Ph.D. Eligibility Diaries- Part 3- How Ambitious Can One Get

Do names like Carnegie Melon, Duke University, King’s College London, University of Copenhagen, Rockefeller University, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, Harvard University, Yale University, London School of Economics, University of Oxford, MIT, and the likes of these look too enticing for Ph.D. applicants? Well of course they do. They have in common the opportunity for being part of thoroughbred scientists who lead global research in current times. As a result, when I meet Ph.D. aspirants, these names fall off like pearls of wisdom as they describe their idea of a suitable graduate school. But the reality is elusively different.

When one aspires to be a Ph.D. student, they are looking at the selection process from their perspective. They have good grades, research experience, publications, and sometimes even work experience in related areas. What more can a University ask for. Well, come to think of it, this is the thought process of the hundreds (if not thousands) of the other applicants competing to find their place in the same program.

So what do the evaluators do? Placing oneself in their shoes may lend some clarity. After having received let’s say 500 applications, the graduate committee members at Harvard need to start the elimination process, striking out the ones that do not deserve the next level of attention owing to some deficiency in one or the others mentioned above. After having done so, let’s say student X makes it to the next 150 shortlisted for consideration for the 10 available positions. Now, student X’s profile is similar in many respects to all the other applicants in that category. So what’s next? Maybe the application can be merited by strong letters of recommendation. Ok, so student X makes it to the next cut. Competition among the next 50. Then what? Ok, so student X is from India? The other students too are from various parts of the world, including Singapore, France, Netherlands, UK, Africa and of course from the US. But we need to be fair when it comes to student diversity. So of course, we would take the domestic students to the next level, along with some students, let’s face it, preferably from other countries having a more developed system of education. That way, we know that the academic foundations have been laid right.

So what happens to student X from India? Ok, so once all the choices have been made (5 domestic students, 2 from Europe, 1 from the UK, 1 from Singapore) let’s see what’s so special about X that can make her compatible with a batch of students selected in the manner mentioned above. Oh, so she has recommendations from Harvard alumni and satisfies all the other criteria, and is from one of the top institutes in India. Moreover, her research has been so impressive that a couple of our Harvard professors from the relevant department would ‘strongly recommend’ her candidature. Ok, let’s go for an interview. If she comes across as convincing, Bam!!!, she’s in.

As you see, the rounds of expectations that an application from a developing country, with very little credibility in relation to its academic standing barring some Institutes, need to go through, to make its way to the last round and thereby into the program, is monumental. We do not blame anyone in the process, but the situation is such that one needs to prove a lot under these circumstances before being accepted into a Ph.D. program.

A Master’s degree earned from a developed country, on the other hand, changes the equation and makes the applicant more eligible to apply to these ‘dream’ colleges. The trust in a strong foundation becomes higher.

Aiming for a relatively more moderate option is still not easy, but at least more pragmatic and achievable if done the right way. Moreover, upon graduating from these colleges, the acceptability of these heavyweights becomes much higher.

So choose reasonably, understand the programs that you are the best fit for, set realistic goals, and devise an effective route towards the application process. Like all our students who have achieved their dreams before, you too will do so. Please contact us for queries at education@blossomabroad.com and visit us at www.blossomabroad.com to know more.