/r/gradadmissions

Photograph via snooOG

This subreddit is for anyone who is going through the process of getting into graduate school, and for those who've been there and have advice to give.

This subreddit is for anyone who is going through the process of getting into graduate school, and for those who've been there and have advice to give.

Have general knowledge or advice to share from your experiences? Consider adding them to our wiki.

A handy tool for calculating your GPA

A somewhat not-gentle guide to getting into grad school with subpar grades

This thread has some solid advice for students applying to programs in the hard sciences.

Need someone to look at your materials? Use the buddy system!


Rules:

  • Advertising for consulting and other services is NOT allowed.

  • Surveys need moderator approval prior to posting.

  • Don't be a jerk.

  • Newly accounts are not allowed to post. If you need a dedicated admissions throwaway account, please let it age at least five days before contacting the mods.


Related Subreddits:


Contact the subreddit moderators with questions, comments or concerns.

/r/gradadmissions

278,197 Subscribers

1

Do Ph.D. programs send acceptances in one go or in waves?

Title. Someone I know got their email acceptance from Uni of Oregon already. Does anyone happen to know if they send acceptance in different times? I am scared since I have not received anything. I have finished my interviews with them and I think it went really well but now I am worried :(

2 Comments
2025/01/17
01:11 UTC

4

got accepted to WashU DSRB program šŸ¤ÆšŸ¤ÆšŸ¤ÆšŸ¤Æ

I totally butchered this interview so I was preparing for a rejectionā€¦I am very lucky and grateful for this acceptance.

I got a call around 750pm from one of the faculties who interviewed me. I cant believe this. I felt so shitty after the interview because I said so many stupid things that could be wrong (factually wrong about science/biology). Guys, dont lose hope. You are doing great and you did great.

0 Comments
2025/01/17
01:04 UTC

1

Strange PhD Interview

I've done a couple PhD interviews and they were pretty normal. Talk about past research, talk about potential projects, maybe talk about one of their papers more in depth.

I just had one that went very differently though. I went through my past research spiel and after that the interviewer just said that I wasn't a good research fit for the lab and kind of just ended the interview. Which is fair, I get that I'm sometimes wrong about whether my past research fits with a lab's direction. But why was I offered an interview then? My research was also outlined in my SoP so shouldn't this have been caught then?

Is this something that just happens sometimes? It feels like I wasted a day prepping a research suggestion and reading papers when I could have spent it better elsewhere.

0 Comments
2025/01/17
01:03 UTC

1

I just bombed my second interview

Today I had my second interview with two programs at a university. I had an interview with Biochem and Neuro department. I am very interested in Neuro but they required me to include multiple departments so I also included Biochem. Apparently from all the departments I picked up they were the two that liked me. Well my Neuro department interview went well but my Biochem interview went bad. They asked me to come up with experiments that I will run with different hypothesis and they also asked me what a kinase is and I blanked out and said I didnā€™t know since I also have stage fright. I am not sure if I should emailed them and just tell them I am sorry I just didnā€™t know what I was saying.

0 Comments
2025/01/17
00:59 UTC

1

Is targeting princeton mfin realistic for me?

Profile :
bsc chemistry from india-90%or more expected.
GRE - 170q and 160v. GMAT-790. CFA-Level 1(might try for level 2)
No work ex but will have some community service by the time i apply.
No math course work but i have been self studying and confident that ill score well on gre mathematics which i plan on giving in a few months.
Python and c++ certificates.
Is there anything that i can work upon to improve my chances?

0 Comments
2025/01/17
00:55 UTC

2

Thinking About My Apps

I have been trying to avoid dwelling on my applications as I know humanities hear back later than most other specialties. Apparently my subconscious did not get the memo. I have started having dreams about either getting into schools, being rejected, or finding out I made a mistake upon submission. Is anyone else having this experience? I think this will drive me crazy.

1 Comment
2025/01/17
00:53 UTC

1

First rejection but can someone tell me what this means?

Hi Iā€™m sorry, I know there are a bunch of these posts around and everything but I got my first rejection from an umbrella program and they said they shared my application with other grad programs at the school.

This is my first time EVER applying and I am not well versed in academia, is this a thing that happens? Like I wasnā€™t sure if it was just a nice standard reply that meant nothing or if it was like, a nice reply where I could potentially hear back about something. For clarity im not expecting anything. I just wasnā€™t sure if ā€œwe shared application materials elsewhereā€ was common/a thing

Otherwise very happy I got a rejection cause I heard something, yay

0 Comments
2025/01/17
00:53 UTC

2

What to expect in a prospective student Zoom session?

