It took me my MA degree, BS degree, along with 2 AA degrees, :)

The responses to my question below made me think: how will I know my love (or passion or obsession) is strong enough not just to finish, but to thrive in a PhD?

https://www.reddit.com/r/GradSchool/comments/1x5nxsc/comment/pgtqwdz/?screen_view_count=2

Hi everyone,

I'm applying for PhD positions across the UK and Europe, and several of my application deadlines are less than a week away.

I'm looking for someone who could spare some time to review my Statements of Purpose (SOPs), CVs, and research proposals. I'd really appreciate feedback on whether my applications communicate my research experience, interests, and fit with the respective positions effectively, as well as any weaknesses I might have overlooked.

I know this is a big ask, especially at short notice, but I'm feeling a little overwhelmed trying to review everything on my own. Even a quick review or a few suggestions would mean a lot.

If you have experience with PhD applications, research admissions, or academic recruitment in the UK or Europe, I'd be incredibly grateful for your help. Please comment or DM me if you're available.

Thank you!

I'm currently finishing a bachelor's degree in Mathematics in Norway, specialising in Computational Science and stochastics. I'm considering master's programmes in Europe, particularly in actuarial science, insurance and risk, statistics, or mathematical finance.

At my current university, all 10 ECTS courses are assessed entirely through a four-hour, closed-book written exam, with around 93% required for an A (and no maths courses have ever adjusted grades for difficult exams). There are no assignments or projects contributing to the final grade in these courses. I find it frustrating that so much depends on a single exam, especially when grades matter for internships and graduate jobs. The school is also quite academic, and the department prides itself on making it difficult for students. 

I have friends who studied in London, where 70% is the threshold for a distinction, and their courses included coursework alongside exams. I understand that grading standards differ between countries, and that 70% in the UK isn't directly comparable to 70% elsewhere. Still, I wonder whether some universities offer a more balanced assessment structure.

I'm not necessarily looking for an easy degree. I want to learn useful skills and be challenged, but I'd also like a fair opportunity to demonstrate what I know and maintain a good academic record without having to work myself into the ground.

Are there programmes where the assessment structure makes it more realistic to achieve high grades through consistent work throughout the semester, rather than relying almost entirely on final exams? Are there particular countries or universities you would recommend looking into, or programmes you would avoid if grades are an important consideration?

I'd really appreciate recommendations from current students or graduates, especially details about the actual assessment methods and how difficult it is to achieve high grades. Thanks!

Long story short i have a 3.52/4.0 GPA, 4 preprints, 2 undergrad RAships, 3 TAships and industry experience as well.

LORs : 3 strong letters, 1 is a highly reputable professor who’ll vouch for me while the other two were my undergrad research supervisors.

Where i lack is my gpa, ive seen most students with a 3.75+
My research direction, no matter how specific or relevant, i feel like wont compensate for my low gpa.

Could anyone from ubc or anyone who has knowledge about this let me know.
The human mind creates doubt unfortunately.

Hello everyone

I am currently applying for PhD programs. Mainly in the US because I would like to gain industry experience during my PhD and I feel that the US, despite what the current administration is doing, is still my best option for that. Here is a little background about me.

Work/Research Experience

I have worked as a researcher in a research center that works on Computer Security with a specific focus on Cryptography. I have been working there for 6 years. However, the actual experience I would say is 2 years and that is because during my employment, I went and did a masters (2 years), served in the military as part of the mandatory military service (1 year) and was in a bridging program for new hires when I initially joined the company (1 year) . Hence, why it is 2 years of actual experience, even though on paper its 6.

I also have no publications at the moment, even though right now I am working towrds two publications. Also during my masters, I was able to write a thesis, even though the thesis was more of a survey rather than a new insight. Yes, I am a bit shy about this compared to my peers who published their thesis in conferences

Academic Background

• Bachelors in Mathematics at an R1 university in the midwest.
• Masters in Information Security at a top ranked university in the world.
• GPA: 3.54 in both degrees (I am not kidding)
• Relevant coursework: Algorithms, Data Structures, Discrete Mathematics, Computer Systems, Cryptography and Computer Systems.

School List - Based on Faculty Research

• Reach: Stanford, UCSD, GeorgiaTech
• Target: UCLA, VirginiaTech, CU Boulder, Oregon State, UMD, UCI, UMichigan, John Hopkins
• Uncertain (I would apply if I had time): UC Berkley, UChicago

Recommendation Letter

I have 2 strong letters of recommendation and a 3rd one is dependent on the result that I get with the professor.

My main area of research would be in Computer Security, Cryptography and Internet Measurements. Now here are the question that I have.

1. Is my list too long and unreasonable? Because I felt that most of the applications are quite the same except for the fact that I would need to cater each personal statement to that school to increase my chances
2. I would be fully funded by my employer (which I am grateful for), does that mean help a lot as they say? Like they make it sound as if its guaranteed admission even though I find it hard believe especially for the Reach schools that I have.
3. What else could I do to increase my chances of being admitted? Should I email professors? Email them before or after applying?
4. Is my application solid? What is it lacking and how can I solidify it?

