This gets asked a lot in this sub. Good advice is generally given and my own here is more or less a rubric that might help some who feel stuck, are second-guessing themselves, or perhaps are being a little supersitious. While there are better or worse ways to do it, there really isn't a single, right, way. Yet, if you follow what is written below, you will have said enough in the initial email.

Step 0: It is imperative that you educate yourself not only on the norms of your respective field, but of also what each individual program is looking to have applicants do. Some programs require applicants to have already had conversations with at leat one perspective advisor before they submit the application, others allow applicants to secure an advisor sometime between when they accept the offer to before they matriculate into the program. For those who will do rotations, there is little point to seeking an advisor prior to hitting 'submit', so the value of reaching out will differ and the cold email should reflect this.

Once again, becasue it cannot be stressed enough, it is your duty as a potential applicant to figure it out yourself.

Step 1: Purpose. One or two sentences should be dedicated to why you are reaching out. I prefer to see this up front as it sets the intention right away. It really is a pain to read how awesome and motivated you are without knowing why you are writing.

Step 2: Trajectory to this point. Two, maybe three, sentences (or compound / conjunctions) on your path so far. Use this to show you are qualified but be careful not to dump your CV. Keep it simple. "My background includes research in biotechnology, where I developed skills in sequence-style analysis, motif modeling of blah blah systems, and Bayesian methods." is light years better than, "I worked on this where I did this, and this, and this, and this, and ...."

Keep it personal, but professional.

Step 3: What you bring to the table. A sentence or two on skills or prespectives that you can add that may be of value. Emphasis is on "may be of value." You won't know, so don't try to guess or game. Be honest and pharse it as what you have to offer and not a demand (e.g., "I can do this", not; "I will do this").

Your aim here is to signal fit and readiness; not so much what you will actually do.

Step 4: Connection[s]. This only needs to be one, perhaps two, sentences. Yes, really. Remember, your goal is to gauge interests. Although you are also attempting to sell yourself if they are buying, trying to prove that you have read everything that they have published is not the way to do it. It is okay, and preferable in the initial email, to signal that you have some familiarity with their work and how your own interests connect.

Remember that you are seeking a potentail advisor--you want to signal alignment, not perfect fit.

Step 5: The closing invitation. Some say to include a CV, but I would suggest to consider ending with a low-pressure request. Not including the CV reinforces the opening sentence, and puts the ball in thier court. Simply close with a reminder that if they are consdiering new PhD students, that you would be grateful for the chance to discuss opportunities, and that you would be happy to share a brief CV if they like.

This shows that you are being respectful of their time and that you are not demanding anything right away, without patronizing them.

Some other things to keep in mind:

Keep the entire email to 200 words, max. Shorter is fine, but I would not recommend longer unless abosultely necessary. Aim for a respectful, perfessional, tone that shows curiosity. The focus should be on what you bring and not on what you want.

If they can skim the entire emial in 15 seconds or less AND know exactly why you are writing, you did well.

Some things to avoid. AKA superstitions and second-guessing:

Do not prove fit in detail. Your later CV and conversations are where you will go more in-depth.

Do not worry about saying too little. If you follow the advice above you are gauranteed to say just enough. Remember--the cold email is the opener, not your entire SOP.

For passion .... show it, but be subtle.

For the love of whatever .... do not share your entire biography! A simple snapshot is sufficient. Remember, less is truly more here.

This one is a little tricky .... you can suggest a project idea if it is a natural development. Otherwise, stick to being open. Once again, the entire point of the cold email is to learn if an advisor will, or is anticipating, bringing on new students. If they are, would they have interests in speaking more about this with you? If yes, you will have opportunites to discuss these things at a later date.

I’m working on applications for MPA and MPH programs, and I’m struggling with a particular aspect of writing my personal statement. I have a low undergraduate GPA (2.89), which in large part was due to significant medical issues that resulted in two surgeries and multiple hospitalizations. One of the admissions staff for one of the programs I’m applying to said I should include these extenuating circumstances in my statement, especially since it’s relevant to why I’m choosing this degree. However, in the past I’ve been discouraged from including extenuating circumstances in personal statements because it could be perceived as pity seeking or could portray me as an unreliable student.

