PhD Applications Q&A Live (January 2022 Edition)

Name: PhD Applications Q&A Live (January 2022 Edition)
Uploaded: 2022-01-24T06:50:04.000Z
Duration: 3 h 22 min 8 s

Introduction

The speaker welcomes viewers to the live stream and mentions that they will be answering questions related to PhD applications, as well as other topics related to academia and grad school.

Jumping Right In

The speaker begins answering questions from viewers.

What Should I Wear to My Site Visit?

Business casual is recommended, but wearing jeans would not be inappropriate.

Research Proposals for PhD Applications

Formal research proposals are common in countries outside of the US and Europe. The speaker does not have expertise in this area but recommends checking out YouTube creators who discuss this topic.

Spring Admissions for PhD Programs

Most universities only admit new cohorts of students once a year in the fall. It is worth asking if there are any spring admissions available, but it is not common.

Questions About Mentoring

The speaker answers questions about mentoring PhD students.

Have You Hooded Any of Your PhD Advisees Yet?

No, the speaker has only been a professor for six years and has had one student graduate so far. They did not get to hood him, but they gave him a plastic sword as a gift.

Memories of Mentees

The speaker's mentees are all wonderful and loved dearly.

Closing Remarks

The speaker thanks viewers for their support and encourages them to ask more questions if they have any.

Understanding PhD Application Requirements

In this section, the speaker discusses the requirements for applying to a PhD program, specifically regarding grade averages and master's degree requirements.

Grade Averages and Master's Degree Requirements

Universities in the US typically require a B average for admission to a PhD program.

A B average is usually 80% or above.

For STEM fields, it is common to require a master's degree as well.

The specific grading scale may vary by country.

Career Paths After Completing a PhD

In this section, the speaker discusses career paths after completing a PhD and whether individuals are limited to research positions.

Career Paths After Completing a PhD

Most jobs that require a PhD involve research work in academia or industry.

While there may be other types of jobs available, research work is most common.

Individuals are not necessarily conditioned to only perform research work.

Waiting for Decision on PhD Application

In this section, the speaker addresses concerns about waiting for decisions on PhD applications.

Waiting for Decision on PhD Application

It is normal to wait several months before receiving a decision on your application.

If you have not received any communication yet, it could be considered a good sign as rejections tend to go out first.

Decisions may not be made until March or later depending on when you applied.

Pursuing Chemistry Phd in New Zealand

In this section, the speaker provides general advice for pursuing a chemistry Phd but recommends seeking advice from those familiar with Phd programs in New Zealand specifically.

Pursuing Chemistry Phd in New Zealand

The speaker does not have specific advice for pursuing a chemistry Phd in New Zealand.

It is recommended to seek advice from those familiar with Phd programs in New Zealand.

What to Expect During a Virtual Recruitment Visit Meeting

In this section, the speaker discusses what to expect during a virtual recruitment visit meeting.

What to Expect During a Virtual Recruitment Visit Meeting

The speaker has videos on interviews and site visits that may be helpful.

Expect to be interviewed and courted by faculty members.

Admitted Students and Department Matters

In this section, the speaker talks about admitted students' events and how they can be used to gather information. The speaker also discusses the importance of department matters in graduate school.

Admitted Students Events

Admitted students events are organized by some universities to provide information to prospective students.

Post-interview acceptance rates vary drastically from program to program.

Use admitted student events as an opportunity to ask questions and find out more about the program.

Department Matters

The importance of department varies greatly depending on your discipline and what the departments are.

Find out if you'll be able to publish in the discipline with the norms that represent what you want to do afterwards.

It's okay to reach out to the director of graduate admissions for status timeline about interviews and applications.

Follow Notifications and Application Status

In this section, the speaker talks about when follow notifications usually go out and whether it is okay to reach out for application status.

Follow Notifications

Notification timelines vary a lot but probably anytime between now and March.

Application Status

It's okay to reach out for application status but make sure you have a specific reason why you need that information.

