Grad Students Stress Over Applications & Belonging

“I'm in the trying for grad school and it's overwhelming, all the essays, LORs, transcripts, the whole mess and honestly it's a lot easier to stay motivated when you're not doing it completely alone. Looking for someone who's in a similar boat doesn't matter if you're applying to the same field or programs, just someone also grinding through this process who wants to check in. A weekly text/call to go over what we each got done and what's still pending. Sharing dea”

“I'm a 5th yr student doing IDDD in EV at IITM. From extensive thinking and senior discussions, I'm convinced to apply for another masters hovering around Power systems, Controls, Embedded systems & ML. I've done good research on grad schools and the current H1B situation, 30 day period to get job after graduation, Visa complications, etc etc, which has forced me to focus on EU & japan. Since applications are a cost intensive process, I can only apply to a limited number of co”

“Hey so I am looking for some tips/motivation to forget my most embarrasing moment so far. I am a grad student with zero experience in science. I was sent to a internship with one of the best Drs in the field. He is really good, but also very direct. And also I am still learning about the field, because I chose a program that is very far from my undergrad expertise. So, some very basic concepts for him and his research group are completely new for me. I am not using that as an excuse, but it is o”

“Hello 23M here, I'm not sure who to really turn to, but I'm struggling with deciding on going straight to grad school right after my undergrad. As of right now, I'm thinking of getting my MS in Cybersecurity or AI. I am set to graduate in the fall semester of 2026, getting my degree in IT. My first initial plan was simply taking a break while looking for an IT job on the side so I could get some hands-on experience for my major, while also saving money, of course, for the long run. F”

“So I'm currently an undergrad in psychology with my last year about to start, and I am working on my grad applications for a master's and PhD. I come from a low-income country, and my family is also pretty low-income, so first, I need to get a good, preferably fully funded scholarship. But the thing is that I don't really have a good GPA (it's 3.35), but I have a pretty good reason behind it. So for the first two years of my uni, my family and I were facing political prosecution,”

“I really want to get my Master's. I've just been through a serious psych illness last year and it's only this thought that gives me hope enough to keep working and strive another day. One small caveat I want to get it in the states because I've always dreamed of living there even if just for a while and the kind of programs I want to do (CS related) have a lot of opportunity there. But I have a couple of small and big issues. First I'm aiming for 2028 so not so soon. But my C”

“I have my grad school interview in 3 weeks. I’m a little anxious but ready. I was told it would be in a group. Just wondering how best can I prepare? What was it like for you? submitted by /u/babybluexo_23 [link] [comments]”

“https://preview.redd.it/nbde8aexdmdh1.png?width=1414&format=png&auto=webp&s=35e62655edf932e72519990c83d1e7b91fae0ad6 https://preview.redd.it/tn946r4ydmdh1.png?width=1414&format=png&auto=webp&s=9aafb594ab21c63cd1db967a3f39bfc5875fffc3 https://preview.redd.it/koasrwlydmdh1.png?width=1414&format=png&auto=webp&s=d164493877d93c30c9b44e17949047608ae0fd9e Okay so what are my chances of getting into a fully-funded PhD program for clinical psych in States? I'm a pr”

submitted by /u/Agreeable-Detail7356 [link] [comments]

“Yeah, basically the title. Graduated recently and I'm starting first full-time new grad job after the summer. Have a few more weeks of completely open time but just feel kind of lost and dont know what to do! But i also know these times will never happen the same in my life again, at least for a while, it's just such a weird situation. And yes I am aware this is a luxury of a situation many would like to be in. For those who have been through this: how did you spend the weeks between gra”

“hi!! this is my first time making an academic CV, so I was wondering if I needed to make any edits. thank you so much in advance :D (I plan on mostly applying to master's programmes inside and outside the US) submitted by /u/TheSoulVillage [link] [comments]”

“hi everyone. I’m here to ask for simply some words of encouragement, life advice, or just overall wisdom. I feel so lost in my career journey. I feel stuck. I graduated with my BA in psych 2023 and took a “1 year break“ AKA it’s been three years and I haven’t gone back. I wanted to become an LMFT. But then swerved into HR, then teaching, then social work. You get the point. I don‘t know what the right choice is. Im interested in all of them, but I‘m worried that I will choose one I’m not happy w”

“Hi, I’d love to get feedback from this sub on my profile. I want to start Fall 2027 but I’m really nervous about where I stand. Would love an honest review. I know my academic background is a concern, not sure there’s much I can do other than retaking the GMAT. Planning to apply R1/R2 depending on how the retake goes. Background: Female Indian living in Canada. Current GMAT: 615 (77Q/83V/82DI) for the sake of profile review let’s assume I can’t crack a higher score. Still worth applying? GPA: 3.”

