PhD application mistakes and top tips!

Summary

This video script offers crucial advice for PhD applicants, highlighting three major mistakes to avoid: not clearly justifying the need for a PhD, not demonstrating a fit with the chosen institution or supervisor, and not providing a compelling reason for the timing of their application. It emphasizes the importance of showcasing relevant experience, securing strong recommendations, and presenting recent evidence of the field's relevance. The script also advises on building relationships with potential supervisors, proofreading applications for professionalism, and strategically formatting the application to make it stand out.

Takeaways

• 📝 Make it clear why you should be doing the PhD, highlighting your skills and experiences relevant to the research.
• 🏫 Explain why the chosen institution and supervisor are the perfect fit for your research goals, possibly due to specific resources or expertise.
• ⏰ Justify why it should be done now, citing recent developments or gaps in the field that your research could address.
• 🔍 Include lab experience in your application to demonstrate your ability to contribute to peer-reviewed research.
• 💌 Obtain strong letters of recommendation to bolster your application and establish credibility within the academic community.
• 🏆 Highlight your previous academic and research successes to showcase your potential as a productive PhD candidate.
• 🔗 Make a compelling case for the combination of your skills, the institution's resources, and the supervisor's expertise, using visual aids like Venn diagrams if helpful.
• 🔍 Use Google Scholar and other sources to find recent publications and media coverage that underscore the timeliness and relevance of your research topic.
• 🤝 Build a relationship with potential supervisors before applying to ensure they are enthusiastic about your candidacy.
• 👀 Ensure your application is professionally proofread to avoid grammatical errors and is formatted to make a strong first impression.
• 🔝 Prioritize your most impressive qualifications and achievements at the beginning of each section to capture the reader's attention immediately.

Q & A

What are the three major aspects that PhD applicants often fail to address clearly in their applications?

The three major aspects are: the reason why the applicant should be doing the PhD, the reason why the chosen institution or supervisor is the best fit, and the reason why the PhD should be done now.

Why is it important for a PhD applicant to have lab experience?

Lab experience is important because it shows that the applicant has foundational knowledge about how to work in a lab or conduct research, which increases the likelihood of producing good science that can result in peer-reviewed papers.

How can volunteering in a lab help a PhD applicant stand out?

Volunteering in a lab can provide the applicant with practical experience, which is beneficial for demonstrating their ability to contribute to research and potentially stand out among other applicants.

Why are letters of recommendation significant in a PhD application process?

Letters of recommendation are significant because they provide personal endorsements from known figures in the field, which can help the applicant gain credibility and increase their chances of being accepted.

What should a PhD applicant do to make their previous successes clear in their application?

The applicant should highlight their previous successes, such as high grades or notable achievements, right at the top of their application to showcase their qualifications and strengths.

How can a PhD applicant demonstrate that the chosen institution and supervisor are the perfect fit for their research?

The applicant can create a Venn diagram or use other visual aids to illustrate the overlap of skills, instruments, or capabilities that make the institution and supervisor an ideal match for their research.

What is the importance of showing urgency in a PhD application?

Showing urgency helps to convey that the research is timely and relevant, which can make the application more compelling and increase the chances of being accepted.

How can a PhD applicant use Google Scholar and other resources to support their application's urgency?

By searching for recent publications and popular science articles related to their research field, applicants can demonstrate that their topic is currently a hot topic and gaining attention in the academic community and media.

What is the common mistake that PhD applicants make regarding their relationship with potential supervisors?

A common mistake is not speaking with the professor before applying or not building a strong enough relationship, which is crucial as the professor's enthusiasm can positively influence the admissions office's decision.

Why is proofreading a PhD application important and what can applicants do if they can't afford a professional proofreader?

Proofreading is important to ensure the application is free of grammatical errors and presents a professional image. If unable to afford a proofreader, applicants can use tools like Grammarly to help produce well-structured sentences and paragraphs.

What is the advice given for the formatting and presentation of a PhD application to make it stand out?

The advice includes using background colors to highlight achievements, placing important information at the top in bullet points, and ensuring the application is easy to interpret and visually appealing to make a strong first impression.

What should a PhD applicant do to ensure their application starts with an impactful introduction?

The applicant should bring all the 'awesome stuff' to the front, starting each section with their most impressive achievements or qualifications to make a strong initial impact on the reader.