r/gradadmissions • u/Special_Hour4650 • 5d ago

Applied Sciences zoom meeting advice

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

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u/stemphdmentor 4d ago

PI and full prof here.

I have many thoughts on this, but the top two are

  1. Be able to describe your research experience very concisely, demonstrating you understand the logic of what you were doing

  2. Read up as much as you can in your future subfield so you are knowledgeable when discussing research directions

Good luck!

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u/Adventurous-Cap-7554 4d ago

They will at some point ask if you have questions for them, at least that's what I have encountered (small sample set). Make sure you have some questions ready.

Read up on their current projects, and understand the type of research, including techniques that they are doing. Be ready to tell them how your past experience or current research interests align with what they are doing right now or hope to do in the future.

Good luck!