good questions to ask phd students

120 Questions to Ask Grad Students

Are you thinking about grad school or just curious about what it’s like? You’re in the right spot. I’ve put together a list of questions that get right to the heart of the grad student experience.

From the nitty-gritty of research woes to how they keep their social life buzzing, these real-talk questions are designed to give you the lowdown straight from the grad students themselves. So, grab a coffee and gear up to get the inside scoop!

Table of Contents

Navigating the Graduate Program

How did you choose your graduate program?
Can you walk me through your typical day as a grad student?
What resources do you wish you had known about when you started?
How accessible are faculty and advisors in your program?
What is the most surprising thing you’ve learned about grad school?
How do you manage the workload and academic expectations?
What strategies do you use to stay organized and meet deadlines?
How does your program incorporate interdisciplinary study?
In what ways does the program challenge you intellectually?
How do you find research topics or projects to work on?
What is the process for thesis or dissertation proposals in your program?
Can you describe the comprehensive exam process and how to best prepare for it?
What support does the program provide for academic writing and publishing?
How has your research benefited from collaborations within your program?
Are there opportunities for teaching or assisting in undergraduate courses?

Academic Experience and Research

What drew you towards your current research focus?
How do you navigate collaborations with other researchers?
What has been your biggest academic challenge during your grad studies?
How do you go about selecting your courses each term?
What research methodologies do you commonly use in your field?
How is your academic performance evaluated in your program?
How do you balance independent study with structured coursework?
How often do you participate in academic conferences, and how do you prepare for them?
How does your program support innovative or risky research ideas?
What’s the process for applying for research grants or funding?
Can you describe a research breakthrough or significant moment you’ve experienced?
How do you handle setbacks or challenges in your research?
How often do you meet with your thesis or dissertation advisor?
In what ways do you contribute to your field beyond just your research?
How do traditional research dissemination methods compare to new ones in your field?

Financial Aspects of Graduate School

What types of financial aid are available within your program?
How do you manage living expenses while attending grad school?
What advice would you have for someone applying for scholarships and grants?
Are there opportunities for paid research positions or fellowships?
How common is taking out loans, and how do students handle repayment concerns?
Can you discuss the cost of living in the area relative to the stipend provided?
How transparent is the program about the full cost of attendance?
What are some unexpected expenses you have encountered?
Are there on-campus employment opportunities that align with your academic goals?
How do you budget time and money for educational travel, such as conferences?
Are there financial literacy resources or workshops offered by the university?
How have you balanced seeking financial aid with focusing on your studies?
In your opinion, what is the return on investment for your graduate degree?
Can you share some money-saving tips for other grad students?
How does your program assist students with financial emergencies?

Challenges and Coping Strategies

What has been the most difficult aspect of graduate school for you?
How do you handle stress and maintain mental wellness?
What strategies do you use to overcome procrastination or lack of motivation?
Can you share a time you experienced failure and how you dealt with it?
How do you stay resilient when faced with academic setbacks?
Have you ever experienced imposter syndrome, and if so, how do you combat it?
What have you learned about yourself through overcoming grad school challenges?
How do you approach seeking help or resources when challenges arise?
What is your advice for maintaining a positive attitude in tough times?
How do you manage to keep up with your personal commitments while being a grad student?
In what ways do peers or mentors support you through challenges?
How do you balance long-term projects with immediate deadlines?
What’s your approach to developing a consistent study routine?
Can you share tips for effective communication with faculty when problems occur?
How do you adapt to shifting research landscapes or academic trends?

Career Planning and Professional Development

How has your grad program prepared you for your future career goals?
What networking opportunities has your program provided?
Can you describe the career services or professional development resources offered?
How do you stay informed about job market trends in your field?
What steps are you taking to build your professional portfolio?
How does your program facilitate connections with industry or alumni?
What importance does your program place on internships or practical experience?
In what ways do you gain leadership experience during your studies?
Can you discuss the importance of mentorship in your professional development?
How do you plan to transition from academia to your professional field?
What role do conferences and workshops play in your professional growth?
How does your program encourage entrepreneurship or innovation?
What strategies have you employed for job searching or career advancement?
How important is teaching experience for your career path?
Can you share any successes or challenges in finding post-doc positions?

Social Life and Networking

How do you balance social activities with your academic responsibilities?
Can you recommend ways to meet new people and make friends in grad school?
How do you find the time to maintain relationships outside of grad school?
What role do student organizations or clubs play in your life?
How important is networking in your graduate experience?
Can you suggest effective strategies for building a professional network?
How does your program foster a sense of community among grad students?
What types of social or networking events have been most beneficial for you?
How do you utilize social media for networking purposes?
In what ways do you collaborate with students from different departments?
How do you stay in touch with peers and collaborators after they graduate?
Have you participated in any mentoring programs?
How does participating in group projects enhance your grad school experience?
Can you discuss the importance of teamwork and interpersonal skills in your field?
How do you create opportunities for interdisciplinary networking?

Program Specifics and Department Culture

How would you describe the culture within your department?
What makes your graduate program unique from others in your field?
How does your program’s culture influence your academic experience?
Can you explain how diversity and inclusion are addressed within your department?
What are the typical outcomes for graduates of your program?
How transparent is the program about student success rates and placement?
What sort of values and expectations does your program emphasize?
Can you discuss any signature events or traditions within your department?
How does your department support students in their first year?
Are there any unique facilities or resources that set your program apart?
How does your program integrate feedback from students?
What role does collaboration with other departments or universities play?
Can you provide examples of how your department handles conflict resolution?
What is the student-to-faculty ratio, and how does it affect your learning?
Does your program have a formal system for evaluating and improving the curriculum?

Work and Study Balance Techniques

How do you manage time effectively to balance work and study?
Can you share some tactics for maintaining focus during intense study periods?
How does your day-to-day schedule cater to both academic and personal needs?
What strategies do you use to prevent burnout?
How do you make time for hobbies or interests outside of grad school?
Can you share advice for new grad students on establishing a work-study routine?
How flexible is your program with accommodating part-time work?
What are your top tips for efficient time management?
How do you prioritize when faced with multiple tasks and deadlines?
Can you provide guidance on seeking work-study or assistantship roles?
How do you negotiate with employers regarding your academic commitments?
What role has self-care played in your success as a grad student?
Can you describe any valuable tools or apps for organizing your time?
How do you keep your energy and motivation levels up throughout the semester?
How do you set boundaries between your academic life and personal time?

Frequently Asked Questions

What should i consider when choosing a graduate program.

Research the faculty’s expertise, available resources, the program’s structure, financial aid options, and the department’s culture. Understanding your long-term goals and how a program aligns with them is crucial.

How many years does a graduate program take?

A graduate degree can be earned in many different ways, but it usually takes about two years. There are accelerated programs that can shorten the time to one year or even less, but these are rare. Some fields, such as law or medicine, may take more time.

What are some common traits of successful grad students?

Successful grad students often possess the following traits:

Self-motivation : Driven to achieve personal and academic goals.
Resilience : Bounces back from setbacks and persists through difficulties.
Time management : Balances study, work, and personal life effectively.
Passion for research : Deeply interested in their field of study.
Communication skills : Articulates ideas and research findings clearly.

What are the biggest challenges of graduate school?

The biggest challenges of graduate school often include:

Intense workload : Managing the high volume of reading, complex research, and rigorous academic expectations.
Financial strain : Covering tuition and living expenses, often on a limited budget or stipend.
Time management : Juggling various commitments such as coursework, research, teaching assignments, and often personal responsibilities.
Stress and burnout : Coping with the sustained mental and emotional pressure to perform and produce results.
Imposter syndrome : Battling feelings of self-doubt and fear of not being intellectually capable or deserving.
Uncertain career prospects : Navigating the competitive job market and anxieties about future employment opportunities after graduation.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re looking to dive into grad school yourself or just wanna understand what your grad student pals are up to, these questions will give you the scoop you need.

Remember, grad school’s a big world with lots to explore, so use these icebreakers to start some genuine, insightful chats with those who are living the grad life. After all, who better to learn from than those hitting the books and living out their academic adventures every day?

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Robby Salveron

Questions to Ask A Graduate Program

Going for a campus visit or preparing for an admissions interview with a graduate program? Bookmark this page (or download it as a PDF ) to make sure you ask the right questions that will help you decide if the program is right for you.

Graduate Student Support

Is there a diverse group of students, faculty, and administrators?
Is there support for the needs of students from all backgrounds?
Are there regular followup meetings with graduate students?
Are there symposia on issues pertaining to graduate students?
Are there graduate education workshops for undergraduates?
What kind of social events does the graduate school or university sponsor each year?
How is the access to faculty and graduate school administrative staff?
Are there comprehensive wellbeing services with a professional staff equipped to serve a diverse student population?
How robust is the communication between the graduate school and students (e.g., newsletters, social media)?
Do the program, the graduate school, and the university focus on mentoring for student success?
How much professional development programming is there for graduate students?
Are there active student groups that appeal to me?
What kind of resources and support are there for students with children?

