How I got into Every PhD Program I Applied to (Including Harvard!)

Office Hours with Jess
15 Jun 202207:30
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this engaging video, Jess shares her personal journey and valuable insights into the grad school application process, particularly for PhD programs in public health. She emphasizes the importance of networking with potential mentors, crafting a compelling personal statement that showcases research achievements, and securing strong letters of recommendation. Jess also provides a step-by-step guide on her website, which many students have found helpful in navigating the application process. Her top tips include reaching out to professors with overlapping research interests, creating a narrative in the personal statement, and choosing recommenders who can highlight different aspects of the applicant's abilities. She downplays the significance of GRE scores and grades, focusing instead on the qualitative aspects of the application that truly stand out.

Takeaways
  • 🎓 **Networking is Key**: Building connections with potential mentors is crucial for standing out in the application process.
  • 📝 **Personal Statement Impact**: The personal statement is a vital part of the application and should balance storytelling with detailed research experience.
  • 💌 **Strong Recommendation Letters**: Obtaining letters from well-acquainted mentors who can provide a diverse view of your capabilities is important.
  • 🧩 **Diversify Recommendations**: Avoid getting letters from a single source; instead, seek a range that showcases different aspects of your profile.
  • 🤔 **Less Stress on GRE and Grades**: Focus less on GRE scores and grades as they are not the primary focus of the selection process.
  • 🏫 **Touch the Shoe for Good Luck**: A fun myth about Harvard that the speaker shared, although not a serious tip, it adds a personal touch to the story.
  • 📈 **Research Interests Overlap**: Finding a professor with overlapping research interests can increase your chances of being remembered during the application review.
  • 📚 **Detail Your Research Achievements**: Highlight your research achievements and publications in a way that is both detailed and engaging.
  • 📧 **Cold Emailing Professors**: Don't hesitate to reach out to potential mentors via cold email to initiate a conversation.
  • 📝 **Timeline and Step-by-Step Guide**: The speaker provides a comprehensive guide on their website detailing the application process from start to finish.
  • 🤝 **Making a Lasting Impression**: A good conversation with a potential mentor can leave a lasting impression, making your application memorable.
  • ✅ **Use of Personal Experience**: The speaker emphasizes the importance of using personal experiences and achievements to make the personal statement stand out.
Q & A

  • What is the main topic discussed in the video?

    -The main topic discussed in the video is the process of applying to grad school, specifically focusing on the speaker's experience of getting into Harvard's PhD program.

  • What is the significance of the Harvard shirt in the video?

    -The Harvard shirt is worn by the speaker to signify their acceptance into Harvard's PhD program and to create a connection with the topic of applying to grad schools.

  • What resource did the speaker create to help others with the PhD application process?

    -The speaker created a website with a step-by-step guide and a timeline detailing their personal experience applying to PhD programs, specifically in public health.

  • Why did the speaker touch the John Harvard statue?

    -The speaker touched the John Harvard statue as a part of a fun myth that suggests touching the statue may help one get into Harvard in the future.

  • What does the speaker consider the most important aspect of the application process?

    -The speaker considers networking with potential mentors as the most important aspect of the application process.

  • How does the speaker suggest one should approach networking with potential mentors?

    -The speaker suggests finding at least one professor with overlapping research interests, reaching out to them via cold email, and having a good conversation that could lead to a potential mentorship.

  • What is the speaker's opinion on the importance of the personal statement in the application?

    -The speaker believes the personal statement is one of the most important pieces of the application, emphasizing the need for a balance between a narrative style and highlighting detailed research experiences and achievements.

  • How should the personal statement be crafted according to the speaker?

    -The personal statement should be crafted in a way that it is both a straightforward account of one's research experiences and achievements, and a creative, story-like narrative that gives it personal meaning.

  • What is the speaker's view on the importance of letters of recommendation?

    -The speaker views letters of recommendation as important, though not as crucial as networking or the personal statement. They should come from people who know the applicant well and can write a strong, varied letter.

  • Which aspects of the application process does the speaker believe are less important?

    -The speaker believes that GRE scores, grades, and miscellaneous extracurricular activities are less important compared to networking, the personal statement, and letters of recommendation.

  • How can viewers get more information or ask questions about the application process?

    -Viewers can find more detailed information on the speaker's blog/website, which is linked in the video description, and they are also encouraged to reach out to the speaker directly with any questions.

Outlines
00:00
🎓 Applying to Grad School and Harvard's PhD Program

The speaker, Jess, welcomes viewers to a discussion about applying to grad school, particularly during the summer when many begin the application process. She shares her personal experience of getting into Harvard's PhD program and mentions a website she created to guide others through the application process for public health PhD programs. The website offers a step-by-step guide with a timeline of her experience and tips that helped her stand out in applications. Jess emphasizes the importance of networking with potential mentors, which she believes was key to her success in getting into various programs. She also shares a light-hearted anecdote about a myth involving the Harvard statue.

