Thread by @cfiesler

In honor of PhD application season winding down, here's a tweet-thread-that-should-probably-be-a-blog-post on things I have observed through hearing from a LOT of PhD applicants in many different fields over the past eight months. TL;DR this process can be better. 🧵

Consider things admissions committees or faculty might expect to see in an application: LORs from certain types of people that mention certain things, statements of purpose with certain elements (faculty mentioned, why this program, etc.)

Are applicants TOLD these expectations?

As one critical example, are you in a field where it is common or there is even an expectation that applicants reach out to potential advisors before they submit an application? Is there any reason applicants would know this if they don't already have mentorship in that field?

Are there faculty in your department who are far more likely to take on new PhD advisees than others (because of funding, capacity, etc.) to the point where faculty mentioned in an application will have a strong impact on someone's odds of admission?

If you have a minimum GRE score or GPA listed on the application page, is that actually the case? Would you really not consider someone without those thresholds? Have you thought about how that might turn away potentially qualified applicants who have other strengths?

Do you sometimes see a PhD application and think "wow they did everything right, clearly they have good mentorship!"

If so, it's worth considering how fair these metrics are and/or whether there's a way to level the playing field by just telling applicants what they are.

I'm working on making some changes to our PhD application for the next cycle, in terms of providing more information about what makes a good application, and even scaffolding some good practices directly.

Considering auditing your application for gatekeeping!

Also I am MORE CONVINCED THAN EVER that PhD programs should do away with required GRE scores. I personally think they're a garbage signal and can also confirm now that they cause applicants a lot of anxiety to the point where some self-select out of applying entirely. :(