This has got to be the most comprehensive video on Graduate School applications. You are a life-saver. You're the living incarnate of awesomeness! Thank you for this!
Best video I’ve seen thus far!! As application season approaches I feel like I’m starting to psych myself out and your video is helping to calm my nerves!!! tysm Jon
Thanks a ton Jon. This is really a great informative video. I am planning to pursue PhD in English literature. I am from india. My aim is Harvard, fingers crossed.
Very informative! Did a retrospective glance back on my MA SOPs for this cycle and I think for the most part it reflects your three suggestions! Fingers crossed!
Thanks for the video, it provided a genuine insight into the expectations for the PhD application! I am currently a sophomore pursuing a BS in MechE but am aspiring to obtain a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from a top university. It’s encouraging to hear from those who’ve come before you!! Thanks again for the video. :)
I actually started doing research for the professor I want to work with after graduation XD Your advice was quite good and concise! I would also add emailing the professors you want to work with could help (I did this so I will let you know if it ends up working, haha!)
Thanks I'm glad you enjoyed the video! Yes emailing professors could potentially work, though sometimes they are unable to respond due to their dept rules I think. But if it works then it works! I appreciate you stopping by.
It was a really illustrative video!, all points clear and I enjoyed the thing of looking at the application from the professor perspective or put yourself on their shoes. Thank you so much ! 🙏🏻
I’ll be a Stanford CEE grad student beginning this fall , and I have often wondered about the path to a Ph.D. Your video clears up some of the basic questions for me so thank you.
Hey Jon, Thank you so much for sharing such an excellent informative video! I am a junior pursuing biology . I started to volunteer in a lab since my freshmen year however, I am not a co-author/author on a paper yet, except for that I have my name on 1 or 2 acknowledgment sections on a published paper. Could you also share some tips related to GRE prep, that would be really helpful? Thanks.
Glad this was helpful and it's good to hear you're working in a lab. Hmm, honestly, you could probably just buy a self-prep book for GRE prep. Most different brands are probably about the same. I hear many schools have stopped requiring it, so you can check that accordingly. Happy studying!
Hello! I am currently an incoming freshman at the College of Engineering at UC Berkeley and will be pursuing Energy Engineering or a Masters in Mechanical Engineering. I appreciate the insight you offer in this video! Will be preparing ahead of time!
I'm glad you were able to get into the programs of your choice. You sound like you really know what you're talking about. One thing: "similar" is pronounced "SIM-i-ler." The middle syllable is a short "i" sound, like "Kim." It's not "SIM-you-ler." Good luck in your studies and with your research.
I going to apply to Political Science next year (Stanford is my dream) and all of this was very helpful. You also seem very down to earth and genuine, it made the video so much better. Many of the people giving this kind of advice are full of themselves.If I make it in the fall of 2024 I might be able to buy *you* a cup of tea. Keep it up mate.
Hy Bonchon. Nice video you are gem. It would be good and appreciable if you do a video on life sciences statement of purpose or structure of a Statement of purpose. Alot of love and respect 🙏 ❤️. You got a new subscriber.
Thank you so much for the very informative video! I’m planning to apply to a phd program this year and I’m quite clueless, so this video is really helpful. I also hear that some people would reach out to the professor they want to work for, before actually applying. Is this a common thing to do? Again, thank you so much.
Glad this was useful. Yes, there are some who reach out to the professors. However there are some professors who also say on their sites that they are not allowed to respond to these solicited emails or allow this to affect admissions. So its really 50-50 type deal on whether its helpful to do this.
Hi, as a Cal junior about to start my Ph.D. application in the fall, lots of thanks for this amazing video! One of the questions I have is that would Ph.D. programs in more "theoretical subjects" (e.g. physics, math, statistics) place more emphasis on courses taken (like grad-level courses) and their grades rather than lab experience? Honestly speaking EECS labs at Cal would generally be willing to accept undergrads into the labs (I was in one of them), but it's rarer for undergrads to participate in theoretical math/physics/stat work with professors (applied math/biostat are another story because they are less theoretical IMO).
Hello! Hm I'm not as sure how things are with the theoretical subjects, though I do have a few friends in the area. I believe most of them had some sort of research experience still (in math and physics), often in interdisciplinary fields. If you are concerned, I do recommend asking professors in the department that you are interested in. They might be able to provide further insight.
Hey! Thank you for this concise and useful video. Do you think it adds value to mention/talk about research which I am set to do in the near future(like over the summer) with a well-known professor? Would it look like I am just name dropping since as of yet I haven't done anything with him? Or should I majorly focus on my previous and current research and not mention about this?
Hello! I don't think it would hurt you to mention it. If it's related to similar work that you have been doing, then I think it's fine to state your plans for working with this prof in the future, even if there isn't too much to write about since you haven't started. It could demonstrate your commitment to the topic. Ultimately, it's up to you, but I wouldn't worry about it negatively impacting you.
I am a high school student so there is A LOT i don't know. But I am really curious. How do you make a publication? Where do you read research papers? How are we supposed to join a lab? How are we supposed to know if the research advisor would be a great fit?
Thanks for stopping by. I guess it could vary depending on the school and the reader of your app. As an example, some people might get close to perfect grades. I know of someone who had for instance a 3.0/4.0 GPA who got into a top program, with great research. One of my freshmen professors actually had a lower GPA than that and ended up having a great career. I mean, he became a professor which is really hard. So yea, grades are not the only factor here.
@@bonchonjonjon Thanks for your reply! It’s true that the perception of GPA depends heavily on the reader (I’ve heard about some profs graduating with perfect gpa so anything below 3.9 is considered bad for them😆) and I had a prof who had an undergrad gpa of 2.7 too 😂 Btw when you say getting into top program with a 3.0, do you mean Harvard/Stanford/MIT? Or other top programs? I know Harvard doesn’t have a minimum gpa requirement but I’ve never thought someone could get in with a 3.0... if that’s true then it really relieves a lot of stress
I'm just ending my undergrad studies this year in december, so I'm starting to get nervious about this topic because I'm planning to apply abroad (in USA, so the process is already different as when I apply to University, also the language barrier is the worst thing I have right now because I don't have experience speaking, however I can understand almost perfectly when someone native speak to me.)