Financial Support for Graduate Students

Is the award merit-based or need-based?
What are the standard eligibility requirements (e.g., citizenship, residency, field of study, career goals)?
What types of awards are available? (e.g., teaching assistantships, research assistantships, fellowships)
What is the stipend amount? Does the award cover tuition and fees?
What is the duration of the award? Is the stipend guaranteed over the life of the award?
Can the award be held concurrently with another award? Can it be used as a supplemental award?
What are the academic requirements? (e.g., student must maintain good academic standing, must make satisfactory progress toward the degree, etc.)
What are the teaching and research requirements? How many hours per week are expected?
What are the penalties (if any) if you fail to complete the degree?
What are the payback provisions? Does the award require anything of you upon completion of the degree?
How do you apply for the award and how are the recipients chosen? Competition (nationwide, statewide, university-wide, or departmental) or nomination by the department at the time of admission?
Is the award available to both master’s and Ph.D. students?
What kind of dissertation support funding does the university provide?
What kinds of travel grants does the university provide for conference participation and research?
Does the university provide funding support for emergencies (e.g., short-term loans, hardship assistance grants)?

For External Awards from Outside the University

Is the award portable (may be used at any institution to which you are admitted) or institutional (may only be used at the awarding institution)?
Do you have to be admitted to a school to be eligible for award consideration, or can you apply for the award before seeking admission to graduate school?

Academic Support for Graduate Students

What kind of formal and informal support networks exist in the department, the graduate school, and the university?
Does the campus and departmental culture encourage mentoring?
What research opportunities are there for graduate students?
What opportunities exist for scholarly discussions among students and faculty in a multidisciplinary setting?
Do curricula address ethnic, racial, gender, and cultural issues?
Are there robust English language resources for international students?

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Crucial Questions To Ask Graduate Students

Do you have dreams of attending grad school but are unsure where to start? We’ve all heard horror stories about the daunting process of applying to postgraduate studies, so take a deep breath and let yourself relax! First things first: get ready for smart questions to ask graduate students.

Asking the right questions during your application stage can go a long way in making sure you find the perfect graduate school for you. Whether it’s finding out what student organizations a university offers or checking into financial aid availability – here are our top tips on clever questions you should be asking to simplify your grad school search.

Networking should be an important part of the graduate program application process

Many applicants to graduate programs forget the importance of networking before applying. Instead, they limit their research to program websites and other online resources. While these are valuable resources for researching potential schools, it is also important to speak with current students and faculty as part of the process. Networking can provide insights into academic departments, faculty mentorship opportunities, student life, career placement support, campus culture, and more.

It can also create important relationships that may be beneficial when applying or during future job searches. Taking the time to network with those involved in a particular program or school can help you decide if it would be the right fit for you. Staying connected with these people can also provide invaluable advice and support throughout your academic career. Additionally, having a network of peers to share experiences and resources is critical for success in any graduate program.

Ultimately, networking should be viewed as an integral part of the application process, not just something you only think about when it comes time to apply. Investing time into building relationships now will pay dividends down the road!

Two happy female graduate students going to class and smiling

Why should prepare questions to ask graduate students before applying to a graduate program?

It is important to carefully chose questions to ask graduate students before applying to a graduate program for several reasons. First, speaking with current or past students can provide valuable insight into the program and its various offerings. This can allow you to ask questions about courses, faculty, resources, and more. Additionally, it will help you understand what type of workload or culture exists in the program and whether or not it fits your career ambitions.

Secondly, talking with other students who have had similar experiences can provide advice on how to best prepare yourself before application submission. Thirdly, learning from those already in the program can give an idea of what challenges may be faced once enrolled as well as how successful they have been in navigating through these issues. Fourthly, these conversations give an insight into the job prospects available after graduation.

Lastly, speaking to students can help you discover what type of support is available throughout your studies and beyond.

Preliminary Steps

Start by evaluating the reputation of each program . Research what their pre-existing graduates are doing, keeping in mind that you’ll eventually be part of that group too. If possible, speak with program alumni to learn how their education has helped them in their careers.

Research, internships, and teaching assistantships are all assets that can help reinforce the knowledge received in the classroom. Ask schools which of these opportunities are available in their programs, and how they will be available to you.

As a prospective graduate student, your career goals will affect your academic decisions. To ensure that your program suits your professional aspirations, schedule meetings with the program director to discuss your learning goals. If they’re amenable to the discussion, it’s a great sign that they’re student-focused and take pride in their work.

The last thing you’ll want to do is spend years learning from a professor who doesn’t have any strong points in the area you’re interested in. Look up the professor’s research interests and their professional background. If possible, communicate with them to discover if there is an equal symbiosis between the concepts you’re passionate about and what they teach.

Prospective graduate student asking question to a university administrator before applying to school

How should you contact students and who should you speak to?

Before even thinking about questions to ask graduate students, the main goal is to identify the right students to talk to. When selecting graduate students to talk to when applying for a graduate program, it is important to ensure that you are speaking with those who have had success in the program. Ideally, you should seek out individuals who have graduated from the program or who are currently enrolled and excelling academically. Speak with multiple students if possible so that you can gain different perspectives on what the program has to offer. Additionally, make sure to ask any questions you may have about their experience to get a better understanding of what it’s like to be part of the graduate program.

It is also important to pick graduate students that work on topics similar to yours and have a similar profile to yours when applying for graduate school. Additionally, talking with student club leaders or student representatives of the graduate student association can provide insight into what each respective department expects from prospective students. This knowledge can help guide your decisions regarding which universities or departments might be best suited for your own personal goals. Current students can be contacted via a variety of channels, such as email, social media, or even through student clubs or organizations.

You should also consider attending virtual events hosted by the university or program to get an understanding of the atmosphere and culture within the community.

Connecting with alumni of your prospective program is also a great way to get even more insight into the environment. Alumni can provide invaluable advice and guidance on how to make the most out of one’s experience and what life may be like after graduating from the program.

Finally, it is important to always remember to be respectful and professional when contacting students or faculty. Always keep questions relevant and concise, while being mindful not to overwhelm anyone with too many questions.

Three NYU graduate students talking about their experience in graduate school

Sample questions to ask graduate students

When researching potential graduate programs, it is important to remember that much of the relevant information can be found on the program website. It is a good idea to explore the website thoroughly and make sure you understand what they are offering. When talking to students, you should avoid wasting valuable time asking questions that are already answered on the school’s website. Instead, you should focus on less tangible aspects such as school culture, faculty-student relationships, and student life that may not be evident from a website. You should seek to find out how satisfied students are with the program, how supportive faculty members are in helping them reach their goals and other qualities that will help you determine if the program is a good fit for you. By doing this kind of research in addition to exploring facts and figures found on the program’s website, you can make an informed decision about which graduate program is right for you.

One male prospective with questions to ask graduate students while sitting outside with two female graduate students.

Here are a few questions you could potentially ask:

What inspired you to choose this school?

This question is not perhaps one that would typically be on a list of essential things to ask the current graduate student. However, it can often provide insight into a school’s identity and strengths. For instance, if the student mentions specific professors, events like visiting scholars or guest speakers, or even a graduate student association, this could be a good indication of the level of academic and cultural stimulation the school offers.

What are some of your most memorable experiences at the school?

This question is a good one because it can reveal how closely knitted the graduate community is, what events the school organizes, and encourage the student to share a bit more about their life outside of class. Some students might mention research opportunities or clinical work, while others might talk about the fantastic town nearby.

What is the work-life balance like at this school?

Graduate school can be tough on one’s mental health, and for those seeking a balanced lifestyle, asking what life is like outside the classroom can provide valuable insight. Some students might share that their professors stress self-care, while others may cite particular programs, research centers, club activities, or even nightlife as ways to balance academic rigors.

How diverse is the student body, and what resources does the school offer for diverse students?

You must feel comfortable within your school’s community, especially when you’re far from home. Therefore, asking for more about diversity within the school can be helpful. Some students might connect you to someone who led a workshop on cultural competency, while others might be part of a student group dedicated to promoting equity and inclusive excellence.

What is the level of access and support provided by the faculty and administration?

Graduate school is a little different from undergraduate life. You’re expected to be independent, which means that you need to build relationships with faculty and resource coordinators for much of your academic and personal needs. Ask graduate students about their experience with office hours, how accessible are faculty when an assignment is due, or the choices of academic advisors.

Two male graduate students chatting outside on the lawn of a college campus.

Final words…

In conclusion, while many graduate school search processes can seem daunting, they can be made simpler by arming with smart questions to ask graduate students. By asking the correct questions – including questions about program structure, financial aid availability and how close to the workforce applicants are post-graduation – you can narrow down the selection of grad schools to those which really align with your values and interests. With a little extra effort during the questioning process, you will certainly know what exactly is needed for success when embarking on your grad school journey. With that being said, make sure to check out our graduate school application services if you still need help getting into the grad school of your dreams!

With a Master’s from McGill University and a Ph.D. from New York University, Philippe Barr is the founder of The Admit Lab . As a tenure-track professor, Philippe spent a decade teaching and serving on several graduate admission committees at UNC-Chapel Hill before turning to full-time consulting. With more than seven years of experience as a graduate school admissions consultant, Philippe has stewarded the candidate journey across multiple master’s and Ph.D. programs and helped hundreds of students get admitted to top-tier graduate programs all over the world .

Follow me on Instagram and TikTok for tips and tricks on navigating the grad school application process and weekly live Q&A sessions!

The Best Questions to Ask During a PhD Interview

A PhD interview is not only a chance for the department to determine if you’re a good fit for their program, it’s also an opportunity for you to decide if their program is right for you. Coming to the interview prepared with some questions shows the selection committee you’re serious about their program. Stuck on what to ask? Give these questions a go!