“Hi everyone, I'm entering my fourth year of a life science degree in Ontario and am feeling like I have no idea what I'm doing or how to start applying. I would like to do a thesis-based masters degree in Canada within the realm of biomedical sciences. No one in my family has ever been to grad school, nor do they have any experience with the field (2 parents with bachelors degrees in business working in investment). I feel like I also don't know whether I'm a competitive applican”

“I am a rising senior in college and can't decide whether I should try and apply to grad school this upcoming fall, or take a gap year and apply next fall. My main reason for being hesitant is that I feel like I don't have enough research experience compared to others. I only recently decided (within the past year) that I wanted to pursue chemistry research (was pre-med before) so I've only been in a research lab for one semester so far and I am doing an REU this summer, but that'”

“For context i F 19 am from the midwest. I’ll be graduating in the spring with my bachelors in psychology along with a concentration in social psych and minors in ethics and sociology. I’ve begun to look into master programs and im completely lost. I also was looking into Psyd programs. I don’t know how to find the right program for me. I need it to be online and accredited. I know I want to eventually get my doctoral degree so I also need a school that will help lead me to that. I feel i should”

“Was just curious and wanted to start a discussion to see if anyone else is thinking about it. I started an MS in Switzerland last year after getting rejected from all my PhD applications and offhandedly applying. I really like a lot of institutes here (like EPFL, IMPRS) that are on par with T10s for my particular field, but it's giving me anxiety thinking about how long I'd spend here (I'd finish my PhD when I'm 30). I'd prefer spending my PhD living in a European city than w”

“I (24F) am in my second semester for my STEM masters. My program heavily discourages working off campus positions, which I get because it’s a very intensive program. We have TAships here, but tbh it’s a horrible idea because we are allowed to log only a max number of hours a week and (from what people have told me) it’s far more commitment than the hours allotted and I just don’t want that stress in addition to maintaining a straight A semester and conducting research. I’m wondering what people”

“I kind of just need to get what I'm feeling off my chest. Long story short, I'm incredibly lucky to be starting a PhD in math/statistics at a top school in the fall. However, I'm really scared to do so. I went to a state flagship for my undergrad, so while it was a rigorous program, I don't think it prepared me well enough to survive the coursework for my PhD program. I'm also having horrible imposter syndrome: my peers and people already in the program have at least one if n”

“I am so exhausted of feeling less than and insecure all the time. I have been doing therapy for a long time but it does not go away. I know that projects are different and its like comparing apples to oranges etc etc etc. but it just doesn’t stop. Recently my PI and i have been working on a review paper and a year ago I would have killed to be in that place but now that I am, I look at my lab mate and think oh they have made so much progress and then suddenly the review paper doesn’t feel good e”

“Hi everyone, I needed some outside perspective on this. I'm 25, just finished my BSc in Molecular Biology and Genetics in Turkey. I have some research experience, including a neuroscience internship abroad through Erasmus and a funded national research program. And I want to eventually do a PhD in neuroscience in Europe, focusing on the systems and computational side. This cycle didn't go as planned. I didn't get into any European programs, and my Turkish applications are still pendi”

“Hi y’all, I’m (24M) looking to apply to a neuroscience PhD program in a year after finishing my master’s. I’m just not sure how competitive of programs I should be applying for— obviously, there’s cool research everywhere, but I’m concerned about funding/interest areas/connections and the such. I was an average undergrad student (biology and psychology dual degree at a large state institution, GPA: 3.36) who did a few years of comparative behavior and sleep/cognition research. I’m currently work”

“here is my profile, Cgpa 3.2 I need help, I have just hit a dead end. I am graduating in November in psychology (bachelors). My profile is a mess. I want to apply for fully funded masters scholarships but idk where to start. The thing is that its all over the place. I don't even know what is my end goal for my career. Every month I keep switching from one specialization to another. Like at first I wanted to pursue forensic psychology but then in my country (Pakistan) there are no job offers”

“Hi ! I'm planning to apply for a PhD this year after the disastrous application cycle I had gone through for the starting my PhD in the 2025. Due to me failing to get a PhD offer ( I got one, but that was rescinded due to funding issues ), I am currently doing a funded masters and am really really stressed about the upcoming cycle. I do not think I could undergo the same number of rejections again, at all. So, I was hoping I could get advice on my current resume and get to know whether it is”