Just on the topic of mediocre grades and great research, I had a 3.4 uGPA but great research and a first author and am now at Stanford. Would definitely rather have good research than good GPA
biology. I worked as a tech for 2 years in the same lab i did undergrad in so was able to complete some of the projects I had started. Applied with a first author in review, a second author and 2 mid author pubs @@Philgob
This helps alot, thanks for the suggestions! I was wondering if you could give some advice? I'm currently doing most of your suggestions, such as doing early research (though its coding intensive and thus I haven't taken a liking to it) I'm president of my universities physics club and have gotten quite a few scholarships from the department;as well as Ambassador for the STEM branch of my university. What would you suggest I do to broaden my probability of success in getting good recommendation letters for PhD program applications?
I think as long as you get into some research experience and work with faculty, that's already a great start. You want to demonstrate to your advisors/mentors your ability, and make sure they can vouch for you in their recommendations. There are many different facets of the app, but that's a good place to start. I'm glad the video was helpful!
@@bonchonjonjonGot my applications in! I took your advice to heart these last two years, did a few SULI's and got some amazingly influential people in my field to write me letters of rec. Fingers crossed 🤞, thanks again for the advice!
I really appreciate all the words of wisdom. For Stanford in particular, what's the GPA range of a typical applicant, online resources can sometimes be inaccurate
I am actually not sure about that general statistic myself, as I don't think it has been officially released to us either. Not all schools have the same GPA scale either, many people are international and they don't have a 4.0 gpa scales, so comparison might not be straightforward. What I can say is that people often think the GPA has to be perfect or near perfect to get into a good program, which is not true. I knew someone who had a GPA of 3.0 with strong research experience who got into Berkeley EECS PhD, a top tier program. So while GPA is important, it's good to remember that it's not everything. Hope this helps.
GPA is absolutely useless .... do you think someone from a community college who took a biology course and got an A is better than someone who took the same course at Harvard, per say, and got a C? Grades aren’t reflective of what you had to actually do in the class ..... maybe you had very hard Indian or Chinese professors making you do tons of projects and your GPA happened to be 3.0 rather than someone with a 3.9 GPA but had no projects and the tests were just multiple choice lol with super lazy professors Do you catch my drift?
Hello Loi, Glad you liked the video! Having publications on your CV definitely helps and if you can, try and shoot for them. However, I know plenty of people who have gotten in without publications as well. I think it is more important to have professors you worked with in lab who vouch for your research ability in their letter of recommendations. Having publications is a nice add on to support your great research skills :)
@@bonchonjonjon What does it mean to work with professors in a lab? Is that like a TA or internship? Is it a university program or do I have to reach out to professors?
@@gordonlim2322 I think he refers to doing a project/internship some sort of research experience to prove to the faculty that you are capable of doing g research
Very informative video, I am applying for my phD in USA now. will definitely use the tips. Although I am a bit skeptical about my chance to get into a real good school. I have mediocre GRE score and no publication. I did my MS in US with a thesis (so ~1.5yr lab experience) and then now working in Intel as a process engineer for 2+ years. Will these help boost up my application and overcome the shortfalls?
Hi Jon! Thank you so much for an amazing video! I have noticed that you emphasized the grades a little and I was wondering what you would consider bad/mediorcre vs good GPA! My Overall GPA is barely above 3.5 now but it took a hit as I took difficult courses for my minor during junior year(My major gpa is around 3.67). I have done research since sophomore year so I am pretty confident with where I am at but I am a little concerned about my GPA. Hopefully I can hear back from you. Thank you!
I'm glad this video was helpful! Judging GPAs can vary depending on who's reading the app and such. There is no official minimum GPA and even people with perfect GPAs can get rejected from programs. In my opinion, I don't feel you need to overly worry about your particular GPA keeping you out of contention. There are those with lower GPAs than yours who get into great programs. If you are applying soon, I would not worry about it anyway. Just focus on what you can control at this point like your statement of purpose, choosing recommenders etc. Best of luck on your endeavors!
Hi Jon, firstly thank you for your helpful video. I am having same situation with Tom. I took some grad courses, so my GPA is now just 3.8. I am wondering if taking grad course in undergrad progress is a good point in application into grad program? Also, I haven’t done any paper yet (except for some projects). In this case, what should I need to improve my profile? I am now a junior. Thank you so much for your consideration!❤
Could you please make a video on how to look for a good phD program that fits me(like certain criteria to keep in mind or pay attention to)? I am a rising junior undergrad and I'm interested in applying for Ph.D. program in Computer Science, but I feel so lost to find a university to apply to as there are so many different programs with little different College names 😭
If you don't mind sharing, what was your GPA and publications like that helped you get accepted into these schools? I'd like to think I'm a competitive candidate but I'm not exactly sure what these schools are looking for.
How difficult are the academics in top tier schools as compared to average school? Like how much more difficult are the classes/how much do the professors help you in understanding or how much do you have to do it on your own?
Honestly, a lot of schools should be similar in terms of course difficulty and content. Private schools might have smaller class sizes though and more funding, which may result in more personalized attention compared to public schools.
Thank you so much for the informative video! A quick question: How intensive should research be for admission into bioengineering? Like how many projects and how advanced should they be?
Thats a very insightful video! Thanks. I am applying for mathematics PhD. My grades, LOR, CV are all fine but I didn't do well in my GRE general (~312; verbal= 152; quant=160). I am applying to around 15 schools, out of which 5 (medium level) schools ask for GRE scores. For rest, it is optional. Is 160 in quant good enough or would you recommend that I should give the GRE again?