1. Are there opportunities for summer funding or travel grants?

Not all programs pay students during the summer months. If this is the case, you should ask if the program provides financial support for students to do research-related activities in the summer like take language classes or do fieldwork. Are there grants available from the department or university for research-related travel? In a similar vein, does the department or graduate school provide travel grants to reimburse PhD students for conference expenses?

2. What are recent alumni doing now?

Getting a PhD is a big investment of time and money so potential students want reassurance that it will pay off in the future. Before you commit to a program, find out where its recent alumni are now working. Do most alumni go on to positions in academia or are most of them working in industry or alt-ac?

3. What sort of special resources does the university have for research in this field?

Some universities have resources above and beyond the norm, such as their own collection of papyri or a world-renowned affiliated hospital, which graduate students can access for their research. This can give one program an edge over another.

4. How long does it take on average for students to earn their degree?

The length of a PhD depends on which country you are studying in, however if one program has a longer-than-average time to degree it’s worth finding out why. Does the program require more coursework or have more exams than other similar programs? It’s also work asking what percentage of students don’t complete the program as a high percentage could be a red flag.

5. Will I have the opportunity to teach during my PhD?

If you want to be a professor, teaching will be an essential part of your job. It is extremely beneficial to gain teaching experience during your PhD and many North American PhD programs actually require at least one year of teaching.

6. Will I have the opportunity to publish during my PhD?

Publishing is an important part of academic life, but the publishing expectations of graduate students will depend on the field. If you are interviewing in STEM and social sciences, it is more relevant to ask how many first author papers most students publish by the time they graduate. In the humanities, where graduate publications are rarer, the better question will be if most students publish while they are in the program. In both cases, you should also ask how the faculty helps students learn to navigate publishing process.

7. What is the funding level of this PhD position?

If the job posting or department website doesn’t go into detail about PhD funding, you can take this opportunity to clarify the funding level and total cost of the program. Depending on your circumstances, you might also want to ask whether the department offers any paid assistantship positions or supports external fellowship/grant applications.

8. What makes this program unique?

The core elements of all PhD programs are the same, so try to ask a question that gets at the differences. What does this program do to differentiate itself from the competition? It can be interesting to hear how multiple faculty members in the same department answer this question.

9. Are there any planned absences in the department in the coming years?

Do any key faculty members (including your supervisor) have sabbaticals planned while you would be doing your PhD?

10. How does the dissertation process work in this program?

It’s helpful to ask questions such as can students choose their own committee members, does the university offer finishing fellowships, and how long on average does it take students in this program to complete their dissertations?

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20 questions to ask about potential PhD programmes

There usually comes a time in a PhD application process when the candidate can ask the admission committee questions about the programme. If you made it to this stage, you may b e wondering: What questions should I ask about the PhD programme?

Questions to ask about a PhD programme’s setup

What makes this phd programme unique.

A PhD interview is not just an opportunity for you to convince your interviewers that you are a good match for their programme. Your interviewers should also leave a good impression on you! This relatively open question allows them to convince you to choose their programme over any other offers that you may have. It is a good way for you to see what arguments they have to offer.

What are the requirements in terms of coursework?

How does this programme structure the thesis writing process.

Similar to coursework, the thesis writing process can also differ from PhD programme to programme. Is the process divided into fixed stages (such as data collection, data analysis, and writing up)? Or is the process flexible? How is the thesis supervision organised? It is good to have answers to these types of questions in advance.

How long does it take on average for PhD students to complete the degree?

How much flexibility do phd students have to create their unique programmes.

You may have specific requirements for your PhD. Unique interest. And you should be aware that unexpected things can happen. For instance: care leave, illness or simply failed experiments can delay the completion of a PhD programme. Therefore, it is good to test the water and ask about the stance of the PhD programme when it comes to being flexible.

Questions to ask about a PhD programme’s environment

What facilities and equipment are available to phd students in this programme, how are phd students of this programme integrated into the wider academic community.

There can be a huge difference in terms of how PhD students are treated in different universities. In some, they are considered regular students who have limited contact with senior scientists besides their supervisor/s. In others, they are treated as colleagues and/or staff members who are included in department meetings, research exchanges or joint lunches. Try to get a feeling for the situation in the specific PhD programme that you are considering.

Do PhD students in this programme interact with senior scientists beyond their research group?

How common is it for phd students in this programme to co-author academic articles with supervisors and colleagues, questions to ask about a phd programme’s support mechanisms, what support is offered to phd students in the programme.

It is smart to start with a relatively broad question, to see what support mechanisms are offered in a PhD programme. This can be, for instance, a PhD council, a study advisor, or a mental health counsellor.

Does the programme offer any financial support?

Does the phd programme provide grant writing support to phd students, does the programme encourage and support phd students to work as teaching assistants.

Working as a teaching assistant during a PhD has financial benefits, and also improves PhD students’ chances of securing work as a lecturer once they graduate. Try to find out whether the PhD programme helps students to find these positions, and whether they support them (for instance by being flexible with the coursework schedule, etcetera).

What happens if there is a problem with a PhD supervisor?

Questions to ask about a phd programme’s career training and prospects, what are common career trajectories of phd students who complete this programme, what does the programme do to prepare phd students for the job market.

Some universities don’t do anything to prepare PhD students for the job market. Be it the academic or the non-academic one. Others may offer special training sessions, application support and other job-market-related activities. Even though you are only exploring options for PhD programmes, it can be smart to think ahead.

Does the emphasis lie on training PhD students for academic careers?

Does the phd programme foster industry connections, collaborations with external partners and public outreach activities, does the programme organise networking events or career fairs for phd students.

A PhD programme is not solely responsible for your career after graduation. Yet, it can be advantageous if a PhD programme actively organises events or fairs that help PhD students to network, and to forge good relationship with external parties.

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20 Graduate School Questions To Ask Your Potential Grad School Advisors

Reviewed by David Krug David Krug is a seasoned expert with 20 years in educational technology (EdTech). His career spans the pivotal years of technology integration in education, where he has played a key role in advancing student-centric learning solutions. David's expertise lies in marrying technological innovation with pedagogical effectiveness, making him a valuable asset in transforming educational experiences. As an advisor for enrollment startups, David provides strategic guidance, helping these companies navigate the complexities of the education sector. His insights are crucial in developing impactful and sustainable enrollment strategies.

Updated: June 6, 2024 , Reading time: 16 minutes

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Questions To Ask Your Potential Grad School Advisors - featured image

Find your perfect college degree

In this article, we will be covering...

Getting admitted into a grad program is only the beginning of your grad school journey. One of the primary considerations you need to keep in mind is to choose the right advisor. Many graduate students tend to overlook the importance of this choice and focus more on graduate school interviews. However, it, too, is a decision that can make or break your graduate education.

When choosing your graduate school advisor, you have to make sure that you are asking the right questions to gauge whether your prospects are the right fit for your exceptional academic experience and can help you achieve your professional goals.

To ensure the smooth sailing process of selecting a research advisor, you must prepare for graduate school questions beforehand . These questions must help you establish a possible relationship with your advisor, who will play a significant role throughout your graduate school journey.

Questions To Ask Your Potential Grad School Advisors - fact

Why is it Crucial to Choose the Right Advisor?

Your graduate school experience is largely shaped and influenced by your graduate school advisor. A qualified and esteemed advisor will be able to guide you throughout graduate education, from helping you complete your research project to ensuring that your research interests align with your career goals.

Many graduate programs require a thesis or a thesis project , but not all do! However, a graduate advisor can help you with other aspects of your grad school journey.

They are often responsible for giving you exceptional mentoring when you need it and pushing you to work towards your academic goals. They will help you identify and magnify your strengths and develop your weaknesses.

The process of choosing a graduate advisor can be daunting for graduate students, but it can get easier if you know what you are looking for in an advisor. You can keep the following things in mind when you are looking for an advisor:

Ensure you have mutual research interests.

This is important if you want to gain a better understanding of your research questions and the contribution you are trying to make in the field and successfully complete your research.

You may start by doing basic research on the research interests of the faculty members in your graduate program’s department. It will be helpful to select an advisor who has an active scholarly agenda in the area of your research.

Look into the faculty’s completion track record.

Some advisors may be scholars and outstanding faculty members, but they may not have an excellent track record when it comes to helping their advisees graduate. You may want to find out about the success rate and average time of completion for graduate students who are doing their capstone projects or dissertations.

Make sure you are compatible with your advisor.

It is essential to see yourself being able to spend the next few years working with your potential advisor. This means you must at least find an advisor whose personality is compatible with yours to some degree. After all, you will be working closely with this individual.

What You Need to Do Before the Grad School Interviews

A campus visit is often given as an opportunity for graduate students to get to know the graduate school before they get admitted. It is also a chance to get the feel of their particular program, faculty members, and potential advisors. You may want to check whether your graduate program has several aligned professors to serve as a safeguard.

An interview with a faculty member may be in order during this visit. It is also possible to set up an appointment beforehand with a faculty member you think might be a good fit as your graduate school advisor. This means you can ask them grad school interview questions to help you make an important decision.

But before you can get into interview day , you must first make sure you conduct initial research on potential advisors’ backgrounds, published work, and other information that you can look up beforehand.

You can also find out how current graduate students have made their decisions, so reaching out to them can also be a good idea. They must have insights into specific schools, graduate programs, labs, projects, and other opportunities that you may not be aware of yet.