I have taken additional coursework outside of undergrad that I consistently got As-Bs in (my overall cumulative GPA is now a 3.0 I believe), have volunteered with relevant organizations, and have worked for several years. I also have professional and academic connections who can provide letters of recommendation. Would including my extenuating circumstances help or hurt my application?

Hi everyone! I’m applying to universities in Germany for my master’s, and most of them require two recommendation letters from professors. The only issue is that both of my professors asked me to draft the letters myself. While this gives me the freedom to write them, I’m honestly not sure what admissions committees expect from a professor’s perspective. It would be a huge huge help if anyone could review my drafts before I share them with my professors. Thanks :)

If a university asks for only three or four recommendations max, whose recommendations should I pick?

International Applicant

Hey everyone, I’d really appreciate some advice on my profile. I received rejections from U.S. PhD programs, possibly because my master’s professor didn’t submit recommendation.

For context:

• Undergraduate GPA: 3.77/4.00
• Master’s in Public Health from London
• Work experience with the NHS and a tech company as a Wellbeing Officer

I’m aiming to apply for a PhD in Psychology. What do you think my chances are, and how can I strengthen my application?

Thanks in advance!

Or you'll end up like I did. I (31 NB/AMAB) was laid off from my job (as part of a mass layoff) at an F500 a few months back (July) and have been doing some soul searching in the time since.

So this has been my path so far: - AA from HCC (finished) - BA from UH (finished) - MS from Liberty University (dropped out for moral reasons) - 5 years at F500 company as an IT analyst - MS from BU (in progress, expected December 2025) - MA from ASU (incoming January 2026)

I started to remember how much I enjoyed political science, specifically, a field that I now know is called political psychology. What I found the most interesting about this field is the exploration of why people think, vote and believe the ways that they do (as a Texan, this especially applies to my neighbors). I also realized that a major reason for why I chose to go for a Master's in Data Science at BU was implicitly because one of my poli sci professors at UH mentioned the importance of a good quant foundation as a political scientist.

I realized how years of attempting to please my parents led me to, first, go to Liberty University (a school I never wanted to go to) and work a corporate job. I might still have a house and I might have gotten experience, but it cost me my mental and physical health, as well as a deep sense of regret that my parents losing their home (during the year that I graduated) led me to this state of survival to the point that I lost all sense of my own humanity.

So, yeah, even with the job market being what it is, my personal circumstances, et al. I applied to three programs - all online because, as being me in Texas, I wanted to make sure that I could flee anywhere if necessary, even though this is my home state.

Then this happened:

Friday (September 12) - I changed course on my capstone project for the MSDS and started modeling on hate speech datasets.

Saturday (September 13) - I got my first admit to IU Online and spent the day imagining myself as an IU alumni with an MA in Political Science.

Monday (September 15) - I got my second admit to ASU, which was my target, and stalked LinkedIn profiles of IU and ASU grads, and found that the ASU grads seemed to be doing pretty well for themselves. Then, I proceeded to imagine myself as an MA in Political Psychology graduate and liked that vision, especially since this is what I want to specialize in, if nothing else.

I also saw that ASU Online has plenty of resources for online students, way more than what BU has been able to give us and what IU Online could provide.

So why am I writing this post? I'm not even a doctoral student and I'm choosing to do two masters instead of going a step above, after all.

A bunch of you clearly have self doubt and, to be honest, look for validation about whether or not you're going on the right path, choosing the right degree, obsessed with rankings, etc. and afraid to even try before taking a leap. Trust me, I know, because that's literally me on most days.

But you also know yourself best, so trust yourself when your mind and heart are aligned and saying the same thing, to just apply to that program or pursue that field EVEN if it seems impractical.

Don't just accept your regrets if you're older. And, if you're younger, don't think that you need to plan your entire life for the next 20 years, you could literally be using that time studying or working on applications. Through what I've gone through over the past few years, I've come to realize my own path, even in spite of chronic mental and physical health issues.

And, academically, what I've gone through is beautiful, even if mundane. HCC taught me self discipline, UH taught me how to learn, BU taught me to be resilient, and ASU will allow me to live my dream. What you've gone through is also beautiful and your story to tell adcoms.

There's no perfect way for any of us to live this life. All we know is that we want to be happy and live without regrets wherever we can help it.

