Uploaded April 2021 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Friday, February 12, 2021
SPSP 2021 Convention
Applying to PhD programs can be daunting. Our session—targeted toward undergraduates—will help attendees prepare for this process. In the first portion of our session, we will give an interactive presentation that capitalizes on Zoom features such as polls and breakout rooms to tailor content to audience needs; we will highlight strategies for assessing program fit, contacting potential mentors, learning more about graduate fellowships, and writing personal statements that use narrative techniques to weave together science and personal motivation. In the second portion of the session, we will shift to a panel with four SPSP members and facilitate a discussion about PhD admissions—including topics relevant to the unique concerns of international students and those from liberal arts colleges—and take questions from attendees. Our panelists represent various backgrounds, research areas, and institutions, and collectively have extensive experience in program and university administration, advising, and PhD admissions. Participants will leave our session with knowledge from a variety of perspectives and concrete action items for moving forward in their own PhD admissions journey.
Friday, February 12, 2021
SPSP 2021 Convention
Applying to PhD programs can be daunting. Our session—targeted toward undergraduates—will help attendees prepare for this process. In the first portion of our session, we will give an interactive presentation that capitalizes on Zoom features such as polls and breakout rooms to tailor content to audience needs; we will highlight strategies for assessing program fit, contacting potential mentors, learning more about graduate fellowships, and writing personal statements that use narrative techniques to weave together science and personal motivation. In the second portion of the session, we will shift to a panel with four SPSP members and facilitate a discussion about PhD admissions—including topics relevant to the unique concerns of international students and those from liberal arts colleges—and take questions from attendees. Our panelists represent various backgrounds, research areas, and institutions, and collectively have extensive experience in program and university administration, advising, and PhD admissions. Participants will leave our session with knowledge from a variety of perspectives and concrete action items for moving forward in their own PhD admissions journey.