Other Sources of Information

A good student not only asks the right questions (and asks them the right way) but also looks for all the sources of information they can find on their potential advisors. After all, not all graduate programs can offer the best options for you.

While a University’s website can offer useful preliminary information like a faculty member’s specialty topics and expertise, they may not necessarily answer all your questions. Some of these sites can be too sparse, after all.

If possible, another potentially good source of information is to ask alumni who have been advisees of the potential advisors you have in mind and present graduate students who are part of research groups you may potentially belong to soon.

By reaching out to them—either formally or in less formal settings—you can potentially get insights about a professor/professors that you may have in mind, such as management styles, their field/s of expertise, the overall culture in their research group, and more.

This may be more research-intensive, but it pays to look at past alumni’s research work and theses/dissertations. This can also give you a big-picture view of the overall intellectual direction, as well as the topics/areas that are discussed or not discussed, giving you an insight into the expertise of a department’s faculty where you’ll be choosing your potential advisor.

Graduate School Interview Questions to Ask Potential Advisors

It might not be possible to cover all the interview questions that are integral when it comes to choosing your potential grad school advisor, but the following lists include general questions that are often asked about and interview questions that go beyond the surface-level information.

Questions to Ask in the Initial Meeting

Do you think we have mutual research interests?

It is crucial to find out whether your potential advisor’s and your research interests are a good match . This ensures your goals fit with their knowledge and expertise, and they can better help you with the direction of your graduate school requirements.

They will understand your challenges and give you the advice and support you need to have a good grad school experience.

What progress do you expect from a student in the course of a semester?

This question isn’t necessarily one of the first ones you’ll be asking, but it is nevertheless important. Your major goals as a graduate student are, of course, tied to the University’s academic calendar, the length of a degree program, and the maximum number of years you are allowed.

However, a potential may also expect you to deliver on specific major milestones in your research.

This can help you plan out your research, especially if your topic requires significant amounts of fieldwork or requires experiments that take specific lengths of time to conduct and accomplish.

Knowing your advisor’s expected research progress can give you an insight into how they will handle your progress during the evaluation period. How are they going to guide you when you are thriving or struggling? It is vital that you understand specific milestones that you need to work towards.

Are you currently open to taking students in?

This is a no-brainer for most students, but this is one of the most crucial initial questions to ask. It also doesn’t hurt to follow up with why this is the case if the answer is no. For one reason or another, some professors may not be open to taking on a new student.

Are there other faculty you think I’d be a good match for?

At the graduate level, University departments tend to be tight-knit communities. Barring any potential issues of rivalry and internal politics between faculty members (which does happen), a potential advisor who can’t take you in may have someone else in the department in mind whom they feel will be a better fit for you.

What is the advisor’s formal training/background/Ph.D.?

You will have gained an initial picture of this at your pre-interview preparatory research stage, but it is always much better to hear it from the potential advisors themselves. Knowing their academic backgrounds helps you understand the approaches they tend to take to research problems.

Questions to Ask to Ensure the Right Student-Advisor Fit

Do you think you are more of a ‘hands-on’ or ‘hands-off’ advisor?

This question may sound a bit nuanced, but understanding the guiding style of your potential advisor can help you adjust your expectations or reflect on the guidance you may need. It also helps you suss out your potential advisor’s management style.

It’s up to you as a student whether your working style fits their approach, whether they tend to keep a close eye on their advisees or give them a lot of wiggle room. In the extreme, working with a hands-on advisor may feel stuffy, and hands-off advisors may feel too distant and absent.

Ultimately, it is a good time for you to think about how you would want to be guided. You may prefer going away from meetings with a set of tasks that you have decided with your advisor during your meeting. You may also want to be free to work out different methods without that much pressure from your advisor.

Some advisors may have more time to be as hands-on as possible, especially with pre-tenured professors. Students may find themselves working directly with their advisors multiple times a week.

They may also be able to collaborate on funding-related tasks. Students working under tenured professors, on the other hand, may only get to have a weekly or bi-weekly meeting with their advisor.

What qualities do you value most in a graduate student?

To establish a working relationship, you may want to ask your potential advisor this question. They may be particular about timeliness and punctuality.

They may have a very structured way of doing things, so you must be mindful of meeting deadlines and following through with your progress. You may need keen attention to detail and the ability to think for yourself.

What is the best way to get in touch?

Some graduate program faculty may have their preferred channel of communication. It is vital to establish this with your potential choice first, as this will dictate how your communication process will unfold in the long run.

You will want to stick to a particular medium to avoid confusion and ensure you are both on the same page. This will make sure your advisor will be able to get your messages and other questions promptly.

How often do you expect to meet, talk, or email? Is there a way to establish a periodic communication schedule?

Another consideration when it comes to communicating with your graduate program advisor is to set expectations around your meetings.

Establishing a workable periodic communication schedule can help you manage your time properly and effectively. This ensures you won’t miss any communication exchanges with your particular advisor.

How often do you meet individually with your students?

If you wish to negotiate your communication schedule with your advisor, asking them the frequency with which they meet their students and fellows can give you a feel about their preferences and style, prompting you to adjust your own expectations and demands.

It will be easier to compromise if you know what is on their plate and how their routine usually goes.

What is the culture in your research group?

Research groups are collaborative spaces for students and faculty members working on similar, complementary, and/or parallel research areas. A culture of regular communication between its members is de rigueur .

It is important early on to know the level of depth to which you are expected to work with other researchers in the group, any specific practices, protocols, or procedures, as well as any inputs or deliverables that may be expected of you.

Does your research group have regular group meetings? If so, how frequently?

This question eventually ties into knowing the overall management style that your potential advisor prefers, whether they tend to be hands-on with their students or more lenient. It also ties into the question of a particular research group’s culture.

This will help you be better prepared with any required output or create meaningful input for your co-researchers when these meetings are due. That way, you don’t go to meetings empty-handed, and a research group’s members can mutually maximize their time.

If you were doing my intended research topic, what direction would you take ?

This can be a complicated question, and the answer may be nuanced, but it is nevertheless an interesting hypothetical question to ask. You can potentially gain many insights into a professor’s expertise, the areas/subtopics they prefer to dwell on, and more.

This question also connects well with their past research, which you may have already learned about while at the preparatory stage.

What kind of student progress do you expect throughout the semester?

This question isn’t necessarily one of the first ones you’ll be asking, but it is nevertheless important. Your primary goals as a graduate student are, of course, tied to the University’s academic calendar, the length of a degree program, and the maximum number of years you are allowed.

However, a potential may also expect you to deliver on significant milestones in your research.

What conferences/how many conferences are we expected to work towards every year?

This question ties into the overall image of a particular research group’s culture. Graduate student conferences are major highlights of a student’s time in graduate school.

These events provide students with an excellent opportunity to present their work, as well as learn any new advances in their fields of interest (including those that may have direct implications on their research) and potentially network with their fellow scholars.

These conferences need good preparation, and the lead-up to a particular one can be a stressful time. Also, your potential advisor may prefer a particular set of conferences over others.

It is crucial to ask this in advance to anticipate any goals or deliverables, as well as make all the necessary preparations, from your output to registering and submitting in advance, as well as cost considerations.

How do you motivate your students if they are struggling?

This question provides insight into their management style. Graduate-level scholarly work is highly rewarding, but like anything, there will be highs and lows throughout the process. A graduate student may invariably have to go through a rough patch or two.

Knowing your potential advisor’s approach to keeping their advisees motivated helps you see whether they will be an excellent complement to your preferred style of working and handling any struggles.

Mentorship has a bit of a parenting aspect to it, after all, and it is important to gain insight into a potential mentor’s approach to this inevitability.

Questions to Ask to Check if Your Research Interests Fit

Are there projects that you picture me working on and being good at?

Scouting specific projects in a lab is one of the things graduate students usually do. It won’t hurt to ask this directly from your advisor. You can ask about the projects they are working on and whether you might be a good fit to work with them.

Some advisors may tend to give students projects to work on. They might prefer you to work on a funding-related project occasionally.

How much freedom will I have in choosing my own projects?

At times, professors allow graduate students to select projects of their own. This is important if you have something in mind that you are planning to work on. This way, you can determine if they will be willing to support your future ideas in a specific direction.

Do you provide the students with their projects, or can they pick their own?

As a potential incoming member of a professor’s research group under a potential advisor, it is also essential to know this in advance. They may have a pre-existing research area in mind that they want to address and are thinking of assigning to an incoming student, or they may also prefer to work with what you bring to the table.

Knowing this helps you anticipate potentially working on topics that may not entirely align with what you have in mind.

Do you have other students in mind with whom you are interested in working? What would they be working on for their projects?

It’s safe to say that for a specific academic year, you wouldn’t have been the first student to approach the professor you are interested in working with. Other students may have already come to them with research problems that they find interesting or that they deem to fit into the overall direction of their research group.

These ideas may or may not be similar or parallel to yours, and this will help you answer the question of the best-fitting professor who can adequately guide you on your work. This can also give you an idea of other incoming students who may become part of the same research group as you, students whom you will eventually collaborate with.

Would I be able to contribute to an important project through my own line of work?

Some professors may prefer to pair first-year students with senior graduate students. You might need to work with a group as part of a large collaboration. Knowing how much interaction is expected and how much it will determine your research project can help you adapt your thinking accordingly.

It is also worth asking who gets specific responsibilities on a project and what contributions you will be expected to make.

