Tips for Applying to Graduate School

by Barkotel Zemenu, Graduate Student, Stanford University

Before I applied to graduate programs, I had helpful conversations with a lot of faculty members, postdocs, and graduate students. During my undergrad at Yale University, I was working in a large collaboration with researchers from different institutions, and I asked them which schools they’d recommend for my subfield. They pointed me to colleagues at specific institutions who were looking for new students, which experiments were likely to get funding in the short run, and which experiments were winding down. Many of them advised me to reach out to professors I was interested in working with in advance.

The summer before applications were due, I started emailing professors. I had a short list of 10 schools I was interested in and about three professors from each school. I sent a brief but tailored email to each one, asking if they would be taking incoming graduate students next year, introducing myself and my research experience, and letting them know how their work coincided with my PhD interests; I also attached my CV. I followed up (sometimes many times) with the people who didn’t get back to me right away and ended up hearing from almost all of them!

There were a range of responses. Some professors didn’t have funding or weren’t taking students, so I ruled them out. Some professors suggested we Zoom, and on the call, they asked me to tell them about myself and then shared their research with me, which was really helpful. Some also told me that they weren’t involved with the admissions committee but were happy to connect if I was admitted, while others explicitly said they’d be on the lookout for my application.

Reaching out required a lot of specificity—I had to look at each school and each professor and what they were doing, then tailor my email. But hearing back from them was extremely helpful in deciding where to apply and where to ultimately commit.

by Ben Burdick, Grad Student, Virginia Tech

The best part of being a grad student is that you have a community built around physics, which makes it very easy to make friends and build connections. However, one of the biggest challenges is imposter syndrome, feeling insecure or like you don’t deserve to be here. I think that’s something all grad students struggle with, and it continues to be a challenge for me.

Applying to graduate schools is really difficult, and the process of hearing back is hardly ever fun. One of the most useful things to keep in mind is don’t compare yourself to your peers. Learning to avoid comparing yourself to others and play your own game is a skill that will serve you long after starting grad school.

Finally, never pigeonhole yourself into a group. If you’re picking between schools, the one that has more professors you’re interested in working with is almost always the best choice. And talk to people before committing!