How to apply for a PhD
Getting into PhD programs in science and engineering is a surprisingly elaborate process, and I’ve seen so much advice out there that misses the point. Unlike for many professional degrees (think: MDs and MBAs), getting a PhD includes working very closely with a small group of dedicated experts for years. They’re not thinking of you as a student so much as a future collaborator whose performance will impact the future of the research group. The process of applying for and getting accepted to a PhD is thus pretty involved. They’re making a large investment. You are too.
One of my goals is to demystify the process of PhD applications, and here I’ll explain the basics in a nutshell. My focus is U.S.-based programs in science and engineering, but the norms are pretty similar across countries. Here are the essential steps and some hidden “rules”:
First, gain relevant research experience and take relevant coursework. You don’t have to have the perfect research experience or a 3.9 GPA in your major, and your major doesn’t have to be the field you want to work in for your PhD. (Sometimes it’s better if it’s not!) You don’t have to apply right after college. If your research experience is in an unrelated area, that’s often okay too. You can even get in without research experience. But the more exposure you get to the field in which you want to specialize, the better informed you’ll be, the more likely you’ll make a choice that’s good for you, and the more likely you are to be recognized by admissions committees as a budding expert who’s ready for the PhD. Undergraduate readers, see here for specific advice.
Relatedly, read papers in your field to develop your interests and identify advisors with whom you might want to work. There’s no substitute for this step, and it’s one of the surest ways to stand out as an applicant. Reading papers is the great equalizer: I really don’t care about a straight-A student from an ultra competitive university if they haven’t read relevant papers and can’t discuss the research in a field they want to immerse themselves in for five years. If you’ve an unorthodox background that might make people question your understanding and commitment, read papers. This is a good way to impress your letter writers too. It will help you write a much stronger application and interview well. It will affirm if this is the right field and degree for you.
Talk to any mentors about your potential advisors and reach out to potential advisors directly if that’s the custom in your field. Often your mentors will know about great work being done by research groups that’s not yet published, and they’ll know about new assistant professors. They can also steer you away from labs with problematic reputations. Once you have your shortlist of potential advisors, email them to introduce yourself, ask if they’re taking graduate students, and if so, ask about their research directions. If they invite you to talk, probably by Zoom or phone, you’ll want to prepare for that interview-before-the-interview. These interactions typically occur in the months before the deadline. Pro tip: Sometimes brilliant applicants get rejected from programs because it’s not clear if they’re interested in being advised by more than one person in the program, and that one person might favor another applicant. Figure out now with whom you might want to work.
Select your programs, write your application, and finalize your letter writers. A lot of work goes into selecting PhD programs, and some people make the mistake of applying too broadly. That’s unnecessarily expensive (often $65/pop, though you can get fee waivers) and dilutes your energy that could be spent better standing out to the right programs. The statement of your research interests, sometimes called the statement of purpose or research statement, is the most important part of the application over which you now have control. Spend time on it, get feedback (if possible), and tailor it to each program. Line up your letter writers at least six weeks before the deadline. I love it when people follow up with me when they submit their application.
Wait patiently to hear from programs. PhD applications are usually due in December, and invitations to interview often go out in January, but there are exceptions. Not every program does interviews. Most interviews are in person (the program will pay) in January and February. Try to keep your schedule flexible.
Interview. Typically this means you fly or drive out for 2-3 days and speak to your potential advisor(s), half a dozen other faculty, graduate students, and other applicants. It’s best to practice your answers to common interview questions before you go. It doesn’t hurt to check if the research groups you care about have published new papers. You can use your visit to lightly interview them too, and you should definitely be observant and try to assess fit, but real interviewing comes after you receive an offer.
When you get acceptances, it’s time for you to interview them in earnest. You might be able to attend lab meeting virtually. You can ask to speak to lab members one-on-one. You should especially ask for additional conversations with potential advisor(s) to ensure you have a clear picture of their mentoring style, research direction, expectations, vision for the lab, and more. In my view, too many applicants skip this step, but it’s so important for ensuring you’ll be happy! I’ll provide more information on how to do this.
After you make a decision (I have advice here too, but this is long enough!), email all your potential advisors promptly and thank them for the opportunity. Many applicants underestimate how small their field is. You’ll almost certainly be interacting with some of them again.
Let me know what might still be confusing, and for more details, please consult my guide.