Also, the reason I am asking is because I could potentially delay my admission for next year for Fall 2028, so that I can have more research experience and even maybe a publication. So in an ideal scenario, this is where I could potentially be.

I have a good academic background -> I have a publication(s) in a top-tier security conference -> I have funding -> I get into Stanford (Overly ideal and simplified but gets the point across)

OR

should I not wait and apply as you never know what might happen next year and that your profile is good enough.

Like this is what I am having conflict with and would appreciate some advice.I tried my best to reflect truly my current status as I would like genuine advice and rating of my profile.

Thank you for reading until the end and it is appreciated. Your advice is very much appreciated as well

I needed education loan for my German higher studies. Several of my applications got rejected and it was then that i contacted We Make Scholars. I got connected with Abhiram Das from the team.He assisted me through the entire steps and I finally got the loan sanctioned.

Degree: Bachelor of Computer Applications

CGPA: 9.08/10

Ranking: 1/181 for programme and best graduating student in the faculty of science

Award: University Gold Medal

Internship and undergraduate research project on empirical software engineering completed

Strong GitHub profile with over 18 repos/projects, including real time coding collaboration platform, chat applications, ML projects etc.

My background is practical heavy, instead of Math heavy. However, I have a strong foundation in Math from high school and even university.

What are chances of getting into:

1) Oxford’s MSc in Advanced Computer Science

2) Oxford’s MSc in Social Data Science

3) Cambridge’s MPhil in Human-Inspired AI

4) MSc Computer at UBC, Okanagan and Vancouver

5) MAster of Data Science, UBC Vancouver

Thank you

Hi everyone,

I'm a recent Mechanical Engineering graduate planning to apply for funded MS/PhD programs in the US for Fall 2027.

My profile:

• CGPA: 3.42/4.00
• 2–3 conference papers; working on a journal manuscript
• Research interests: Heat transfer, CFD, thermal systems, and energy materials
• Research assistant experience in a university lab

I've emailed around 100 professors with personalized emails, but unfortunately, I haven't received any positive responses. I'm feeling frustrated and starting to question whether my profile is competitive enough.

I'd appreciate honest advice:

1. Is my CGPA a major disadvantage for funded positions?
2. Should I change my professor outreach strategy or focus more on direct applications?
3. What should I prioritize before applying for Fall 2027?

Thank you!

Anxious about applying this year, I’m worried my experiences are all over the place/lack direct clinical research. I applied for 2025 and was waitlisted for one school, didn’t hear back from others (other than the research program I’m currently in)

Education & GPA
BA (Honours) in Psychology, 2024. Gpa 3.4 psych 3.8 gpa. Honours thesis & independent research project.

MA in experimental psych (currently in program) gpa 3.9. Masters thesis.

Research Experience
- Approximately 4+ years of research experience across 2 labs and other applied research settings.
- led 3 studies from conceptualization to manuscript.
- lit review on examining barriers to autism diagnosis among immigrant families.
- applied market and user experience research (during gap year)

Publications
- 1 first-author, peer-reviewed publication
- 1 second-author manuscript submitted to a peer-reviewed conference

Conference Presentations
- 5 conference presentations (oral presentations and posters), first author. including national/international academic conferences.

Funding, Scholarships & Awards
CGS M NSERC
Graduate scholarship ($5k)
Undergraduate research fellowship: $1.5k and travel grant.
Other MA funding (minimum funding from my program)
Dean’s Honour List.

Clinical & Relevant Professional Experience
Experience working in a private psychological practice (admin operations, client intake coordination, scheduling, etc)

Student-support and orientation roles involving supporting students experiencing distress and connecting them with appropriate resources.

Summer camp counsellor

Week long program/training related to culturally responsive healthcare and Black health equity.

Teaching & Mentorship
TA for 3 undergrad courses
2 guest lectures

Research/Clinical Interests
I’m mainly interested in clinical neuropsychology, particularly cognitive and perceptual processes, individual differences, concussion-related symptoms, and technology-assisted assessment or rehabilitation. Applying to PhD only (not PsyD)

I feel I have a lot of research experience but worried if my clinical contact is a limitation. If any gaps stand out pls lmk - I know I have good experience but I’m honestly figuring out this whole process as I go and have just been getting whatever experience I can get my hands on!!!

​

Hey everyone!

I'm planning to apply for Fall 2027 thesis-based master's programs in Computer Science in Canada, particularly the MMath in Computer Science at the University of Waterloo and the MSc in Computer Science at UBC. I'm also exploring other Canadian universities with strong research opportunities in AI/ML.

A little about me: I graduated with a B.Tech in Computer Science from Tier2 college and currently work as an Software Engineer.

I'm looking to connect with others who are planning similar applications, especially those interested in research-focused programs and funding opportunities.

It would be great to:

- Share application timelines, university requirements, and IELTS updates.

