Selecting a phd program

Keep in mind that you will need to develop tailored application materials for each program you choose to apply to, and you may need to get specific letters of recommendation for each program; this, along with application fees, may also factor in to the number of programs to which you choose to apply.

When considering graduate programs abroad, it is essential to connect with current students, faculty, and program alumni to discuss the program in detail. Is there an emphasis on independent study and research or classroom lectures? What is the culture of the program and institution? There are graduate programs at international schools, or international branches of U.

Though keep in mind that even if the classes are in English, you will need to interact with people outside the institution at some point during your years abroad; speaking the native language and understanding the culture will make this considerably easier. Whether you have spent time abroad or not, there will be a degree of culture shock that comes with living and studying in another country for an extended period of time. The initial steps of evaluating and selecting programs are the same, though variations may come with the application process and timeline.

Pinpoint what you want to study, what you are looking for in a graduate program, where you want to be, and identify programs that match your criteria. For those planning to pursue a professional degree in fields such as engineering, medicine, education, or law, make sure the degree will be recognized by professional associations and accrediting bodies in the country you plan to work after graduation. Review the application process and requirements and remember requirements and application timelines may vary from one country to the next.

It is important to note that the time to degree may vary in different countries; for example, a Ph. Therefore this may be a good option for those who know what their specific topic of study will be, but is probably not the right choice for those who want to explore various areas. For all employer events, visit Yale Career Link. This interactive tool allows users to search these outcomes by year and major. First Destination refers to the postgraduate plans of Yale College graduates six months after graduation.

The pursuits of Yale graduates include employment, graduate school, independent research, military service, and more. The list of employers below indicates organizations that hired the most graduates in the selected year. This list changes every year, and the Office of Career Strategy works closely with employers across industries and functional areas.

Use the tabs below to view both function and industry choices. The salary information below is self-reported by graduates employed full-time in the U. Yale students pursue a wide array of activities, including internships, research, study abroad, and volunteer work. The following shows the percentage of Yale students who undertook credit-bearing study abroad experiences one or more times prior to graduation.

When considering an entire Class, the majority remain in the U. NOTE: Hover over each state to see the percentage of graduates in that state. Grey indicates no graduates from this class year. The list below shows Universities most-often attended by graduates in the selected year, however Yale alums enroll in programs around the world. In the case where there are a significant number of graduates enrolled in a Professional School at a University, that School may be listed separately for example Yale School of Public Health and Yale University.

The chart below shows the graduate degrees being pursued immediately after graduation. Skip to content Skip to main nav. Remember, they have all completed, or are in the process of completing, graduate degrees.

They can suggest specific programs, may know the scholars affiliated with those programs and may be willing to make an introduction. View More. Tom Santa Maria Meet Thomas. Career Resources Skip filter options to posts Filter Clear. See More Filters. These are explored in greater detail below, and this tip sheet offers additional ideas from the survey results. Ask challenging questions during the application process, speak with faculty you might want to work with, get in touch with graduate students and ask them about their experiences, and visit universities of interest to gauge the atmosphere.

Read diversity statements for mention of viewpoint or intellectual diversity, research which courses are offered and request course syllabi, investigate what type of orientation or training is required, check university and program websites for political statements, and research how the institution handles protests.

Read the biographies and CVs of all faculty in your program of interest, search for faculty who show academic rigor and provide a balanced view on topics that are controversial in their field, read their publications carefully, and pay attention to patterns that would indicate ideologically or politically motivated research and how they assess the works of others.

Invest time in building relationships with faculty and talk to them about principles of scholarship. Pay attention to whether faculty passionately react to students who become excited about a political position or make moral claims during classroom discussion and, when applicable, notice which letters and petitions faculty are willing to sign their name to.

Find an adviser who will support your desire for viewpoint diversity and other mentors across academia who study your topic from a range of viewpoints. In conclusion, graduate students exploring heterodox topics may need to make research concessions, but doing an ample investigation for signs of intellectual diversity in graduate programs and learning how to navigate more orthodox programs will prepare them to stick to their convictions while in graduate school and in their academic careers.

Samantha Hedges, Ph. Subscribe to our emails. See our syndication guidelines. Opinions expressed here are those of the author s. Publication does not imply endorsement by Heterodox Academy or any of its members. We encourage readers to follow us on Facebook , Twitter, Instagram , and LinkedIn — and to join in the conversation on those forums — to weigh in on this or other posts. Heterodox: the blog is a platform for academics, researchers, professors, and students to share the challenges they face within their academic communities through both analysis and actionable solutions.

We aspire to have every reader walk away with a richer understanding of the challenges of the university environment, as well as practical tools and techniques for addressing them. Interested in contributing? Please see our submission guidelines. Am I the type of person who is suited for a career in academia? Am I independently motivated to answer questions that I find interesting?

Do I want to spend the rest of my career doing research, as well as reading and talking about it? Do I have a strong enough academic background in order to apply and be accepted by the program? Is now the time for me to pursue a PhD? What are my goals after completing the PhD? Program Questions If you know you want to pursue a doctoral degree, answers to these questions will help you select the right program for you.

Try to identify the programs that your peers with similar interests and academic credentials were admitted into and have succeeded in. You might be considering changing fields for a number of reasons. Your interests might have also evolved as you discovered a particular field late in your undergraduate program, and it was extremely difficult to change majors. If you are contemplating changing fields, plan your transition carefully.

Talk with folks faculty, grad students, and staff in both your current field and new field, and ask if your transition would be feasible. Learn about the different expectations in graduate applications and programs for each field. For example, because engineering graduate programs often involve more coursework, the transition from a chemistry undergraduate program into a chemical engineering graduate program can be difficult.

The feasibility of this transition depends on whether your coursework and research experiences provide sufficient preparation for the new program. Furthermore, because many universities encourage interdisciplinary research projects, transitioning fields or departments within grad school is often simpler than trying to make a transition during the admissions process.

You might also consider applying to more than one graduate program within the same university to see which grad program admits you, if the university allows applying into more than one graduate program. Many universities but not all allow you to apply to only one graduate program. As you reach out to people to help you plan for your future, work intentionally to build your support network. Reach out to new people and re-connect with past acquaintances.