Hey thanks a lot for this informative video! I was wondering if paid or unpaid Lab internships count as Research experience for the application process, thanks again.
Nice video, thanks. How important do you think it is to be the first author on your publications? I just applied to CS Ph.D. programs and have two publications. Both of them are published in venues that anyone in my field (ML) knows, but the first publication I'm 3/4 author and the second I'm 2/8 author. Obviously, being a coauthor is better than nothing, but I've heard that the make-or-break point for competitive programs in a competitive field like mine is whether you have a first-authored paper or not.
Hi Sean. In my opinion, being involved in any publication, regardless of authorship, as a PhD applicant is already very impressive. I knew a number of people at school (who did ML) who didn't have first author publications and others who didn't have any publications at all and still got in. A first authorship paper might look good, but I think what's more important is to have a stellar recommendation from a Prof who is excited about your research ability. My advice is to not worry about this - being involved in two publications in well known journals is a tremendous accomplishment and great to see in an app. Hope this helps and good luck with things.
thank you so much for making an informative video. 🙂This is really helpful. Some schools have an optional essay option for a doctoral program. Should candidates discuss their weak section of application? For instance, low GPA or average GRE score. Some schools also require to include extracurricular activities - should it be part of the course/ research that is related to the doctoral program, rather than community service?
Glad this helped. I suppose it could be helpful to address that, but it would be more effective if you can demonstrate what you did to improve on a weak point of the app (ie starting off with lower GPA in early years and gradually improving over time). If I understand the question, I think in most school apps, extracurricular activities is a separate section from research, and would include things like community service. If you have questions on a specific school's app, contacting the school is probably your best bet.
Do you think the GRE is really still required for apps? Kind of don’t want to take it haha, and I hear post COVID most programs don’t require it anymore
I think I called one of the schools for a specific question about one of their submission requirements. Most of the other schools, I was able to figure out the directions from their website and the application instructions. If you ever have questions for their department, you can usually call or email their office.
Serious question ⁉️. I want to do PhD in physiology but my letters of recommendation are : 1. One PhD professor who taught me few courses on clinical setting and is the director of one of my research group ( not lab). 2. One PhD professor who I'm currently doing two internship and my thesis 3. One MS pharmacology professor. I worked with her for 5 years as a RA and TA in pharm class . 4. One PhD professor who recently offered me to work in lab with him to gain experience in lab 🧪 and who was my professor for one course like 3 years ago, but yesterday I met him and he offered me experience and a letter of recommendation. So, help what do you 💬🤔. Because I just need 3 letters :(
Just curious, how did you go from EECS to Bioengineering? Was there a tipping point of your interest during undergrad? I’m a current CS student and would like to attend grad school but am not sure what niche I would like to specialize in for grad school (ex: Machine Learning/AI, Biocomputing, etc)
When dealing with interdisciplinary topics, the lines get blurred in terms of which departments are involved. I happened to get into MRI hardware which could be under EE or BioE dept. I even knew some MechE in similar labs . My opinion is that ultimately, your dept doesn't really matter as long as there is a topic there that suits you. Hope this helps.
Hi Jon, thanks for this awesome video! I'm a BME student all the way from undergrad to master. Currently I'm working for a top tier Medical Device Company as a Product Owner for about 1 year, which has nothing to do with research. I'm thinking about applying for a phD program, but as I have left academia for over a year I'm afraid any top phD BME program would even consider me. Do you think experiences in the industry is a plus or a minus? Should I transfer to a more research-based position or stick with Product Owner and keep focusing on more business stuff? Thank you and definitely appreciate your reply!
Glad this helped! If your work experience gives you an opportunity to exercise problem solving skills, an essential trait in lab, then it is definitely a plus. If you feel like your in a position where youre not learning or doing anything that exercises the mind, then it might be better to find a different position. I've known several people in the PhD who have worked in between college and grad school, and they managed to get into great programs.
Hi, I'm planning for a PhD in quantum information science/quantum computing but I come from mechanical engineering background. However my GPA is quite low(3.4) because of the pandemic and stuff. My GPA excluding the pandemic semester is quite good. Since my GPA isn't quite in the field in which I am planning for PhD do my research papers carry more weight than my gpa?
I have got 72.10% in Undergraduate computer science from Indian university. It was terrible to score, tough marking scheme. Can my research experience will lead me into top50s.
Thank you for the helpful info. In case I want to apply to programs that don't have labs (math, cs, etc.) or dont get as much funding, what would you say the professors would focus on for admitting their students? also, do personal projects matter at all or are they irrelevant?
I think with most STEM majors including math, cs, I think there still is greater emphasis on how the student would perform in a research setting since you are ultimately writing a thesis, and so that's where I would put the most effort in as an applicant. Regarding personal projects, I would not say they are irrelevant and could look very nice in an application, depending on the project. The reason I think it is better to work in a lab setting is because you have the benefit of a Professor mentoring you and funding your experiments, as well as an incentive to publish, which looks really good. Plus you can get a recommendation out of it. If you do a personal project, I do highly recommend working with a mentor or communicating with a Professor about it, that way you are not just working in a bubble. As long as you feel like you can accomplish something very valuable in the field, I would not say that personal projects don't matter.
hey, great video love it and save it. Stanford (psychology dep) write on the website that GRE is not required and don't need. but can we send them GRE score as an option? I mean optional. thanks for your answer❤❤
Super informative video, really appreciate you taking the time and giving out this information for free. My question is how in God's name do you write a SoP? There are so many formats and templates online, as well extremely touching and personalized statements (such as a guy who got into Harvard Graduate School of Education and his SoP was centered around his childhood experience and emerging out of crime). I simply do not have those ultra-emotional stories; I just have a lot of research experience (including two publications). How do I go about writing my SoP and make it attention-grabbing like the others?
