I submitted PhD applications to various universities. Some universities I applied to do not require me to look for any potential supervisor. I have just got a reply from one of the universites, saying that the evaluators have studied my proposal and given me some comments and want me to revise my proposal. Do you think that I will have a higher chance of getting a place? becasue I think they asked me to revise my proposal.

It seems that most of you here on this forum specialize in the field of science. I am just curious to know if there is anyone in the non-science field? I am planning to do a PhD in English Language Studies. What about you?

Here is my story.

Taking the advice you guys gave me, I emailed again 'Supervisor A' that I had lost contact with before and eventually got a reply from him. However, I wanted to cry when I read his reply. He is not so positive about my project, saying that the approach and the data I chose are a problem and my project is not doable. So he asked me to revise my project. Now the problem is that I will not have enough time to revise it due to my heavy workload in my full time job. More importantly, the deadline for PhD applications is early Dec, which means that I only have a few weeks to re-read a lot of books and articles and then revise the project. How can I finish it on time?

At the same time, I got another reply from 'Supervisor B' of another university. In his email, he seems positive about my project, saying that it is doable even though he asked me to revise my project a bit. He also asked me to meet him to further discuss the project.

I am feeling confused now. Both the supervisors are Professors of their own field of study. How come did I receive two different responses to the same project? When I meet my potential supervisor, should I mention the problem that Supervisor A pointed out?

Thanks a million! I will try to email him again and look for other potential supervisors at the same time.

Hi guys I need your advice.

I have a full time job now and am planning to study a PhD next year. I hope that I can develop my career in academia after graduation. Should I study full time or part time? What do u guys think? Thanks!

thanks for your reply, scholastica.

In mid Sept I sent an email to my potential supervisor asking him if he would be interested in my research project and free to supervise my project . But I got no reply from him at the end of the month. So I sent another email to him again in early Oct. Unfortunately I have still got no reply from him. The deadline for PhD applications is next month. Should I send an email to him again? What do you guys think? I need your advice. Thank you for your help!

Congratulations! So Happy for you. Dr. Satchi.

I need help from you guys.

I will meet my potential supervisor two weeks later to discuss my project. He also told me that he will invite his colleague to have an interview with me. I think this is a formal interview which will probably affect my chance of being admitted. I am so anxious and sleepless now. Could anyone tell me what to prepare for the interview? If you guys have any experience like this, could you please share it with me? Thanks for your help!

Most universities require applicants to have two academic reference letters for their PhD applications. I am just wondering if the letters do affect the chance of being admitted into a PhD program as compared to academic results, education qualifications and the quality of the research proposal?

If the letters are important, does it mean that I should look for associate professors or assistant professors who taugt me before to be my referees instead of lecturers?

Nathaliephd, thanks for your reply. I did some of the things you mentioned. I did include an abstract in my research proposal. Before I sent the proposal to potential supervisors, I contacted the PhD admissions coordinator who told me who would be the most suitable persons to supervise my research. I think their research areas are a close match to mine. Most of the gradutate schools here advise students to contact the admissions coordinator of their own deparment before they submit an application. So, I am afraid 'cc' to the graduate schools may not help a lot!

To increase the chance of being admitted, I want to make an application as soon as possible (once someone is interested in my research and can be my supervisor). I have started to become nervous and sleepless.
Maybe professors are still on vacation so they cannot answer. But I do hope that they will reply to me soon.

Hi, everybody. I am from Hong Kong. I am planning to pursue a Phd next year. I have just completed my research proposal and am now looking for a supervisor. I have contacted some potential supervisors in various universities and sent my research proposal to them for perusal. But I haven't still got any reply from them. I am so anxious and afraid not to be admitted.

Just wondering if there are anyone from Hong Kong who are planning to do a PhD?