Additional Resources:

Graduate School Must-Haves for First Time Grad Students
Free Research Tools for Grad Students
The Best Apps for Grad Students
Should You Take A Break from Grad School?

Best Graphing and Scientific Calculators for Grad Students - featured image

We’re certain of one thing—your search for more information on picking the best graduate degree or school landed you here. Let our experts help guide your through the decision making process with thoughtful content written by experts.

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Applications

Questions to ask current students in PhD programs

By hejduk July 1, 2010 in Applications

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socialpsych

Those are great questions. Now that I know a bit more about grad school, I'm trying to think of other things that might be important but that people might not think to ask...

Advisor questions:

- How often do you meet with your advisor? Is your advisor fairly accessible to you?

- Do you publish together with your advisor? Do you get to be first author?

- Do you work primarily with one person or can you work with multiple people?

- In case of an unforeseeable personality mismatch, is it possible to switch advisors? Do people ever do that?

- Are there any PhD research seminars/workshops that are focused on explicitly giving you research skills, or do you primarily learn by doing?

(if applicable:) - Are there opportunities to collaborate with faculty in other programs/departments?

Funding questions:

- Where does research funding come from? What grants (if any) do students apply for? Are they generally successful? Does it ever feel like your research is limited by the amount of funding you have available (rather than how much research you can or choose to take on)?

- Is your funding tied to your advisor or does it come from the department/program, or from the school?

- Do you spend a lot of time worrying about/searching for/applying for funding?

- Is your stipend sufficient to live in the city where campus is located? (I think I avoided asking this as an applicant because I thought it would be awkward, but a few applicants have asked me now that I'm a grad student, and it's totally fine)

- How long does it typically take to finish the program? If longer than the guaranteed funding, where does your funding come from?

Location questions: What's the city/town like? safe? fun? expensive? Where do students typically live?

Do you feel stressed about finding a job after graduation?

What is the hardest part of grad school for you?

Is there a particular type of student who does well in this program? A particular type who does poorly?

What percentage of students leave the program, and why?

Family/lifestyle questions (if applicable): Are there students in the program who have kids? Do the faculty understand and support family obligations? Is the atmosphere generally family-friendly?

...I could probably think of more, haha.

fuzzylogician

Feel like an idiot now! I had been emailing specific people from different programs websites, specifically those with similar research interests. I didn't end up having much luck in getting responses back, so I just decided to email 10-15 students I could find at each program I'm interested in.

I got an email back from one of my "blanket" emails, with the responder informing me she had been out of the program for a year, and to contact the admin office for current students emails. When I contacted the admin and told them I had emailed 10-15 students, they recommended I not continue doing that.

I take criticism quite well, but I felt so embarrassed! This whole application process is so confusing, and I hope that I didn't burn any bridges. I apologized for the mistake I had made, and while the conversation ended good, I still can't help but feel like I'm a candidate sticking out in a bad way.

No more mass emails for me...

American in Beijing

Feel like an idiot now! I had been emailing specific people from different programs websites, specifically those with similar research interests. I didn't end up having much luck in getting responses back, so I just decided to email 10-15 students I could find at each program I'm interested in. I got an email back from one of my "blanket" emails, with the responder informing me she had been out of the program for a year, and to contact the admin office for current students emails. When I contacted the admin and told them I had emailed 10-15 students, they recommended I not continue doing that. I take criticism quite well, but I felt so embarrassed! This whole application process is so confusing, and I hope that I didn't burn any bridges. I apologized for the mistake I had made, and while the conversation ended good, I still can't help but feel like I'm a candidate sticking out in a bad way. No more mass emails for me...

Don't feel bad. I honestly wouldn't worry about it. I don't think people are going to consider it a bad thing that you wanted to be well-informed about the program before you apply. Maybe next time you should just e-mail the administrator and ask if there are any students who are willing to field such questions.

Everything socialpsych said.

Degree requirements questions:

- How many classes are students required to take? How much choice, how many required classes?

- Are required classes offered on a regular basis or do students sometimes find themselves taking a required class in their 5th year b/c it wasn't given earlier?

- Are there language requirements? How long does it usually take students to meet them?

- How long does it take students to pass qualifying papers / exams? Do students feel that the load is reasonable and that they have enough time to prepare?

- How long does it take students to become ABD? How long do students usually take to write their dissertation?

Cohort / student body questions:

- Do you collaborate with your cohort on assignments?

- Have you published with anyone from your cohort / other students?

- Do you go out with other students after class? are there regular activities organized by the students for the students?

- How do you choose offices? can you change offices after some time?

Do you get enough sleep? Do you have free time to engage in hobbies?

What would you change in the program?

What is the program's best feature?

Are you happy?

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Questions to Ask During Your PhD Interview

By Zebastian D.
August 22, 2020

As someone applying for PhD positions, you’ll no doubt be thinking of and preparing for the interview with your potential supervisor(s). You’re absolutely right to be doing this and planning your answers to some of the PhD interview questions that they’ll probably ask you; make sure you’ve read our guide on this to help you prepare.

Remember though that the PhD student-supervisor relationship works both ways; as much as the potential supervisor is interviewing you for a PhD position within their lab, you should also have the mindset that you’re also interviewing the professor for the role of supervisor, and be ready to ask questions! Ultimately the key thing you want to know after your PhD interview is you are both a good fit for each other.

With that in mind, I’ve prepared a common list of questions that you should consider asking to help you decide if the supervisor and the research lab is the right fit for you. You don’t need to ask all these questions but instead use this list as a guide for picking what feels most important to you.

I should also note that some of the answers to these questions can usually be found through a quick Google search of the potential supervisor or looking at their university profile. So do think about which questions in particular you want to bring up in person at the PhD interview.

Now on to the questions….

How many PhD students have you supervised previously, and did they all gain their PhDs?

You’re asking this to firstly work out how experienced the professor is at supervising students, based purely on the numbers previously supervised. The reason to ask the second question of how many students gained PhDs is to get an idea of the supervisor’s track record of successful supervision. The lower the percentage of students that went onto complete their PhD under his or her supervision (and not leave the program early ), the more alarm bells that should be ringing for you. This of course shouldn’t be your only data point in the decision-making process, and you should try and find out more about why those that left their PhD program before completion, did so. Equally it’s also a possibility that some students have been successful in their PhD research in spite of a supervisor’s lack of support. A good way to get a truer sense of this is by speaking to the supervisor’s current and past students.

Whilst a supervisor’s successful track record can be reassuring, don’t be put off if they haven’t supervised many (or even any) students before, particularly if they’re still fairly new in the job. There are many other ways in which you can get a sense of the supervisor-student fit.

How many years does a PhD project usually take in your lab?

If you’re in the UK, a full time PhD should normally take you 3-4 years to complete , as reflected by most funding grants for PhD research being for this time frame. You want to know and have some reassurance that most students in this lab do finish within this time frame. Asking this question will also help you better understand the supervisor’s attitude towards completion time frames; is this someone that would have no issue with a student that’s been working on their PhD for 6 years or are they driven to help students complete ‘on time’.

What are the key milestones for progression that you expect from students?

This is a good follow on from the previous question. Some supervisors can be very ‘hands off’ and set no expectations on their students about deliverables and if this is the type of student-supervisor relationship you’re after (which some are), then perfect!

However, whilst a PhD project is an independent body of work, that doesn’t mean you have to do it in isolation. Having a supervisor that also acts as a mentor is important; a key aspect of this is to help keep you on track to complete your project ‘in time’, which is most effectively done using regular milestones.

The actual milestones will vary between supervisors but what you’re looking for in their response is some indication that they’ve actually thought about them. Examples of milestones may be the completion of the literature review within the first 6 weeks of starting, first experimental data captured by month 3 and first paper published by the time you end year 1.

How many other students do you supervise?

You ideally don’t want your supervisor to have too many (>5) other PhD students under his or her supervision at any one time, simply because of the dilution of their time that will naturally occur. Being part of an active research lab is a big advantage however, so you don’t necessarily want to be the only student under their supervision either. Remember that the professor may also be responsible for several Master’s and undergraduate students too so you just need to know what to realistically expect from him in terms of available time to meet with you regularly.

How often do you meet with your PhD students?

You don’t want a supervisor that’s too prescriptive in how you run your project, but you do want someone who you know you can rely on to meet with regularly. Some professors set weekly one-on-one or group research meetings that occur at the same time, day and venue; you know exactly what you’re getting here. Others tend to meet less frequently but still at regular intervals. A good balance would be to have catch up meetings every 2 weeks but it’s important to know upfront what the expectations are from both sides about how often to meet.

Finding a PhD has never been this easy – search for a PhD by keyword, location or academic area of interest.

How flexible is the direction of the PhD project?

At the PhD level of higher education, the supervisor is there to provide mentorship and guidance to help you avoid going in a completely wrong direction with your research. You should however expect to have the freedom to take your project in any direction you want to (within reason). This should be the case even if it means deviating from the original research questions that were proposed at the start; you and your supervisor should be in agreement before you start about how much flexibility there can be. Remember too that sometimes the project may have to stay closely aligned to the original plan if it’s required by the industry funder, so this decision may be out of the supervisor’s hands to some extent.

What funding is available for this project?

You should know by the time you come to interview if the project is to be self-funded or if there is specific funding associated with it. It may feel like an awkward question to ask but you need to be very clear on how much of a living stipend you should expect and if there is any additional funding for things such as conference travel, paying for journal publication fees or other bench fees; you don’t want any unpleasant surprises about finances when you’ve already started the PhD.