Glad this helped! I think when writing the SoP, it's just a matter of emphasizing your motivation for continuing school and the reason for applying specifically to that institution. Everyone is likely motivated by something and committees want to know what that is. I know its tough, but try not to worry about making comparisons in terms of life experiences, since that is not always fully in our control. Also, understand that everyone's story is unique including your own, and you have the entire application, not just SoP, to speak to that. All the best!
I have a question .does the repeatation of subjects at university effects or admission at MiT or not..actually my university shows same symbol (failure or improve) or they just calculate overall gpa and gre scores with other activities.
It is difficult to say, since it really depends on the rest of the applicant's experience and resume. Obviously, the higher the better, without comprising for instance, research experience.
After I graduated I started having a strong passion towards research and wanted to go to graduate school. However, I never really done any research nor worked as a TA. I'm currently looking for jobs but still feel like my application would not be strong :( any advice?
I would recommend trying to find some sort of research position, even if you are no longer a student. Having some experience will allow you to gauge whether its worth spending several more years doing it in grad school. Best of luck!
Hi Jon! Thank you for sharing this information. It was really helpful. I am planning to apply for Ph.D. program at Stanford and wasn't really sure if I have the right profile for it. I have a question for you. Do you think being co-author on a conference manuscript and journal publication count towards having a good profile? I do not have a lot of experience in research experience. Can you suggest something thatI can do to increase my chances for Fall 24? Thank you!
Hi, yea I would say that working on a manuscript or publication would be immensely helpful. I think continuing to work in the lab if you have time would be a good idea, while keeping your grades up. If your professor is available, it would be wise to speak with them and see if they have any thoughts for making progress this quarter or places that you can apply :)
Exceptionally beneficial. Thanks. I want to apply for phd statistics in Stanford University, is that important to do GRE? I have done research work in my MS degree and now i am writing a paper. Please guide.
Hello, im looking for a Ph.D in biothechnology,but at the same time i would love to have teaching job with good salary so that i may live with parents,Is it possible there..please guide...
I have a different question. Did you work while completing your PhD? If yes, how did you manage a work, life n school balance? Were you able to qualify for grants n scholarships to cover your tuition? Thanks, Jouli
Hi Jon, thanks a lot for the video. I have a quick question, so I have joined 2 labs and started doing 2 projects for publications, but they won't be completed before application deadline, so does an inprogress project leading to a publication, having the weightage as a published one because I don't have any other publication against my name, should I mention them or not?
My opinion is even if the publications won't be completed by application deadline, it still can't hurt to mention them somewhere in your application! I assume you will mention the projects themselves in your application anyway.
@@bonchonjonjon yes I'll mention the projects but i wanted to know do projects hold the same value as a publication? I know my project would eventually lead to a publication but not before the application deadline.
Thanks! Yes, a large number of PhD students have some funding, at least initially from Stanford. Sometimes it comes from fellowships, TAship or RAship. TAship and RAship aren't really scholarships, more like jobs. Very few Stanford PhDs pay for their own schooling.
This is really on point. Just got admitted for PhD at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
Congrats!
Congratulations, I want to go for the cross studies in biomedical science PhD right there. Any recommendations?
@@moonshine399 Study harder, eat healthier, sleep 9 hours.
So happy for you! Johns Hopkins is one of my dream schools too.
Omg ❤❤❤❤❤
This has got to be the most comprehensive video on Graduate School applications. You are a life-saver. You're the living incarnate of awesomeness! Thank you for this!
Thanks! Glad this was helpful!
Insanely smart to get accepted into all of those grad schools!!! @_@
After hearing all of this information...it makes a lot of sense
Best video I’ve seen thus far!! As application season approaches I feel like I’m starting to psych myself out and your video is helping to calm my nerves!!! tysm Jon
Glad this was helpful! Good luck with applications.
Thanks a ton Jon. This is really a great informative video. I am planning to pursue PhD in English literature. I am from india. My aim is Harvard, fingers crossed.
A really solid video for people starting on their apps. Thank you!
Awesome video. Following these tips, I've gotten into my dream PhD program. Thank you 😊
So happy for you! Congrats!
Very informative! Did a retrospective glance back on my MA SOPs for this cycle and I think for the most part it reflects your three suggestions! Fingers crossed!
Great! Hope you have some nice results.
Hey, did you get into schools you wanted to get in? 🤞
Thanks for the video, it provided a genuine insight into the expectations for the PhD application! I am currently a sophomore pursuing a BS in MechE but am aspiring to obtain a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from a top university.
It’s encouraging to hear from those who’ve come before you!! Thanks again for the video. :)
Thanks I am glad you found it useful!
I actually started doing research for the professor I want to work with after graduation XD Your advice was quite good and concise!
I would also add emailing the professors you want to work with could help (I did this so I will let you know if it ends up working, haha!)
Thanks I'm glad you enjoyed the video! Yes emailing professors could potentially work, though sometimes they are unable to respond due to their dept rules I think. But if it works then it works! I appreciate you stopping by.
Did it work? Applying phd rn haha could really use some advice XD
It actually did work! I got to work with the professor for like 3 or 4 months and I got some amazing experience.
First and foremost, thank you for taking the time and making this video.
Glad you enjoyed it!
It was a really illustrative video!, all points clear and I enjoyed the thing of looking at the application from the professor perspective or put yourself on their shoes. Thank you so much ! 🙏🏻
This was really useful,thank you.Waiting for more videos related to this topic.
Thanks, I'm glad you found this helpful!
Competent and concise. Thank you fellow human.
Extremely useful brother. Good luck to you.
Glad it was helpful!
Great, clear, simplified and well-presented video. Thank you.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.
This is well detailed and informative. Really grateful I came across this
Glad it was helpful!
awesome guidance for the Grad admission Man! thanks a lot! keep on going!
Thanks! Glad this helped.
This was fantastic thank you!
