Just got a letter from the university where I had my first PhD interview, informing me that my application is unsuccessful due to the keen competition for the limited number of places available. Really upset. I sacrificed my one month holiday, sitting in the library to write a detailed proposal. I spent at least 10 hours per day (from Monday to Sunday). Although I got some feedback like "my topic is interesting", etc..., my application is eventually unsuccessful. I just want to give up now!!!!!! Just think that maybe doing a PhD is not suitable for me! I should focus more on my career. Really depressed!

It's never nice getting a rejection, but PhDs are a bit like jobs - it's normal to need to apply for a few before you get something. If it's what you really want to do, don't give up - do some research into the opportunities available at other universities, and if possible put in a few applications. I was disheartened after my first interview ended in a rejection, but my second was successful. You've already had the experience of one PhD interview, which gives you some great pointers for preparing for the next one.

hi dotdottung
sorry to hear about your application. Unfortunately this is how things sometimes go. I have been unemployed since finishing my thesis, viva etc. If I'm not looking at jobs.ac I'm either watching TV, doing my music or housework--and sometimes the bf comes home telling me about how his day at work went--and little bits about colleagues complaining about their jobs--and then I wonder--but they HAVE jobs, so why still complain.

I agree with you that it is depressing to get a rejection for your phd application. I'm sure there will be others to come--and who knows you may get accepted for more than ONE phd?!

Don't take it to heart, give yourself some time and move on
love satchi

If it's what you want to do keep applying. There is nothing stopping you using the same proposal or adapting it. Just keep looking. :D

I agree with all that is posted above. Just to add, if you really want to do a PhD, you will need to find ways of handling 'rejection' or failure without it affecting you so deeply and putting you off trying again. The PhD process itself is highly likely to be marked by dead ends, criticism (hopefully constructive) and going back to the drawing board. Ditto academia in general. If that's something you feel very uncomfortable with you may want to consider whether this is the right path for you.

Hi,

just think that when you apply for funding for a project, you will probably spent a month (or even more) to put together a proposal, and your chances are roughly 1 in 5 (in my discipline). Of course, other disciplines have smaller acceptance rates.

So, yeah, welcome to academia...

And don't get me started on job applications... Last year in my department, they probably received 500 applications for 1 lecturer position. Great.

Just keep applying.

@dotdottung
Don't give up!! Like I mentioned on another thread, I started applying for funded PhD positions in 2011 and only managed to get a post last year (2013). I would sit the whole day surfing through the internet looking for funded PhD positions. I would be shortlisted and interviewed by phone or skype and sometimes the interviewer(s) would even give me an impression as if the position was already mine. I even created a database of positions I had applied for, University, date of application, date of interview, outcome, etc. You wont believe it but I applied for more than 100 positions over a period of 2 years. Every rejection that I received gave me a chance to review my CV, covering letter, statement of purpose and proposal writing (where applicable). One morning I received an email with the subject "Scholarship offer - University of xxxxxx". Initially, I thought it was one of those countless rejections. I downloaded the attached document and BOOOOOOOM, there it was, I had just been awarded a PhD scholarship. Happiest day in my life I have to say. It was a dream come true, it's not easy to get a scholarship in UK especially if you're non-EU. Guess what, my mail box continued being bombarded with rejections from previous applications months after being awarded and I would just laugh. Never give up, even after being interviewed and waiting for an outcome, continue applying for other positions. One day you will get it, and when you finally enroll for your PhD, the struggles you went through in searching for a position will act as springboard to work extremely hard.

Thanks for your replies, guys!