5 Common Reasons PhD Applications Are Rejected

Applying for a PhD can be very tough and competitive so here are five common reasons PhD applications are rejected and how you can ensure your value is front and centre of your application.

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▼ ▽ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 – competitiveness
1:42 – value
4:19 – the three whys
6:56 – generic answer
8:13 – incomplete applications

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▼ ▽ TOOLS

[m.shahrukhkhansadiq]

Dr. Andy I never miss your videos. Hopefully I'll end up achieving my PhD admission soon. Cheers!

[javiercamacho]

I got my position and I used Why me? / Why them? / Why now?..answering these questions was an introspective exercise. Thank you Andy

[johnmongver]

I remember I applied for a PhD position in one Scandinavian university and then when I got the results, I only found out my research proposal was not uploaded properly. This is the reason I got rejected 😭 I didn't know this until I got the rejection letter and I was so sad because I wrote a research proposal just for them.

[Syrilian]

The more I watch videos, the more it feels like PhD is underpaid labor.

[InsistentlyInterdisciplinary]

I am really trying to enact a lot of this tips. I have 3 continents worth of rejections thus far, over 3 years. Thus far, networking, publishing papers and the like have not helped. Your channel is filling in a lot of gaps for me. Cheers!

[me]

This is a personal opinion, as someone who has a startup and is pursuing a PhD, just so my biases are made clear.

Getting industry experience before seeking a PhD, especially in natural sciences and engineering, is extremely advantageous. This is simply because oftentimes the students who are jumping straight from undergraduate or a masters program to PhD are burnt out and/or have poor work ethic. Anyone who has spent time and industry knows how to dedicate a lot of time and effort to a problem, often relentlessly so. That burning determination is extremely valuable. As an intern, these things might be cultivated, but they WILL be cultivated if you do work a full time job in the industry. So for that reason, I highly encourage industrial experience.

[ChibiliMugala]

I will certainly revisit this video as I continue writing the many SOPs. Copy & Paste is a no-no! I roger that!

[elriqcy]

That’s was super beneficial! Thank you.

[jhamdan]

My question is that how can you keep your academic references engaged and support more applications with other universities if you receive a few rejections? How long can you keep them loyal and not to give up or say, well we filled out a few applications for you, and that's enough, we don't have time to do the same thing over and over.

[tamannaantil]

I was under the impression that no one (rather, fewer people every year) want to do a PhD

[permvirsingh]

Hi Andy, what do you think about Doctor of Engineering (EngD)? Will you please make a video on EngD?

[dtn]

I assume this was somewhat planned but I'm about to submit my applications by the end of the year. So this video could not be more timely!!

The good thing is: as you explained I thought to myself "Ok. I'm cool. I have this. I have been working on it for the past 3 or 4 months. I have this." but by the end of the video it was anxiety all over the place "Oh crap!! Do I really have this?!?!?! Should I detail it more??😰😰😰".

So... From one side, thank you for your guidance 💜. From the other... Damn you for increasing my anxiety!! 😂😂😂

[bless_]

My application was rejected because there's no supervisor available. I can't understand it.

[robensonlarokulu]

In reality, at least for the US, they admit students that their own colleagues recommended, if not available any, then their own people (Chinese, Indian etc.). No one sits down and truly reads your CV and other materials.

[riyamehta]

Hi. Could you make a video on the format of statement of purpose that is needed for a PhD or for any course, in that case. Thanks

[xb]

Had bad (very bad) grades in undergrad, getting awesome grades in masters (same field). How fked am I for a possible application?

[Lilliana]

Way too many peaple want to do PhD.
It's worse in physics which is like one of most hypersaturated fields ever. I have better luck finding a unicorn that being ridden by a elf holding a 6 leaf clover while there is solar eclipse and a venus transit at the same time while it is my birthday.

[jessxkirby]

I sent Andy an email and he ignored me. I guess he will say he is too busy. But, hey, let's not focus on the negatives, this could be turned into a positive - Andy could make a video about how to get people to prioritize responding to your email first? However, the issue with that idea is Andy is going to ignore the comment too, so I guess I will just leave this comment here for no reason not expecting any outcome.

[qbwvwkl]

Please next video on: why principal investigator application is rejected.

[mindcache]

OK. Mind made up. I’ll kick a ball about for £500, 000 per month with half an ‘0’ Level in Woodwork .