PhD Journal Of A Ghanaian Woman in Stem

As an African student applying to graduate school, you need to acknowledge that your competition is much harder because the acceptance rate for international students is lower. Knowing how to navigate the application process is a crucial part of your application. I applied to five R1 research universities in the United States with only my bachelor’s degree, got two interviews and settled with one school. Here are the top 4 things that made my application stand out. All the points discussed are from my personal experience as an African applying from the African continent and may be best for, but not limited to, people of similar background.

• Reaching Out To Program Coordinators And Graduate Students

This single step is one of the biggest factors to consider when applying to graduate school. In US universities, most departments have a “program coordinator”. Their role is to help interested applicants know more about the program and answer any questions they may have. They have a lot of experience in graduate admissions and know exactly what the program is looking for in an applicant. I reached out to them via email and expressed interest in their program. Almost all of them responded! Some offered to have a virtual meeting via zoom, while others responded to my email with answers to my questions. Why did I do that? I wanted them to be familiar with my name. Moreover, most university websites are not updated as frequently as possible and hence, some information may not be available to you. In this blog post, I share an email template for program coordinators.

LinkedIn is a great way to connect with present and past graduate students and faculty in your programs of interest. I found graduate students on LinkedIn by searching the name of the program + the name of the school (eg. PhD in Neuroscience University of Alabama). I asked them what they think made their application stand out and I got very helpful responses. A bonus tip is to join open houses for application waivers!

• Having At Least A Year Of Research Experience In A Related Field

Having significant research experience is very important, especially for STEM programs. Recruiters want to see that you have carried out some research that produced results . This experience could be internships throughout your undergraduate and/or masters degree, volunteering, your undergraduate thesis or research you carried out after your undergraduate studies. The more research experiences you have, the better. However, research experiences vary from person to person. You can discuss these with your current mentor or supervisor and find out how best you can improve your chances of being admitted into a program.

Beyond having research experience, you should consider how best you can convey your list of experiences and skills to the admissions committee when applying to graduate school. Do not forget to include the minor duties and tasks. Bear in mind the research areas of the faculty members you want to collaborate with, any information that suggests that you are self-assured in a skill, have theoretically advanced research, or have produced novel information. These are helpful things to highlight and expound in your personal statement.

• Excellent Letters of Recommendation

The first thing to note when requesting for recommendation letters is that the best recommendation letters are those from supervisors or faculty members you have worked with. Some people make the mistake of requesting letters from faculty members they think are renowned, without having prior experience in their labs. This would not be an excellent recommendation no matter how good and well-written the letter is. Be sure to go over your application materials with your PI or supervisor prior to requesting letters of recommendation. Tell them about your academic standing, a detailed list of the schools you are applying to, the professors you wish to collaborate with at each university, the type of research they conduct, and anything else you feel could improve your chances of being accepted. Keep in mind that PIs can get very busy with work so, make sure to reach out to them early! I have an excel sheet template you can use to organize your school list.

• Good Grades In The Relevant Courses For Your Desired Program

As an international applicant, especially from the African continent, meeting the minimum requirement for admission is a crucial. For most STEM programs, you need to have at least a 3.0/4.0 gpa. It is important to note that I did not say you must have excellent grades. When you have your education outside the US, your grades are automatically going to be an important deciding factor in your application. Additionally, you should have good grades in the core courses specific to your program. Most STEM programs require the following: one year with laboratory of chemistry, one semester of biological science (e.g. general or microbiology, biochemistry, neuroscience etc.), one year of physics and one year of mathematics, calculus or statistics. This does not mean that once you meet the minimum requirement you will be accepted. Your gpa is only one aspect of your application.

“Everything in your past is preparation for something in your future. Be the hunter of your dream.”

Mark Batterson

This post is not intended to be a comprehensive overview of everything you must accomplish to be accepted into a Ph.D. program. My intention is to highlight some crucial ideas from my experience about the application process. This post is intended to inform and motivate you to take the necessary steps to increase your chances of acceptance into the graduate school of your choice. Applying to graduate school requires commitment. As you read more, you will discover what works for you and what doesn’t. Throughout the process, you’ll learn so much, many of which will share your own experiences!