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I was finally accepted to a PhD program after several *years* of applying and being rejected. I want to share my tips for dealing with rejection and finding the courage to re-apply. 
/19
#AcademicTwitter #phdchat @AcademicChatter
/19#AcademicTwitter #phdchat @AcademicChatter
1st application cycle:
3 interviews
4 rejections
1 acceptance -- which I declined.
Why?
2/
3 interviews 4 rejections 1 acceptance -- which I declined. Why?
2/
I rcvd an offer from a prestigious uni (guarantee you have heard of it), w/ a huge endowment, yet they didnt offer much funding. No one should go into debt for a PhD, and I was going to owe over $90,000 in student loans. So I reluctantly walked away. 
3/
3/
2nd app cycle:
0 interviews
6 rejections
0 acceptances
Not. even. one. damn. university. wanted. me.
I was devastated.
4/
0 interviews 6 rejections0 acceptances
Not. even. one. damn. university. wanted. me.
I was devastated.
4/
I used the same graduate admission exam scores from last yr, had gained more research experience, and *thought* I was an even better applicant. I FELT LIKE A COMPLETE FAILURE.
Then, I kept hearing the negativity from family..'friends'...
5/
Then, I kept hearing the negativity from family..'friends'...
5/
"You are too old to keep trying for a PhD"
"You need to just get married"
"why are you wasting your time?"
"get serious with your life and get a 'real job' w the degree you have"
6/
"You need to just get married"
"why are you wasting your time?"
"get serious with your life and get a 'real job' w the degree you have"
6/
Tip #1: OWN YOUR FEELINGS
I needed self-healing.
I spent time in nature. I listened to guided meditations. I cried…a lot. I didn't run from the pain. I sat with it.
The time I took for my own self-introspection would set the groundwork for my final application cycle.
7/
I needed self-healing.
I spent time in nature. I listened to guided meditations. I cried…a lot. I didn't run from the pain. I sat with it. The time I took for my own self-introspection would set the groundwork for my final application cycle.
7/
Tip #2: RE ENGAGE W/ YOUR FIELD
I joined twitter. I followed academics in my field, and was inspired by their stories esp those who took non-traditional paths to a PhD. I listened to journal club podcasts. I still found my field fun. I decided to apply 1 last time.
8/
I joined twitter. I followed academics in my field, and was inspired by their stories esp those who took non-traditional paths to a PhD. I listened to journal club podcasts. I still found my field fun. I decided to apply 1 last time.
8/
Tip #3: GET FEEDBACK ON YOUR APPS
I emailed/phoned every single school to get specific feedback on my application. The way I saw it was, I paid ya'll the app fee. You happily chewed my money. Least you can do is tell me why you didn’t make me an offer of admission.
9/
I emailed/phoned every single school to get specific feedback on my application. The way I saw it was, I paid ya'll the app fee. You happily chewed my money. Least you can do is tell me why you didn’t make me an offer of admission.
9/
Some admission committee members gave me very generic feedback about what GPA + exam scores + # first-author publications they wanted. Others took the time to have a phone call w me and give me personalized feedback on my apps. Those are the profs I was truly grateful for. 
10/
10/
TIP #4: RE-TAKE ENTRANCE EXAM - (MAYBE)
Several profs said my entrance exam scores were a bit low, so I retook the exam to improve my quant score. Took leave from work, bought a test prep book, and Ya'll… my quantitative score actually *dropped* 2 percentiles.
11/
Several profs said my entrance exam scores were a bit low, so I retook the exam to improve my quant score. Took leave from work, bought a test prep book, and Ya'll… my quantitative score actually *dropped* 2 percentiles.
11/
BUT
I got a perfect score on the verbal.
Does that mean I can read, but can't do math? NO!
At some point, you have to roll with the score you have.
12/
I got a perfect score on the verbal.
Does that mean I can read, but can't do math? NO!
At some point, you have to roll with the score you have.
12/
TIP #5: RE-ASSESS YOUR SCHOOLS
I kept applying to the same highly-ranked schools, and I finally realized that I didn't *need* to go to those schools to be a capable scientist in my field. I started looking at smaller programs, and slightly lower-ranked programs.
13/
I kept applying to the same highly-ranked schools, and I finally realized that I didn't *need* to go to those schools to be a capable scientist in my field. I started looking at smaller programs, and slightly lower-ranked programs.
13/
TIP#6 REVAMP YOUR RECOMMENDATION LETTERS
This is where that personalized feedback helps a lot. When you understand what an admissions committees *perceive* as your weakness, you can launch an interference campaign.
14/
This is where that personalized feedback helps a lot. When you understand what an admissions committees *perceive* as your weakness, you can launch an interference campaign.
14/
Ask your recommenders to speak to those perceived weaknesses. 
Eg:
I got weak quant scores
can you tell them abt advanced analyses I am working on now?
I have no 1st author pubscan you tell them abt the manuscripts I am leading on which are not yet published?
15/
Eg:
I got weak quant scores
can you tell them abt advanced analyses I am working on now?I have no 1st author pubs
can you tell them abt the manuscripts I am leading on which are not yet published?15/
TIP #7: LEVERAGE YOUR NETWORK 
I hit up LinkedIn, former college mates, and people I met at conferences and international meetings. I tried to get my network to put me in touch with ANYONE from any department in the university I wanted to go to.
WHY?
16/
I hit up LinkedIn, former college mates, and people I met at conferences and international meetings. I tried to get my network to put me in touch with ANYONE from any department in the university I wanted to go to.
WHY?
16/
Because faculty are busy and are infinitely more likely to respond to you if someone from the same @university.edu email address is introducing you. I prioritized my applications to programs where faculty actually took the time to speak to me before putting in my apps.
17/
17/
3rd application cycle:
4 acceptances -- each with funding!
18/
4 acceptances -- each with funding! 18/
If you were rejected from PhD programs this yr, know that rejection is an opportunity to become self-aware, & reconnect with your soul's purpose. Gift yourself time for introspection, self-healing, & self-love. When you are ready, the universe will conspire in your favor. 
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