Q&A: Can I Get Admision to PhD without Research Experience?

by HSB on February 1, 2009

in F.A.Q's

Interesting question from a student with very good academic profile. He’s applying for PhD in U.S.

Dear Sir/Madam,
Allow me to introduce myself as xxxxxx. I have applied for the PhD Program offered by many US Universities for Fall 2009. The following details may help you to evaluate my profile:

  • Class 10 Percentage : 90% (CBSE)
  • Class 12 Percentage: 92.7% (Andhra Pradesh State Board)
  • Undergraduation: BTech Mechanical Engineering- xxxxxxxxxxxx  (Tamil Nadu)..It is a decent college
  • CGPA: 9.51/10.0 (RANK 7 OUT OF 200 STUDENTS)
  • Awarded Scholarship twice for good academic performance
  • GRE General Test: 1480/1600   Quant: 790 Verbal : 690 AWA: 5.0
  • TOEFL: 113/120
  • No Paper Presentations, no Research Experience, no Work Experience, not many extra curricular activities.
  • Projects: 2 Decent Projects (Not Research Projects)
  • Recommendations: 2 Senior Lecturers and 1 Professor (Dean of my School)
  • Sop: Decent
  • Program Applied: PhD Aerospace engineering
  • Objective:  To get admitted in any of the top 20 Universities in US

My Question is will my lack of research experience and paper presentations affect my application for the PhD Programs.
I would be very grateful if you can answer my query. Thank you for your time, effort and patience in reading this mail.

Dear xxxx,

Majority of students applying for U.S Universities for PhD don’t have research experience. You certainly know the amount of research exposure students from India get in engineering colleges. Not having research experience doesn’t mean you dont have research potential.

US Universities give admission to student directly yo PhD program based on your academic background, letter of recommendation, GRE Score, TOEFL score, SOP, Resume.

From your profile, you will not have any issues getting admission into PhD program in US. You might get admission with some form of scholarship. Top 20 universities will be tough, but with GRE Score 1480 you might get you in based on your SOPs and Reco. But you have better chance if you have applied for schools that suit your research interests. Applying to PhD is not same as applying to Masters program. Most of the students from India do that mistake.

I have visited your college couple of times. Can you pass the information about my blog to your friends and juniors. I remember crossing the railway bridge and walking to the hostel.

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{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Maithili July 25, 2010 at 1:33 AM

Hi

I hold an M.S. degree in Computer Science, (Indian) + 2 years of Industry experience (Of which 6 months is in Industrial Research at a top research institute. Rest of the work experience too is related to my field of interest.). Also, I have worked as a research assistant for two years during my graduation, while working on my M.S. thesis.
I have 3 ‘average’ level conference publications (one national and 2 international) and 1 good publication.
My CGPA is 8.8, And during Bachelors, I stood in the top 10 of a class of 140.
I am clear on the areas I want to work on for a PhD, but the places that do relevant work are mostly the top-15 universities.
GRE score: 1400/1600 (800 quant+600 verbal) planning to take again. 110/120 TOEFL.
Class 10th, 12th: both are above 90%.
Have won awards for academics at various stages in education.

-Does this profile stand a good chance… for a PhD admission in Top universities?
I am kind of worried if my application will be considered, given the fact that I have a poor publication record.

Reply

2 ankita June 4, 2010 at 2:48 AM

I have done M.Sc Biotechnology in 2005(70.3%). Theneafter i had been teaching in a college for 2.5 yrs .Then i got married and presently i am working in Delhi but its not related to biotech research etc.in short my job is not worth my degree. Now i am keenly looking for a job in biotech sector . I have been a good student throughout but m not sure whether because of this gap of around 3-4 yrs will any biotech companies entertain my C.V’s as so far i have not received any positive outcomes. Plz suggest me .

