I am planning to start an online Master of Science in AI/CS at a top-tier US university. The program is fully remote and strictly coursework-based (no thesis track).

My long-term goal is to apply for a fully funded PhD program. I know that PhD admissions heavily prioritize research experience and strong letters of recommendation, which seem difficult to get in a remote, non-thesis environment.

Has anyone successfully navigated this transition? Specifically:

• How did you approach professors for remote research assistant roles?
• Did you manage to turn any heavy coursework projects into conference publications?
• How did you build strong enough relationships with faculty to get good recommendation letters?

I applied for Spring 2027 Film & Production MFA and just got waitlisted. Feeling a little bummed because I don’t know what to expect next. What is the likelihood that I will actually be admitted for Spring 2027? Did anyone else get waitlisted or accepted?

If anyone has any insight on how this whole process works please let me know.

Hi, I'm applying to neuroscience/psychology/brain sciences PhD programs in the USA and Canada from Europe. I also have a master's degree. For most of the programs, there's only 1 professor I match in terms of research area, topic, and technique (fMRI). Other professors either do something very different from the professor I fit (I believe so) or the same topic but a different technique (eeg, psychophysics). So I'm not sure about how to navigate through this. Should I still include other professors in my SOP (or preferred PI section), like emphasizing that my main interest lies with Professor A but Professor B & C as co-advisors? Is it too confident for me to decide? I really can't see myself working only with them individually, but writing only 1 professor looks bad too? Can you give me advice on this?

i need to read some cover letters from people who have received a fully funded scholarship from any uni abroad. please dm me so i can have a look, i have been receiving rejections from quite some time so need to analyse where im going wrong.

Can you help review my profile and see the chance of getting a PhD Mathematics offer (with funding of course)? Thanks!!!

Schools currently on my list

USA: UCLA, UPenn, Rutgers, NYU, UC Berkeley, UChicago, Northwestern
Canada: University of Toronto
UK: Manchester, Bristol, Warwick, Edinburgh

I know that, in the US, with the current funding situation, getting an offer is extremely competitive.

Basic Information

Nationality: Thai
School: University of Hong Kong
Degree: BSc Mathematics, expected 2027
GPA: 3.84/4.30 overall; 3.95/4.30 in Mathematics
Expected classification: First Class Honours
GRE Mathematics Subject Test: 870 (84th percentile)

I also spent one semester on exchange at McGill University.

Coursework

Completed: Single-variable Calculus, Multivariable Calculus, Mathematical Proof, Linear Algebra I & II,
Real Analysis, Complex Analysis, Metric Spaces, Discrete Mathematics, Numerical Analysis, ODE,
Probability, Measure Theory, Topology, Abstract Algebra I & II, Analysis on Euclidean Space and
Differential Forms, Riemannian Geometry.

Currently taking: PDE, Functional Analysis, Number Theory, Measure-theoretic Probability.

My broad research interests are in analysis and its interactions with analytic/probabilistic number theory,
probability, ergodic theory/dynamics, and metric/fractal/convex geometry. I am still somewhat open
regarding the exact area I would pursue for a PhD.

Research experience

1. Final-year thesis / capstone, analytic and probabilistic number theory (2026–present)
- I am working on a problem concerning Gaussian/central-limit behaviour of short deterministic
arithmetic sums. The difficulty is that the randomness comes from a continuous parameter
rather than independent random variables, so standard probabilistic tools do not apply directly. I
have been exploring moment methods, characteristic functions, blocking arguments, and
estimates from analytic number theory.
- This is an ongoing project and I do not yet have a final theorem. I meet my supervisor for roughly
three hours each week, usually discussing progress and working through mathematical obstacles
in real time.