Do you expect there to be any changes in funding during the course of the project?

Specifically, you want to find out if there’s any risk that the funding associated with the project could be removed. Most often, funding bodies don’t transfer the entire monetary amount of the agreed funding up front in one lumpsum (which can be in excess of £75,000 for a 3-year studentship). Instead, payments are made in instalments and may be done so on the basis that certain milestones are met. For industry funded projects, for example, there may be a service work element (such as specialist analysis using university-based equipment) associated with the funding which will need to be delivered on time for the university to continue to receive money. In reality a complete loss of funding is unlikely to happen, but you should find out if this is at all a possibility of happening.

What is the source of the funding?

It’s important for you to understand how your project will be funded. As discussed in the previous question, the specific funder may place certain requirements on the university that need to be fulfilled to receive the funds. Don’t let this put you off applying or even impact your decision to take on the specific project, but it’s an important factor to be aware of.

Are there any opportunities to earn additional money as a PhD student?

Even if you will receive a stipend during the course of your research project, it comparatively won’t be a lot of money to live on. If you want it, the opportunity to earn extra money can make a big difference in managing your finances. This may in the form of one day/week working as a research technician or paid work preparing and delivering lectures to undergraduate students. It’s useful to know if these opportunities will exist to help you manage your expectations about your finances. Make sure you don’t let yourself feel obligated to take on this additional work however, even if it is paid; the priority will be ensuring your research progresses on schedule.

Will I have the opportunity and be expected to publish papers?

In the UK there is no requirement for you to have published any journal papers before you are awarded a PhD. Doing so however can go some way towards making your final viva that much easier, and also giving you a ‘head-start’ on your publication track record if you continue on into academia after your PhD.

You should get a sense of if your potential supervisor sees an opportunity for you to publish your research, if this is something that you want to do. Equally you should be aware of the supervisor’s expectations about publishing to avoid any potential conflict between your supervisor wanting you to publish work during your PhD and you wanting to wait until you’re in the post-doc stage before writing papers.

How many papers have previous PhD students published with you?

Knowing the answer to this should give you a good idea about the expectations and opportunities of publishing papers during your PhD. It’s certainly a positive sign to know that previous students have successfully published their research and is often a sign of a good supervisory system being in place.

How often does your research group present at academic conferences?

Having the opportunity to present your research at an academic conference is a key experience to have obtained during your time as a PhD student. Some supervisors actively encourage this and ensure that all funding applications include allocations for paying for conference related fees. Others are less convinced about the value of students going to conferences, particularly due to the additional expense of doing so, and may therefore not be as supportive of conference participation.

It’s useful to know what the norm is within the supervisor’s research group so that there are no surprises further down the line.

Is there funding support available for attending conferences?

Again, to be clear on expectations of funding and support for conference attendance, you should find out if there are funds specifically allocated for this purpose. If there aren’t, does the supervisor actively provide support to their students in applying for additional funding for this?

Are there courses and training sessions available for PhD students?

Find out if there are extra resources available to you should you want to use them. For example, do the supervisors students go on paper writing courses, or workshops on how to perform literature reviews? There are lots of new things that you’ll be doing during your PhD, especially at the beginning so it’s good to know that there’s external help available if and when you need it.

What are your past PhD graduates doing now?

This is an interesting one to find out from the supervisor. Are most of their graduates continuing their career development within academia or have many moved into industry work or even to a field completely different to their area of research? Ideally, you’d want this to align with your own career options. If most PhD holders have gone into industry whereas you want to pursue an academic career, you should try and find out why they ended up leaving academia. For example, did these graduates initially have aspirations of becoming professors themselves but were not able to do so or does your particular field normally open up more opportunities within industry?

What kind of support do you or the university provide for helping with jobs after?

In particular, what role does the supervisor play in helping their recent PhD graduates find their next job role? Do they have any connections within industry that they’d be able to help you network with? Or have any of their past PhD students stayed on in the lab as post-docs and are there resources in place for you to potentially do the same?

Will there be opportunities to teach undergraduate students?

The opportunity to give lectures to undergraduate students or lead tutorials with them can be a good way to earn some extra money during your PhD (note though that not all universities/departments formally pay PhD students to do this). Getting teaching experience is also important if you’re planning on continuing on down an academic career path at a university so it’s useful if you can gain some of this during your PhD.

Do you as a lab do any team activities together?

This will help you get a sense of the environment you’ll be working in for at least the next three years. Is this a lab with several PhD students and post-docs that make up an active ‘research family’? Does the team ever go out for lunch together or day trips away together to unwind? This can be a great way to build a sense of comradery in a research job that can often feel like you’re working alone in. Some supervisors actively encourage and get involved in nurturing a team environment whilst others are more hands-off, leaving the students to do their own thing.

What is the work environment like? Do students work in a shared office space?

Be clear on what your daily workspace will be like at the lab and university. Do all PhD students sit together in an open space or are there smaller office spaces for one or two students to work in? Some people prefer the buzz of an open space whilst others like the quiet of lone working. Either way, you should know what your work environment will look like for the next three years and plan accordingly (e.g. buy some noise cancelling headphones if you need some quite time in the open plan office).

I’ve given you a number of different questions to think about and ask your potential supervisor at your PhD interview. Not all of them may be relevant, or even appropriate to ask, so do think carefully about which ones you do want to bring up at the interview and which answers you could find out independently by either speaking to other students or looking online. Your research project and your experiences at the university will be so much more enjoyable if you can make sure you and your supervisor are a good fit for each other. The best way to do this is to ask questions!

The purpose of research is to enhance society by advancing knowledge through developing scientific theories, concepts and ideas – find out more on what this involves.

The unit of analysis refers to the main parameter that you’re investigating in your research project or study.

If you’re about to sit your PhD viva, make sure you don’t miss out on these 5 great tips to help you prepare.

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Are you always finding yourself working on sections of your research tasks right up until your deadlines? Are you still finding yourself distracted the moment

In the UK, a dissertation, usually around 20,000 words is written by undergraduate and Master’s students, whilst a thesis, around 80,000 words, is written as part of a PhD.

Dr Morrow gained his MD-PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Michigan. He now splits his time between providing clinical care to patients through the University of Michigan and research relevant to addiction and several other psychiatric disorders.

Dr Patel gained his PhD in 2011 from Aston University, researching risk factors & systemic biomarkers for Type II diabetes & cardiovascular disease. He is currently a business director at a large global pharmaceutical.

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What to Ask at Your PhD Interview

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It's the last part of a typical PhD interview, and probably the last thing you think of preparing for. But the opportunity to find out more about a particular PhD opportunity is an invaluable part of the PhD application process. What's more, asking good questions of your own can impress the panel as much as having good answers for theirs .

The very best questions to ask will depend on your project and what you want to know about the university, but we've put together some pointers below.

First though, let's explain why this stuff matters (more than you probably think).

Why you should ask good questions at a PhD interview

Most PhD interviews end with the panel asking the candidate if they have any questions of their own. It may be tempting to mumble a quick "no, thank you" and get out of the room as quickly as possible, but here are three reasons why you should take the opportunity to ask at least a couple of questions:

Fleeing the interview room is never a good look – Let's say you don't think the interview has gone well. Maybe you've felt nervous. Maybe you're not sure you've said the right things. Chances are it's nowhere near as bad as you think (interviews are like that) but still: asking good questions of your own is a way to instantly re-assert some confidence, say something impressive and improve the way you come across. Bailing out definitely isn't.
It's the best way to demonstrate enthusiasm and engagement – This is your chance to show off how much preparation you've done, how much you care about the project and how much you really want this PhD. Remember: everyone tries to have intelligent answers for the questions they're asked, but not everyone asks an intelligent question of their own. Be the person who does.
People will answer them – It's obvious when you think about it, but you can be forgiven for thinking about other things instead. Chances are there's at least something you want to know about the university, project or supervisor. After all, you may be interviewing for more than one PhD . Something may also have come up during the interview that you'd like to probe further. Now's the best time to get answers.

So, asking questions at a PhD interview is definitely a good idea. Now let's think about what to ask.

#1 Where do you see this project / research area going in future?

This is a good general question that does two things: it demonstrates that you're interested in more than just getting a place / winning some funding, and it can lead to some useful answers.

Research is changing all the time (that's the point) and no finished PhD thesis is exactly the same as the proposal it's based on. Getting some expert 'insider perspective' is only going to be helpful at this point, regardless of where you end up studying.

Chances are, by the way, that this is a question the panel might ask you . That's fine, if so. Just rephrase accordingly or be explicit that you're interested in their thoughts too.

#2 Is the university involved in (or hosting) any upcoming conferences / events for this field?

You can file this under 'useful stuff to know' but it's also another question that shows enthusiasm and engagement. Universities with a strong research presence in a particular field will often be involved in hosting full conference events, or invited guest lectures etc, but they won't generally advertise this kind of activity to prospective PhD students (perhaps they should).

As well as being interesting to attend, there are often opportunities for postgraduates to get involved with these events, gaining valuable extra-curricular experience (and potentially waiving the conference fee).

#3 How many other students are you supervising / are currently in the research group?

Here's another thing that won't necessarily be obvious during your application, is interesting to know and definitely fine to ask about.

The actual presence of other students means different things in different subjects, but, on the whole, it's nice to have the opportunity to work with fellow postgraduates.