If you haven't heard back yet, it's still in process.

Programs are not supposed to give any further information than "your application is under review."

[#](0:15:19 t:919s ) Factors Affecting Acceptance into PhD Program

In this section, the speaker talks about how different factors affect acceptance into a PhD program.

Factors Affecting Acceptance

There are lots of parts of your application some of them make it worse some of them make it better.

Poor grades and a bachelor's and master's degree may not drastically affect acceptance for a PhD program.

Admissions Q&A

In this section, the speaker answers questions related to PhD program admissions.

Importance of Grades and GRE Scores

The importance of grades and GRE scores in PhD program admissions varies by program and faculty.

Other factors such as research experience, publications, and recommendation letters can make up for weaknesses in grades or test scores.

Contacting Programs

If a program does not respond after six weeks, applicants should contact the person listed as the contact for applications on the program's website.

Virtual Interviews

It is possible that programs may invite more applicants to virtual interviews due to cost savings from not having to fly people out. However, it is difficult to know for sure if this is true for any specific program.

Site Visits vs Individual Professor Interviews

Site visits are extended interviews that often happen after admission decisions have been made.

Individual professor interviews could mean that either the program does not do group visits or that it is happening before group visits take place.

Switching Research Topics

It is common for students to switch research topics when transitioning from a master's degree to a PhD at a different institution.

Students should not feel forced into doing research they do not want to do in their PhD programs.

Answering the "Greatest Weakness" Question in Interviews

In this section, the speaker talks about how to answer the question about your greatest weakness in a job interview.

Tips for Answering the "Greatest Weakness" Question

Don't give disingenuous answers like "I work too hard."

Consider answering with what you are most eager to improve upon.

Be truthful and avoid cliches.

Expectations for a Research Proposal

The speaker discusses research proposals and their expectations.

Clarity of a Research Proposal

The speaker has no knowledge of research proposals outside of the US.

Suggests looking up videos from creators who have spoken more directly to the EU PhD system.

Number of Applicants for This Cycle

The speaker talks about whether there has been an increase or decrease in applicants for this cycle.

Number of Applicants

The speaker cannot provide useful information as their program is new and applications have increased every year.

What to Expect During a Site Visit

In this section, the speaker provides advice on what to expect during a site visit when applying for PhD programs.

Advice for Site Visits

Take every opportunity to interact with current students and other applicants.

Appreciate the opportunity to ask questions and get important information about program culture.

Being Kind and Emailing Professors

In this section, the speaker gives advice on being kind to everyone, including admin staff. They also answer questions about emailing multiple professors in the same department and what to do if someone is asking for a dissertation.

Being Kind to Everyone

The speaker advises being kind to everyone, including admin staff.

Being rude to admin staff reflects badly on the person who is being rude.

Emailing Multiple Professors

If you are applying for a specific grant project, it makes sense to talk to different people specifically about funding.

Generally, emailing multiple potential advisors at once is probably fine.

It's important to know who all those people ahead of time are before emailing them.

Asking for a Dissertation

If there is a place on the application form where you have to upload a pdf and you didn't do a dissertation, email them and ask how they would like you to submit that.

Interview Preparation

In this section, the speaker answers questions about preparing for an interview day with eight professors and giving an introduction during a final interview.

Interview Day Preparation

Spend more time thinking about your meetings with people who might potentially be your advisors based on research fit.

Know generally what their research area is but don't need to read the most five recent papers from everyone.

Think of questions ahead of time that you can ask potential advisors.

Introduction During Final Interview

Introduce yourself by sharing your educational background, research experience, and what you want to do.

Teaching and PhD Programs

The speaker discusses the requirements for teaching positions and PhD programs in the US, including the need for a PhD, the possibility of teaching with a master's degree, and the importance of research.

Requirements for Teaching Positions

Community colleges and some universities may not require a PhD for instructor positions.

A master's degree may be enough to teach undergraduates.

Importance of Research

Whether or not to pursue a PhD depends on whether you want to do research in addition to teaching.