Iā€™ve been invited to a 40-minute general Zoom session for international students, followed by individual 20-minute sessions with 4 professors. Has anyone experienced this before? What typically happens, and how should I prepare to make the most of it?

0 Comments
2025/01/17
00:37 UTC

3

I feel really hopeless

I applied to astro and physics programs and I got my first rejection a couple of days ago. I was at AAS, so I saw many of my friends from over the summer and a lot of them got interviews at places I applied to. I just feel worse after the conference. It became aware that professors werenā€™t interested in talking to me since Iā€™m at a smaller school. When I went to talk to grad school representatives at the graduate school fair, I was ignored when I was with my friends at top schools. Many of them got invited to speak with professors over email just by being at top schools. We all did similar research over the summer at an extremely competitive REU at a top school. We were all presenting posters or presentations. However, the fact that Iā€™m from a small school automatically makes me a ā€œworseā€ candidate. I just want to cry because I feel helpless. All my hard work will be for nothing if I donā€™t get in anywhere. Iā€™m trying really hard to be hopeful but I just feel despair.

0 Comments
2025/01/17
00:30 UTC

8

First Acceptance!!

Just got my first acceptance for an MS in Biology program!!! So excited, I wasnā€™t expecting to hear back until next month. Keep the optimism yā€™all šŸ«¶ Good luck!

2 Comments
2025/01/17
00:22 UTC

1

Ahhh I fucked up my MFA portfolio. Is there anything I can do?

Even after I triple checked, I somehow added the same painting twice in SlideRoom. Can I email the admissions team to remove it? If they canā€™t, how much will it affect my chances?

Ah damn it

0 Comments
2025/01/17
00:21 UTC

1

Marine Biology PhD Programs

Has anyone heard back from UCSD Scripps Institution of Oceanography? I applied to the Marine Biology PhD program, interview invites were out around this time last year. Any insight is appreciated!!

0 Comments
2025/01/17
00:11 UTC

0

300 ECTS credit but no Bachelor, any possibility to apply to a masters degree? :(

I'm afraid to ask, and sorry, english it isn't my first language. I'm really ashamed to ask this.

I have near to 300 ECTS credits but no degree yet (Medschool), but for personal reasons it's unlikely I might be able to earn the degree.

Is there any possibility I can apply to a masters degree in Europe or the US?

I know about the option of Colorado Boulder that offers their MA in Computer Science and Data Science without any requirements of admission.

But aside to that, is there any possibility that a university might recognize the amount of credits and clinical rotations as enough background on the cv to accept on a master degree program?

Beforehand, thank you for your patience.

0 Comments
2025/01/17
00:08 UTC

3

Stanford BioE PhD interview out

1 Comment
2025/01/17
00:07 UTC

1

Part 2: Getting a PI to take a chance on me

So I posted this a few weeks back, but I have some updates. A lot of the comments told me to network/take more courses to get my GPA up. However, I don't have time for that, because I'm meeting the PI in a few days.

Basically I reached out to him about doing a masters months ago. He said he wasn't looking at grad stuff until next semester. A few days ago, he reached out to me and said my research interests align well with the lab and that he would like to set up an interview. He even told me every question he would be asking me when we met.

He's seen my resume, but he hasn't seen my transcript.

I'm just really not sure how to bring it up. I was thinking at the end I would mention that I don't meet the minimum requirements GPA wise, but the department does have exceptions that are up to both the admissions committee and the PI. I'm sure he knows this. The advice about not making it all about my problems during undergrad is good and I hope to integrate that as well.

How do I defend my GPA? Overall, how do I convince him that my research experience is enough? Is he gonna be upset that I didn't bring up my transcript/grades sooner? I don't want him to feel like I was deceiving him, I just wanted him to form an opinion of me based on my research/knowledge (resume/interview), and not have it be misconstrued by my grades.

Basically, please just tell me exactly what you would do if you were sat in front of him and knew you had to tell him.

