(1/n)
In the past 2.5 years, I received about 1,000 PhD applications. I wanted to share some thoughts, which might be helpful to get into the right program. Experience is from a European perspective but should apply elsewhere.
Here's the lessons learned: 👇
In the past 2.5 years, I received about 1,000 PhD applications. I wanted to share some thoughts, which might be helpful to get into the right program. Experience is from a European perspective but should apply elsewhere.
Here's the lessons learned: 👇
(2/n)
Template applications gain little attention; e.g. "Dear respect Professor <𝒄𝒐𝒑𝒚 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆 𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒏𝒕>" is not a great start. Pro tip: ctrl+shift+V pastes text without formatting. Also avoid generic phrasing like “I want to do AI”...
Template applications gain little attention; e.g. "Dear respect Professor <𝒄𝒐𝒑𝒚 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆 𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒏𝒕>" is not a great start. Pro tip: ctrl+shift+V pastes text without formatting. Also avoid generic phrasing like “I want to do AI”...
(3/n)
Look up the group website where you are applying to; carefully read the instructions of the application process. Nothing is more frustrating when documents (such as research statement, recommendation letters, etc.) are missing or incomplete.
Look up the group website where you are applying to; carefully read the instructions of the application process. Nothing is more frustrating when documents (such as research statement, recommendation letters, etc.) are missing or incomplete.
(4/n)
Do research before! Many applicants have already paper (submissions) or interesting final theses. I can only recommend to take research opportunities during BA/MA studies wherever possible. Your advisor(s) will later become recommendation letter writer(s).
Do research before! Many applicants have already paper (submissions) or interesting final theses. I can only recommend to take research opportunities during BA/MA studies wherever possible. Your advisor(s) will later become recommendation letter writer(s).
(5/n)
The most informative part is always the research statement. Don't re-write a summary of your CV, but instead propose a concrete project. The more specific the project the better; bonus points if it’s related to papers published by the group where you are applying.
The most informative part is always the research statement. Don't re-write a summary of your CV, but instead propose a concrete project. The more specific the project the better; bonus points if it’s related to papers published by the group where you are applying.
(6/n)
Recommendation letters are often poorly written. So it really matters who you ask. A letter should not be a template that could apply to any other student; the worst case here is along the lines ‘student was in my class’; it has to say something meaningful about the work.
Recommendation letters are often poorly written. So it really matters who you ask. A letter should not be a template that could apply to any other student; the worst case here is along the lines ‘student was in my class’; it has to say something meaningful about the work.
(7/n)
At the interview stage, applicants are typically asked to give a short presentation. Similar to research statements, candidates often recite CVs, which is not helpful. When you prepare, select one topic (instead of many) you want to talk in detail about. Depth > breath!
At the interview stage, applicants are typically asked to give a short presentation. Similar to research statements, candidates often recite CVs, which is not helpful. When you prepare, select one topic (instead of many) you want to talk in detail about. Depth > breath!
(8/n)
Also for the interview: most professors let you chose the topic you want to talk about -> pick something that is relevant to the target group and you know well (same as presentation). Look up related papers and be prepared for that specific topic (cf. research statement)
Also for the interview: most professors let you chose the topic you want to talk about -> pick something that is relevant to the target group and you know well (same as presentation). Look up related papers and be prepared for that specific topic (cf. research statement)
(9/n)
Be through about your CV. Language skills are easy to check, same counts for programming. Coding tests have now become a standard. Same counts for projects you list: know the things you put on your CV; that's typically how an interviewer comes up with questions.
Be through about your CV. Language skills are easy to check, same counts for programming. Coding tests have now become a standard. Same counts for projects you list: know the things you put on your CV; that's typically how an interviewer comes up with questions.
(10/n)
Some final words: be honest in terms of what you are expecting. Ask critical questions about the lab and what you are getting into. A PhD is a long-term commitment where all parties need to be aligned.
Finally: have fun doing research - it's the greatest thing ever :)
Some final words: be honest in terms of what you are expecting. Ask critical questions about the lab and what you are getting into. A PhD is a long-term commitment where all parties need to be aligned.
Finally: have fun doing research - it's the greatest thing ever :)
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