A framework to 10x your chances of getting a PhD Scholarship

The following framework will 10x your chances of getting a PhD positiocn.

Do you have one or more research publications?

• If yes, Read the following.
• If no, Go to step 1B.

Don’t forget to go through the ongoing PhD scholarship opportunities provided below the page.

𝟏𝐀. 𝐒𝐞𝐭 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐬

To get a PhD position, you first need to know that a position is available. For this, set alerts on various scholarship websites, university websites, and social media groups. Make an excel sheet of the available positions and their deadlines.

𝟐𝐀. 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡-𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐕

A generic CV is unlikely to sell you the best. Prepare a CV that shows what research value you will bring to the lab. If nothing else, highlight research areas in your CV that are aligned with the target lab. See samples of research focused CVs.

𝟑𝐀. 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥 𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐤

Someone will open your CV if there is a hook in your email. This hook should work in the first 3 seconds. This hook can be in the subject line or in the body.

𝟒𝐀. 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥

Professors receive tons of emails. It’s possible that your email is lost somewhere. Should you give up? No. Find alternative ways to bring yourself in front. These ways could be a contact via Twitter or LinkedIn or even face-to-face contact during an event. Do you have a LinkedIn profile already? Rate it here.

𝟓𝐀. 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰

Once you hear from the professor or the school, it is likely that you will be asked for an interview. Here you need to shine bright. For this, the best way is to defend your CV well. Also, importantly, explore the target lab/professor’s research and demonstrate how it aligns with yours.

𝟔𝐀. 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲, 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲

There are multiple reasons why a candidate might not be selected. To increase your chances, you need to apply to as many positions as possible. The more you apply, the sooner you will get your PhD position. Contact professors who already have PhD positions available or advertised. Check out these 900+ PhD scholarship opportunities now.

You don’t have any research publications? Read the following.

𝟏𝐁. 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐆𝐏𝐀, 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞

While contacting a professor or applying directly, highlight your strong points such as GPA, grad school, your experiences, or a solid research proposal. Think about what I have that can be of use to the professor or target lab. Highlight those skills or records.

𝟐𝐁. 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜h

If you are not getting a direct entry to your PhD position, volunteer for around 6 months to do research with a professor having a solid record of recent publications. You will get research experience and publish papers. Then, either the same professor can offer you a PhD position or you can follow steps 1A – 6A to get another position easily.

All the best.

Ongoing PhD scholarship opportunities

Below are at least 10 ongoing PhD scholarship opportunities now.