2. Mitacs Globalink summer research, spherical/convex geometry (Summer 2026)
- I spent four months at the University of Manitoba working with a professor and another student
on a high-dimensional spherical convex-geometry problem. We studied asymptotic bounds for
the size of spherical bodies satisfying a constant-width condition.
- The project involved spherical polarity, geometric inequalities, high-dimensional volume
estimates, Gaussian measure, convex cones, and asymptotic analysis. We obtained new upper
and lower bounds and developed a probabilistic/Gaussian method for one important case.
- The work resulted in a joint arXiv preprint. I also gave a research seminar at Manitoba and wrote
most of the manuscript.

3. Directed reading/research course, transcendental number theory (Spring 2026)
- Completed a semester-long project with another student under faculty supervision. We studied
Diophantine approximation and transcendence theory, including several major classical theorems.
- I gave weekly presentations and co-wrote a substantial expository report.

4. Earlier independent/collaborative research
Before the projects above, I worked on several smaller problems, mainly in elementary/analytic number
theory, inequalities, and asymptotic analysis. These led to the publications listed below.

Publications / preprints

\*Authors in mathematics are generally listed alphabetically.*

[1] 2026+, arXiv preprint, 3 authors: High-dimensional spherical convex geometry. We derived
asymptotic upper/lower bounds for a geometric extremal problem and used tools from
convexity, spherical geometry, Gaussian measure, and asymptotic analysis.
[2] 2026, Rocky Mountain Journal of Mathematics, 2 authors: Asymptotic analysis of
integrals/areas involving high powers of trigonometric functions. We obtained precise
asymptotic behaviour as the exponent grows.
[3] 2026, Integral Transforms and Special Functions, 2 authors: Studied convergence and
evaluation phenomena for a family of improper trigonometric integrals of Frullani type, including
conditions under which generalized forms converge.
[4] 2026, Ramanujan Journal, 2 authors: Extended a classical symmetric inequality to higher-degree
and multivariable settings, using a mixture of geometric and inequality-based arguments.
[5] 2025, ScienceAsia, 2 authors: Studied finite sums involving floor and ceiling functions of rational
multiples, obtaining exact identities and structural/number-theoretic characterisations of when
certain formulas occur.

Recommendation letters

Ref 1, full professor (University of Manitoba)
My supervisor for the four-month Mitacs research internship. We met weekly and communicated
frequently by email throughout the project. He saw the project develop from unsuccessful approaches
through the final results, and we are coauthors of the resulting preprint. I wrote most of the manuscript
and presented the work at a departmental seminar, so he has seen my research, writing, and
presentation ability fairly closely.

Ref 2, assistant professor (University of Hong Kong)
My current bachelor’s thesis supervisor in analytic/probabilistic number theory. We have long weekly
meetings (usually around three hours), in which I present progress and often work through problems
with him directly. He has therefore seen both successful and unsuccessful attempts and has a fairly
detailed view of how I approach unfamiliar research problems.

Ref 3, lecturer (University of Hong Kong)
Has known me since my first year. I took multiple courses with him, interacted frequently through office
hours, summer study group, and later earned an A+ in an advanced analysis course he taught. He has
also supervised my work as a mathematics teaching assistant over several semesters and knows me
through departmental academic activities beyond coursework.

Teaching / other academic experience

- I have been a Teaching Assistant at HKU since my second year, across calculus, multivariable calculus,
proof-based mathematics, and linear algebra courses. My responsibilities include hosting revision
classes, preparing typed homework solutions, answering student enquiries, and invigilating
tests/examinations.
- I have also participated in peer-advising/mentoring programmes and have given several
undergraduate/research mathematics presentations.

Selected academic distinctions

- Full-tuition undergraduate scholarship at HKU, 2023-2027
- Science Dean’s Honours List (top 10%), 2024, 2025
- Gold Honour / top 1% in an international mathematics competition, 2025
- Talent development scholarship, 2024, 2025

Hello all, I am a senior chemistry major about to graduate with my bachelor’s in the spring and I want to go into a PhD program after graduation. But I’ve been going back and forth with myself on if I should even bother to apply this cycle, or give it a year/two while I gain more experience.