05:00
📝 Top Tips for a Successful PhD Application

Jess outlines her top three tips for those applying to PhD programs. First, she stresses the importance of networking and connecting with potential mentors through cold emails, which can lead to a strong recommendation and a memorable application. Second, she discusses the significance of the personal statement, advising applicants to balance a narrative style with detailed information about their research experiences and achievements. Jess also suggests adding a personal touch to make the statement stand out. Third, she highlights the role of letters of recommendation, recommending that applicants choose recommenders who know them well and can write diverse, strong letters. Jess advises less focus on GRE scores, grades, and extracurricular activities, as they are less critical in the application process. She invites viewers to reach out if they have questions and offers support to those applying in the upcoming or future cycles.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Grad School Application
Grad school application refers to the process of applying to graduate schools for advanced studies. In the video, it is the central theme as the speaker discusses her experience and provides tips on how to apply to PhD programs, particularly in public health.
💡Harvard PhD Program
Harvard PhD Program is a doctoral program offered by Harvard University. The speaker mentions that she got into Harvard's PhD program and uses it as a case study to share her application journey and the strategies that contributed to her success.
💡Networking
Networking is the process of building and nurturing relationships with professionals in your field of interest. The speaker emphasizes the importance of networking with potential mentors as a key strategy in the grad school application process, as it can lead to stronger connections and a better chance of being remembered by the mentors during the selection process.
💡Personal Statement
A personal statement is a written document that is part of an academic application, where the applicant describes their background, interests, and reasons for applying. In the video, the speaker highlights the significance of a well-crafted personal statement in standing out among other applicants and shares her insights on how to make it both personal and impactful.
💡Letters of Recommendation
Letters of recommendation are documents in which individuals with knowledge of the applicant's work or academic abilities provide an endorsement. The speaker advises on selecting recommenders who know the applicant well and can provide strong, varied endorsements to showcase the applicant's diverse strengths.
💡GRE Score
GRE Score refers to the results from the Graduate Record Examination, a standardized test used by many graduate schools as part of their admissions process. The speaker suggests that applicants should stress less about their GRE scores and focus more on networking, personal statements, and recommendation letters as they are more impactful.
💡Research Interests
Research interests are the specific areas of study that an applicant is passionate about and wishes to pursue in their graduate studies. The speaker advises finding a professor with overlapping research interests and initiating a conversation to establish a potential mentorship, which can be beneficial for the application process.
💡Public Health PhD
Public Health PhD refers to a doctoral degree in the field of public health. The speaker specifically discusses her experience applying to public health PhD programs and provides a step-by-step guide on how to navigate the application process for this particular field.
💡Cold Email
A cold email is an unsolicited message sent to someone the sender has not had previous contact with. In the context of the video, the speaker recommends using cold emails to reach out to potential mentors in the field of interest, which can be a crucial step in building a professional relationship and securing a place in a grad school program.
💡Application Pipeline
The application pipeline refers to the process through which applications are reviewed and evaluated by an admissions committee. The speaker mentions that having a strong connection with a mentor can help an application stand out within this pipeline, as the mentor may advocate for the applicant during the review process.
💡Miscellaneous Extracurriculars
Miscellaneous extracurriculars are additional activities outside of the academic curriculum that students engage in. The speaker believes that these activities, while they might be listed on an application, are not as heavily scrutinized as the personal statement, networking, and recommendation letters, and thus should be a lower priority for applicants.
Highlights

The speaker shares their experience of getting into Harvard's PhD program.

They mention wearing a Harvard shirt for the video, despite not usually wearing it.

The speaker has created a website with a step-by-step guide for applying to PhD programs, especially in public health.

The website provides a timeline of the speaker's personal experience with the application process.

The speaker emphasizes the importance of networking with potential mentors as the most crucial part of the application process.

They recommend reaching out to at least one professor with overlapping research interests.

Having a good conversation with a potential advisor can make an application stand out.

The personal statement is considered the most important part of the application.

The speaker suggests balancing a narrative style with detailed information about research experiences and achievements.

Letters of recommendation are important, but less so than networking and the personal statement.

It's advised to choose recommenders who know you well and can provide strong, varied letters.

GRE scores and grades are considered less important in the application process.

The speaker provides a link to their blog in the video description for more detailed advice.

They offer to share their own personal statement with those interested.

The speaker encourages students to bookmark their website and refer back to it during the application process.

The speaker is open to answering questions and providing further assistance.

The video concludes with well wishes for those applying to PhD programs.

Transcripts

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Grad SchoolHarvard PhDApplication TipsNetworkingPersonal StatementRecommendation LettersAcademic SuccessResearch InterestsMentorshipApplication ProcessPublic HealthEducational Vlog