#phdapplications

Well this year was a doozy if I don’t say so myself. But we survived it, and its okay if that’s all you were able to do this year because that’s enough.  As an offical 18th grader, I feel like I can speak pretty well to the toxicity of the academic environment. There is always a pressure to be working all of the time, people compete with each other with how few hours of sleep they got, every conversation with fellow students is just listing off all of the different assignemnts you have to do by the end of the week. On top of all of this, this is 2020. So, I decided that this year I’m going to give myself some mental slack. 

I decided that this is the year that I’m not going to try to impress anyone. I’m just going to survive and do what I have to do to move onto the next term. I think I did a pretty good job at that for the first term, so I’ll share a bit about what I observed in myself and those in my cohort. Coming into term one having to choose classes, many of my peers were packing their schedules full of 5 Unit seminars. For those who don’t know, theoretically, a 5 Unit course is supposed to take about 5-6 hours of work outside of class hours. For Stanford Anthropology, most PhD students take as close as they can to 18 credits, and anything over that you have to pay extra for the courses. Taking more courses doesn’t really put you any further ahead in terms of completing your degree, and you’re expected to complete about 45 Units each year for the first two years of the program. 

I decided to take 2 seminars (typical), a language course, and a couple filler credits that we are given the option to use if we need 1-3 units to hit 18 total. I,  fortunately, tracked every hour spent outside of the classroom working on each course using toggl (i highly reccomend): 

In a typical week, I spent about 5-6 hours/week outside of class on my Anthro seminars, and about 6-7 hours on Japanese. Japanese was a “for-fun” class so I would usually study more of that when I didn’t feel like reading dense archaeological theory. 

Toggl was a really cool way to see where I was spending too much, or not enough, time on my classwork. If it was taking me more than 1.5 hours to get through a single article, I knew I was probably spending too much time on it and should move on to the next thing. My goal for the term was to stay true to the 5 Unit idea of 5-6 hours, and not over-work myself. 

Toggl was also useful in tracking my mental health throughout the term, as it is very obvious to see when I just was not physically capable of ingesting 400 pages of reading. For example, election week:

Election week was really hard for me, and everyone else in the world honestly. I had various family things I was dealing with, typical existential dread, plus it was week 8-ish of the term when everything was already on fire in terms of workload. For one of my seminars (purple), we had to read a book for the following week which I was able to do the sundar after election day. However, for the days leading up to and surrounding the 4th, the only thing I could mentally handle was mindless Japanese vocab studying. One of my seminars really sufferend this week, and I straight up just didnt show up to the smaller Anth 310G class because I had only read the title of the pdf. Fortunately, I emailed my professor of my Theory class and was like “yo dude I cannot” and he replied that he understood and wouldnt call on me during that day of class. 

I didn’t do a whole lot of journalling at all this term, but for this week I just wrote “pain” on most days and then YAY BIDEN at the end of it. 

Weekly Schedule

Above is what a typical week looked like, some were a lot lot lot more dense, others not so much, but this was pretty average. Not all things on the calendar are work related, some are extra lectures from visiting professors that sounded interesting, or “Free Boba & Snacks Pick Up” put on by my residence. Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday were my big work days last term, where I didn’t have a whole lot of classes so I would do most of my reading then. On Tues and Thurs I had one 3-hour seminar, and M-F I had a 50 min Japanese class. 

I woke up every day around 7am-ish, made a green tea, and sat at the computer to work, filter through emails, etc. On particularily open days I would go grocery shopping, go for bike rides/walks around campus, go buy food/boba. 

On class-heavy days, I wouldn’t leave my computer for 8-12 hours, which is extremely ridiculous but that’s the new norm in school in 2020. This kind of stunk because all of the socializing was also on the computer, so even if I wasn’t working I was doing screen related things. 

EVERY day I stopped working at 6pm. Rarely did I do readings past 6pm unless I was really slacking somewhere. From 6pm onwards I would do things like play Among Us or League of Legends with my discord friends, eat, watch movies with my partner, etc. And then most nights I would try to be in bed by 12am at the latest. 