Reply

3 Madhurima Das May 24, 2010 at 1:34 AM

Dear Sir,
Like xxxxxx above, I have no research experience either. And my qualifications till date are as follows:
# Class 10 Percentage : 94% (CBSE)
# Class 12 Percentage: 84% (CBSE)
# Undergraduation: BTech Genetic Engineering- from a chennai-based college
# CGPA: 8.4/10.0 (as of now, I’ve just fijnished 3rd year)
# GRE General Test: 1360/1600 Quant: 710 Verbal : 650 AWA: 4.5
# No Paper Presentations, no Research Experience, no Work Experience, not many extra curricular activities, but I have been a Literary and Debate Club Convener for 1 year in my college and organised weekly seminars for students
#Areas of interest: Direct PhD in Genetics/ Cell and Molecular Biology/ Stem cell biology

Are these sufficient to get into a dream University. (I’m aiming for JohnHopkin’s/ UC Berkley)?

Can the quality of my 4th year project and the no. of summer/winter internships and industrial trainings make things better for me?

Reply

4 AshleyV February 20, 2010 at 4:12 AM

Hello,

I’m from the better USA! and I think I found my new home and hangout

So, what’s everyone’s thoughts about the Canadian Olymipic Games?

Reply

5 jacqueline February 8, 2010 at 8:53 PM

I am an average student who has done her masters in economics from gokhale institute of politics and economics throght out I have been an average student I am interested in apply ing for PHD can you pls send me the guidelines for the course and the list of universities offering a PHD and also as to how to go about it .

Reply

6 Ph.D student at a top US school January 13, 2010 at 6:46 PM

@ happyschoolblog
Hey, I am new to this blog. I finished my master in the US and working on a PhD now.
“Majority of students applying for U.S Universities for PhD don’t have research experience. ”
I do not agree to this statement. Many Professors prefer student’s with previous research exp., though its not mandatory. People who have worked as a research assistant, know how research is conducted. To get my research exp. I worked as research assistant for free at a private research lab. Professor’s at top schools here in the US are Nobel prize winner’s and they definitely expect some stuff from people who apply and because of the Indian educational system, we just do not know, what practicals mean. I suggest students to get research exp. even if it means working for free, trust me it pay later.

Reply

7 Shilpa February 13, 2010 at 8:59 PM

hey in india , how can i get research experience?

Reply

8 Eco R1 November 19, 2009 at 2:31 AM

I HAVE bombed the GRE big time.I was expecting a score of 1400+, but crashed in verbal part and scored only 1290.My academic profile is no good either. A paltry 48% from Univ. of Delhi (UG) and 58% (Biotechnology)from Univ.of Madras.(Position-9th in class) A masters research project.3 years research and teaching experience and good LOR’s . A thoughtful SOP. Searching for universities where I can get in for a PhD position in Molecular Biology/Genetics. Yet to take TOEFL, at least a score of 105+ is what I look for.

Univ. of Southern Mississippi- No Prof. has replied in affirmative as yet.

NDSU- Rejected me even before applying due to my GPA

U MAssa-Amhrest- Still in initial inquiry stage.

Kent State Univ.- Encouraging reply till now.

Univ. of Wisconsin Milwaukee- Reply states a B avarage, but a prof. has shown interest.

Can Any one help me with any suggestions?

Regards,
Raj

Reply

9 easwaran September 4, 2009 at 10:37 PM

Dear xxxx
it is wonderful of you to have done smart effort to be at the top of the world.keep climbing higher.the whole world is waiting to listen to you.
hats off’
keep it up buddy
love
easwaran
bangalore
India

Reply

10 easwaran September 4, 2009 at 9:32 PM

HSB
greetings
i do not know for reasons known to this blog admin, i am not getting back information regarding “PREMIUM CLUB MEMBERSHIP”
Detail, is the premium club membership is still open
can i send money to the account based in salem, tamilnadu
please inform any body
easwaran
bangalroe
India

Reply

11 JKPREZ September 4, 2009 at 8:28 PM

hi
I need one guidance regarding 2-3-4 Years work experience required for MBA admission
To have work experience in different departments and work culture,
please guide me
whether
i should stick to only one company for 2-3-4 years for work experience
or
i should try to work different department of same company
or
i should try to work in different companies with different/same department to have experience of different culture
every year or half year
also
in same or different countries

your guidance will be of most valuable tip for me

Reply

12 HSB September 7, 2009 at 10:55 AM

Try to stay in same company in same job for atleast 2 years.

