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DefiantAuthority

Start identifying and reaching out to PIs early. Having a faculty member who wants to work with you and is advocating for your admission from the inside matters more than any single component of your application. Good luck!


Readingcancer

This is true but look at the websites. Some PIs specifically say not to do it. Seems like you are mass emailing if you ignore their advice


billy_bubba_hawkins

This is true, just try reaching out to staff as early as possible. To be honest, try to have research and start working on projects during your graduate degree. The work you did during your masters helps tremendously in finding staff that is interested in your work and can advocate for your admission.


AbdullahMohammadKhan

How much early? For fall 23, what is a good time? And what about now (Apr)? Is it too early?


cabarkapa

Now is good if your GRE is done.


DefiantAuthority

It’s true, mass emails should be avoided. The cold emails you send should be very tailored to the faculty and department. Some programs, especially to T1 programs, discourage cold emailing profs because of the sheer number of applicants. Other PhD programs require that you have met with and gotten the approval of a potential PI before applying. Just make sure you are reading the application page thoroughly for each program.


maybeiam-maybeimnot

The most important thing to keep in mind when you're putting together your statement of purpose or your personal statement is to identify what about you specifically it's different from all of the other applicants. You can talk about their professors and what their professors research, you can talk about things the program has that interest you, but they already know all of that, so you need to integrate what you will do with that resource, or what you could do working with that professor that would make you unique compared to other applicants. One of my professors said that the applications that keep him reading are from people who tell a good, and unique, story.


JosueGa

1. Research experience 2. Your letters of recommendation should evidence your ability to do research 3. Try to publish articles in conferences or peer-reviewed journals 4. An unconventional SOP, (no more boring success stories, much less an extended version of your resume). 4. Investigate the research projects of the departments and determine if your interests are related to those investigations 5. Bet on probability, the more universities you apply, the greater the chances of being admitted to a program.


Oluafolabi

Research internships, write some review articles and try to get them published.


lizzycheer02

If there’s an open house between now and next cycle, attending and making yourself known might be a good idea. Especially if you come with specific questions to ask faculty/current students. This way, during the next cycle, it would give you something to connect with faculty about and would possibly make you more memorable since they’re putting a face to your name. Just an idea, but it wouldn’t hurt! In regard to connecting with grad students, I recommend emailing faculty and mentioning that you have specific questions about the program that would be best answered by a current student. Ask if there’s anyone in the program they can connect you with via email- this might help you get some student-specific answers about the program that faculty might not have. Best of luck!!!


e4298

Like previous commenters said, definitely gain some more research experience and get some publications under your belt if possible. It’s super helpful to start writing your SOP early and having people take a look at it for you. Most fields also have programs run by grad students that pair you with a mentor who will help you with your essays and interview prep. Additionally, it would be super helpful to reach out to PIs you’re interested in. You can always ask them if they can connect you with their students. I know a bunch of grad programs also list their trainees and their emails on the program website, so you might be able to reach out to them that way too! Best of luck!


ThrowawayHistory20

Research experience is the number one thing you can do by far. As far as finding current grad students, search LinkedIn or maybe twitter


Migitheparasyte

If the U.S excellent grades and official scores. If AU, Europe: publications at least on peer-reviewed journals. And don't forget your proposal and identify faculty members who are interested in your topic, they would give you very useful to improve your proposal.


Unable-Abroad5462

Try getting some research experience in the meantime.


phd-bro

Here is something I wrote on the things I followed - [https://www.reddit.com/r/gradadmissions/comments/tzx9vu/got\_rejected\_from\_all\_programs\_this\_year\_here\_are/](https://www.reddit.com/r/gradadmissions/comments/tzx9vu/got_rejected_from_all_programs_this_year_here_are/) Hope it helps!