#4 Are there any problems or obstacles you forsee for my project?

This is one for a prospective supervisor, rather than an admissions tutor or funding representative (each of whom could also be present at a typical PhD interview ). Again, it provides useful feedback regardless of whether you end up winning (or taking up) this place. It also demonstrates that you're thinking realistically about the challenges involved in a PhD.

#5 What will my supervision arrangements be like?

If you don't already know this, definitely feel free to ask about it. Whilst it's possible to generalise about the PhD supervision process , the actual routines are as varied as the people involved.

Ask how often your supervisor typically 'meets with' their students (whether face-to-face or otherwise), how often they expect to read and feedback on work, etc. Again, this shows that you're serious and thinking about the detail. It's also useful to know and potentially compare with answers from elsewhere: remember, you're trying to find a PhD routine that works for you too.

#6 How many other students are you interviewing?

PhD places tend to be competitively awarded when there's funding involved, or the number of applicants exceeds the capacity of the university or department to supervise them. Generally speaking, the former is more likely; if you're applying to self-fund you'll generally get a place if there's space (assuming you meet the general eligiblity criteria for a PhD).

Still, it can be useful to know how many other students you might be 'up against' or simply applying alongside. And, as with most things here, it's fine to ask.

#7 Will there opportunities for funding / additional support during my PhD?

This probably shouldn't be the only thing you ask (it's a bit like applying for a job and only showing any interest in the salary) but it's useful to inquire. Plenty of universities offer some form of funding during a PhD, even if that's just for research expenses, conference travel, income from teaching, etc. Speaking of which. . .

#8 Will there be opportunities for teaching / other professional development during my PhD?

You can probably assume that the answer to this is "yes", as most universities give students the chance to teach during a PhD . Approaches to this differ though and the availability of teaching (or other work) can depend on all sorts of factors, including the number of other students (see above). There's nothing wrong with asking how it works at this particular institution.

#9 What's the next step / when will I hear back from you?

This should be made clear during the interview, but make sure you ask if it isn't. You'll want to know when a decision is likely to be reached, how you'll be informed and whether or not unsuccessful applicants are contacted (they should be, but it's good to check). That way you're not left in limbo afterwards.

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Articles & Advice > Graduate School > Articles

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10 Overlooked Questions to Ask About Graduate School

A graduate program may seem like a great fit on paper, but don't forget to ask these tough but often forgotten questions during your grad school search.

by Jessica McCann Freelance Writer

Last Updated: Jun 8, 2023

Originally Posted: Oct 26, 2015

It’s easy to get swayed by marketing when you’re researching graduate schools. World-renowned faculty , the brochures scream! Paid internships! Beautiful campus in the heart of the city! Opportunities abroad! While location, faculty, course offerings, and networking opportunities certainly contribute to a unique and wonderful graduate school experience, they’re not the only important components. After all, putting in years of effort to earn a degree won’t be worthwhile if your program won’t help you advance in your research or land a job afterward—or if it leaves you in crippling debt. Once you’ve established an initial list of prospective programs, don’t forget to ask some “tough questions,” especially in the following three categories, to help identify potential deal breakers.

Financial fit: A program’s effect on your wallet

Consider not just the immediate but long-term financial implications of graduate school. You may be giving up a steady salary or taking out additional loans to cover the cost of living in addition to tuition. Before undertaking such a commitment, ask these questions to ensure you’re minimizing financial loss.

1. What types of scholarship opportunities exist?

The admission or financial aid office at your prospective institution should have information on scholarship and grant opportunities readily available. They may have information on scholarships based on merit, field of study, student status, cultural background, or other factors. Don’t be afraid to make a call or schedule a sit-down meeting with your school’s financial services office to find out what type of funding opportunities are available. If you don’t find what you’re looking for at your institution, there are literally billions of dollars available to cover tuition and living expenses through private or foundational scholarships. ( Start with our scholarship search! ) While competition for scholarships can be tough, it pays to familiarize yourself with this information far in advance and apply for as many as you qualify for.

2. What is the median income of students fresh out of the program?

Graduate schools should have average or median salaries for recent grads. If this data is not available through the school website or admission office, you may be able to check in with recent graduates about their experience or speak with a recruiter or hiring manager in your field. Will your potential post-degree salary increase significantly within a few years, or will the costs outweigh the possible financial gains? If it’s the latter, you may want to consider lower-tier schools willing to provide more funding or join a part-time program so you can work to offset the costs.

Related: Financial Aid for Grad School: What's Different This Time Around?

Career fit: How your program will actually help your job

You might be surprised by the number of people who apply to graduate programs for reasons of convenience (“I can’t get a job right now”) or confusion (“I’m not sure what I want to do”). Before making any decisions, stop to reflect on whether earning a graduate degree will provide a concrete benefit to your career or personal life. Here are some additional questions to consider.

3. What is the measurement of success with this degree?

How do most degree candidates and faculty members in your prospective program measure career success? Is it the same way you do? If your eventual goal is to become a college professor, pursuing a doctorate is a good investment, as PhD curricula are geared toward helping those who want to work in academia. But if you wish to be a legal writer, earning an MA in English may not necessarily be the best use of your time compared to, say, a certificate program in that field. If the majority of those who graduate with your intended degree are striving to do something different than you are, it may be worth re-evaluating your choice of program.

4. What is the competition like?

It’s important to know who and what you’re up against professionally. If your goal is to take on a management position in a growing company, an MBA will probably help you beat out other candidates and would thus be a good investment. However, some fields prioritize experience over education, so earning a degree—when you could be learning in the real world—might actually hurt your career prospects in the long run. Speak with recruiters or arrange informational interviews with businesses that interest you to ask their opinion on what truly makes a candidate stand out and whether a graduate degree is necessary.

5. What does research look like in your field?

Many students enroll in graduate programs with the intent of contributing knowledge to their field through a thesis or dissertation or even kicking off a career in research. However, it’s important to consider the current outlook of research in your field and how your program fits into it before committing. It is a discouraging fact that federal funding for basic research, which normally makes up the bulk of research funding universities receive, has been steadily declining since 2010. Unless researchers can effectively plead their case in the halls of Congress (which, frankly, hasn’t gone well so far), competition for grants will likely remain extremely high.

Start investigating how your school can best support your research interests in the long run: Are there administrators available to help navigate the endless maze of rules pertaining to grant applications? Are there faculty members already doing research in your area of interest, and would they be open to hiring graduate assistants? Talking with sponsored funding administrators or faculty at your prospective institution will give you an idea of how much school money is available, what type of support system students receive when competing for federal grants , and whether faculty members who receive sponsored funds would be willing to collaborate or help you seek independent opportunities.

6. What percent of graduates end up in their chosen field within six months of graduation?

This is a question for the admission officers, student advisors, or faculty members at your prospective school. Are new grads consistently finding jobs in their field soon after graduation, or are they forced to take on other positions to earn a paycheck? Of course, this can vary based on field and program; however, it pays to speak with your school about this, especially if you expect to start in your field just after you complete your studies.

Related: Choosing the Right Graduate Degree for Your Goals

Program fit: Details that matter

You’ve been in school long enough, so by now you know your own learning style and what type of graduate program would fit you best . Do you need a part-time or flexible program that will allow you to work while in school, or are you looking for a full-time master’s that will allow plenty of time for networking and internships? Are you looking for an independent experience, or do you need more guidance? A fruitful grad school experience depends on you being a good fit for your program and the program being a good fit for you. Here are some questions to ask admission offices or currently enrolled students.

7. Did my undergraduate degree prepare me for grad school and this program specifically?

With the competitive nature of graduate programs, it would seem that an admission committee would only accept students they believe have the tools to succeed. However, this isn’t always the case. Research has shown that students often underestimate their grades and credentials when applying to schools, which can result in them “settling” for lower-tier schools that may have fewer resources and opportunities; in other cases, schools may overestimate students’ experience and award them merit-based scholarships that are difficult to maintain. In addition, graduate courses can involve a very different set of organizational and motivational skills than undergraduate ones do.

The best way to see how your skills match up is to contact current students and recent alumni. They are in the best position to be informed—and honest—about what it takes to do well in the program. Check admission and alumni websites; chances are they can put you in touch with someone who has a similar background to your own. Ask students about their daily workload, the biggest challenges they’ve faced, and what’s surprised them most as a graduate student. They will likely be willing to talk about their grad school experience and can share organizational tips or prerequisite courses they feel might help you succeed.

8. How will my real-world experience help me?

Or alternatively, would I be better prepared for this program with real-world experience? Think about your past work and life experiences: How can these benefit you in the program? If you don’t feel you have enough to bring to the table, consider internships, travel, or freelance work you could undertake to boost your application and help you narrow your research interests. Beef up your portfolio by joining online freelance communities or searching job boards for gigs or unpaid internships. Try volunteering with a local organization related to your field. You could even participate in a trip or short study abroad program to make your résumé more interesting. Ask faculty members, program advisors, and admission officers if they have any suggestions on how to make your application unique.

9. Is the program all coursework or are independent or research opportunities available?

Of course, part of the reason you’re in graduate school is to connect with faculty. However, the biggest opportunities for networking normally come outside large lecture classes, and your opportunity to really stand out and make progress in your field may lie in independent work. Does your prospective program offer extensive opportunities for research and individual work? Are assistantships available with faculty members, or could you take on individual academic jobs? Taking on additional research projects in graduate school will make you stand out from the crowd, so investigate how much support your prospective institution can offer outside of the classroom.