Reply

13 subhaneil July 10, 2009 at 12:22 PM

hi,

i have just completed my b tech from wbut, with a dgpa of 7.53/10.
i will appear for gre in oct this year. my question is can i do my phd directly without doing my masters?

Reply

14 Kumar June 18, 2009 at 5:43 AM

Can you give me the absolute details about FALL, SPRING etc..?
What is the month for fall/spring intakes..? How moths before we should complete GRE/TOFEL and should apply the universities at which months?

Reply

15 Akshat Khanna June 17, 2009 at 3:01 AM

I am a final year student of B.Tech Biotech frm VIT University vellore.
CGPA-8.1/10
7 training programmes
6 paper presentations (national and international)
Plenty of Extra curricular stuff
2 ongoing research projects.
have good professors and HOD for LOR’s
interested in a Phd in stem cells.(embryonic/hematopoetic)
what are the my chances of getting a Phd??
what all countries except for US can i apply for a Phd directly after bachelors??
What are the chances of Funding??
How do i decide what schools fit my profile??
Plss help
My GRE is in first week of july…i hope to get >1400

Reply

16 manish June 2, 2009 at 1:54 AM

I have completed M.Sc in chemistry.I have no GATE score or NET.
I want to admission in phD in current year.Please give me information
about that area and institute.

Reply

17 Rishi May 17, 2009 at 2:26 AM

sir,
Me pursuing B.pharma from chandigarh.
Is it possible to get direct admission in phd in US universities w/o any publications as it is not possible to get publications in bachelors level in our college..??

Reply

18 HSB May 17, 2009 at 11:34 AM

Yes, you can get admission to PhD.

Reply

19 kushan May 9, 2009 at 2:16 AM

i need help to study in post doctarate in US. so tell me how to get admision in US unicversities.

Reply

20 Sharan March 25, 2009 at 2:07 PM

Hi,

I have done my three years Diploma and Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering, I will be completing my MBA by March 2009 in US University. I’m planning to do my Doctorate. According to my educational qualification I can join for Doctorate in Business Administration but I would like to move to Information Technology (IT)field, so planning to take some pre-requisite course in Information Technology to do my Phd in Information Technology. I would like to have all of your suggestions, advise etc., before I change my career.

Thanks

Reply

21 MOHIT February 10, 2009 at 9:07 PM

MY score is V – 380,Q-740 and AWA 2.5…………since my AWA is quite low ,so this
AWA score is enough that universities will think of considering me for their respective universities.

i have done B.Tech(IT) applying for MS in computer science for fall 2009,now is it any chance of getting financial support(TA/RA) from the university with this low AWA score?PLZ reply its urgent

Reply

22 vikas February 3, 2009 at 12:23 PM

I am interested in MS Forensic Science course. I have already taken the GRE exam and got 1020 [Q=710+v=310] and TOEFL yet to be taken. Let me know, is my GRE score is sufficient or i will have to give it one more shot. I have done post graduate diploma in forensic science and criminology with 65 percent and M.Sc in industrial chemistry with 73 percent marks from Panjab University, Chandigarh. I am very much interested to pursue my interest in forensic science from abroad esp. USA please guide me what should i do?….also let me know the career opportunities in USA. DO the students get jobs after doing MS in forensic science or should go for PhD further?….please reply….[email removed]

Reply

23 jatin February 3, 2009 at 9:59 AM

hello
myself is jatin my gre score was1040 and toefl score was 84 and now m working in tata cancer research institute as a trainee on oral cancer research.
can i get for phd in a decent university and recomendation letters are from good scientist.

Reply

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