Social Life

Despite the online nature of things this term, I was suprisingly able to meet a lot of great people on campus. We were all being tested at least once a week, which made in person gatherings with 1-4 people a little less scary, especially when half of the people lived together in one household. 

In the first week of school, some of the grad programs put on a “speed friending” zoom event, where I was able to connect with two people really well. We ended up doing a “slow-friending” zoom event afterwards and then created a FB group chat and added all of the people we had met into it. The group ended up being about 15 people, and we would message the group for park hangouts, going to get food, or going on walks on campus. We also had a huge get together in a park for Mid-Autumn Festival, where we sat in a socially distanced circle, chatted, and ate mooncakes. 

Most of my socializing came from my online friends, and amongus was a huge savior to my mental health this term wher emy group would play literally every night. I also made a really good friend off of Bumble BFF this term, who I’ve hung out with a good amount for plant shopping and board games. 

I’m very fortunate to be in a situation where I can get tested for COVID on a days notice, and very grateful that I could use that to stay a little sane.  My Biggest Accomplishment this term, was not school related. but instead I hit my 365 DAY STREAK on duolingo. This was celebrated with cake. This streak has lived through literal hell and for that I am very proud. 

Overall reflection:

This term was super rough, there were a lot of days where I just napped through it and a lot of days where I couldn’t bring myself to do any work. However, I think the courseload that I took was very manageable and I’m going to continue to go light on myself in that regard. 

I really liked the boundaries that I set for myself this term, not working after 6pm and making time to do some fun things in the midst of chaos. I never felt like I was too far behind on work, or that I wasn’t doing enough, because I had a literal reminder in front of me that I had already put x amount of hours into something with toggl. 

Sometimes in class I would feel like I didn’t know how to productively contribute to conversation, but I think thats a skill that will get better over time and not being so great at it should especially be expected in the first term of a program.

Socially I met a lot of wonderful people who also made me feel more comfortable will myself. I started using She/They pronouns which feel really comforting to me. I made a lot of little origami cranes every time I was feeling sad. I drank a lot of boba. Watched a lot of She Ra. Played a lot of games. It all ended up being okay despite the weight of everything around me. 

I took the GRE and did horribly on the quant section. 

i’m one week into “re-studying”. 

Introduction Securing admission to a PhD program is a highly competitive process that requires more than just good grades. Admissions committees look for well-rounded candidates who demonstrate a strong academic foundation, clear research interests, and the potential to contribute meaningfully to their chosen field.

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1. Identify and Refine Your Research Interests

A clear and focused research interest is the cornerstone of a strong PhD application.

Why This is Important:

Admissions committees assess whether your interests align with the program’s strengths and faculty expertise.

Broad or vague research topics indicate a lack of preparedness.

Strategies to Strengthen This Aspect:

Explore Your Passion: Reflect on the topics or problems that intrigue you the most.

Conduct Preliminary Research: Read academic papers, attend webinars, or explore conference proceedings in your field.

Be Specific: Instead of stating a broad area like “renewable energy,” specify your focus, such as “solar panel efficiency optimization.”

Pro Tip: Create a research statement outlining your topic, its significance, and how it aligns with the program’s goals.

2. Build a Strong Academic Foundation

Your academic record provides the first impression of your capabilities and dedication.

Why This is Important:

A strong GPA and relevant coursework signal your preparedness for rigorous research.

Academic achievements often serve as benchmarks for admissions committees.

Strategies to Strengthen This Aspect:

Take Advanced Courses: Enroll in specialized courses or certifications that align with your research interests.

Improve Weak Areas: Retake or audit courses if necessary to enhance your knowledge.

Showcase Academic Achievements: Highlight awards, honors, or scholarships in your CV and SOP.

Pro Tip: If your GPA isn’t stellar, focus on other strengths like research experience or publications.

3. Gain Relevant Research Experience

Hands-on research experience is one of the most critical factors in a PhD application.

Why This is Important:

It demonstrates your ability to conduct independent research.

Research experience prepares you for the challenges of a doctoral program.

Strategies to Strengthen This Aspect:

Work on Independent Projects: Collaborate with professors or join labs to gain exposure.

