It’s fall, and about time for the flood of grad school inquiries.
Like many of my colleagues, this is one of the most common questions I get in office hours from my students. Partly because of the blog, I must get an email every other day from a prospective student. Most faculty get peppered with questions about their grad programs, more emails than we can answer.
In the interests of efficiency (meaning my time and that of my colleagues) I’ve written up my thoughts on the most common questions:
- Should I get a PhD?
- Is School X a good fit for my interest Y? Should I apply?
- Thanks for the general advice, but what about you and Columbia?
- Do I need to have faculty advisers picked out in advance?
- Should I contact faculty in advance? Can we meet or have a phone conversation before I apply?
- So what makes a successful application?
- Do I need an MA?
- Do I need experience?
My answers here.
Note: I write this partly to absolve the guilt that comes from not answering all the emails I get about graduate school and career advice. Sorry if I can’t respond individually, and I hope these advice posts help instead.
26 Responses
Written from the perspective of a UK Development Studies social scientist and still popular: ‘Should I consider a PhD in International Development Studies?’
http://aidnography.blogspot.com/2011/01/should-i-consider-phd-in-international.html
RT @cblatts: Advice on applying for PhD programs http://t.co/G3LfFthL
“@INOMICS: RT @cblatts: Advice on applying for PhD programs http://t.co/OhpNsDpH” for those considering grad school.
RT @INOMICS: RT @cblatts: Advice on applying for PhD programs http://t.co/RCKU5eLw
@INOMICS: RT @cblatts: Advice on applying for PhD programs http://t.co/13f3R8R9
RT @cblatts: Advice on applying for PhD programs http://t.co/RCKU5eLw
RT @themoornextdoor: RT @cblatts: Advice on applying for PhD programs http://t.co/siM1EiAi
@cblatts @jtlevy “Advice on applying for PhD programs” – Here’s mine: don’t.
@mercatus @cblatts Great insight on #gradschool & app process. Got me thinking about what I’ll do after #geneseo. http://t.co/MsgrRp4j
@cblatts Begin with what kind of job U want, ask them what kind of academic background they look for.
RT @cblatts: Advice on applying for PhD programs http://t.co/G3LfFthL
@cblatts Given the academic market, I would first state they shouldn’t apply. If they insist on ignoring that sage advice, they can read on
MT @cblatts interested if other faculty have added/different ideas. Advice on applying for PhD programs http://t.co/Ygx3PXc0 #PoliSciChair
RT @cblatts: Advice on applying for PhD programs http://t.co/siM1EiAi
RT @cblatts: Advice on applying for PhD programs http://t.co/G3LfFthL
Am interested if other faculty have added/different ideas. RT @cblatts: Advice on applying for PhD programs http://t.co/G3LfFthL
What would you think of someone trying to transfer in from a much lower-ranked PhD program- is it like someone applying with an MA, or better, or worse? Would you find it worth it to attend Columbia instead of a bottom-ranked econ program if it meant an extra 2-3 years in school?
RT @cblatts Advice on applying for PhD programs http://t.co/ewRsPjnHÂ
RT @cblatts: Advice on applying for PhD programs http://t.co/G3LfFthL
“@cblatts: Advice on applying for PhD programs http://t.co/sHbQaDp4” @NicolettaPavese @ohgeography
RT @cblatts: Advice on applying for PhD programs http://t.co/G3LfFthL
RT @cblatts: Advice on applying for PhD programs http://t.co/G3LfFthL
@cblatts you could perhaps add ‘please…please read the website before emailing faculty with general admissions info. Please!’
RT @cblatts: Advice on applying for PhD programs http://t.co/G3LfFthL
RT @cblatts: Advice on applying for PhD programs http://t.co/G3LfFthL
Advice on applying for PhD programs http://t.co/lpIVAlMv