Hey, this is a highly relatable video! I am applying for a master's in US/Canada currently (because I have like 3.2 GPA and only 1 paper under review from a random college in India) with a plan to pursue a cs phd later. It looks to me like the most important thing you mentioned - not only for improving chances of admission to phd but even success in a research career - is having a problem space you are passionate to explore. Because if you have a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. Making the distinction between method space and problem space seems crucial. Your video made me feel like we have a very similar thinking process : )
Hi, can you kindly review my SOP? Though we are from different discipline, your opinion will definitely help me to secure a PhD position in a top university.
You're so beautiful and clever as well overrall is perfect!!❤ , I hopefully you would enjoy with your work have a nice dayy. My goal, I'm still ambitious too to study in MIT as well but in master's degree major of CS i'll attempt for my dream.
Well done on the “day in the life” style video! Btw, caff pills are not the answer though. I might suggest a healthier option.. maybe sliced oranges or other fruit?
Thanks for sharing. I hope I could have know and plan as you did when I applied, I realize why it was hard for me to get in even one program though I was lucky. Didn’t get in eecs but now a course 1 phd, maybe can meet you one day. Ps the sop link is super helpful
I am a PhD student in computer science. I've only had problems, I'm already tired of this shit. Nothing, absolutely nothing works for me. My main advisor is in another country because he left academia and now works in the industry, all meetings are by zoom. I've been there for two and a half years and I have nothing to publish, in one year I have like 100 nightmares. I work in an empty lab, it's always been that way since it started. I can't talk to my parents or siblings about this, they don't even know what a PhD is, my parents only have elementary education, they always had problems and got divorced, my close family doesn't understand what a PhD is either, for them, the Success is measured in the amount of land, houses and cars that a person accumulates. I have not made friends in graduate school because I worked in empty laboratories. All this has caused me to have terrible self-esteem, I have distanced myself from my family because I am in a bad mood and I don't want to be rude to them. I no longer enjoy anything, I don't care about everything, I no longer practice my hobbies because of the sadness of not getting results. I feel incompetent, I feel like human garbage. I am extremely discouraged, it seems that the PhD has awakened the worst version of me. Sometimes, I would like to quit and go to work at a physically demanding job, at least, at the end of my work day, I will surely have made a little progress: "today, as a waiter, I waited on 10 tables", "today, as a farm worker, I gathered corn from 4 grooves", "today, as a dishwasher, I washed 5 large containers of dirty dishes", "today, as a hand laborer, I carried 1000 bricks to the construction site", all this would be more satisfying than my doctorate, where I have months doing the same experiments and no progress at all. I no longer have feelings of joy or sadness, I no longer feel like I am a person, I am "something" that comes, sleeps and defecates, I have no desires or optimism in the future, I sleep poorly, sometimes I even feel dizzy and tingling in my body. head for sleeping so badly... if they kicked me out of the graduate program, I wouldn't care. My life is totally miserable.
You should take care first of your mental health and relationships with family and friends, you can’t make progress in the academic life if your mental health is corrupted. I know that you probably don’t have time to focus on it but I would say the results will outnumber the downsides, so fix your mental health and then work harder in the lab.
I love this video! I'm thinking about applying but I'm still debating if research is right for me. I'm doing a summer internship at a lab rn so let's see how this goes!
Hey Eugenie, I'm trying to apply to MIT but sckeptical aout what area of Interest to pick. I want to learn cybersecurity , what would be better for me?
This schedule is moderately easier than mine was as an electrical engineering undergrad at Texas... my last year, I was in the lab six days a week, with working hrs from 0700 to 2100. Circuits, math, soldering/desoldering, math, prototyping, math, and homework. An EE grad turned math PhD candidate I knew said that her time as an EE student was the busiest, hardest time of her life. Her work as a PhD was more complicated, but the workload wasn't anywhere near as bad.
If you decide to do the interview and the professor says that they think you are a good fit, does the professor require you to commit bindingly? (Would it be viewed negatively by the department (other professors) if you don't choose that professor?)
3:27 I would love to see your interview tips and tricks and how you answered the questions if you ever intend to make a video of that. Your videos are always quite substantive and helpful. Cheers! :)
You are too precious! I am finishing my BS in CS and I am looking at grad school for next year. I finally found what makes me happy in regards to research. Finally… FINALLY… I know what to write on my SOP. Hallelujah 🙌
Hi! Thank you for the video, it's amazing! I'm a Master student studying Software engineering Don't u mind if I contact u to ask about having Phd at MIT ? :D
