My PhD Application Journey

I’m currently in the midst of applying to PhD programs, and I wanted to share a bit about my experience so far. This process has been both challenging and enlightening, and I thought it might be helpful (or at least interesting) to document what I’ve been going through.

Where I’m At

As of now, I’m deep in the application process. Most of my deadlines are coming up in December, which means I’m in the final stretch of polishing statements of purpose, ensuring all my materials are in order, and making sure my recommenders have everything they need.

The process has been more time-consuming than I initially anticipated. What I thought would be a straightforward task of filling out forms has turned into weeks of research, writing, rewriting, and refining. Each program seems to have slightly different requirements, and tailoring each application takes significant effort.

What I’ve Learned So Far

Research Takes Time

One of the most important things I’ve discovered is that researching programs and potential advisors is incredibly time-consuming but absolutely essential. You can’t just look at rankings and pick schools—you need to dig into faculty research, read recent papers, understand program cultures, and figure out where you’d actually fit.

I’ve spent countless hours on university websites, reading faculty profiles, looking at current student research, and trying to understand what each program really offers. It’s been eye-opening to see how different programs can be, even within the same field.

Writing is Harder Than Expected

Writing my statement of purpose has been one of the most challenging parts. It’s not just about listing your accomplishments—it’s about telling a coherent story that connects your past experiences to your future research goals, all while demonstrating fit with specific programs and faculty.

I’ve gone through more drafts than I care to count, and I’m still tweaking things. Each program gets a slightly different version, tailored to highlight why that particular program is a good fit for my interests.

I’ll be honest here: I’ve used AI to help with a lot of the heavy writing, with my guidance and direction. I know this comes with risks that I accept, but I want to be transparent about it. The content is all real, true, and personal to me—the AI has been more of a writing assistant than a content generator. It’s helped me structure my thoughts, refine my language, and work through the many iterations needed to get things right. But every idea, every experience, every detail is mine. I understand the concerns around AI use in academic contexts, and I’ve made this choice knowing the potential implications.

Organization is Key

With multiple applications, deadlines, and requirements, staying organized has been crucial. I’ve been using spreadsheets to track everything—deadlines, requirements, submission status, and follow-ups needed. Without this, I’m sure I would have missed something important by now.

Contact Letter Writers Early

This is one thing I wish I had done differently: I should have contacted my letter writers sooner. I only gave them about a week’s notice, which is way too short. In hindsight, I realize this happened because I was indecisive about pursuing a PhD—I didn’t actually start my applications until mid-November, which left me scrambling to get everything done in time. Looking back, I could have given them much more advance notice. Letter writers are busy people, and they’re doing you a huge favor. The more time you can give them, the better the letters will likely be, and the less stress you’ll both experience. If I were to do this again, I’d contact them at least 3-4 months before deadlines, not just a week. It’s one of those things that seems obvious in hindsight but easy to underestimate when you’re in the middle of everything.

The Waiting Game

Even though I haven’t submitted everything yet, I’m already thinking about what comes next. The waiting period after submission is going to be tough. Most decisions come in February through April, which means months of uncertainty. I’m trying to prepare myself for that mentally.

Reflections

This process has been a journey of self-reflection. It’s forced me to really think about what I want to do, what questions I want to answer, and where I see myself in the future. Even if I don’t get into any programs (though I’m hopeful!), the process of applying has been valuable for clarifying my goals and interests.

I’ve also learned a lot about resilience and patience. PhD applications are a marathon, not a sprint, and there have been plenty of moments where I’ve felt overwhelmed or discouraged. But I’ve kept pushing forward, and I’m proud of the work I’ve put in.

I’ll be completely honest: I’m still not sure this is the path for me. There’s a part of me that questions whether a PhD is really what I want or need. But a lot of my peers are encouraging me to pursue it, and I trust their judgment. They see something in me that makes them think this is a good fit, and I think I’m not too unwise to follow their guidance. When I think about it myself, I think it might be? The research, the learning, the intellectual challenge—there’s something appealing about it. The uncertainty is definitely there, but so is a sense that this could be right for me. I’m going forward with the applications, and we’ll see where this leads.

Looking Forward

Once December is over and my applications are submitted, I’ll be able to breathe a bit easier. I’m planning to use that time to update this website with more images and content—right now the site is fairly minimal, but once the application stress is behind me, I’ll be able to focus on populating it with photos, project details, and other content I’ve been putting off.

I’m still not entirely sure this is for me, but I think it might be? I’m going to see what happens with these applications and take it from there. Maybe getting in (or not getting in) will help clarify things. Maybe the process of going through it will reveal more about what I actually want.

If you’re also going through this process, know that you’re not alone. It’s stressful, time-consuming, and sometimes frustrating, but it’s also an opportunity to really think about what you want and where you’re going. And it’s okay to not be completely certain—I’m certainly not.

I’ll update this post once I have more to share—whether that’s after submissions, after decisions, or whenever something interesting happens in this journey.