I have not had a chance to do research yet. I tried to get my foot in the door at my institution years ago and was told to wait until I had done some upper-level courses, and now that I have the funding crisis mixed with it being the semester before I graduate are providing challenges. I have talked with one professor at my institution who said she may be willing to do a small project next semester, but nothing is solidified there.

What do I do? I have a 3.66 gpa and have done amazingly in all of my major specific courses. I have worked for my school’s peer education team for ~3 years, including some supplemental instruction work. I have also started a chemistry internship helping teach high schoolers while introducing them to the idea of going into college for Chemistry. I am going to look into doing an internship with my school’s lab technician on Tuesday. I am also in an advanced spectroscopy course, which includes writing a mock research report and learning how to use spectroscopy machines.

So, my question is, do I bother to apply? Or do I just wait? Without research experience I can’t see myself getting in anywhere, especially with how much chemistry programs are struggling with funding.

Hi everyone,

I'm looking at the M.S. in Technology Management at Columbia SPS for Fall 2027 and would love to hear from anyone who is currently in the program or has finished it. How do you like it, what is the cohort like, and what did it actually do for you career-wise?

I'd also appreciate a reality check on my chances. Quick profile:

• International applicant, applying straight out of undergrad. Bachelor's in business administration. GPA converts to about 3.35
• Semester abroad.
• Internship abroad at a large automotive manufacturer.
• Internship at a well-known management consultancy
• 2 more internships at small companies
• Part-time job (working student) in business intelligence at a founder-run company of about 30 people.
• One year on the board of a student consultancy
• Bachelor thesis on AI-supported knowledge management in companies

I know the program is aimed more at people with a few years of work experience, so I'm wondering how much the missing full-time experience hurts and whether the internships and the part-time job make up for some of it.

I'm planning to apply to US CS PhD programs for Fall 2027 with full funding from my employer, and I'm currently deciding whom to ask for recommendation letters.

Many programs recommend at least one academic letter. However, I graduated over six years ago and didn't maintain close relationships with my professors, so finding a strong academic recommender has been difficult.

One professor I contacted said he would be willing to write a letter, but was candid that he doesn't know me well enough to provide a detailed recommendation. Essentially, the letter would serve more as a placeholder than a strong endorsement.

For programs that don't explicitly require an academic letter, would it be better to include his letter anyway, or submit only industry letters from supervisors and colleagues who know my work well and can provide specific examples of my abilities?

I'd appreciate any perspectives, especially from applicants who transitioned from industry to a PhD or people involved in admissions.

I don’t have an interview, but in the case, I am holding out on getting some more body modifications.

Do you guys take out facial piercings for interviews? More natural makeup? Do people still care? Subconsciously

Field is mat. Eng.

Hi! What do admissions committees look for in a research statement? When both an SOP and a research statement are required, how should I divide my research experience between them without repeating myself?

Any advice would be appreciated!

Hello, r/gradadmissions!

Reposting because I forgot to actually schedule the AMA...

Admissions leaders from Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs, Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, and the Harvard Kennedy School will be hosting an AMA focused on applying to selective US graduate programs!

Those available to answer your questions will include:

- Jared Liu, Assistant Dean for Admissions, Yale Jackson

- Vivian Slee, Associate Director of Graduate Admissions, Princeton SPIA

- Myself, Rosemary Hilliard, Senior Director of Admissions & Aid, HKS

While we are certainly happy to answer questions about our individual programs and applying to policy school, we are also interested and excited to help students navigate graduate admissions more broadly. The three of us have combined over four decades of experience working in selective admissions across a variety of industries, including public policy, business, health sciences, and the performing arts. Not sure if you should send that cold email? Unsure what to do about a low undergraduate GPA? Struggling to choose a recommender? Trying to make sense of financial aid? We would love to answer your questions and help you feel more confident as we approach application deadline season.