“I’ve had a whirlwind experience attending grad school. I’m in my FOURTH grad program in the last 9 years and I’m currently set to continue my studies this coming Fall in Library & Information Science. There have been countless reasons why it’s been a whirlwind experience the last 9 years but currently the issues I’m facing are some health stuff (migraines/neurological issue), financial hardship, and procrastination. These issues have made me withdraw from classes the past two semesters. I ha”

“hey guys! i graduated with my bachelors and i want to get my masters! i am a bit confused on the process, however. i hear from everyone in my area of study (wildlife biology) to never pay for grad school yourself and to join a lab. Will the lab pay for my tuition (along with TAing)? do i have to find a lab first and then apply to the school or can i apply to a different school while being in a lab on a different campus? what does being in a lab really mean? i see a lot of labs are affiliated wit”

“Hello, I am a international undergrad studying at McGill right now and I wanted to apply for biomedical ( pharmacology, microbiology, parasitology) related masters thesis program within canada, as I have realised how I love doing research. I have good research experiences, multiple labs and will be a co-author on a paper in one of the labs I am in right now so far as a undergrad. I have a semester remaining, and I will graduate in fall 2026. However my GPA has been terrible, I had to work part t”

“(for context, looking to apply to grad school next year / would be starting in fall of 2028 for psychology) any advice on things to strengthen it, experiences to look into, etc would be greatly appreciated! submitted by /u/No-Surprise-7210 [link] [comments]”

“I know it’s been asked a million times (sorry😭) but how did you guys set yourselves up before your Master’s programme? I’ve been out of school for more than 6 months and I feel as if all of my knowledge has evaporated. I honestly needed the break seen as I’ve been in school nonstop since kindergarten but now I’m in the midst of preparing to move to another country and start grad school (MSc) in 2 months. I fear my attention span and sleep schedule may be a little cooked but I know I can work on”

“I graduated undergrad in 2025. I’m about to start my second year of graduate school in a chemistry PhD program in the fall and I just feel hopeless and my passion for chemistry is waning. Classes kicked my ass and I understand research can be disheartening, but I feel like my trajectory compared to my peers is lackluster. My PI is more hands off which is fine, but new project ideas fall entirely on me with no guidance or help. I’m also worried this isn’t even the right line of research for the c”

“I will be reapplying (3rd times the charm, so they say...) to Astro grad programs so I'd like some advice on my stats/what I can do to improve my chances of being accepted. Also some questions on what I should do. Stats: - GPA: 3.28 B.S. in mathematics and astro minor (grades are my weakest point) - I took two undergrad physics courses after graduation which I ended up doing bad in due to personal struggles (I got a B- and C) - Co-author on a published paper - In the process of writing a fir”

“So i just completed my masters in English this june and applied for phd in the same university. I haven’t qualified NET yet so i have to give their entrance exam and then appear for the interview on the very same day if i get selected. So i needed some guidance regarding what to expect in the interview and how to write a good research proposal. Im confused between various topics. I am good in academics but i have my presentation skill sucks. Pls help me out😭!!! submitted by /u/Eupho”

“Hello all, I graduated from my Master's (non-thesis) last year and have been working in the industry. I want to apply for a PhD in HCI or a related inter-disciplinary program, but I feel like my profile is kinda weak. I did do some RA work during my master's where I ran user studies for a post-doc's paper and I presented a poster for a local research symposium (Although my advisor said it wasn't novel enough to get a paper published). I want to apply for PhDs for Fall 2027 but I”

“Hi all, I feel really dumb about this situation so please be gentle. I’m currently enrolled in a MS program (env science) and due to lapses in communications, lack of committee meetings, and all my own shortcomings, my thesis defense was postponed and therefore I am set for the latest summer graduation date (Aug 31). Which means I could still have defended, submitted my thesis, and be finished, but I would not have my official diploma until the 31st of August. My PhD program starts August 25, bu”

“TLDR: I'm heavily considering mastering out of my program, but the thought of leaving is terrifying, especially with the job market being what it is. I just want to know if post-mastering-out success stories can be possible, so tell me about yours? -- The longer version: I'm a STEM (biology) research grad student at an R1 university in the US. I originally applied to the PhD thinking that I really wanted to get into managing/project directing research in industry, and all the jobs that s”

“Hi everyone, I’m really hoping to get any honest advice because I’ve been stressing about this nonstop. I was accepted into McGill’s Applied Master’s in Biotechnology. It’s a 16-month program with an internship built in, which seems like a great opportunity compared to a traditional research-based master’s. On paper, it sounds like it should improve my chances of getting a job. The problem is that I’m terrified I’m making the wrong decision. I’m worried about the money, the time, and the opportu”

