If you are thinking about putting together an application for a STEM Master’s or PhD program this Fall, you should not miss the opportunity to apply for large grants that will support your research and educational goals. Many of my students at the UCLA Scholarship Resource Center have worked with me throughout their undergraduate degrees,…
The Secret to MA/MS and PhD Admissions: Contacting Potential Advisors
As admissions consultants, we talk a lot about writing great statements of purpose, putting together an impressive curriculum vitae (CV), and approaching potential recommenders. However, we don’t always discuss what sort of contact applicants should try to make with potential advisors and professors at their desired schools. If you get one thing out of this…
Seeking Employment with Your New PhD
Congratulations! You’ve worked hard and are now the proud holder of a PhD. Now what? In today’s job market, PhDs are hired not only as professors, but also as: Researchers in STEM fields, plus many other academic and non-academic areas Directors of nonprofits or government agencies A wide array of positions within business and consulting…
Everything Graduate Applicants Need to Know About the Curriculum Vitae (CV)
If you’re applying to an academic graduate program (MA, PhD), no doubt you’ll be asked to submit a CV or resume. While “resume” is the term most often used in common parlance, there is a huge difference between CVs and resumes, and there are important reasons for choosing the CV instead of the resume. Let’s…
Reapplying to PhD Programs
What if you did apply and were unsuccessful? How can you strengthen your candidacy for PhD reapplication? Step #1: Conduct an honest assessment of your candidacy. Did you apply to too few programs? To the wrong programs? (Applying only to Harvard is not a great strategy!) Consider broadening your list of schools. Were there weaknesses…
Fully-Funded PhD Program at Harvard University: How I Got In
Harvard is one of those places that people often talk about with admiration but rarely as an aspiration. “Could I ever get into Harvard?” is usually a question asked with a great deal of doubt and trepidation. However, thousands have graduated from Harvard over its lengthy and illustrious history, and those people are real people….
Obtaining Graduate Assistantships
Assistantships are a way of funding your graduate education. They are more often awarded to PhD students than to master’s students (though a department may sometimes have funding available for exceptional master’s students). You may be awarded a Teaching Assistantship (meaning you help teach a class, teach a section of a larger class, teach a…
All About the Grenoble DBA (Doctorate in Business Administration) [Episode 315]
Exploring the DBA (Doctorate in Business Administration) program at Grenoble Ecole de Management [Show Summary] Would you like to be the kind of business leader who wants to define problems and design solution based on rigorous research? Are you seeking a global, part-time program that goes beyond the masters? Do you like the idea of…
Minimizing Technical Jargon in Your SOP
Frequently, applicants in STEM fields are working on projects that are quite technical in nature. Field-specific jargon might show that you know the language of your field – which is important – but using too much of it can also make your SOP very hard to read. Aim for the middle road: you want to…
Choosing the Right PhD Program
Choosing the right PhD program is key to your success – not just in getting admitted, but in having a successful grad school experience. What makes a PhD program the right one? There are two things you need to be on the lookout for when choosing the best program for you. First, it needs to…
PhD Applicants: Strengthening Your Candidacy
Once you’ve made the decision to apply for a PhD, how can you prepare effectively and strengthen your candidacy? The importance of pre-PhD research Your research is a vital part of your PhD application – you need to have clear reasons for pursuing advanced research in your field, and you need to be able to…
Choosing Graduate Programs to Apply To
“Choosing Graduate Programs to Apply To” is taken from Get Your Game On. To download the complete guide, click here. As you bring your interests into focus, start to create a list of target programs. Many factors will influence your decision-making process. Here are some things to think about when choosing which graduate programs to…
Awards! Grants! Scholarships! Oh My! [Episode 286]
Interview with Rebecca Lippman, Accepted Admissions Consultant [Show Summary] Accepted’s own Rebecca Lippman is a veritable fountain of knowledge when it comes to scholarships and grants, and in this podcast she shares tips on how to find scholarship opportunities and how to position yourself to win them. Everything You Need to Know About Grad School…
The Ford Foundation Pre-Doctoral Fellowship Application Essay Tips
This post focuses on application strategies for pre-doctoral students and graduate student applicants to apply for three years of funding from the Ford Foundation through The National Academies of Sciences. What to Know About the Ford Foundation Fellowship Since 1936 The Ford Foundation, created by members of the Ford family, has turned what started as…
Statement of Purpose Must-Haves: 4 Tips to Get You Started
You’re ready to sit down and write your statement of purpose. You’ve got a cup of coffee and a chunk of time to think and write. Now, how do you get started? Here are 4 things you need to write a great statement of purpose: A clearly thought out goal This is the most important…
Are You Ready to Apply to PhD Programs?
PhD programs are extremely competitive, with some specialties at top schools accepting only one or two students each year. Not only does your application have to be strong – it has to be very well thought out. To help you on the path to PhD success, we’ve put together a free guide to PhD admissions….
Can a Grad Consultant Help You Succeed?
Whatever your field and interests, when you’re applying for a masters or PhD, the process can be challenging. Top masters programs in competitive fields are extremely selective – and PhD programs might accept as few as two to three people in a given specialty. Your grad school application needs to be both strong and strategic….
Choosing Among Multiple Grad School Offers
Whether you’re applying for a Master’s or a PhD, entering April with multiple offers in hand is a terrific position to be in. Now you need to evaluate which program is the very best one for your needs. Here are some important things to think about as you make your choice: 1. Location Can you…