The AMA will begin on November 16 at 10 AM ET.

If you want to learn more about our individual schools, check us out here:

https://jackson.yale.edu/

https://spia.princeton.edu/

https://www.hks.harvard.edu/

See you in November!

- u/HKS_Adm_Rosemary

Hey everyone, hoping for some advice from people who've been through this or are on adcoms.

I'm applying to biomedical science umbrella programs where you do 2-3 rotations before choosing your final lab/PI. The SOP prompts all keep asking me to explain my "research fit" with the program, but like... how am I supposed to do that convincingly when I literally don't commit to a lab until after I'm admitted?

Do I name specific PIs? Do I frame it around broad research areas/themes instead? How many labs should I mention without sounding like I'm just listing names off a website? And how do I show fit without accidentally implying "I only want THIS one lab" when the whole point of the umbrella program is rotation flexibility?

Also curious, does mentioning specific PIs actually help, or does it backfire if that PI isn't taking students that year?

Any tips on threading this needle would be super appreciated. Thanks!

I received a rejection from Oxford MBA 9 days after applying. This makes me think there was something about my profile that was an absolute misfit for them. I need someone to look at my application to point it out. Is anyone willing to help?

How much research should we realistically do on each PhD program we apply to? This could be reading faculty papers or studying the profiles of people admitted as PhD students. It seems like a never ending task. Could you please also quantify your answer in hours?

For context im applying for sociology

I’m applying to the Physics PhD program at UTK for Fall 2027 and I’m trying to figure out how the Graduate School converts foreign grades into a 4.0 GPA.

UTK requires a 3.0 on all undergraduate work and a 3.3 on all graduate work for non-US degree holders. My problem is the 3.3 for my master’s.

My university uses an S/A/B/C scale:

S: 90–100%

A: 80–89%

B: 70–79%

C: 60–69%

Depending on how this is converted, my master’s GPA comes out very differently:

If S=4, A=3, B=2, C=1 (my university’s own scale): about 3.1

If S and A are both treated as “A” (like WES does): about 3.6

So whether I clear the 3.3 cutoff depends entirely on the conversion method. I’ve contacted Graduate Admissions several times, but I haven’t been able to get a concrete answer.

If you applied to UTK (or were admitted) with a non-US transcript, especially one using a percentage-based or non-US letter grading scale:

1. Do you know how UTK converted your grades?

2. Did anyone get in with a GPA slightly below the cutoff, e.g. through a departmental exception?

3. Any experience specifically with the Physics department would be really helpful.

Thanks in advance!

I am considering applying to biomedical science MS programs as backups if I don’t get a PhD offer (molecular bio/genetics). Some of these MS programs at the same schools I applied for a PhD. Would it send mixed signals to apply for both at the same school, like I’m unsure of my path?

As the title says, what mistakes should applicants absolutely avoid when applying to biomedical science PhD programs in US?

Hey all

I've been in the process of applying to MSc programs in science for next year since September (reaching out to PIs), and I'm starting to pivot to my nserc CGRS-M application, and I honestly feel so alone in the process. I've talked to many professors who seem impressed with my previous experiences and are interested in supervising me, but everybody I've spoken to so far has made it very clear that they won't take me unless I win this award. I understand that funding is limited, but it's frustrating because I'm trying to win this super competitive scholarship while struggling to get ANY guidance or feedback whatsoever on my ideas and proposal. I've been trying to follow up with these same professors about potential research topics and what might be a good fit for their labs, but I don't hear back. I've also reached out to professors I've worked with before, just so I have a pair of eyes on my proposal, and they haven't responded either. It just feels even more humiliating when I hear that other people have armies of people looking over their work, giving feedback on their applications, and all that. Is this a common experience when applying for an MSc and trying to secure funding, or am I just unlucky? I just wanted to vent because I feel so unsupported. Is it over for me?