Questions tagged [application]
This tag refers to the application process for an academic course or an academic employment.
1,991 questions
215
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How can I recover professionally from being a crank?
Three years ago I got kicked out of graduate school in physics. I was suffering from mental illness, which led me to believe I made a huge discovery in physics. But my advisor kept saying that what I ...
81
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11
answers
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Should I answer this question about diversity?
There is an optional prompt on my PhD application:
censoredSchoolName University regards the diversity of its graduate
student body as an important factor in serving the educational mission
of ...
81
votes
5
answers
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What does it mean if a professor asks you to draft his reference letter for you?
This question is, honestly speaking, probably somewhat opinion-based, but I still want to give a shot.
A professor acceded to my invitation of writing a reference letter for me. Nevertheless, unlike ...
69
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9
answers
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Is it considered normal to publish job offers inviting candidates to apply based on their gender and/or race in academia?
I was browsing PhD position offers in Europe on different websites and I was quite surprised to find that several offers contained sentences such as
University of X value equality and diversity. We ...
67
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1
answer
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Choosing research ideas to include in a statement of purpose
The internet is littered with information on what makes a good SOP, but I would like to ask a specific question regarding mentioning one's research interests in SOP.
What points should a student keep ...
66
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6
answers
15k
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Should I explain that I cannot finish my current master due to religious discrimination when applying for another graduate program?
I am currently enrolled in a master’s program in the Middle East, which does not seem to be possible to finish / worth finishing for various reasons. The main problem is the lack of research ...
64
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8
answers
16k
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How to politely respond to generic emails requesting a PhD/job in my lab? Without wasting too much time
As I transition to faculty, I have increasingly gotten requests from people who want to do PhD's with me or want postdocs in my lab.
Often these emails are extremely generic and don't suggest they ...
62
votes
4
answers
37k
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Should I waive my right to view my recommendation letters?
Most graduate applications provide a choice for applicants to view their recommendation letters at a later date. There is a mention of some US mandate alongside.
Is it a better option to forgo this ...
61
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8
answers
21k
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Why does a UK university need to know my sexual orientation and religion?
I want to apply to a postdoc position at a UK based University.
They want me to fill a "Equal Opportunities Data" form with questions about my marital status, sexual orientation, religion and race. ...
61
votes
3
answers
6k
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How to evaluate potential advisers on grounds other than their research/publications?
While accepting an offer to grad school, one is basically entering into a lasting relationship with one's adviser - most likely, someone whom the applicant has never met before, and the only exposure ...
60
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11
answers
30k
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Dismissed from PhD due to disability-related misconduct: how to answer question about dismissal?
I committed plagiarism at the end of my PhD. My psychiatrist found that the plagiarism is related to a psychiatric disorder (mental health problem). I have published many papers in top journals and ...
54
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7
answers
20k
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I know that there is a preselected candidate for a position to be filled at my department. What should I do?
There is a rather attractive position to be filled at my department. The heads of department are already quite sure about who should fill this position. Jobs being filled with preselected candidates ...
54
votes
5
answers
24k
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How to handle not having my PhD advisor as a reference?
I received my PhD in 2009 and my adviser will not provide a good recommendation for me. This is mostly because we have fundamentally different approaches to science, and in retrospect I see that I ...
52
votes
5
answers
12k
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Will flat earth society membership affect my graduate school application?
Just to be clear: no, I don't believe in the flat earth theory.
However, a few years ago, I thought that the flat earth society forum is a good place to practice my debating skills and to have fun. ...
50
votes
5
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How to find a good topic for a PhD research proposal?
In many countries an application for a PhD position includes a written research proposal, so my questions is what are some advises/strategies to come up with a good topic/idea for a PhD research ...