Job Market

STEM fields tend to have better job markets than other fields, but medical-related fields specifically are unclear.

Acceptance Letters and Response Dates

The speaker explains how acceptance letters work in US universities and provides information about response dates.

General Response Date

Universities cannot require applicants to provide decisions before April 15th. This is true for many schools but it is unclear what governs this rule.

Applicants can wait until they receive all their decisions before deciding which offer to accept.

Admissions with Early Decision Dates

If a program admits you and requires you to agree by a certain date, you can contact other schools that you haven't heard from yet or email the program that accepted you asking for more time.

Applying for PhD Programs

The speaker answers questions about applying for PhD programs in the US.

Confirmation from Supervisor

You probably do not need confirmation from a supervisor to apply for a PhD program, but it may be different in some fields.

PhD Scholarships

Many programs, particularly in STEM fields, are funded. Applicants should look into the funding model for the places they are applying to.

Postdoc Positions in Industry and Practice-Based PhD

The speaker discusses postdoc positions in industry and the concept of practice-based PhD.

Postdoc Positions in Industry

A postdoc position in industry is called a job.

Unlike universities, industries do not have postdoc positions because they only have people who work there.

Practice-Based PhD

The speaker does not know what a practice-based PhD means as she has not heard of it before.

Submitting Research Proposal to Supervisor and Getting PhD Vacancies

The speaker answers questions about submitting research proposals to supervisors and finding PhD vacancies.

Submitting Research Proposal to Supervisor

The speaker is not familiar with formal research proposals as part of applications that are common outside the US.

She suggests watching her video on reaching out to prospective advisors before applying if the question is about just reaching out to them.

Getting PhD Vacancies

If the question is about funded PhD positions, the speaker suggests looking for specific directories or asking professors from undergrad.

For general programs, Google search or asking people may help find relevant information.

Applying for Physics PhD without Solid Research Experience

The speaker answers questions about applying for a physics Ph.D. program without solid research experience.

The speaker cannot answer whether someone can get admitted based on anything about them in particular.

Strengths in an application can always make up for weaknesses.

Library Studies Background for High School Program

The speaker answers questions about whether someone with a library studies background can be accepted into their high school program.

Yes, someone with a library studies background can be accepted into their high school program.

However, the speaker suggests that people interested in library studies should be aware that no one in their department does library studies.

Applying for Graduate Programs

In this section, the speaker discusses applying for graduate programs and offers advice on how to approach the process.

Should You Apply for a Master's Program?

It is recommended to apply to both PhD and master's programs.

If you don't get into a PhD program, consider a master's program.

Avoid using Grad Cafe as it can increase anxiety.

Asking About Funding Opportunities

If you haven't been accepted yet, funding is not relevant.

Not getting funding is a good reason to not attend a particular program.

After being admitted, ask about funding opportunities in that department.

Admissions and Interviews

This section covers questions related to admissions and interviews for graduate programs.

Getting Admitted Without Research Experience

Lack of research experience during gap years does not disqualify one from being admitted into a PhD program.

Meeting with Professors During Interviews

It is common to meet with professors who were not mentioned in your statement of purpose during interviews.

There are many reasons why you might meet with different professors during an interview, even if they are not potential advisors.

Spend some time researching each professor before the interview.

Funding Opportunities for International Students

The speaker discusses funding opportunities for international students pursuing a PhD in the US.

Funding Opportunities for International Students

International students have the same funding opportunities as domestic students, such as being funded as a teaching or research assistant.

There may be particular types of grants that international students cannot work on, and some fellowships they are not eligible for. However, the baseline general funding is the same.

Research Projects Before Pursuing a PhD

The speaker provides advice on potential research projects to undertake before pursuing a PhD.

Research Projects Before Pursuing a PhD

It depends on your field and interests. The speaker suggests watching their video titled "You've Been Rejected, Now What?" which includes tips on improving your application and seeking out more research experience if needed.

