My PhD Application Process

I went into my Masters knowing I wanted to be studying for a PhD at the end of it and I had already heard the stories of how competitive the application process was for funded projects. With this information and my horrific social anxiety that messes up any kind of interview I was to have, I resigned myself to the fact that this was going to be a tough year. Overall it took me ten applications and four interviews to finally gain a place. Not ten half arsed attempts either, for my first three interviews I had poured weeks of work into presentations that now lie forgotten. With each interview I noticed my confidence and interview ability slowly increasing so I figured this grind was the only way really forward for me. The biggest disappointment was my third interview at my previous undergraduate university, I thought I had nailed it (I did learn I do great presentations) but there always seemed to be a person one step ahead of me. Towards the end of the academic year I resigned myself to the fact I would be employed first while PhD searching and it allowed me to take a step back and think about what I actually wanted to be studying. The answer was proteins and I didn't care about the organism. I emailed some plant lecturers at Birmingham for advice in transitioning to plants as my research Masters had given me anything but experience in this field and I was given a lot of advice in framing transferrable research skills. I stand by my opinion that plant scientists are the nicest people! So my next application was for a plant based PhD project, I targeted my transferrable skills and was generally just myself, and I was successful! I got into my PhD last minute, the funding body was given extra money and needed a September intake so it all certainly felt different to  my previous attempts, my interview felt less like a grilling and more like the interviewers wanted me to be good. I loved the sound of the project and the supervisor seemed to want someone with structural experience in their lab, a step forward for them. My 'second interview' that felt more like a check to make sure I wasn't crazy, involved a lab tour and meeting the lab members. It all happened within a week and I still can't quit believe the offer that came through on the Friday.

My application process took around 10 months and ten applications. Somewhere in the middle I became desperate for any old PhD and I lost focus on what I would actually enjoy. Although I've got quite the commute now (networking with different universities is a great career choice though) I know I can give this project 110%, and I'm lucky those projects I didn't care so much about rejected me! I know people that got offered PhD projects through supervisors they knew, that got in first application, that got in on their fiftieth application and people that just happened to email a PI at the exact right time. I will always believe that there is an element of luck in this process.

My advice for applicants:

• Don't rush your project choice! It's easy to get desperate for any old studentship
• Consider expanding your commute, or moving. Everyone is comfortable at the university they know but networking is how more job opportunities appear later. 
• If at first you don't succeed keep trying! You will have gained something from that failed interview to increase your chances in the next one.
• Stay positive and reflect after each application to make sure you are still on track for what you want to do and not getting bogged down. 
• Review your personal statement and C.V for each project and focus it.
• Be pro active! After wallowing in self pity from all my rejections I made the positive change to actually think about what I wanted to do. Emailing people within the field I wanted to study in and asking for advice was so helpful and gave me an additional boost which ultimately led to success. Of course some PI's just don't reply, others can change your life though.