A LOT was said on my past thread on why graduate school applications generally get rejected.
People said:
1- I support gatekeeping
2- I bilk students out of money
3- I support arrogance while writing SoPs.
4- "My" standards are too high
A thread on reality check (1/n)..
People said:
1- I support gatekeeping
2- I bilk students out of money
3- I support arrogance while writing SoPs.
4- "My" standards are too high
A thread on reality check (1/n)..
Who am I?
I am a graduate school consultant.
I have a Master's of Sci from a top Indian university (IIT GN) - 5% acceptance rate in my program.
I am a recipient of the Swiss government fellowship (2021) and winner of a top PhD prog in the US.
(2/n)
I am a graduate school consultant.
I have a Master's of Sci from a top Indian university (IIT GN) - 5% acceptance rate in my program.
I am a recipient of the Swiss government fellowship (2021) and winner of a top PhD prog in the US.
(2/n)
People said that encouraging students to read + build upon profs' research with whom they wish to work is excessive & is unnecessary becasue many students don't have access to publications or the training needed to provide possible research directions towards their work. (3/n)
They said that this is something you learn when you are IN graduate school and you shouldn't bother about this when you're applying.
These "arguments" seem to be oblivious to the *already existing* high standards that graduate school applicants are expected to meet. (4/n)
These "arguments" seem to be oblivious to the *already existing* high standards that graduate school applicants are expected to meet. (4/n)
1. Many programs in the US & Europe provide this vague criterion of graduate admissions that
Publications are NOT necessary but are really HELPFUL.
What do I make out of this?
Do I have to or not have to work for publications?
Can you tell me whether YOU need...(5/n)
Publications are NOT necessary but are really HELPFUL.
What do I make out of this?
Do I have to or not have to work for publications?
Can you tell me whether YOU need...(5/n)
them based on your profile?
Most likely, no, because your admission is an interplay of a LOT of factors that decide your fate.
One of the major factors is how you compete against the pool of applications in the same cycle as you.
You don't know their GPA, Recos...
(6/n)
Most likely, no, because your admission is an interplay of a LOT of factors that decide your fate.
One of the major factors is how you compete against the pool of applications in the same cycle as you.
You don't know their GPA, Recos...
(6/n)
publications record if any & test scores of your competitors.
So, as an uninformed individual you will & should try to maximise your chances of selection on EACH of the components (publications/research work included).
Apps cost USD 100 on an average (exchange rate!!!!!) (7/n)
So, as an uninformed individual you will & should try to maximise your chances of selection on EACH of the components (publications/research work included).
Apps cost USD 100 on an average (exchange rate!!!!!) (7/n)
You can't do a trial & error here & just depend on your grades & LoRs (which you don't write btw).
You need to make the cut by standing out. I thought this line of reasoning was already obvious but apparently it's not. (8/n)
You need to make the cut by standing out. I thought this line of reasoning was already obvious but apparently it's not. (8/n)
So me suggesting you to approach profs (even online) to publish or engage in deep meaningful review of literature to highlight your acumen in the field is in no way a promotion or celebration of inequalities.
I'm showing you the real picture as a person who has...(9/n)
I'm showing you the real picture as a person who has...(9/n)
applied to multiple US and European programs (with fully, partially, and funding-non-guaranteed offers).
Again, if you can't have publications, I say it's okay, you can still stand out by accessing research papers (if not open access, then just the abstracts on google (10/n)
Again, if you can't have publications, I say it's okay, you can still stand out by accessing research papers (if not open access, then just the abstracts on google (10/n)
scholar) to direct your enthusiasm in a meaningful manner.
PI will invest in you only when you can show there's some contribution you can make to the lab (and no, this is not a difficult thing to do, I and many others provide this information for free on how to do it)...(11/n)
PI will invest in you only when you can show there's some contribution you can make to the lab (and no, this is not a difficult thing to do, I and many others provide this information for free on how to do it)...(11/n)
You can visit my pinned tweet to learn how to come up with possibilities to contribute to projects (which you will definitely need if you're crafting a research proposal which many PhD & MS applications demand already!!! (12/n)
Btw, when I said that students can come up with ideas on the limitations of the profs work, I, in no way implied, that you are superior to those.
Again, that just shows you are inspired by them to have dug deep enough into the nuances of their findings....(13/n)
Again, that just shows you are inspired by them to have dug deep enough into the nuances of their findings....(13/n)
If I suggest or frame a question about a profs work with the intention of taking science forward, I wouldn't expect them to feel offended (as many have quoted) by my opinion because I would expect them to share the goal of taking science forward...(14/n)
even if that suggestion comes from an undergrad.
See my pinned tweet to frame emails that actually got me responses from top US, Swiss & German universities.
I didn't have any prior connection.
I was not "privileged".
It was my depth of knowledge in my own field (15/n)
See my pinned tweet to frame emails that actually got me responses from top US, Swiss & German universities.
I didn't have any prior connection.
I was not "privileged".
It was my depth of knowledge in my own field (15/n)
that allowed me to ask them relevant questions & points of collaboration towards their work.
When I say you can discuss possibilities with them towards generating more refined finding does not equal an egoistic attack on their work but a healthy channel of communication...(16/n
When I say you can discuss possibilities with them towards generating more refined finding does not equal an egoistic attack on their work but a healthy channel of communication...(16/n
about my ideas.
It's not a fairlyland where everyone has a fair chance of getting selected.
If your recommendations come from profs who already know your prospective PI, you're more likely to get in. (17/n)
It's not a fairlyland where everyone has a fair chance of getting selected.
If your recommendations come from profs who already know your prospective PI, you're more likely to get in. (17/n)
If the committee has heard something positive about your university, you may be more likely to get selected.
By their innate nature, grad school admissions are unclear & unfair. (18/n)
By their innate nature, grad school admissions are unclear & unfair. (18/n)
But we are not gonna cry over that. Life is unfair in essence.
So we take action rather than sulking.
The only action we can take is to make our profile competitive enough to the best of our knowledge & abilities & providing educated insights about their work won't harm (19/n
So we take action rather than sulking.
The only action we can take is to make our profile competitive enough to the best of our knowledge & abilities & providing educated insights about their work won't harm (19/n
you. About access to those papers?
Start with abstracts (if no-open access) or mail them for a copy?
If your undergrad didn't teach you this, visit unis websites & my pinned tweet to learn how to review literature to come up with future directions.
Like I always say... 20/n
Start with abstracts (if no-open access) or mail them for a copy?
If your undergrad didn't teach you this, visit unis websites & my pinned tweet to learn how to review literature to come up with future directions.
Like I always say... 20/n
if you really want it, you can.
I did it and I am from a developing country called India where research exposure on an average isn't as widespread as it is in US/Europe.
I am not gatekeeping. I am providing a reality check (for FREE). (21/n)
I did it and I am from a developing country called India where research exposure on an average isn't as widespread as it is in US/Europe.
I am not gatekeeping. I am providing a reality check (for FREE). (21/n)
For those making comments about me scamming & charging money.
If I am good at something & can help people get desirable results by sharing my training, I should & I will charge.
Those who can't afford are welcome to dig my immensely resources tweets & pinned tweet. (n/n)
If I am good at something & can help people get desirable results by sharing my training, I should & I will charge.
Those who can't afford are welcome to dig my immensely resources tweets & pinned tweet. (n/n)
Loading suggestions...