Have you always wanted to see the letters PhD in front of your name? This article explains how to apply for a university course in the United States, with an emphasis on Life Sciences for foreign applicants.
Steps
Step 1. Choose which university to attend
This will depend on your past research experience, your interests and your undergraduate course of study.
Step 2. Get a list of universities that have those programs
Several useful websites are suggested in the External Links section. Or you can do a "NRC ranking" search.
Step 3. Take the GRE General Test (Graduate Record Examinations), TOEFL and GRE Subject Test as required by the study programs you are applying for
Visit the ETS website for more information on the type of exam, score and results.
Step 4. Evaluate the odds of being admitted to a particular school
You will need to consider the following factors:
- financing
- your grades
- your research experience
- your citizenship
- Where would you live
- if you want to access a research institute or a real university
- the GRE and TOEFL scores
Step 5. Think about who could write you letters of recommendation
The best people are well-known researchers you've collaborated with, a faculty member you've attended, your thesis supervisor, or an employer. Ask these people if they want to write the recommendations online or in writing. Some universities do not allow you to choose between letters on paper or online. Give your contacts all the information they need and keep soliciting them until they have written the letters.
Step 6. Write a statement of goals for each program of interest
Even if it requires more work, it is best to write a different statement for each school, stating what makes you suitable for that particular program. In the declaration you can also explain defects or issues that cannot be dealt with in the rest of the application form.
Step 7. Order booklets for each university institution attended
Many universities require the original booklet which must be sent by the faculty itself. If this is not possible, however, contact the admissions department to inquire about possible alternatives. Often a certified copy of the booklet in a signed and sealed envelope is sufficient.
Step 8. Make sure GRE and TOEFL scores are sent to the appropriate department
You will need your institution codes, department codes, your credit card number and its expiration date and, of course, your test registration number and exam date.
Step 9. Use a calendar program and a spreadsheet to write down all the documents you need, which ones have been sent and which ones are still pending
Also make a list of the identification numbers, the date of dispatch and the contents of all the packages sent to the universities.
Advice
- You need to know very well which university you want to collaborate with on the programs you are applying for, mentioning the faculties in your personal goal statement. If possible, before applying, contact the faculties themselves.
- It will be of great help to already have an idea of the type of dissertation and research. Admissions committees prefer candidates who have a clear idea of what they want to do.
- The University of California system has good funding for overseas students.
- Prepare well for the GRE test by doing several practice tests. Knowing how the questions are phrased can increase your score by 50-100 points. You can find sources online.
- Many schools interview potential candidates. International applicants are usually interviewed over the phone by a faculty member. Get ready to answer questions about your course and your projects. An invitation to an interview almost certainly means that you will be offered the position, if you can justify what is written in the application for admission.
- The best candidates usually get news from committees as early as the beginning of the year. Many of the decisions are announced in early March. Notifications are rarely given in April.
- Usually the candidate has to make a decision and no later than the first half of April. Don't make decisions too quickly (unless you get a great offer at the university of your dreams!), But get in touch with other students and professors or, if possible, schedule an in-person visit to the programs first. to decide where to go. Tell the school right away once you have made up your mind - don't forget that someone else's career is at stake!
- Once this is all done, don't forget to thank the people who helped you, especially the referrals who wrote the letters of recommendation.
- Get an international credit card, which you will need to register for the GRE / TOEFL tests and to pay for the registration.
- Several couriers have special offers for students who have to send enrollment requests to universities. Find one!
- If you still do not have enough publications, you can send manuscripts still in preparation to the admissions committees.
- Admissions are notified in advance, while financial support is often pending for a month or two after notification.
- If you have a bachelor's degree (not a master's), you need to be prepared to demonstrate exceptional research skills. These could come from summer experiences in workshops / groups at national or international level or experiences in publishing in well-known peer-reviewed journals.
- People often ask what the order of importance is between GPA and GRE test scores, research experience, reference letters. Well, there is no order. Admissions committees usually look at the candidate as a whole and whether he is able to cope with the difficulties in PhD programs.
- Some schools and programs are not as well known for their rankings, but they do have great doctoral programs. The reason they are not famous is because they are postdoc positions. For biology some examples are the Scripps Institute, the Salk Institute and the Sloan-Kettering Institute.
- Even if a university is unable to provide direct funding or a scholarship, there may be other possibilities for earning money, for example as research assistant roles. Consider these possibilities before giving up on an offer from a university you would like to attend.
- Call or email the university only for really important matters. All you get is an automatic reply or an answering machine. Search for what you need on the university website.
- Gaining research or work experience in the field you want to submit your application to will greatly increase your likelihood of being admitted.
Warnings
- Always indicate the same address, without adding abbreviations or modifications. Otherwise it will be difficult for the university office to file your documents.
- Rely on reliable couriers to send your documents: FedEx, DHL, UPS, etc. Don't use a service that doesn't give you the ability to track your package.
- When submitting your scores, make no mistake in writing the institution / department code. It may seem trivial, but these mistakes happen more often than you think.
- The period of December is very busy due to Christmas: there will be frequent delays in the delivery of mail. In addition, many of the offices are closed from December 23rd until January 2nd.
- Whenever possible, put everything in one package and send it. If you are sending more than one package, please clearly write your name, address and any reference number on each package. Underline the surname.
- In the most sought-after schools, expect to be discriminated against if you are forty or older.