I’ll be a Stanford CEE grad student beginning this fall , and I have often wondered about the path to a Ph.D. Your video clears up some of the basic questions for me so thank you.
Glad this was helpful.
Hey Jon, Thank you so much for sharing such an excellent informative video! I am a junior pursuing biology . I started to volunteer in a lab since my freshmen year however, I am not a co-author/author on a paper yet, except for that I have my name on 1 or 2 acknowledgment sections on a published paper. Could you also share some tips related to GRE prep, that would be really helpful? Thanks.
Glad this was helpful and it's good to hear you're working in a lab. Hmm, honestly, you could probably just buy a self-prep book for GRE prep. Most different brands are probably about the same. I hear many schools have stopped requiring it, so you can check that accordingly. Happy studying!
@@bonchonjonjon Harvard,MIT,Stanford stoped accepting GRE. Stanford prohibited students to mention GRE score.
Hello! I am currently an incoming freshman at the College of Engineering at UC Berkeley and will be pursuing Energy Engineering or a Masters in Mechanical Engineering. I appreciate the insight you offer in this video! Will be preparing ahead of time!
Glad this was useful! Best of luck.
I'm glad you were able to get into the programs of your choice. You sound like you really know what you're talking about. One thing: "similar" is pronounced "SIM-i-ler." The middle syllable is a short "i" sound, like "Kim." It's not "SIM-you-ler." Good luck in your studies and with your research.
Good catch thanks!
I going to apply to Political Science next year (Stanford is my dream) and all of this was very helpful. You also seem very down to earth and genuine, it made the video so much better. Many of the people giving this kind of advice are full of themselves.If I make it in the fall of 2024 I might be able to buy *you* a cup of tea. Keep it up mate.
Thanks for the kind words. Glad this was useful.
Hy Bonchon. Nice video you are gem. It would be good and appreciable if you do a video on life sciences statement of purpose or structure of a Statement of purpose. Alot of love and respect 🙏 ❤️. You got a new subscriber.
Glad this helped. Thanks for the video idea. I've been a bit busy lately, but I'll see about making one in the future.
You rock. You deserve the success you have in life!
Thank you so much! Best of luck to you as well.
Great Information! Thanks for sharing~
Glad this was useful!
Hi Jon -excellent review, thanks!
Thanks! Glad it was helpful.
Thank you so much for the very informative video! I’m planning to apply to a phd program this year and I’m quite clueless, so this video is really helpful.
I also hear that some people would reach out to the professor they want to work for, before actually applying. Is this a common thing to do?
Again, thank you so much.
Glad this was useful. Yes, there are some who reach out to the professors. However there are some professors who also say on their sites that they are not allowed to respond to these solicited emails or allow this to affect admissions. So its really 50-50 type deal on whether its helpful to do this.
Thanks a lot Jon!! Could you also talk about SOP?
I touch on SOP a bit in this video, but I'll see about making a specific video of it in the future. Thanks for the idea.
great video. Thanks alot!
So helpful. Thank you
Excellent presentation and thank you for it.
Hi, as a Cal junior about to start my Ph.D. application in the fall, lots of thanks for this amazing video! One of the questions I have is that would Ph.D. programs in more "theoretical subjects" (e.g. physics, math, statistics) place more emphasis on courses taken (like grad-level courses) and their grades rather than lab experience? Honestly speaking EECS labs at Cal would generally be willing to accept undergrads into the labs (I was in one of them), but it's rarer for undergrads to participate in theoretical math/physics/stat work with professors (applied math/biostat are another story because they are less theoretical IMO).
Hello! Hm I'm not as sure how things are with the theoretical subjects, though I do have a few friends in the area. I believe most of them had some sort of research experience still (in math and physics), often in interdisciplinary fields. If you are concerned, I do recommend asking professors in the department that you are interested in. They might be able to provide further insight.
This a million times over. Have a trusted mentor (Ph.D.) look over your application materials if you can.
Yep, extra eyes always helps! Thanks for stopping by.
Thanks for this useful video!
Glad this was helpful! Thanks for stopping by.
this is high quality content.
Hey! Thank you for this concise and useful video. Do you think it adds value to mention/talk about research which I am set to do in the near future(like over the summer) with a well-known professor? Would it look like I am just name dropping since as of yet I haven't done anything with him? Or should I majorly focus on my previous and current research and not mention about this?
Hello! I don't think it would hurt you to mention it. If it's related to similar work that you have been doing, then I think it's fine to state your plans for working with this prof in the future, even if there isn't too much to write about since you haven't started. It could demonstrate your commitment to the topic. Ultimately, it's up to you, but I wouldn't worry about it negatively impacting you.
I am a high school student so there is A LOT i don't know. But I am really curious. How do you make a publication? Where do you read research papers? How are we supposed to join a lab? How are we supposed to know if the research advisor would be a great fit?
Thank you for this informative video.
Glad this was helpful!
Thanks mate for the information.👍
I'm glad this was helpful!
Great video! Interesting perspective 😉
Just curious, what do you consider as a "mediocre" grade and what is a "good" grade?
Thanks for stopping by. I guess it could vary depending on the school and the reader of your app. As an example, some people might get close to perfect grades. I know of someone who had for instance a 3.0/4.0 GPA who got into a top program, with great research. One of my freshmen professors actually had a lower GPA than that and ended up having a great career. I mean, he became a professor which is really hard. So yea, grades are not the only factor here.
