Where did I go wrong — reflection on my not so successful PhD applications
Last April, I decided that I want to do a PhD. Over the year, alongside working as a research assistant, I have been applying for PhD programmes/positions. In the end, I did not get into any PhD programmes that I wanted to go to but got two PhD offers that I feel reluctant to accept. Both offers are in the field that I have been working on for my Master’s or as a research assistant. I was not particularly passionate about both fields, but applied, thinking at least they are relevant. At the moment, I am planning to accept one and go along with it and see how things go.
Here I want to list out a few pieces of advice I would like to give to my past-self who just started out applying for a PhD, so things wouldn’t be too out of control for him:
#1 Know what you like
It is important that from the beginning of the PhD application you know what you want to spend your next few years working on. It could be about a specific field in biochemistry or quantum physics, but what’s more useful is to know what sort of work you want to do as a PhD student. Do you enjoy computational work more than wet-lab jobs? Are you a more “method” person who enjoys “making” tools or do you want to do a PhD that involves “using” tools to make discoveries? Do you like hardcore math or are simple stats enough for you? Think about what you want to get out of your PhD. Maybe you want a PhD that involves time-series analysis, or parallel computing. You might want a project that gives you plenty of space to try out AI stuff. These are all some important things that you should figure out to some degree when you start your PhD application.
#2 Apply for as many PhD programmes as possible
Once you know your motive to apply for a PhD, start searching for PhD programmes to apply for. If you know clearly what subject area you want to work on, other than checking PhD positions advertised on university websites, check Twitter. There are many informal advertisements up there that are, in my opinion, less competitive but most are quite specific.
If you don’t know exactly what you want to work on, I suggest you apply for PhD programmes that involve rotations. There are not many PhD programmes in Europe that have rotations — so apply to as many as you can find, if possible. But before applying, make sure you know a few groups that you want to do a rotation with.
Finally, while many programmes have their application deadlines around Christmas, you shouldn’t stop there; there are still plenty of programmes having their deadlines up till March. And you never know if you will get into the programmes you applied to before Christmas, so continue your applications, till there are none left you can and would like to apply to. Some PhD programmes have two entries per year — be aware of those.
#3 But, don’t apply to the one you won’t want to go
Though you should apply for as many PhD programmes/ positions as possible, don’t apply to the ones that you feel ‘ok’ with, in other words, the ones you might have some experiences with, but are not so passionate about. When applying, ask yourself: if this is the only offer you’re gonna have in the end, would you still go? Or when in the end if you ‘accidentally’ got the offer, you will be in a difficult position — you put your effort into applying for it, but you are not passionate about it. At the same time, you got the scholarship — are you sure you want to put 3–4 years into it?
#4 Treat your application seriously
When you are called to interviews, prepare well. Do the best research you can, about the people who are going to interview you, and know some of the common questions they are going to ask you. They might ask you about a paper you read recently (IN your field and OUT of your field. I got both questions). Or a simple question about why you want to do a PhD. Make sure you know some basic knowledge of the field of your interest. And prepare an answer for that mighty question “If you have unlimited time and money, what do you want to research?”
Ask your friends to do mock interviews for you. What’s more helpful, talk to people who are already in the programme, and ask them about their interview experience.
#5 Take your time
PhD application is a long process, and it can get tedious sometimes. But it will all be worth it, once you get into one that you want to be in. PhD is like a driver’s licence in science — pick your licence carefully.
All the best for your PhD application!