Should you reach out to professors before applying?

You don’t have to email the faculty, but it can be extremely helpful, and we strongly recommend that you do it. In many programs (especially in Psychology), individual faculty play a huge role in determining which students are accepted into the PhD program.

Should you contact professors before applying to grad school for Masters?

To increase your chances of admission to our program, you are strongly encouraged to discuss your research interests with one or more faculty from our department prior to your application. It sounds an invitation for you to contact the faculty members. In cases like this, I would recommend you to contact them.

Do I need a supervisor for a PhD application?

Often, the answer is “yes” and some universities and education systems will actually prefer students to make contact with a supervisor before they apply for a PhD. But the opposite can also be true, particularly if the university prefers to deal with the formal details of PhD admission and then match students with supervisors.

What should you do after you finish your PhD?

Once you finish your PhD, take a breath and allow some space in your life. Next, determine your goals and create a plan for how to proceed. Once you are clear on your goals, prepare your materials and apply for jobs. Finally, periodically re-evaluate your goals to see whether you’re meeting them and whether they’re still relevant.

How to find out if a university is interested in PhDs?

It isn’t hard to check though. If you want to discuss your own PhD idea, check the academic’s page on the university website (google “their name” + “university name”). Chances are it will say whether they’re interested in hearing from prospective students.

Do you lose sight of your uniqueness when trying to get a PhD?

Having spent the past few years in the company of other people who either already have PhDs or are trying to get them, it’s easy to lose sight of your uniqueness. Remember that you are a member of a small group of people with an exceptionally useful skill set, and a degree to prove it.