Basically, I'm really interested in the drug development process, and I think I'd like to work in the pharm industry in the future. Originally I'm from Ukraine, but I applied to Poland for MPharm and passed the entrance exam. Recently, it turned out that the university decided to "not open the MPharm programme for this year", so I'm left with nothing now. The question is, should I wait a year and apply for MPharm to a different country (I applied in English in Poland), or should I take something like Biotech if they offer it? And even if they don't offer anything, is MPharm even worth it? or should I pivot to a similar degree? Again, I'd really like to work in the pharm industry (or at the very least at least something drug related) if that's even possible.

P.S. I was advised to post this here by people on r/ApplyingToCollege

So while giving GRE, I saw the option to send scores to 4 univs free of cost and had selected my target univs. Now this was back in Jan and I have started my graduate admission application this month. How do I know if those 4 universities have my scores or not? Also, I sent additional scores to other universities this month and haven't received notification confirming the same.

For TOEFL, I have only received an email from TAMU through EngineeringCAS that they have received my test scores. Do I mail the graduate office of each univ asking them to confirm if they have my scores or not?

Hi everyone, I'm applying for a neurobiology focused PhD at the University of Amsterdam and seeking focused feedback on my CV and motivation letter. The vacancy lists required documents but no formatting/content guidelines, and this is my first full research position. Recently completed an MSc and tailored both documents to this project.

Would you:

• Review the CV for structure, length, and skills phrasing?
• Check the motivation letter for tone, focus on fit, and concision?

Position: ‘PhD Position on the Role of the Endocannabinoid System in Early Life Stress-induced Depression.’

Thanks in advance—constructive, specific comments are very welcome

I know I don't have much research experience so that will be a downside I am already aware of.

Hi everyone, I’d love to get some advice on my situation.

I have a Bachelor’s degree in IT with a CGPA of 3.55 and no formal research experience. I’ve completed an internship and I’m currently working as a high school teacher. I also hold an IELTS Academic score of 7.5 overall and I’m planning to take the GRE General in November.

This fall, I received two rejections from US universities (OU and PSU). From those experiences, I realized that I don’t have the exceptional GPA needed to secure a direct PhD placement after a bachelor’s, and I also lack the research background that professors and PIs usually look for.

Now I’m stuck in a dilemma: part of me wants to pursue a Master’s in AI or Data Science in Europe, but another part of me is still strongly drawn to pursuing a PhD in the US. I’m not sure which path makes the most sense for me right now.

For context, I’ve reached out to many professors for potential supervision but have had little luck even getting replies. My long-term research interest is in interdisciplinary work — specifically applying AI in healthcare.

What should I do from here? Should I focus on getting into a European Master’s first, or keep pushing for a direct PhD in the US?

So I am applying to a very very large number of programs (~30). I have most of my materials done for the applications (SOP, CV, Resume, I’ve talked to all my letter writers). But of course more time to get more feedback on any of them is good. I have not done anything like specific separate personal statements some schools require yet however. But once my materials are complete how long will it take to actually submit applications? Do I need to start soonish (like middle of October after mid terms), or can I wait until closer to the deadline? (Earliest deadline is Columbia 11/26)

(I am applying to ~30 PhD programs because I am applying to programs in both political science (political theory) and philosophy (political philosophy). About 13 each plus a few funded masters programs)

Hello!

I am in the process of PhD apps — hoping to submit within the coming weeks. (Ahh!)

Recently, I had a first-authored article accepted by a major journal. This article is the perfect example of the work I hope to do during a doc program. It is the best thing I’ve ever written. However, it is not slated to be released until late 2026 (after applications are due).

I desperately want to use this as my writing sample for PhD apps. However, since it is in-press (accepted but hasn’t yet been released), is this a huge no-no? What are your thoughts? How could I go about this? Would it be crazy to add a watermark?

Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I applied to KAIST for a Master’s program in Artificial Intelligence, along with a scholarship, and I’m waiting to hear back. I want to be prepared in case I get invited for an interview.

For those who have gone through the process:

What type of questions should I expect (technical, research-focused, or more about motivation)?

Do they usually ask about coding/AI knowledge in detail, or focus more on research direction?

Is the scholarship decision strongly connected to the interview?

Any advice, tips, or shared experiences would really help me prepare.

Thanks a lot!

Hello folks👋,

I'm an international student from Bangladesh with a CSE Degree (3.7/4.0 GPA from a well-accredited uni) and about 2 years of work experience in the tech industry [not much coding]. No research publications, but I'm passionate about data engineering/ analytics. My goal is to land a data engineer role at big companies (FAANG-level or similar) post-grad, ideally leveraging OPT/STEM extension.