@@bonchonjonjon Thanks for your reply! It’s true that the perception of GPA depends heavily on the reader (I’ve heard about some profs graduating with perfect gpa so anything below 3.9 is considered bad for them😆) and I had a prof who had an undergrad gpa of 2.7 too 😂 Btw when you say getting into top program with a 3.0, do you mean Harvard/Stanford/MIT? Or other top programs? I know Harvard doesn’t have a minimum gpa requirement but I’ve never thought someone could get in with a 3.0... if that’s true then it really relieves a lot of stress
I'm just ending my undergrad studies this year in december, so I'm starting to get nervious about this topic because I'm planning to apply abroad (in USA, so the process is already different as when I apply to University, also the language barrier is the worst thing I have right now because I don't have experience speaking, however I can understand almost perfectly when someone native speak to me.)
awesome, you more sharings are expected 👍
Congrats!! 🎊🎉
Thanks Rachel!
it helped soooo much thank you❤
Of course! I'm happy you found this useful.
Thank you for the video 💯
Of course! Glad it was helpful
I didn't need an application to get into Stanford. I just walked in. ;-)
Applying to Stanford this winter! This really calmed my nerves about the GRE
Glad to here! Best of luck in the process.
Just on the topic of mediocre grades and great research, I had a 3.4 uGPA but great research and a first author and am now at Stanford. Would definitely rather have good research than good GPA
Nice! What field? I also have booty cheeks uGPA. Also what’s the story behind your first author paper?
biology. I worked as a tech for 2 years in the same lab i did undergrad in so was able to complete some of the projects I had started. Applied with a first author in review, a second author and 2 mid author pubs @@Philgob
Share more about your phd journey in stanford ee please, a brief of your research would be good
This helps alot, thanks for the suggestions! I was wondering if you could give some advice? I'm currently doing most of your suggestions, such as doing early research (though its coding intensive and thus I haven't taken a liking to it) I'm president of my universities physics club and have gotten quite a few scholarships from the department;as well as Ambassador for the STEM branch of my university. What would you suggest I do to broaden my probability of success in getting good recommendation letters for PhD program applications?
I think as long as you get into some research experience and work with faculty, that's already a great start. You want to demonstrate to your advisors/mentors your ability, and make sure they can vouch for you in their recommendations. There are many different facets of the app, but that's a good place to start. I'm glad the video was helpful!
@@bonchonjonjonGot my applications in! I took your advice to heart these last two years, did a few SULI's and got some amazingly influential people in my field to write me letters of rec. Fingers crossed 🤞, thanks again for the advice!
I really appreciate all the words of wisdom. For Stanford in particular, what's the GPA range of a typical applicant, online resources can sometimes be inaccurate
I am actually not sure about that general statistic myself, as I don't think it has been officially released to us either. Not all schools have the same GPA scale either, many people are international and they don't have a 4.0 gpa scales, so comparison might not be straightforward. What I can say is that people often think the GPA has to be perfect or near perfect to get into a good program, which is not true. I knew someone who had a GPA of 3.0 with strong research experience who got into Berkeley EECS PhD, a top tier program. So while GPA is important, it's good to remember that it's not everything. Hope this helps.
@@bonchonjonjon it does, thanks for your help and I wish you the best in your upcoming semester!
@@golden3008 Thanks Happy New Year!
GPA is absolutely useless .... do you think someone from a community college who took a biology course and got an A is better than someone who took the same course at Harvard, per say, and got a C? Grades aren’t reflective of what you had to actually do in the class ..... maybe you had very hard Indian or Chinese professors making you do tons of projects and your GPA happened to be 3.0 rather than someone with a 3.9 GPA but had no projects and the tests were just multiple choice lol with super lazy professors
Do you catch my drift?
Hi, thank you for this video! Can I ask a question: How important is having publications on the CV?
Hello Loi,
Glad you liked the video! Having publications on your CV definitely helps and if you can, try and shoot for them. However, I know plenty of people who have gotten in without publications as well. I think it is more important to have professors you worked with in lab who vouch for your research ability in their letter of recommendations. Having publications is a nice add on to support your great research skills :)
@@bonchonjonjon What does it mean to work with professors in a lab? Is that like a TA or internship? Is it a university program or do I have to reach out to professors?
@@gordonlim2322 I think he refers to doing a project/internship some sort of research experience to prove to the faculty that you are capable of doing g research
Very informative video, I am applying for my phD in USA now. will definitely use the tips. Although I am a bit skeptical about my chance to get into a real good school. I have mediocre GRE score and no publication. I did my MS in US with a thesis (so ~1.5yr lab experience) and then now working in Intel as a process engineer for 2+ years. Will these help boost up my application and overcome the shortfalls?
Which Universities are to trying to get into.? PhD in ?
Did u get in?
Hi Jon! Thank you so much for an amazing video! I have noticed that you emphasized the grades a little and I was wondering what you would consider bad/mediorcre vs good GPA! My Overall GPA is barely above 3.5 now but it took a hit as I took difficult courses for my minor during junior year(My major gpa is around 3.67). I have done research since sophomore year so I am pretty confident with where I am at but I am a little concerned about my GPA. Hopefully I can hear back from you. Thank you!
I'm glad this video was helpful! Judging GPAs can vary depending on who's reading the app and such. There is no official minimum GPA and even people with perfect GPAs can get rejected from programs. In my opinion, I don't feel you need to overly worry about your particular GPA keeping you out of contention. There are those with lower GPAs than yours who get into great programs. If you are applying soon, I would not worry about it anyway. Just focus on what you can control at this point like your statement of purpose, choosing recommenders etc. Best of luck on your endeavors!
@@bonchonjonjon Thank you! Bless your soul Jon! 🙏
Hi Jon, firstly thank you for your helpful video. I am having same situation with Tom. I took some grad courses, so my GPA is now just 3.8. I am wondering if taking grad course in undergrad progress is a good point in application into grad program? Also, I haven’t done any paper yet (except for some projects). In this case, what should I need to improve my profile? I am now a junior.
Thank you so much for your consideration!❤
Could you please make a video on how to look for a good phD program that fits me(like certain criteria to keep in mind or pay attention to)? I am a rising junior undergrad and I'm interested in applying for Ph.D. program in Computer Science, but I feel so lost to find a university to apply to as there are so many different programs with little different College names 😭
I can add it to the list of future video ideas. Thanks for the suggestion!
