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Application Process
| Publish date | 2007-09-13 |
| Available Articles | Full articles without membership |
There are a lot of moving parts in the application process. For campus-based programs, allow one-and-a-half to two years before the program starts for the entire process. For a program that begins in the fall, the application deadline will likely be sometime between December and February. If a school has a rolling admissions policy,then apply as early as possible.
Online programs often have multiple start dates throughout the year so that you can start when it's convenient for you, not just when a new fall term begins.
NOTE: Some schools have application workshops for their PhD programs; arrange to attend, if possible. Not only will you gain a better sense of how you can prepare the best possible application, but you’ll get a chance to learn more about the department and whether it’s a good fit for you. Online programs often have information sessions across the country.
Once you have the necessary academic and testing prerequisites, here are the primary application elements you will need to consider:
Grades/Transcripts
You will have to arrange for your official undergraduate transcripts (and master’s transcripts, if applicable) to be sent to each program to which you are applying. Request a copy of your transcript early and check it for errors before it’s sent out. If your name has changed since you graduated, make sure the sending institution indicates your current name on the transcript to avoid confusion.
Standardized Test Scores
If required (see Academic Requirements ).
Financial Aid Applications
Financial aid application deadlines can be earlier than admission deadlines. If you are seeking financial aid, once you’ve decided where you want to apply, make sure you start the financial aid process. (See Resources for information on financial aid.)
Recommendation Letters
Most universities require recommendation letters--usually from professors and employers (the program will specify).
If you’ve been out of school for a while, you will probably need to remind the professor of who you were and your accomplishments, and let him or her know what you’ve been doing since you graduated. Write the professor a note or schedule a meeting if possible.
Whether your recommender is a professor or an employer, make sure that the recommender will write you a favorable, personalized letter. Give the person an outline of what you’ve done and why you want to get a doctorate to help him or her write the most useful letter.
NOTE: Recommendation letters that are“closed” (i.e., not seen by the students before they are sent) are weighted more highly by admissions committees than are “open” letters.
Samples of Your Work
Depending on your field, the school may request writing samples. These might include undergraduate or master’s-level papers (ideally related to the doctoral field), any published academic papers, professional writing, and creative writing.
Resumé
Attaching a resumé or C.V. means that you don’t have to detail your work history in your essays. Your resumé should include your work experience, with any experience in the field highlighted, as well as any related volunteer experience, memberships in associations in the field, and honors and awards.
Essays/Personal Statements
Most programs will require one or two essays or personal statements. One of these will likely focus on your reasons for wanting to pursue a doctorate in this field. Create a basic draft that you can modify as needed for each specific application, addressing your career goals, your interest in the subject, your dedication to research, and the elements of your experience that will make you a strong doctoral student and that will enable you to make a contribution to the field.
If extenuating circumstances affected the strength of your application, explain that in a separate note rather than focusing on it in your essay.
On a program-specific level, describe how your area of interest relates to the work of the professors in the program and what draws you to the particular program. Emphasize how your strengths would make you an asset to this particular department.
Your essays should give the admissions committee a sense of who you are as a person, while also being professional. If possible, have your essays critiqued by a professor in the field.
Interviews
Depending on the program, an interview may or may not be required at some point in the process. If an interview is not required, you should request one as early as possible in the process. Making personal contact with the department will strengthen your application.
Relationships
While obviously not a stated requirement, building relationships with faculty members in the program can give your application an edge. Some ways to do this include requesting informational interviews, working in the department, networking at conferences, using personal contacts to arrange an introduction, and introducing yourself through a letter. Joining professional associations in your field is a good way to start building useful contacts.
Tracking Your Applications
Before the application deadline, contact each school to make sure the department has received your application and necessary supporting information. You may need to prompt a recommender to send a letter, or track down a missing transcript. Aspects of the application process can now be completed online at many institutions, which saves time and allows you to track the status of your application. If your address, contact information, or name should change at any time during the application process, be sure to alert each program.
Source: DiscoverPhD.com
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