“I'm 3rd year PhD in a Biomedical field that moved from Boston. My program is good and my lab is great, plus my PI has amazing funding and a great reputation. However, I absolutely fucking hate my school's location and it's really starting to take a toll on my mental health. Basically it's as much of a college town as a college town gets plus its in a southern region of the US so I don't think I mesh well with the cultural differences. At first it was a welcoming change, but t”

“I wanna talk to current grad students about some advice. I just received my bachelor's in math, but I'm taking a break for a year, to focus on myself....and hope to get into CSU Channel Islands, CSU Northridge, or CSULA, and was curious about the graduate application process submitted by /u/Capable_Physics5452 [link] [comments]”

“I wanna talk to current grad students about some advice. I just received my bachelor's in math, but I'm taking a break for a year, to focus on myself....and hope to get into CSU Channel Islands, CSU Northridge, or CSULA, and was curious about the graduate application process submitted by /u/Capable_Physics5452 [link] [comments]”

“Hey! I'm currently a junior at a small FL school, double-majoring in sociology and political science. Could ya'll give me insight on whether my current stats stand out enough for the grad schools I'm aspiring to apply to? My very ambitious list includes Yale, MIT, George Washington, Georgetown, and Tufts. I've maintained a 3.8 GPA and am graduating. A year early. I've also been interning at my local democratic party for about 6 months now. I live in a veryyyyy small town, and”

“Finished my apps and I’m headed to HSW this fall. I learned a ton from this subreddit, but if I’m being real, it also stressed me out way more than it should have because there’s so much noise. Y’all need to calm the fuck down. Most of the people here haven’t applied/gotten into schools so when they say your application is doomed, it means jackshit. I wanted to share what I learned in case it helps someone else. Obviously, none of this is objective. This is just one person’s experience, so take”

“The irony of this post is not lost on me and I’m bracing myself for many negative responses but this is my ultimate life goal so I’m willing to work towards it no matter no long it might take, assuming it’s not ENTIRELY unrealistic. Basically I am in my early 20s, doing one last extra semester of my honours ba psych degree with a minor in neuro, hoping to complete an independent research course as a thesis equivalent,since my university only has 50 honours thesis spots for students each year, wi”

“I have graduated with a bachelor’s in chemistry, ranked 3rd in my cohort. I completed four internships, three of them at well-known research institutes that were directly relevant to my master’s applications. I also co-authored a paper in a Q1 journal. I applied to 10 universities. My top five were all ambitious choices, while the remaining ones were my safe schools. After the interviews, I was either rejected or waitlisted by all of my top five, even by universities where I had previously did i”

“Hello Everyone!! So as the title says I got rejected. But.. it's okay. This motivated me to apply more, eased my anxiety and all the overthinking and self doubt I had regarding my aaa..umm..educational value I guess you can say. Now, I'm thinking of applying to canada and Germany. Germany because tution fee is affordable. Noone I know goes there. Canada because some fam and friends are there. I have also been informed if I manage to secure funding by a PI, then my tution can be covered a”

“Hi guys, I am currently serving in the Peace Corps and researching how/where to apply for school psychology. I have decided to do a mix of PhD and EdS applications, however, I know the programs are extremely competitive (specifically Phd). I will be applying for the fall of 2028 so I have some time to prepare and want some second opinions. My concern with PhD is that I am not competitive enough, but...those are the programs I am truly interested in. I have 3 semesters of research during my 2 yea”

“I am a rising third-year Ph.D. student in biochemistry and I've applied to 4 T32s and I have been denied from them all. Is this a poor reflection of me as a student? I'm really nervous that this is going to impact my ability to enter academia once I complete my Ph.D. I'm super worried that this means I'm still not a very competitive candidate at this point in my degree. Does anyone have any advice? submitted by /u/kang1227 [link] [comments]”

“Hey everyone! Right now I am finishing up my science prereqs orgo this summer, biochem next semester, then I’m ready to apply to ACEND grad programs. I’m in CA but honestly open to moving anywhere for a fresh start. Fine with online/hybrid too, but really want a program that has an internship/supervised practice built in instead of having to find one myself. Also I want to know what actually makes someone a strong candidate for these programs? I haven’t been able to shadow an RD yet (companies k”

“Hi, so I graduated with a subpar GPA, this is largely because I was doing particularly mentally badly during one term. I plan to apply for a masters program, and possibly do better there, which might help me get into a phd program later on. I've found myself completely overwhelmed by all of the steps and everything I need to do for the applications themselves. (I have generalized anxiety, so even though the steps are simple, I overcomplicate them) so if anyone has advice for managing anxiety”