Consider reaching out to faculty members to see if you can work with them or writing blog posts about your area of interest. However, without knowing more about your discipline, it's difficult to provide specific suggestions. Good luck!

Applying for a PhD in Computer Science vs Information Science

The speaker addresses whether applying for a PhD in computer science instead of information science would result in rejection.

Applying for a PhD in Computer Science vs Information Science

If you applied for a PhD in computer science but are interested in ICT for D social computing computational social science, it shouldn't be an issue as long as there are faculty members doing those things within the program you applied to.

Applying to a PhD Program Without Contacting a Professor

The speaker discusses whether it's necessary to contact a professor before applying to a PhD program.

Applying to a PhD Program Without Contacting a Professor

While it may be more common in some fields, it is not an automatic rejection if you do not contact professors ahead of time.

The April 15th deadline refers to the deadline for students to make decisions about which programs they will attend.

Admissions and Advising

In this section, the speaker discusses admissions decisions and how to prepare for the first meeting with an advisor.

Admissions Decisions

Admissions decisions are made after the applicant has submitted their application.

Departments start reviewing applications after the deadline, but it may take some time to assign reviewers.

Applicants cannot be required to make a decision before April 15th in the US.

Preparing for Your First Meeting with an Advisor

The advisee should come prepared with questions for their advisor.

The advisor will likely ask what research interests the student has and what they are excited about.

It is important to discuss any needs or accommodations early on in the advising relationship.

Letters of Recommendation and University Prestige

In this section, the speaker discusses letters of recommendation and university prestige.

Letters of Recommendation

It is not important for potential advisors to personally know your letter writers.

University Prestige

It is feasible for design students who don't have a perfect GPA to be accepted at top universities.

Students should not be too obsessed with name recognition or prestige when making decisions about PhD programs. Other factors such as research interests, culture, and potential advisors are more important for having a good PhD experience.

Advice on Choosing a PhD Program

In this section, the speaker gives advice on choosing a PhD program and dispels the myth that only prestigious universities offer good programs.

Factors to Consider

Prestige of university is not the only factor to consider when choosing a PhD program.

Look at what is considered a good program in your field.

Ask questions about the program, such as what kind of research is being done and what internships are available.

Questions to Ask During an Interview for a PhD Program

In this section, the speaker provides examples of questions to ask during an interview for a PhD program.

Examples of Questions

What kind of research are you excited about right now?

What are some exciting things that students in this program are doing right now?

What kind of internships do students in this program get?

Getting a PhD After Completing Your Master's Degree

In this section, the speaker provides advice for those who have completed their master's degree and are considering getting a PhD.

Advice

Consider whether getting a PhD is right for you by watching videos on things to consider before applying.

Watch videos on finding places to apply for a PhD.

Watch videos on how to decide between multiple offers if you have been admitted to more than one school.

Assistantships and Funding for PhD Programs

In this section, the speaker discusses assistantships and funding for PhD programs.

Funding Models

In the US, funded PhD programs typically offer a combination of research assistantships and teaching assistantships.

If you are being evaluated for an assistantship, find out ahead of time what kind of assistantship it is (teaching or research).

Responding to an Email from a Professor About an Offer

In this section, the speaker provides advice on how to respond to an email from a professor about an offer.

Advice

Respond with enthusiasm and gratitude.

Watch videos on PhD funding for more information.

Living Expenses for Professors in the US

The speaker discusses the living expenses for professors in the US, stating that it varies depending on the university and department. On average, it ranges from $20,000 to $30,000 per year.

Living Expenses

Living expenses for professors in the US vary depending on the university and department.

On average, living expenses range from $20,000 to $30,000 per year.

Applying for a Professor Job in Canada

The speaker talks about applying for a professor job in Canada and confirms that there are professors in Canada as well. They also discuss whether one can apply to be a professor after being impeached.

Applying for a Professor Job

It is possible to apply for a professor job in Canada.

One can apply to be a professor even after being impeached.

Applying as an International Student

The speaker answers questions related to applying as an international student.