Thank you so much! I appreciate it :)
Thank you for the tips
If you don't mind sharing, what was your GPA and publications like that helped you get accepted into these schools? I'd like to think I'm a competitive candidate but I'm not exactly sure what these schools are looking for.
How difficult are the academics in top tier schools as compared to average school? Like how much more difficult are the classes/how much do the professors help you in understanding or how much do you have to do it on your own?
Honestly, a lot of schools should be similar in terms of course difficulty and content. Private schools might have smaller class sizes though and more funding, which may result in more personalized attention compared to public schools.
Thank you so much for the informative video!
A quick question: How intensive should research be for admission into bioengineering? Like how many projects and how advanced should they be?
Thank you so much!
Glad this helped!
Thats a very insightful video! Thanks.
I am applying for mathematics PhD. My grades, LOR, CV are all fine but I didn't do well in my GRE general (~312; verbal= 152; quant=160). I am applying to around 15 schools, out of which 5 (medium level) schools ask for GRE scores. For rest, it is optional. Is 160 in quant good enough or would you recommend that I should give the GRE again?
Hey thanks a lot for this informative video! I was wondering if paid or unpaid Lab internships count as Research experience for the application process, thanks again.
Yes, it definitely does count!
Nice video, thanks. How important do you think it is to be the first author on your publications? I just applied to CS Ph.D. programs and have two publications. Both of them are published in venues that anyone in my field (ML) knows, but the first publication I'm 3/4 author and the second I'm 2/8 author. Obviously, being a coauthor is better than nothing, but I've heard that the make-or-break point for competitive programs in a competitive field like mine is whether you have a first-authored paper or not.
Hi Sean. In my opinion, being involved in any publication, regardless of authorship, as a PhD applicant is already very impressive. I knew a number of people at school (who did ML) who didn't have first author publications and others who didn't have any publications at all and still got in. A first authorship paper might look good, but I think what's more important is to have a stellar recommendation from a Prof who is excited about your research ability. My advice is to not worry about this - being involved in two publications in well known journals is a tremendous accomplishment and great to see in an app. Hope this helps and good luck with things.
Did u get in?
Thanks for the information all..
Glad this was helpful!
thank you so much for making an informative video. 🙂This is really helpful. Some schools have an optional essay option for a doctoral program. Should candidates discuss their weak section of application? For instance, low GPA or average GRE score. Some schools also require to include extracurricular activities - should it be part of the course/ research that is related to the doctoral program, rather than community service?
Glad this helped. I suppose it could be helpful to address that, but it would be more effective if you can demonstrate what you did to improve on a weak point of the app (ie starting off with lower GPA in early years and gradually improving over time). If I understand the question, I think in most school apps, extracurricular activities is a separate section from research, and would include things like community service. If you have questions on a specific school's app, contacting the school is probably your best bet.
Do you think the GRE is really still required for apps? Kind of don’t want to take it haha, and I hear post COVID most programs don’t require it anymore
How many conversations did you have with these schools before submitting applications?
I think I called one of the schools for a specific question about one of their submission requirements. Most of the other schools, I was able to figure out the directions from their website and the application instructions. If you ever have questions for their department, you can usually call or email their office.
Serious question ⁉️. I want to do PhD in physiology but my letters of recommendation are :
1. One PhD professor who taught me few courses on clinical setting and is the director of one of my research group ( not lab).
2. One PhD professor who I'm currently doing two internship and my thesis
3. One MS pharmacology professor. I worked with her for 5 years as a RA and TA in pharm class .
4. One PhD professor who recently offered me to work in lab with him to gain experience in lab 🧪 and who was my professor for one course like 3 years ago, but yesterday I met him and he offered me experience and a letter of recommendation.
So, help what do you 💬🤔. Because I just need 3 letters :(
Just curious, how did you go from EECS to Bioengineering? Was there a tipping point of your interest during undergrad? I’m a current CS student and would like to attend grad school but am not sure what niche I would like to specialize in for grad school (ex: Machine Learning/AI, Biocomputing, etc)
I’m also interested! I’m a physics major (cs minor) interested in bioengineering!
When dealing with interdisciplinary topics, the lines get blurred in terms of which departments are involved. I happened to get into MRI hardware which could be under EE or BioE dept. I even knew some MechE in similar labs . My opinion is that ultimately, your dept doesn't really matter as long as there is a topic there that suits you. Hope this helps.
@@Hazellites is physics a good degree?
Hi Jon, thanks for this awesome video! I'm a BME student all the way from undergrad to master. Currently I'm working for a top tier Medical Device Company as a Product Owner for about 1 year, which has nothing to do with research. I'm thinking about applying for a phD program, but as I have left academia for over a year I'm afraid any top phD BME program would even consider me. Do you think experiences in the industry is a plus or a minus? Should I transfer to a more research-based position or stick with Product Owner and keep focusing on more business stuff? Thank you and definitely appreciate your reply!
Glad this helped! If your work experience gives you an opportunity to exercise problem solving skills, an essential trait in lab, then it is definitely a plus. If you feel like your in a position where youre not learning or doing anything that exercises the mind, then it might be better to find a different position. I've known several people in the PhD who have worked in between college and grad school, and they managed to get into great programs.
@@bonchonjonjon thanks a lot for the advice! Wish the best of luck in your phD program
Great content :)
Thanks! Glad it was helpful.
Is it hard to get into without MS degree?
🙏awesome
Great information. Thank you so much
Hi, I'm planning for a PhD in quantum information science/quantum computing but I come from mechanical engineering background. However my GPA is quite low(3.4) because of the pandemic and stuff. My GPA excluding the pandemic semester is quite good. Since my GPA isn't quite in the field in which I am planning for PhD do my research papers carry more weight than my gpa?
I have got 72.10% in Undergraduate computer science from Indian university. It was terrible to score, tough marking scheme. Can my research experience will lead me into top50s.
