Graduate Admissions:
PhD Programs
Given that Cosmic's founder and many of our consultants hold PhDs, it is no surprise that we both offer help with applying for PhD programs and stand by the claim that we are the best firm in the world when it comes to PhD admissions.
To be competitive for a PhD program, you need three things.
First, a high overall GPA (3.6+) and a stellar major GPA (3.7+), with mostly As in your junior and senior year classes related to what you want to do your PhD in.
Second, high subject and general GRE scores. If you are an international student, you need near perfect GRE scores.
Third, research experience.
If you are going for a field like computer science with lots of low-hanging fruit, publications are a must as well. If you are doing high energy physics, a field oversaturated with results and findings where the bar to contribute anything new is really high, then publishing a paper may not even be a requirement to get your PhD, let alone a requirement to get into a PhD program.
Most PhD programs just ask for a statement of purpose beyond your transcript, recommendation letters, and GRE scores. The statement of purpose is exactly what it sounds like. You are supposed to outline your reasons for wanting a PhD, what makes you qualified for your PhD program, what attracts you to that specific university, and what your career goals are.
The biggest mistake people make is writing about childhood. Childhood has no place in your statement of purpose. You need to focus 100% on the here and now, and be very specific and technical about how your academic and research experience qualifies you to answer questions that have never been answered before on your own, up to the standards expected for doctoral students, and to succeed, which means getting a certain number of As and no grades below a B+ in your intensive graduate-level coursework.
Given that most of us have walked the path you wish to walk, we can help you get into your dream PhD program no matter where you are in your journey.
A senior in high school?
We will help you apply to the Anson L. Clark Scholar Program, and other similar research programs that offer seniors who just graduated high school the opportunity to perform intensive research over their summer before freshman year of college, ensuring that they are prepared to secure a research opportunity their freshman year, maximizing their odds of getting papers published while in college, thus maximizing their competitiveness for PhD programs.
In college already?
We can help you plan out your course load throughout your remaining time in college to best prepare you for PhD level coursework, including advising you which graduate school level classes you should take as an undergraduate. We can also help you write essays for REU programs, prep your resume, and prepare you for interviews.
Finally, if you are applying to PhD programs due just a couple of months from now, we will help you brainstorm your statement of purpose, prep your resume, edit and polish your materials, help you procure letters of recommendation, and prepare you for any interviews.
Have you been in industry for a while and now want to earn a PhD in your 30s or 40s? We can tell you exactly what you need to do to become competitive applicants for PhD programs, and translate your experience in industry into a penchant for academic research. This includes helping you cold approach professors, advising on best practices regarding publishing papers in academic journals, and all of the aforementioned services we provide students applying to PhD programs in their senior year of college.
If you happen to be waitlisted for any PhD programs, we've got you covered. We'll help you write the most persuasive letter of continued interest possible and provide an in-depth analysis of your application to figure out what may have affected your outcome. Applying to a PhD program again? We'll analyze your past application and tell you exactly what went wrong, and what you can do to achieve the result you want this time.