“Hello, I’m hoping for some general advice on what to do. My dream is and always has been to get my PhD in computational biology/bioinformatics/or biostatistics. Until two years ago I was on track. In undergrad with a 3.6 GPA and heavily involved in research (2 publications, one as first author), working at a private microbio lab, and had an unpaid internship doing software development for a biotech startup. However, through a series of cascading events my undergrad senior year fell apart. After”

“I recently graduated from a T-14 institution with my bachelors and applied for grad programs during my senior year as I had sufficient research experience and good grades. I applied to 4 phds and 2 masters, got into both my masters and no phds (GRE scores were wack), with one of the masters offering 90% funding. However for the Masters one is a year long intensive at a great institution, and the other that provided a scholarship is also a good institution, however, the organization of the progra”

“Hi y'all i literally cannot bring myself or muster the mental or physical strength to reorganize all my stuff for a third application. My context is that my GPA is 3.8X (i genuinely dont remember off the top of my head) and my MCAT is 518. I am extremely bountiful clinical wise, bountiful in volunteering and research hours. I do lots of extracurricular stuff for fun, and I have like seven letters from various aspects of my life (not including a health committee letter). My first go around i”

“I applied to four universities this cycle and I got accepted in to two of three and the other two I am currently being ghosted from and I went for the MA - Clinical Mental Health & Wellness. The two schools are City University - Seattle and Antioch University Seattle. I am curious have you ever chosen to not go somewhere because their faculty seemed so unprofessional and it left a bad taste in your mouth? My dad thinks I should choose the lower tuition one but I just can't get around thi”

“I honestly don't even know where to start. I graduated with a Bachelor's in Computer Science during COVID from an online university and finished Summa Cum Laude . I was so excited at the time and thought I'd apply for a master's soon after. Then life happened. I had family issues, some health stuff, and I just... stopped. I didn't get a job. I didn't build projects. I didn't keep coding. Before I knew it, almost 2 years had gone by. Now I'm finally in a place wher”

“Hi all, new to the sub. I find a lot of comfort in this space, but tbh, also dread/anxiety. I’ll be starting my first year in a soc program in the US and I feel like I have no idea what I’m doing or what to expect. How much does the content on this sub skew to the hard sciences? Am I stupid for not fully understanding conferences, how to apply? What am I really striving to do to be successful? Im feeling imposter syndrome to the maximum. I’ve done well, just like everyone else who gets to this p”

“Hi everyone, I’m looking for a realistic profile evaluation for a PhD application (specifically targeting Marketing / Consumer Behavior). My ultimate goal is an academic research career, but I’m at a crossroads regarding my timeline and lack of formal research experience Here is where I stand: Background & Academics Undergrad: B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering (India) Grad: MBA from a tier 1 Indian Bschool Work Experience: Close to 7 years in industry (primarily corporate/marketing roles). GM”

“For background I’m graduating in May 2027 and my background is in neurobiology. I have a good profile, 4.0, countless research presentations, posters, seminars etc, strong extracurriculars, received lots of funding, and have a first author in press for a journal with an impact factor of 18. Lead my own project as well. Essentially function as a grad student. I am so burnt out and am just unsure if I want the work life balance of academia anymore. But I don’t even know what else I could do that h”

“Hi there. I made a recent pivot to psychology and am looking to apply to grad school next year. My current major is a foreign-language related field, and I'm taking enough courses to be able to declare a minor in psych, but I'm worried that my application/resume is very weak in its current state when it comes to applying to grad school. I have some experience working for harm reduction clinics and and several nonprofits, and my psych-only GPA is a 4.0. The rest of my GPA is on the lower”

“I’m going straight from undergrad to a life sciences PhD at a very prestigious school. I stalked my cohort on LinkedIn and they all look so smart and qualified and I’m nervous now lol. I was so excited initially when I got in because I love the city, and there are several professors there who I’d want to work with. My interviews went well, I felt like I clicked with the PIs, and a couple of them even emailed me after I got accepted asking me to rotate with them. But now the start date is getting”

“hi everyone! so i’m applying to grad schools for my masters and maybe a couple PhDs here and there this upcoming cycle and im hoping someone can help me remain realistic yet still optimistic so a mix of reach and target universities. my stats: GPA: 3.4 in T20 uni studying biomedical science and biochemistry Work experience: 3 internships (1 with a top tier program in the world) and literary review + honors thesis 3 really good letters of recommendation ECs: class rep, part of multiple clubs, wor”