Higher Education

1. Have scholarship choose a university

(If you have scholarship any university will accept you, if not restricted by funding source)

2. Choose a university and get scholarship

(Good number of positions are not advertised, they are filled through references.)
1: How to search for scholarship (How to keep up with the sources?)
Google
Subscription to the Email lists
Updates from the organizations or departments
Magazine subscriptions
SOCIAL MEDIA
Any personal contacts (VERY IMPORTANT)
Seminars
Education Fairs
THIS IS SUBJECTIVE TO INDIVIDUAL FILED OF INTEREST. BETTER BE PREPARED
TO SPEND SOMETIME FINDING A RIGH POSITION FOR YOU.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Read the requirements of scholarships
Read the requirements of university
If nothing is clear email
Dont assume
Communication is the key
TO MINIMIZE ANY CHANCES OF ERROR OR MISUNDERSTANDING WHICH MAY
LEADS TO AN IMCOMPLETE APPLICATION.
Choosing University
Matches your interest
Have good course work
Read the profile of researcher/lab helps
YOU DONT WANT TO ENDUP IN A PROGRAM OR RESEARCH YOU CANT KEEP UP
WITH.
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2: Choose a university and get scholarship

Google
Look up for universities
i.e university offering PhD in Biochemistry.
- Go to graduate school website read about funded positions.
-Go to department website read the requirement for PhD/MS
Read requirements carefully
Email if nothing is clear
keep deadlines in mind
Apply for PhD admission, only funded position
DO NOT APPLY FOR ADMISSION IF NO FUNDED POSITIONS ARE
ADVERTISED
80% of the positions are filled through references. Especially in the case where professor
has the grant and he is looking for candidate for phd positions. This is completely
different than the position which is funded by a scholarships form different organization.
If you find any professor which has research goal of your interest email hi/her tell her
what you currently are doing and what have you done before. Include your CV. Start
communication with them.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Best sources for PhD positions

University Websites
Conferences Websites
Websites of Organization
Email List of Organization
Group Email list
Science Magazines
Scholarship providing institution and organizations
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 Applying for non-advertise Positions

NEVER ask admission department about funds
Start correspondence with the professor
Avoid contacting the students or postdoc in the lab
Dont mention about funds or PhD position
Jut show your interest
Read the requirements and course work
Read the bio of the lab/professor
If possible read the paper
At least the abstract
Title of the papers to get familiar with the research object
DONT APPLY FOR ADMISSION UNLESS YOU START CORRESPONDENCE
WITH THE PROFESSOR OR PI.
Once you application goes to the department it gets a little tricky because of procedures
and rules.
Unless there is deadline than better apply and start communication with the professor.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Most Efficient way
Jobs at conferences
Meet the professor
Interview
Over view of position
One to one meeting
Meeting more than one person from the lab

EASY FOR THEM TO INTEVIEW AS MANY STUDENTS AND DECIDE.

SAVE THEM TONS OF MONEY AND TIME AND RESOURCES.
FOR STUDETN SAME IS TRUE, YOU GET AS MANY INTERVIEWS AND YOU GET
TO CHOES FROM IF YOU HAVE MULTIPLE OFFERS.
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How to make it to the conference?

Submit paper
Ask your institution to pay for expense
Apply for travel fund from the conference
Write strong cover letter
Read the requirements
Search for travel grants
There are grants available for travelling to conferences, internships, etc.
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What constitute a Strong Application?

Any prior research activity
Projects during MS or BS
THESIS BASED MS
ANY PUBLICATION; even as 5th or 6th author
ANY RESEARCH TALK
Part of any research organization at University
Poster presentation

THIS SHOWS YOUR AWARENESS OF RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT,

EAGERNESS TO LEARN AND KNOWLEDGE OF BASIC RESEARCH
REQUIREMENTS I.E STATISTICS, WRITING SKILLS
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- How to prepare for strong application?
Choose thesis based MS, projects
Read literature about area of interest
Doesnt have to be Research Paper, May be an article
Be part of any team or group or lab which conduct research
As volunteer, part timer, etc.
Explore different options to be part of research community
Attend research seminars, conferences, workshops, etc.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It is too late to prepare?
Highlight your projects in application
i.e Approach, uniqueness, Main points, Brief but precise description of the
thought behind it.
Write a strong cover later
Short introduction, followed by MS and BS education, major courses, final
year project.
How it will link with the courses and research object of the lab/university you
are applying
Why you choose this university, may be the courses are relevant? Is it research
objective if so? Read about the professor or principle investigator and write
something about his/her research.
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Why should you be selected?

It all depends on your

Approach (in terms of correspondence)
Presentation (how you write your email)
CV writing style
Specially the placement of the sections
Highlighting the main point relevant
Cover letter
Intro about you
Your research work
Linking to the post research objective

Preparation

IELTS / TOEFL
GRE

Already taken:
Shows preparation and determination
Serious and better planner
If not taken:
Please prepare for it and take as soon as possible
Expectation:
You have already taken
Will effect the decision
You may take English courses before start Degree courses
IN SOME CASES THE VISA OFFICER MAY EVEN ASK FOR THESE TESTS
YOU MAY GET BETTER POSITINO LATER AND THEY MAY HAVE
REQUIREMENTS
DONT MINIMIZE YOUR CHANCES JUST BECAUSE OF ONE TEST
DONT MNIMIZE YOUR OPTIONS BECAUSE OF ONE TEST
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Stay focus
Dont apply for every and any positions
Short list 5 or 6 close to your research interest and concentrate on them
Have patience: it could take easily an year or more.
Dont apply for position not relevant to you
Apply few and strong applications
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Things not to do

1. Don't write long email.

These days people use phone to read emails, long email takes time to
scroll and in general long emails bore you anyway.
2. Don't ask for position right away in email.
Just show them your interest in their research and start communication
with them.
3. Don't ask for simple questions.
that you can find on the website of the department or university.
4. Never expect an email reply in one day or even one week.
WAIT FOR FEW WEEKS before you send a follow up email

5. Sometime professor are busy

They are travelling, or they are in conferences or on vacation. IF they don't
reply don't bombard them with tons of emails. (follow rule 4)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To do list
Applying for scholarships or phd is long process. IT could take 1 year or even longer so
have SABR (patience).
Please, always attach cover letter with you CV
Write about your interests and your plan of work and why you choosing
this university and lab.
This way you can write one paragraph email: tell them what have you
done, what you want to do and talk to them about their research area and
why are you interested in it.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Know your self

Know your strength
Use your strength to overcome shortcoming
Better planning is important
Better SEARCH before research
Position search
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Choosing the right lab
It is not the ranking of the university
Rather it is:
Research goal of the lab
The Quality of research
The Principal investigator
Facilities

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Consideration of University
Prefer university where you know someone already
Avoid any expensive city
Avoid any less known city or university
Target mediocre institutions
Less competition
Less stress in terms of research and study
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Help with CV, Email, Cove letter, etc

I am willing to help you with all three

Send me your CV, Email, letters
Lets plan for chat to:
Discuss your plans
Any further questions
Comments on your CV, Email, letters
TO UNDERSTAND YOU BETTER
PLESE ALLOW ME SOME TIME TO WORK ON YOUR APPLICATOIN.
BETTER SEND ME YOUR CV, COVER LETTER ETC ON EMAIL.
I PREFER TO GIVE YOU SUGGESTION TO MAKE CHANGES IN YOUR DOCUMETNS
VOICE CHAT IS THE BEST AND EFFICIENT WAY, THIS SAVES TIME.
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CONTACT INFO
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Viber and Whatsapp 001 313 598 5306