PhD Applications…

Man, I thought Masters applications were cumbersome. Three letters of recommendation. Personal statement. All your transcripts. CV. Etc. Etc. Etc.

PhD apps are looming overhead right now and they put Masters apps to shame. I’ve quietly decided (I’ve kept this hush-hush until this moment) to apply to the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine for my PhD. There are a number of US institutions I have looked at, too, but US schools have a shit way of taking applications. Most don’t have rolling admissions like UK unis; in the US there are strict deadlines — apps in by January 15th or nothing. Here they are more flexible. Apps preferably in by March 1st (or at your earliest convenience). If there’s space and there’s a researcher willing to take you on as a little protege then you’re good to go!

This is the case with LSHTM. If you’re reading this and you’re from the US, you probably (maybe?) haven’t heard of LSHTM. It’s a specialty school, much like the LSE, and is a part of the University of London. In true U of L fashion, it’s a top-ranked school and is Grade A for its specialty (public health and the sciences). Being that my interest is essentially in public health, a light bulb went off in my head the other day — why am I looking at PhDs at LSE when I can look down the street at a public health specialty school?! The obvious answer! I love London and I’ve had quite an amazing experience under the UoL system.

That being said, I recently emailed the director of the health policy program and a potential tutor to gather more information. After their quick and helpful (and ridiculously kind) responses, I have decided to apply. Unlike US institutions where they rob you during the application process alone ($100+ is pretty normal for application fees), UK universities don’t charge fees for applications for the most part. Even the top unis here (LSE, Oxford, Cambridge) charge 35 – 50 pounds max. Refreshing.

So now time to get down to business. I have begun the application (the easy part), and have begun looking for a potential advisor (if no one wants to take me, I’m SOL). I’ve also started looking for funding. After the $40,000 + in loans I have from my Masters, I can’t afford to pay the overseas fees for my PhD; for this reason, funding is going to be essential. My research proposal and my letters of recommendation are the two pieces I need to get done ASAP since they’re a part of the actual application packet. I need three letters of recommendation (eek) and need to come up with a 1500 word research proposal including a mini lit review, methodology, conceptual framework and potential budgetary requirements. Oh Lord… I thought Masters apps were difficult!

If I’m being honest here (and writing the longest blog post of life), I’m really, really nervous. I’m nervous about not being accepted (as most people would be) and I’m nervous about not getting the required funding and having to pass up an offer if it were available. Conversely, I’m a bit scared that I will get in. That I’ll get in and get funding and there will be every reason in the world for me to stay in London for the next three years and return to the US with a PhD after my name… in that case, I would have to say goodbye to my family, my friends and to the relationships that I have at home that are hanging on because there’s the prospect of me returning after this year is over. What if I don’t go home? What if I DO stay in London until 2013? At that point I will really have to step back and recognize that my life in the US may not be the same when/if I return. People and time won’t stand still while I’m away. However, I know (after many a long conversation with my dad) that I have to make the best decision for me and for my goals and my life. Ultimately, you’re the only person that will be with you in the end — if you live your life for other people, you may be sorely disappointed and resentful in the future. So, with that, I’m going to start my research proposal and hope that it works out as it should. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll take it as a sign that perhaps I should return home and look at options from there. If it’s meant to be, it’ll happen and I’ll happily take it and run with it.

Lots of love and confusion from London,