0 Comments
2025/01/17
00:06 UTC

2

Is there a database or website that compiles different programs average stats I am trying to make a list of programs to apply to but am having a hard time finding which would find me competitive

0 Comments
2025/01/16
23:45 UTC

2

Submitted wrong personal statement

I submitted my application to UW Seattle MSW last night right before the due date. I accidentally submitted in a rough draft/brainstorm instead of my final personal statement copy bc I named them similarly. I realized after I already submitted it and applications are closed now. I donā€™t want them to read the rough draft as it was unformatted & super all over the place and not representative of what I wanted to send them. I emailed the admissions office asking if I could resubmit and am still waiting for a response but Iā€™m feeling nervous. Will I be okay? šŸ˜­

0 Comments
2025/01/16
23:37 UTC

4

MIT Chem Bio invite is out!! (international, 6:18 pm)

I have been waiting for this and thought I already got rejected based on the Google sheet info but it just came out!

Interview is with two faculties, 15 min

0 Comments
2025/01/16
23:24 UTC

7

First rejection, but it was nice

I had applied for a specific program at a school and they said that I was not accepted but that since I had strong academic credentials they sent my application along to other programs that have alternative admissions paths in the school. They said they would contact me if no match was found and if that happens I will be formally denied. Iā€™m not sure what that means and I feel pretty sad but at least it was a nice message?

1 Comment
2025/01/16
23:18 UTC

1

Caltech MCE, PhD (Fall 2025)

Any updates regarding visit days or interviews? Iā€™m thinking theyā€™ll probably host them virtual due to the fires nearby campus.

0 Comments
2025/01/16
23:06 UTC

1

Do I have a chance to get accepted to Master of Engineering: Computer Science in KU Leuven?

I'm from Lebanon form a university called University of Balamand ranked 500th something on the QS Ranking and have a a 3.0, I was the president of the IEEE SB and had a lot of leadership positions, 2 internships one of them is a long internship 6 months+, a published paper on FPGA, a website creation business with 10 clients, 13+ online courses and certifications. I'm worried they will not look at me because of my university's ranking and not so wow GPA.

0 Comments
2025/01/16
23:04 UTC

9

First rejection šŸ˜¼

I am so disappointed but we keep going ig

4 Comments
2025/01/16
22:55 UTC

0

Are phd decisions out for these schools??

Hiiii! Did anyone hear back from these schools?

UPenn: Biochemistry, Biophysics, Chemical Biology (BBCB)

Princeton: Chemistry

University of Wisconson- Madison: Chemistry

University of North Carolina Chapel Hill: Pharmaceutical Sciences- Chemical biology and medicinal chemistry divison

4 Comments
2025/01/16
22:52 UTC

2

Do Masters applicant get interviews?

Applying to couple schools for MS Aero, should I expect an interview or just wait for decisions?

1 Comment
2025/01/16
22:33 UTC

2

Itā€™s too late for interview invites šŸ˜”

I was just in a panel with grad students and they said that if we havenā€™t gotten an interview invite at this point, itā€™s probably a rejection..šŸ„²

Kinda knew this already but it hurt hearing someone say it

14 Comments
2025/01/16
22:31 UTC

57

FIRST ADMIT!!

I cannot believe I got accepted. I applied to five places. The first program I heard back from was a rejection, so I automatically assumed this one would be too. I am in shock! (flaired under social sciences as I am interdisciplinary and fall under communication science)

13 Comments
2025/01/16
22:27 UTC

0

Masters in General Psychology

Please can anyone recommend any good US University for Masters in General Psychology,( I know there's Google) but I want firsthand information thanks

0 Comments
2025/01/16
22:24 UTC

4

Tips for a History of Art PhD interview

I'm extremely excited and nervous as I have an interview for a history of art PhD program next week. I am nervous because I only have an undergraduate degree and my portfolio of research consists of one paper that I have only just started submitting to journals (the faculty member who I wish to work with has read it as she is friends with my thesis advisor and reviewed it when I was editing it).

For those who have done interviews for a History of Art or similar PhD, what kind of specific questions were you asked? How can I make myself stand out despite my limited professional, research, language, and life experience!

1 Comment
2025/01/16
22:24 UTC

1

PhD/Master History

Anyone else agonizing over the wait? Which programs did you apply for, History guys?

1 Comment
2025/01/16
22:15 UTC

17

What is the interview process like from the professorā€™s side?

Iā€™m interviewing for a Neuroscience PhD program and curious how it works from the interviewerā€™s side. I know it must be different at each school, but generally - do they do an individual evaluation post interview, recommend you if they want you in their lab, and then all meet and decide at the end after all interviews..?

0 Comments
2025/01/16
22:14 UTC

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