Participate in Internships: Seek internships in research-driven organizations or industries.

Publish Your Work: Aim to contribute to journals or present at conferences.

Pro Tip: Include a brief explanation of your research contributions and results in your SOP to highlight their impact.

4. Craft an Impactful Statement of Purpose (SOP)

Your SOP is your voice in the application process, showcasing your motivations and suitability for the program.

Why This is Important:

It provides context for your academic and professional journey.

A well-written SOP highlights your commitment to research.

Strategies to Strengthen This Aspect:

Personalize Your SOP: Tailor it to each program by referencing specific faculty, facilities, or projects.

Explain Your Goals: Articulate how the program aligns with your long-term career aspirations.

Proofread Multiple Times: Ensure your SOP is free from grammatical errors and flows seamlessly.

Pro Tip: Share your draft with mentors or colleagues for constructive feedback.

5. Cultivate Strong Relationships with Referees

Letters of recommendation play a crucial role in validating your abilities and character.

Why This is Important:

They offer an external perspective on your strengths and potential.

Strong, personalized letters add credibility to your application.

Strategies to Strengthen This Aspect:

Choose Relevant Referees: Select professors or mentors who know your work well.

Provide Context: Share your CV, SOP, and the program’s requirements with your referees.

Follow Up Politely: Give them enough time to write the letter and gently remind them of deadlines.

Pro Tip: Express gratitude to your referees for their time and effort.

6. Enhance Your Academic CV

Your CV provides a snapshot of your academic and professional achievements.

Why This is Important:

A well-structured CV highlights your qualifications effectively.

It serves as a quick reference for admissions committees.

Strategies to Strengthen This Aspect:

Highlight Research Contributions: Include publications, conference presentations, and projects.

Organize Information: Use clear headings like “Education,” “Research Experience,” and “Awards.”

Keep It Concise: Limit your CV to 2-3 pages, focusing on quality over quantity.

Pro Tip: Use action verbs like “developed,” “analyzed,” or “collaborated” to describe your achievements.

7. Prepare for Standardized Tests (if applicable)

Certain PhD programs require GRE, TOEFL, or IELTS scores, especially for international students.

Why This is Important:

High test scores can strengthen your academic profile.

They often serve as a cutoff for initial screenings.

Strategies to Strengthen This Aspect:

Plan Ahead: Register for tests well in advance of application deadlines.

Use Prep Materials: Invest in reliable test prep books or online courses.

Practice Regularly: Take mock tests to familiarize yourself with the format.

8. Network with Faculty and Current Students

Building connections can provide valuable insights and enhance your application.

Why This is Important:

Faculty can offer guidance on tailoring your application to the program.

Current students can provide insider tips on navigating the admissions process.

Strategies to Strengthen This Aspect:

Attend Webinars or Conferences: Engage with faculty members during Q&A sessions.

Reach Out via Email: Politely introduce yourself and inquire about their research.

Join Online Communities: Participate in forums or social media groups related to your field.

Pro Tip: Be professional and concise in your communication to leave a positive impression.

9. Demonstrate Leadership and Extracurricular Involvement

PhD programs value candidates who bring diverse skills and experiences to the table.

Why This is Important:

Leadership and extracurricular activities showcase your ability to contribute to the academic community.

They demonstrate skills like teamwork, initiative, and time management.

Strategies to Strengthen This Aspect:

Highlight Leadership Roles: Include experiences like organizing events or leading teams.

Showcase Relevant Skills: Mention extracurricular activities that align with your research or academic interests.

Pro Tip: Include a brief mention of these activities in your SOP to add a personal touch.

10. Stay Organized and Meet Deadlines

Organization is key to submitting a strong application without missing critical components.

Why This is Important:

Late or incomplete applications are often disqualified.

A structured approach ensures every detail is addressed.

Strategies to Strengthen This Aspect:

Create a Timeline: Use tools like Google Sheets or Trello to track deadlines and tasks.

Double-Check Requirements: Ensure all documents, test scores, and fees are submitted.

Submit Early: Aim to complete your applications a week before the deadline to avoid last-minute issues.

Pro Tip: Keep digital backups of all your application materials.

Conclusion