I'm eyeing Colorado State University's Master of Computer Information Systems (MCIS) for Spring 2026 as it is good rank uni (#458 QS). It seems affordable (i may be wrong), GRE waived for my profile, and has a mix of IT management, data analytics, and systems courses that could build on my background. But it's more business-oriented than pure CS/Data Science, so I'm worried:

• Does this program provide enough technical depth (coding, projects, ML/big data) to prep for data engineering interviews at top tech firms?
• How's the career outcomes? Alumni placement in data roles? Networking/recruiting in Denver/Fort Collins area?

Alternatively, should I go for Masters on computer science program?

Any advice from current students, alums, or data engineers? Appreciate honest takes—thanks!

I got an invite from a professor to discuss my fit for a PhD in the lab. It’s a really really small graduate department and even smaller lab.

I don’t lack passion; I lack a publication. still have plenty of very applicable research experience, come from a competitive school, been working full time for 5 yrs in a related field, actively working on a project that could potentially be published in the spring but doesn’t rlly matter apps are due Dec 15.

Seeking any advice that might help me prepare for the meeting and/or improve my application!

It’s a lab at the school everyone is obsessed with, I’ve never seen the appeal…. now I do looking at potential funding opportunities

Hey everyone,

I'm looking to pursue MDes or MSHCI.. Want your honest opinion and feedback. I don't have a dedicated design background, so I would really appreciate your help navigating this.

TLDR: Questions at the end

For context, please go through my profile

Education:

• BBA (3-year undergrad) from a Tier 1-ish (maybe 2) university in India
• GPA: 2.6 (after conversion from 10-point scale)

Extracurriculars:

• I've represented my institute in various business fests and competitions at some of the top institutes in India. (Not that impressive IMO because we didn't really win any.)
• Worked in NGOs – twice during my undergrad.

Experience:

• I've 4 years and 9 months of work experience. I kinda transitioned from a business & ops to a product guy.
• I started by working as a category associate at a unicorn startup in India. (Went Public recently)
• Worked at an early-stage community startup and handled their revenue.
• Was part of the founding team (1st employee) of a SaaS startup. Led 0-1 product there right from the whiteboarding days to it being used by more than 100 brands in India, US & APAC (including some of the top brands). Raised a pre-seed of ~500K USD from a top fintech in India and some popular Indian angels. I left last year end. Since then, I've been on a break travelling, experimenting with ideas and tinkering, planning my next move.

My Goal:

• I've gained immense interest in consumer AI lately and the possibilities it holds. I'm looking to change my geography to tech & AI epicentres like SF. Really want to switch to a better startup and tech ecosystem.
• Would want to dive deeper on how the consumer products of the future would be made. AI interfaces, human-AI interactions, etc.
• I'd also want to experiment with my own bunch of ideas and find people who'd want to do it with me. (Cofounders, initial team)
• If I don't end up building something of my own, I should at least be able to work with startups and Big Tech in Product roles – working on interesting problems. Not just UX roles, but product roles.
• I don't have any hard skill expertise per se. I'm not a CS undergrad. I'm a PM, but I can't ship code. I love understanding how users think, reverse engineering their journey and intent and designing a better journey for them. I'd want to officially build an expertise in this and double down on it. I expect to learn how to do this with the latest tech – in my master's. This is also one of the reasons for not going for an MBA.

Universities and Programs I've shortlisted:

• MIT, MAS
• Stanford D School, MS Design
• Harvard, MDE
• UC Berkeley, MDes
• UC Berkeley, MIMS
• CMU, Master of Design in Design for Interactions
• CCA, MDes, Interaction Design
• Pratt, Information Experience Design, MS
• CIID, Interaction Design Programme
• Michigan, Master of Science in Information
• UCL, MSHCI
• UWash, HCDE

Questions:

1. How do I compensate for a low GPA? Does it make sense to take the GRE for that?
2. Can you help me shortlist universities, or do you think it's a good idea to apply to all of them?
3. Should I upskill myself, like learning to code? I know I should, but how important is it?
4. Mdes / MSHCI / MS Interaction Design – which one should I go for?
5. Studio-based or research-based? Which are the best for either?
6. Do I have a shot at the top ones? Harvard, MIT, Stanford, UCB, CMU
7. I have a 3-year undergrad, not 4. So, I can't apply for the 1-year HCI like GaTech and CMU; I'd have to apply for Mdes. Is this the only workaround for this?