Thanks so much 🥰🥰
Thank you for the helpful info.
In case I want to apply to programs that don't have labs (math, cs, etc.) or dont get as much funding, what would you say the professors would focus on for admitting their students?
also, do personal projects matter at all or are they irrelevant?
I think with most STEM majors including math, cs, I think there still is greater emphasis on how the student would perform in a research setting since you are ultimately writing a thesis, and so that's where I would put the most effort in as an applicant. Regarding personal projects, I would not say they are irrelevant and could look very nice in an application, depending on the project. The reason I think it is better to work in a lab setting is because you have the benefit of a Professor mentoring you and funding your experiments, as well as an incentive to publish, which looks really good. Plus you can get a recommendation out of it. If you do a personal project, I do highly recommend working with a mentor or communicating with a Professor about it, that way you are not just working in a bubble. As long as you feel like you can accomplish something very valuable in the field, I would not say that personal projects don't matter.
@@bonchonjonjon Thanks!! I love your content, pretty sure ur channel will blow up
@@ASult-qr5ib Haha thanks!
Thank you!
Thank you for the information. I just wanna know if the publications are necessary to apply PhD?
hey, great video love it and save it. Stanford (psychology dep) write on the website that GRE is not required and don't need. but can we send them GRE score as an option? I mean optional. thanks for your answer❤❤
Glad this helped! Hmm, they only recently changed conditions saying that the GRE is not required. I recommend you contact the department and ask them.
Super informative video, really appreciate you taking the time and giving out this information for free. My question is how in God's name do you write a SoP? There are so many formats and templates online, as well extremely touching and personalized statements (such as a guy who got into Harvard Graduate School of Education and his SoP was centered around his childhood experience and emerging out of crime). I simply do not have those ultra-emotional stories; I just have a lot of research experience (including two publications). How do I go about writing my SoP and make it attention-grabbing like the others?
Glad this helped! I think when writing the SoP, it's just a matter of emphasizing your motivation for continuing school and the reason for applying specifically to that institution. Everyone is likely motivated by something and committees want to know what that is. I know its tough, but try not to worry about making comparisons in terms of life experiences, since that is not always fully in our control. Also, understand that everyone's story is unique including your own, and you have the entire application, not just SoP, to speak to that. All the best!
@@bonchonjonjon Good news. I got an interview at one of my top choices. So guess I did it right! :)
@@location-cognizantmissile9743 Congrats to you!
I have a question .does the repeatation of subjects at university effects or admission at MiT or not..actually my university shows same symbol (failure or improve) or they just calculate overall gpa and gre scores with other activities.
Great video, Should I need to mail the professors of that university and apply according their response mail?
If you're talking about applying, usually you would send your application to the school.
do you have tutorial to get research experience
also, when you said volunteering, how can we do that?
Hi,very informative video this is.I have a doubt that what is the GPA we should have in Master's to get into PhD
It is difficult to say, since it really depends on the rest of the applicant's experience and resume. Obviously, the higher the better, without comprising for instance, research experience.
After I graduated I started having a strong passion towards research and wanted to go to graduate school. However, I never really done any research nor worked as a TA. I'm currently looking for jobs but still feel like my application would not be strong :( any advice?
I would recommend trying to find some sort of research position, even if you are no longer a student. Having some experience will allow you to gauge whether its worth spending several more years doing it in grad school. Best of luck!
Hi Jon! Thank you for sharing this information. It was really helpful. I am planning to apply for Ph.D. program at Stanford and wasn't really sure if I have the right profile for it. I have a question for you. Do you think being co-author on a conference manuscript and journal publication count towards having a good profile? I do not have a lot of experience in research experience. Can you suggest something thatI can do to increase my chances for Fall 24? Thank you!
Hi, yea I would say that working on a manuscript or publication would be immensely helpful. I think continuing to work in the lab if you have time would be a good idea, while keeping your grades up. If your professor is available, it would be wise to speak with them and see if they have any thoughts for making progress this quarter or places that you can apply :)
Thank you so much for sharing your insights. @@bonchonjonjon
Where did you get your chair? I really like the burgundy color.
Lol. It was either IKEA or a local furniture store called Scandanavian Designs.
What is your advice for someone who is going to a very non prestigious undergrad.
Is a research experience of about three months beneficial? I have learned how important it is in the admission process lately.
Exceptionally beneficial. Thanks. I want to apply for phd statistics in Stanford University, is that important to do GRE? I have done research work in my MS degree and now i am writing a paper. Please guide.
Hello,
im looking for a Ph.D in biothechnology,but at the same time i would love to have teaching job with good salary so that i may live with parents,Is it possible there..please guide...
What is a good GPA and mediocre GPA for top schools, specifically in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering?
very nice
I have a different question. Did you work while completing your PhD? If yes, how did you manage a work, life n school balance? Were you able to qualify for grants n scholarships to cover your tuition? Thanks, Jouli
Hi Jon, thanks a lot for the video.
I have a quick question, so I have joined 2 labs and started doing 2 projects for publications, but they won't be completed before application deadline, so does an inprogress project leading to a publication, having the weightage as a published one because I don't have any other publication against my name, should I mention them or not?
My opinion is even if the publications won't be completed by application deadline, it still can't hurt to mention them somewhere in your application! I assume you will mention the projects themselves in your application anyway.
@@bonchonjonjon yes I'll mention the projects but i wanted to know do projects hold the same value as a publication? I know my project would eventually lead to a publication but not before the application deadline.
Informative and helpful! Does grad school at stanford provide and offer full scholarship for any PhD programs?!
Thanks! Yes, a large number of PhD students have some funding, at least initially from Stanford. Sometimes it comes from fellowships, TAship or RAship. TAship and RAship aren't really scholarships, more like jobs. Very few Stanford PhDs pay for their own schooling.