Applying to graduate school
Grad school applications for a lot of disciplines start to open soon. Applying to grad school is low-key terrifying, especially if, like me, you don’t know anyone who has gone through the process and can give you advice or tell you where to start. So I thought I’d make a post about my own experience! This post got a little long, so don’t be afraid to hit J and skip this if you aren’t interested
Disclaimer: I applied to CogNeuro Ph.D. programs, so your experience will likely be different if you’re applying to a separate field, especially non-scientific fields. Still, I hope these tips might serve as a jumping-off point, if nothing else.
Preparing your application:
Before you even start your application, email any profs you’re interested in working with. Ask them if they have graduate positions open, and anything else you’re interested in knowing about them. Then tell them you’re applying to their school and would like to work with them. Introducing yourself to the professor can make them more likely to invite you for an interview or accept you into their lab.
Keep a master document of all your essays. Copy each essay prompt into the document. This allows you to easily copy and paste sections of different essays for different schools, and it keeps everything organized in one place.
Open a spreadsheet and set up tables for recommender info, application numbers, and application links.
Recommender info: list each recommender’s name, title, phone number, and email. You’ll have to enter this info into pretty much every app; this table allows you to copy and paste and save yourself some trouble.
Application numbers: list your cumulative GPA, upperclass GPA, major GPA, and any test scores + the date you took the test. Use this part of the spreadsheet to figure out your current semester GPA and cGPA, since you’ll probably be applying before grades are in. You can use embedded formulas to figure out your cGPA instead of having to run the calulcations by hand.
Application links: list each school you’re applying to, the link to the application itself, your login username and password, all of the documents you need to submit or upload (essays, test scores, rec letters, transcript, etc.), and the different faculty members you’re interested in working with (to help you remember who works at which school). Once you’ve applied, add a field for how each school will notify you about your decision, and add a link if you’re given one.
So you’ve been granted an interview! Congrats! Tell your friends and family! And then immediately email your professors, work supervisors, PI, etc. to let them know when you’ll be absent. You won’t have much time to work on schoolwork during an interview, so it’s best to plan out any extensions you might need ahead of time with your prof.
Unless explicitly stated otherwise, interview attire is business formal! I spent HOURS trawling through College Confidential and other forums and never got a clear answer. But seeing the other interviewees made a clear impression: everybody overdresses for fear of being the only person underdressed. Don’t be the only person underdressed.
Bring a small notebook to take notes and write down questions you want to ask. Padfolios look impressive, but they’re annoying to carry around. A smaller, unassuming but classy notebook will work just as well.
If you’re just speaking to a ton of PIs, the interview will be a far cry from, say, a job interview. This is a conversation, a chance to gauge whether you and the PI would be a good fit. They already know you’re a good student, or else you wouldn’t be sitting in front of them. Instead of preparing a spiel about your own skills, prepare questions designed to learn about the PI. Some questions you could ask:
What projects do you plan to work on over the next five years?
Is your mentorship approach hands-on or hands-off?
Have you worked with grad students before? Do you enjoy working with graduate students?
Would I be working on an independent project?
You’ll likely have chaperones who are current grad students; talk to them as well! Ask things like:
What’s your favorite thing about this school? Least favorite?
Why did you choose this school?
Is the student atmosphere collaborative or competitive? Are students friendly with each other or do they keep to themselves?
If you go to a fancy dinner party, allow yourself one (1) glass of wine and no more. Almost everyone will do it, so you’ll blend in, but you don’t want to get drunk and make a fool of yourself.
Send thank you notes! Handwritten is more meaningful, but heartfelt emails work as well. Send a note to each professor or interviewer you spoke with, as well as any admissions liaisons who may have been in touch with you throughout the process. See this post of mine for a template.
If you are rejected, consider emailing the school’s admissions office to ask why you were turned down. Some schools state point blank on their websites that they don’t offer that information, but it’s worth a shot for other schools.
Take a deep breath and treat yourself. You did it! You applied to graduate school!
