Thread by @cfiesler

Next up in my "should and how do I PhD" series of videos... tips for PhD applications! feat e.g., knowing the faculty, reaching out to potential advisors, statements of purpose, how to be smart about letters of rec, etc. #phdchat

Going to summarize for folks who don't want to sit through the whole video! Tips for PhD applications:
(1) Check requirements early because they will surprise you with how different they can be
(2) Know the faculty in the departments you're applying to.

(2a) It is not enough to think "I want to do computer science" so you apply to every CS program. You have to know what KIND of CS you want to do, and that there's someone in the department who does that thing.

This is also important for two more reasons...

(3) Reach out to potential advisors, if you are in a field (v. common in STEM) where PhD students work very closely with advisors. This is not a REQUIREMENT but can be useful to you, in part because sometimes faculty simply can't take on new PhD advisees.

(3a) Do not send form letters. Tell them why you're interested in them. Look at recent publications. Dear Dr. X, I am considering applying to your department's PhD program. I see that you do X and I am very interested in X for Y reasons.

(4) Mention specific faculty in personal statements. This shows that you know the program and there's a specific reason you're applying there. If you send the exact same statement everywhere, this suggests you didn't do your research or that you have no idea what you want to do.

(4a) In the statement show that you have ideas and a vision, without seeming too rigid. Do not propose an exact dissertation in your statement. Mention multiple faculty to show that you have some flexibility. And emphasize research experience.

(5) Be smart with your letters of rec. Best letter comes from someone you did research with. If you ask an instructor, make sure they can say more than "they got an A in my class." Make sure they can say specific positive things about you (writing, engagement, etc.).

(5a) Do not ask someone to write you a letter just because they are a "name" if all they have to say is "they got an A in my class." Not useful! Always ask: "Can you write me a STRONG letter?" Only send strong letters.

(6) Probably don't stress about test scores. Lots of programs are dropping the requirements, and lots of faculty don't care about them anyway. I have literally never cared about test scores AT ALL and experience so far has made me think they're totally useless.

For all of this: Make sure you find out about the norms in YOUR DISCIPLINE. Your mileage may vary.

More nuance/detail in the video but hopefully this is helpful! Good luck! And if you're still noodling on the PhD thing you should watch this instead:

OH one more thing: I applied to PhD programs earlier in my life and was REJECTED FROM ALL OF THEM! So also know that if you strike out it is not the end of the world, you can try again, and it might even work out better in the end. :)