Applying as an International Student

It is possible to apply as an international student and become a professor in another country.

Late Application Deadlines

The speaker discusses late application deadlines and advises students who have missed deadlines but still want to apply.

Late Application Deadlines

Some programs may have wiggle room with their application deadlines while others do not.

Contacting potential supervisors may help you get more information about late applications or if they are willing to advocate on your behalf if they are looking for a student like you.

Following Up After Applying

The speaker discusses following up after applying and advises students to be clear about their intentions when contacting potential supervisors.

Following Up After Applying

If you have already been in touch with potential supervisors, there may not be much to say in a follow-up email.

If you want to follow up on the status of your application, it is best to contact the person coordinating applications or the director of the grad program.

Chances of Acceptance

The speaker answers questions related to chances of acceptance for PhD programs.

Chances of Acceptance

The speaker cannot answer any questions about anyone's chances for a PhD program.

Interdisciplinary Studies and PhD Training

In this section, the speaker discusses interdisciplinary studies and their benefits. They also provide advice on how to manage emotions while waiting for program acceptance.

Benefits of Interdisciplinary Studies

Interdisciplinarity is great, but its benefits vary across different disciplines.

Information science is an interdisciplinary discipline, which makes it unique.

It's best to seek advice from someone in your field regarding what interdisciplinarity looks like for PhD training.

Managing Emotions While Waiting for Program Acceptance

Manage anxiety by avoiding obsessing over grad cafe or other places where people spend all their time trying to figure out whether others have heard back.

Try not to obsess and handle stress in whatever way works best for you.

Talk to people in your life who are a good support system.

Mentioning Career Goals in Statement of Purpose

In this section, the speaker answers questions about mentioning career goals in a statement of purpose and applying for PhD programs while still doing a master's degree.

Mentioning Career Goals in Statement of Purpose

It's okay to mention that you want to build a career in industry while doing a PhD for the love of research.

Applying for PhD Programs While Still Doing Master's Degree

It's common to be accepted into a PhD program while still doing your master's degree.

You're applying now for programs that start in fall 2022, so if you're going to graduate with your master's degree around that time, then there won't be any gap between degrees.

GRE Scores and Their Importance

In this section, the speaker talks about GRE scores and their importance in PhD applications.

Importance of GRE Scores

GRE scores are almost useless.

They're good to be optional as opposed to not accepting them at all because they might be helpful for some people's applications.

If a program is optional and you don't have to submit GRE scores, then the absence of a score is a non-signal.

Submit your scores if you think they will make up for other weaknesses in your application or if the program requires it.

Contacted by Faculty Not Mentioned in Statement of Purpose

In this section, the speaker answers questions about being contacted by faculty not mentioned in a statement of purpose.

Being Contacted by Faculty Not Mentioned in Statement of Purpose

If you applied to a program and there is a particular advisor or advisors who you want to work with, and someone else contacts you, then it's okay to say that you're not interested.

English Applying to PhD Programs

In this section, the speaker provides advice on applying to PhD programs and answers questions related to research assistantships, interviews, and acceptance timelines.

Shortlisted Applicants

It is possible that instead of formal interviews, shortlisted applicants may talk to different people.

Don't assume that a potential advisor is not a good match for you. They might be doing work that aligns with your interests.

Research Assistantship Opportunities

Research assistant jobs provide opportunities for publications or presentations.

When looking for research assistantships, express interest in being involved in writing stuff up for publication.

Interview Outcomes

If a faculty member says they would like to talk to you, talk to them.

If one professor thinks another professor is a better fit for you, it's neutral/good news.

Application Status

If you haven't heard anything yet after applying somewhere, it means there's no decision yet.

Don't rely on Grad Cafe as it will only make everyone anxious.

Waitlists are also a thing that exists.

Acceptance Timeline

Applying in December 2022 means starting classes in Fall 2023.

Fellowship Position vs Individual PhD

The speaker doesn't understand the question but mentions funded PhD positions outside the US are more common than in the US.