- Discuss potential supervisors and research interests.

- Exchange feedback on CVs, research statements, and professor outreach emails.

- Share scholarship, RA/TA funding, and application experiences.

- Keep each other motivated and accountable throughout the process.

Whether you're applying to Waterloo, UBC, McGill, Alberta, or another Canadian university, feel free to comment or DM me. We could create a small group to help each other through the application process.

If you're applying for Fall 2027, let's connect and make this journey a little easier together!

Hi everyone,

I’m applying to US PhD programs for Fall 2027 and drafted a cold email to a PI whose lab I’d love to join. I’d really appreciate honest feedback on tone, length, structure, and whether it shows enough fit without sounding generic. Being first gen this process has made me so anxious and overwhelmed.

Specific questions:
Should i keep name and brief introduction or Not?
Is it too long or about right?
Does the research fit come across clearly, or does it read as flattery?
Is asking for a virtual meeting too forward for a first email?
Anything that would make you, as a PI or current PhD student, skip it?

Thanks in advance!

i'm working full time and looking at a part time masters in finance or something quant leaning, mostly to pivot into valuations and alt investments. idk if the part time route actually gets taken seriously by employers or if it's just a really expensive night class

anyone who did one while working, was it worth it? and did you get any funding at all or was it all out of pocket

Many jobs are not available if you only have a bachelor's (or even a master's) in pure sciences like biology. A specialization, pivoting to an MBA/sales, or a higher degree, like a PhD, is needed either to enter, OR if you want to climb the career ladder or get senior scientific positions. Can one mention career advancement as the primary reason for getting a PhD in Biology/Biolmedical sciences, since their career growth plateaued because of not having a PhD?

EDIT: I meant not just to "show in an SoP to a committee", but also if that is the main motivation, am I making the right choice, or will I burn out as I lack a burning passion?

---> My passion would instead come from the pressure of being frikking jobless or lingering as a bottom-feeder without a PhD training from a good program. Oh, and by the way, I also love learning.

I did not see this information on any of the websites for the pages I am interested in applying to, but it makes sense since the UK works similarly.

I do know most if not all accepted students will get funding from the department in the form of TA and RA's and also that the student would not have to pay for the tuition themselves as they all receive waivers. But I did not know (and still do not for certain) that the tuition fee is higher for out-of-state and international students at public institutes, and therefore departments offering waivers would have to pay the university much more to admit them. Is this something committees keep in mind and heavily limit international admission slots to make sure the department isn't overspending? Or maybe I have the pay mechanisms wrong?

Thanks!

Hi,

I was curious to know if the documents (SOPs, LORs, transcripts etc) that we upload to the phd application. Would they be opened/reviewed by the admission committee before we actually submit and pay for the entire application.

And for rolling phd admissions is it advised to submit as early as possible or is it okay to wait until the last couple of days upto the deadline?

Thanks

Hi, my GPA in my engineering program at Cornell was a 3.1 I got into an engineering masters in the same field at UPenn and now have a 3.7 GPA. Penn is still T10 for my program. 4 years of research experience, 2 conferences, 1 senior thesis, 1 master's thesis in progress, and 1 manuscript forever in progress as my undergraduate PI ties the loose ends for that project, and 2 more papers that I am working towards and expect to get two co-authors or second author at the bare minimum. I did my master's to compensate for my undergraduate GPA and I think I am competitive on everything except that and the fact that I have no actual publications to show except senior thesis and obviously UG GPA.

1. I would like to hear if anyone knows anyone within engineering who has gotten into T10 schools for their field with a similar background and UG GPA

2. Is anyone aware of any GPA automatic filtering softwares that are used/ cutoffs? Any PhDs who have heard any anecdotes about something like this? I very am scared I will just get filtered out of everything.

3. I have also heard that some schools are direct admit and some are done by committee. I have not got any luck by cold emailing about ~15 PI's in the T20 at all. Has anyone had any luck at this point or should I try again/ cast a broader net.

Hi everyone! 👋

I recently graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Dentistry (BDS) from a government university in Iraq, and I am planning to apply for a Master's degree in Dentistry in China under the CSC scholarship.

I have a few specific questions and would really appreciate your advice and experiences:

* Acceptance with a 2.8 GPA: My GPA is around 2.8/4 (approx. 70%). Is it realistically possible to get accepted into a Chinese university for a Master's in Dentistry with this GPA, or is it considered too low for clinical/dental programs?
* How to get a Professor's Acceptance: What is the best way to contact and secure an acceptance letter from a supervising professor in the department of stomatology/dentistry? What should I include in my cold emails to increase my chances?
* University Recommendations: Which Chinese universities or regional medical schools are known to be more friendly or flexible with this GPA range for international dental applicants?

Any tips or shared experiences would mean a lot to me. Thank you so much in advance! 🙏

As the question says. Would really appreciate if anyone would be willing to review my SOP! Pls let me know in the comments and I'll send you my SOP via dms, thank you!!!!