer research opportunities or maybe even from watching a video, reading an article or hearing someone talk about their research.

4) Talk to current PhD students: Talking to students who are already immersed in the journey will help increase your knowledge. You can also learn from their mistakes or get some useful tips from them.

5) Think of the location (weather, distance from home, community): I honestly think the location or culture of a place can really affect a person. Are you someone who likes warm weather? Or do you enjoy being around people who look like you or are from the same country? It is important to put all this into perspective when looking for potential schools/labs. Remember you want to be somewhere you are comfortable and surrounded with community.

6) Make sure at least two professors conduct research you are interested in: Once you have identified the schools/programs, it is important to make sure that at least two professors in those programs conduct research that interests you. Not only this but try to make sure that the professors are seeking out students. One way you can find out is by reaching out to the professor or reaching out to a graduate student in the lab. Send an email, attach your resume, let them know you are interested in their lab and ask if they have 15 minutes to talk.

Note: You can reach out to professors or graduate students even before applying to a school.

7) Make sure you know and have fulfilled all the requirements: Different programs have different requirements for students. Ensure you have taken the classes needed to apply to a program, ensure you have gathered up the necessary amount of research experience needed by the program etc.

8) Figure out the funding situation: When selecting a program, it is important to understand the funding requirements. Will students be responsible for providing their own funding? Do students need to apply for fellowships? How long does the program fund students? How much is the yearly stipend? You want to know all this information before applying to a program. 

Once you have completed the above tips, you can now apply to the programs you are interested in. When you start the application process, there are some important things to also keep in mind.

9) Start applying as early as you can: If the deadline to apply to a program is December, start the application process latest by the beginning of August. This gives you enough time to read through the application, study for and take the GRE, have your personal statement ready and reach out to professors to help with the letters of recommendation.

10) Seek out help with your application: Ask professionals and students to help you with various parts of the application.

•  Personal Statement: Have people read your personal statement. You can take it to the writing center at your undergraduate institution, you can have the PhD students or Postdocs in your undergraduate research lab read it. You can even have your research advisor also take a look at it. Remember that your CV/Resume will highlight your research experiences, therefore try to show your personality in your personal statement. Mention your interests, things you are passionate about, what you plan to do with the degree etc. A professor once told me that when schools read personal statements, they try to gauge the applicant’s personality. Therefore, make it easy for them to know the kind of person you are through your personal statement.

•  CV/Resume: Take your CV/resume to the career center at your undergraduate institution or you can even have your research advisor go over your CV. They can help you improve the language, format etc.

•  Letters of Recommendation: Reach out to professors who know you and will always say positive things about you. This is why it is important to seek out professors who can serve as mentors during undergrad. Ask them if they will be willing to help with writing a letter of recommendation for you. Ask them three months before the deadline and that gives them enough time to write you a good letter.

• Standardized Exams: Start studying for the GRE as soon as you can. Talk to people who have already taken it, ask them for tools or books that helped them excel. You can study on your own, study with a group of people or get a tutor. I took my exam twice, the first time I studied on my own and the second time I got a tutor. It just depends on you, just ensure your start early.

•  Transcripts: Know the process of obtaining a transcript from your undergraduate institution. Some schools take a while to send out transcripts, so ensure you order them two months in advance. Also, ask the program you are applying to if they only require your college transcript or if they want any other transcripts.

I really hope these tips will be useful to you as you think of applying to graduate school. Please message me if you would like to talk or if you have any questions.