PhD Interviews

The speaker doesn't understand what specialized questions asked during PhD interviews mean.

Trademarking and Patenting Ideas before Applying to PhD

The speaker questions the need for trademarking or patenting ideas associated with a proposal before applying to a PhD program. They suggest that these two things are separate from starting a PhD.

Trademarking and patenting ideas should be considered only if the idea is far along.

These two things are separate from starting a PhD.

Difference between Statement of Academic Intent and Statement of Research

The speaker explains that some programs outside the US, particularly in the UK, require explicit research proposals as part of an application.

Some programs outside the US require explicit research proposals as part of an application.

The speaker does not know what those look like.

What to Avoid Saying or Doing in a PhD Interview

The speaker advises against being rude or disrespectful towards anyone during an interview.

Don't be rude to other students, applicants, or administrative staff.

Be polite, interested, and enthusiastic.

Beyond that, it's hard to say what types of questions will be asked during an online interview.

Questions Typically Asked During a PhD Interview

The speaker lists some common questions asked during a PhD interview.

Why do you want to get a PhD?

What kind of research do you want to do?

Do you have any questions about the program?

Contacting Potential Advisors While Application is Under Review

The speaker suggests that sending an email thanking potential advisors for their time is fine but may not necessarily help your application.

Sending an email thanking potential advisors for their time is fine.

It may not necessarily help your application.

Approval from Each Interviewer for Acceptance

The speaker does not know the answer to whether approval is needed from each interviewer for acceptance.

The way admissions are decided varies between departments.

The speaker does not know the answer.

Applying to Other Universities After Encouragement from a Professor

The speaker advises applying to other universities even after being encouraged by a professor to apply.

Do not assume that encouragement from a professor guarantees acceptance.

It's always good to apply to other places because there are many reasons why you may not be accepted.

MS Program and PhD Application

In this section, the speaker answers questions related to MS programs and PhD applications.

MS Running Program for PhD Application

The speaker is unsure about the question being asked.

The question is whether "MS Running Program" is worthy of a PhD application.

The speaker suggests that the question may be a typo.

Reaching Out to Professors

It does not matter if you use institutional emails or Gmail when reaching out to professors.

If you do not mention specific advisors in your statement of purpose, it may still be fine depending on disciplinary norms.

In some disciplines, admission is not tied closely to an advisor, so it's normal not to mention specific advisors.

PhD Interview with Potential Advisor and Student

A PhD student may be present during an interview with a potential advisor.

The student may be there to answer questions rather than interview the applicant.

Current students' thoughts on applicants are sometimes considered during open house events.

Mentioning Unresponsive Faculty Members in Statement of Purpose

It is okay to mention unresponsive faculty members in your statement of purpose even if they did not respond to your outreach attempts.

Admissions Chances and Research Interests

This section covers admissions chances and how to structure research interests in interviews.

Structuring Research Interest Answers in Interviews

There isn't a particular structure for answering research interest questions in interviews.

You can tell them about your research interests and how your existing experience led you to be interested in that area.

Low GRE Scores and Good Academics

Some programs don't require GRE scores anymore, so check if the programs you're applying to require them.

Even if a program requires GRE scores, there may be faculty members who don't put much weight on them.

The speaker has yet to see anyone in the comments mention anything that suggests they could not get into a PhD program.

Starting a PhD Program

In this section, the speaker discusses starting a PhD program in the spring and whether it is possible.

Starting a PhD Program in Spring

It is uncommon to start a PhD program in the spring, but it may be possible in some places.

Trademark Patent Question

In this section, the speaker talks about trademark patents and what to do if you are doing research as a current or prospective PhD student.

Talking to Tech Transfer Office

If you are doing research as a current or prospective PhD student and have questions about trademark patents, talk to the tech transfer office.

Patenting Before Getting a PhD

In this section, the speaker discusses patenting before getting a PhD and whether it is necessary.

Talking to Tech Transfer Office

If you are already doing something that you think could be patented before entering a PhD program, talk to the tech transfer office.