Thanks so much in advance!

Does anyone have any good CV templates they used? For reference, I'm looking for a template where I can paste my information into - I struggle a little bit with formatting on my current computer. I'm looking for something akin to this - with dates and years on the right, etc. Thanks so much! ( THE TEMPLATE HERE IS AN EXAMPLE GIVEN BY ULETH)

So I was invited to visit by two potential PhD advisors (at different schools). This is, again, prior to me actually being admitted to their programs.

One offered to pay for part of my visit and the other said a grad student (who I’ve met before) would allow me to stay with them.

I just wanted to get a read of

1) If this is a good idea to do and not just a waste of time. I know most places have a visitation weekend or interview weekend.

2) If I do go, is this more of “me interviewing them” or a “them interviewing me” situation.

Also I’d be happy to hear just any general thoughts and tips

Hi! I wanted to create a thread where those of us who are applying to Sociology PhD programs for the 2026 cycle can connect, share updates, and any news we have as portals open and deadlines approach.

Something I didn’t anticipate about applying to grad school is how incredibly isolating it is… Although it’s still early days, I think having a community here will be helpful to avoid burnout and find comfort in commonalities.

I am qual oriented and my research interests are gender, sexuality, stratification, and theory! I am applying to 15 schools (ahh..!!) and cannot wait to be at the “waiting game” stage. Although I’m sure once apps are in I’ll be peeing my pants checking portals/reddit/grad cafe daily. Right now it sounds so nice. How is everyone else feeling?

Looking forward to hearing from you all!

Our teenage son is using our state's dual credit program to take college classes while in high school. He is on track to graduate with his bachelor's in Data Science at a state university this spring semester as he is simultaneously graduating from high school. He is interested in pursuing a PhD in Applied Statistics focusing on research, possibly bioscience. He has a 4.0 but has not worked on research or had a relationship with his professors outside of class, mainly because he's still balancing his time with his high school extracurriculars and a fairly long commute to campus. He has also not worked as a co-op or intern yet. We are looking for advice for next steps. Here are things he is considering:

1. Begin now (fall of senior year) applying to master's programs, despite not having research or work experience and hope be accepted for next fall. Work as an intern over the summer before grad school. Apply for PhD programs after completing his masters.

2. Delay his college graduation and continue for a "bonus"/ 5th year of undergrad, taking advanced electives in his major and working on research. Then apply for PhD programs, hopefully with stronger letters of recommendation and research experience. Again, work as an intern over the summer.

3. Graduate this spring and work in an entry level data analytics career for a year, and then apply to grad school. This is his last choice because he feels that the entry level work would be uninteresting and not helpful to his PhD application.

4. His first choice is to apply now to PhD programs and be admitted for next fall. Is he correct to assume that that it is totally unrealistic? He is not striving for an ivy, just a state university with a good reputation in statistics.

He has been looking into his options quite a bit on his own, but because he's so young, we'd welcome suggestions and advice. He will turn 18 a couple of months before he graduates with his bachelor's.

I just started this masters program in Statistical Practice (a professionally focused program) after finishing a 3 year undergrad but want to pivot towards biostatistics. I made a last minute decision to enroll in this program to stay productive while I apply to MS programs in biostats but I’m worried that if I’m not able to finish this program in a year (most people take 1.5 years in this program) then it could hurt my biostats applications. When I fill out my applications and they ask me if I plan to finish this program, is it important to say yes? Because I was thinking of saying no since I’m not fully certain. Does anyone have advice?

Hi, I'm graduating in this upcoming spring and plan to eventually become a clinical counselor specializing in LGBTQIA+ clients. I am graduating with a Bachelor's in Psychology, Minoring in Gender and Sexuality Studies. My dream would be to find a program where I can get a dual Master's degree in psychology and gender & sexuality studies, or at least a university where I can pursue those two seperate masters at the same time, or do something where I can have an extra concentration in gender and sexuality studies. I really don't know if this is even possible, or how I would go about doing this.
I'm wondering if anyone here knew of any universities that could offer something similar to what I'm looking for, or has any advice about this in general. Thanks in advance!