Asking About Policies

Before deciding on which program to enter, ask about policies regarding patenting.

GPA and Statement of Intent vs Statement of Research

In this section, the speaker talks about having low GPA in undergraduate studies but high GPA in graduate studies and also explains the difference between statement of intent and statement of research.

Low GPA Not A Deal Breaker

Having low GPA is not necessarily a deal breaker for admissions into graduate programs.

Upward Trajectory Is Good

An upward trajectory in grades is viewed positively by admissions committees.

Difference Between Statement of Intent and Statement of Research

The speaker is not familiar with the term "statement of intent" but believes it may be similar to a statement of purpose. A video about writing a statement of purpose may be helpful.

Reaching Out to Prospective Advisors

In this section, the speaker talks about reaching out to prospective advisors and whether it is helpful.

Never Demand a Meeting

Never demand a meeting with a prospective advisor. Leave open the option for one, but understand that there are only so many hours in the day and lots of people applying.

Email Wording

In a video about reaching out to potential advisors, the speaker provides suggestions for how to word an email that leaves open the potential for a meeting without demanding one.

Timing

After submitting your application, it may be less useful to reach out to potential advisors as your application is already under review. It might also be slightly less likely that you get a response.

Tech Transfer Office Policies

In this section, the speaker discusses tech transfer office policies regarding developing something in a PhD program that has potential for startup.

Different Universities Have Different Policies

Different universities have different policies around developing something in a PhD program that has potential for startup. The tech transfer office or department would know more about these policies.

Applying Directly To Department

In this section, the speaker talks about what to do if you receive rejection from an integrated PhD program but can apply directly to the department.

Apply If You Want To

If you want to apply directly to the department after receiving rejection from an integrated PhD program, you should apply.

Admissions with Long Master's Study

In this section, the speaker talks about whether it is possible to get admitted into a PhD program if your master's study took a long time for different reasons.

Not A Reason For Rejection

Taking a long time to complete your master's study for different reasons is not necessarily a reason for rejection from PhD programs.

Pursuing a PhD without Publications

In this section, the speaker discusses how middle-aged individuals can pursue a PhD without publications and still be accepted into a program. They also provide tips on how to describe research interests without being too vague.

Describing Research Interests

You don't need publications to express enthusiasm for research.

Use a triangle approach: start with broad interests and get more specific.

Example: "I am interested broadly in X. Some example things that I could see myself doing in X are A, B, and C."

Formal Research Proposals

The speaker is not familiar with formal research proposals that are part of PhD applications outside of the US.

Blogs and Articles as Publications

Having blog posts or articles on different websites does not necessarily count as publications for a PhD program.

However, mentioning them on your CV or application is acceptable.

Research Experience Outside Academia

There is no checklist for what counts as research experience. Any research experience is valuable.

Online PhD Programs and Fully Funded Offers

This section covers questions related to online PhD programs and fully funded offers from top business schools.

Online PhD Programs

The credibility of online PhD programs varies widely. Some may be legitimate while others may be scams.

Fully Funded Offers from Top Business Schools

The speaker cannot answer this question since they do not have information about the individual's stats or qualifications.

However, having teaching experience does not negatively impact an application.

Applying After Priority Deadline

This section addresses whether it's possible to apply for a PhD program after the priority deadline has passed.

Applying After Priority Deadline

If you have not missed the deadline, you can still apply.

However, missing the priority deadline may have a negative impact on your application.

Talking About Previous Research

This section covers how to talk about previous research in an application or interview.

Technical Details vs. Connection to PI's Research

The level of technical detail included in discussing previous research depends on the questions being asked and the time allotted.

If given a short amount of time, it's best to focus on how your previous research connects to the PI's research interests.

Conclusion and Goodbye

In this section, the speaker concludes the video and says goodbye to the audience.

The video will be posted in five minutes.

The speaker will answer questions in the chat on YouTube.

Good luck is wished to everyone.

Another live stream will be done next month.