10. How long does it take students to finish the program?

Last but not least, the all-important question: How long does it take to finish this thing? While many full-time MA programs will likely take about two years, accelerated programs could be finished in one. PhD students normally don’t walk away with a degree until five to seven years later. Ask not just about the ideal length of time of your program but the average actual length of time students take to finish, as well as the dropout rate. Based on this, consider whether the pace of your program is too fast to be comfortable, too slow to endure unemployment throughout, or just right.

Related: Helpful Answers to Your Questions About Grad School

Pursuing a graduate degree is a big commitment with many considerations to think about. If you go into your grad school search prepared to ask the right questions about how it will affect you financially, professionally, and academically, you’ll be that much closer to finding the right program for you.

Still looking for your best-fit graduate program? Explore the grad schools featured on CollegeXpress .

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What style questions should I ask potential graduate students interviewing for positions in my lab?

As a converse to this question , as a professor, I find it difficult to conduct a useful interview. What types of questions should I ask which would give me a good idea as to how (1) productive and (2) self-sustaining of a student the interviewee may be? If different questions are required for each parameter, please mention that in your answer.

professorship

5 Answers 5

I underwent an interview recently from a prospective adviser, and I found the questions he asked of me to be pretty insightful - hence I'm sharing them here.

Why do you want to pursue research in this specific area?

This would highlight the candidate's motivation in wanting to do research in a particular field - and would also tell the professor more about the candidate's exposure to this area.

What made you apply to this lab/university, as a continuation of the previous question?

The answer would tell you whether the applicant had simply browsed the rankings list of universities, or did he/she actually go through the research publications of the lab - and the application was done due to an intersection of the two!

What would you like to be doing post Ph.D.?

There is no "right" answer to this, but it also tells a lot about the candidate's motivation in pursuing a PhD.

Finally, you can ask the candidate to discuss any problem that he is familiar with in that field - doesn't have to be anything fancy/complicated, but that would serve to highlight the clarity of the applicant's reasoning, communication skills, and level of exposure to the field.

2 I wish I could mark both yours and @aeismail correct... both excellent answers! – eykanal Commented Feb 24, 2012 at 13:29

In addition to the questions that shan23 has mentioned, I ask candidates for my group a few other questions:

What kind of advising style do they like? How "hands-on" or "hands-off" do they want me to be? If they want someone whose style is vastly different from mine, that's going to be a problem.

What is your preferred working environment? (When?, Where?, etc.) I just want to get a sense of what they're going to be like to work with.

What kinds of projects do they like? Do they want a methodology-driven project, or are they more interested in applications.

Have you spoken with members of my group? I want future group members to have an interest in who they'll be working with.

Ask them about their expectations out of their coming 3-5 years as a grad student!

I find that a significant portion of the frustration that I (and those others around me) have experienced is due to s evere disparity between expectations and reality . Note that this is as much for the benefit of the prospective student as it is for you as the PI.

Specifically things to consider regarding expectations:

The amount and style of supervision the student expects. My expectation was that I would "do science" and not "paperwork", in reality my PI knew less about the paperwork then I did, so I typically ended up needing to do a bunch of paperwork regarding employment (like salary raises, progress reports etc) and always late too...
The abundance and lack of relevant competencies in the lab, for that proposed project. I was confident that the lack of computational competency at our lab wasn't gonna be a problem for me. I couldn't be more wrong..
The workplace interaction with colleagues. I was under the impression that we'd be a team of intellectuals, tackling problems together, from our own angles. Again I was dead-wrong... Here, everyone's buried under their own pile of... Similarly, I can imagine that if the student expects to be a lone-wolf, forced team-work might be frustrating in the long run.
How to handle getting stuck/frustrated. This is quite self-explanatory I guess..

This is my favorite question to ask in interviews:

Can you tell me about a problem you encountered in the laboratory, and the process you went through to troubleshoot it?

I think a good general question to ask is what motivates them to do their research. The answer should give you a good idea at least for the latter and depending on the level of detail maybe also for the former.

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Student Loans

Best Graduate Student Loans

Best graduate student loans of august 2024.

Updated: Aug 7, 2024, 2:59pm

As a graduate student, you have the option to take out federal direct unsubsidized loans, graduate PLUS loans or private student loans. Federal direct unsubsidized loans generally have both the lowest interest rates and the most flexible repayment options. But you can only borrow up to $20,500 per year in direct unsubsidized loans, and some students need to borrow more than that. Below we have identified the best federal and private loan options for graduate students based on features like fees, repayment options and ease of the application process. Several lenders offer specialized loan programs for those pursuing a master of business administration (MBA), law or medical degree; for this list, we compared only generalized graduate degree loans for master’s or Ph.D. students in other fields. Annual percentage rates (APRs) and account details are accurate as of August 7, 2024. Related: Compare Personalized Student Loan Rates

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Summary: best graduate student loans, methodology, what is a graduate student loan, how do student loans work for graduate school, types of graduate school loans, how to apply for student loans for graduate school, alternatives to graduate student loans, next up in student loans.

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Why you can trust Forbes Advisor: Our editors are committed to bringing you unbiased ratings and information. Our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and companies, so all are measured equally. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and the loans methodology for the ratings below.

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Co-signer release policy : Available after 12 months of consecutive automatic debit payments, if the primary borrower meets certain credit score requirements.

*Disclosures

*Other eligibility requirements apply. Learn more at AscentFunding.com/BorrowerBenefits.

**The minimum amount is $2,001 except for the state of Massachusetts. Minimum loan amount for borrowers with a Massachusetts permanent address is $6,001.

***Ascent’s undergraduate and graduate student loans are funded by Bank of Lake Mills or DR Bank, each Member FDIC. Loan products may not be available in certain jurisdictions. Certain restrictions, limitations; and terms and conditions may apply. For Ascent Terms and Conditions please visit: AscentFunding.com/Ts&Cs . Rates are effective as of 08/05/2024 and reflect an automatic payment discount of either 0.25% (for credit-based loans) OR 1.00% (for undergraduate outcomes-based loans). Automatic Payment Discount is available if the borrower is enrolled in automatic payments from their personal checking account and the amount is successfully withdrawn from the authorized bank account each month. The Full P&I (Immediate) Repayment option is only available for college loans (except for outcomes-based loans) originated on or after June 3, 2024. For Ascent rates and repayment examples please visit: AscentFunding.com/Rates . 1% Cash Back Graduation Reward subject to terms and conditions. Cosigned Credit-Based Loan student must meet certain minimum credit criteria. The minimum score required is subject to change and may depend on the credit score of your cosigner. Lowest rates require full principal and interest-only payments, the shortest loan term, a cosigner, and are only available for our most creditworthy applicants and cosigners with the highest average credit scores. Actual APR offered may be higher or lower than the repayment examples above, based on the amount of time you spend in school and any grace period you have before repayment begins.

5.74% to 14.48% *

with autopay and rate sale discount

4.74% to 14.48% *

SoFi is perhaps best known as a student loan refinance lender, but it also makes loans to undergraduates, graduate students, law and business students and parents. Its undergraduate student loan product offers mostly industry-standard features, plus a few perks: no late fees, an interest rate discount of 0.125% if your co-signer already uses another SoFi product.

Access to SoFi member benefits
No late fees
Interest rate estimate available without undergoing a hard credit check
Maximum APR above 12%

Loan terms : 5, 7, 10 and 15 years.

Loan amounts available : $5,000 up to total cost of attendance (no aggregate limit listed).

Eligibility : Does not disclose credit score or income requirements.

Forbearance options: Qualified borrowers can take up to 12 months total forbearance.

Co-signer release policy : Available after 24 payments.

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan

Among graduate student loan options, federal direct unsubsidized loans are the best overall deal: Their fixed interest rate is one of the lowest you’ll find, and this type of loan isn’t credit-based and doesn’t require a co-signer. All eligible graduate borrowers qualify, and they receive the same rate regardless of credit history.

While there’s a chance the most creditworthy borrowers could get a lower interest rate with a private student loan, they’ll miss out on a range of consumer protections that might be useful in the future. Borrowers of federal direct unsubsidized loans have access to income-driven repayment options that can lower the amount due and loan forgiveness for those who work in public service fields.

Direct unsubsidized loans come with an origination fee of 1.057%, while most private graduate loans do not. But in many cases, the low interest rate and loan benefits make the fee worth it.

Low fixed interest rate
Multiple repayment and forgiveness options available
No co-signer required in order to get lowest rate
Charges an origination fee

Loan terms: Terms of 10 to 25 years are available, depending on the repayment plan.

Loan amounts: Loan amounts up to $20,500 per year and $138,500 in aggregate are available , including loans used for undergraduate study.

Eligibility: You must be enrolled at least half-time in a school that participates in the federal direct loan program.

Forbearance options: Forbearance available for up to three years in certain circumstances. Enrolling in an income-driven repayment program can lower monthly payments and result in loan forgiveness after 20 to 25 years.

Co-signer release policy: N/A

Federal Graduate PLUS Loan

(graduate school only)

The federal graduate PLUS loan also offers wide-ranging benefits to borrowers, but fewer than direct unsubsidized loans offer. Since borrowing limits are higher for PLUS loans than direct unsubsidized loans, they’re an option to cover any funding gaps after you’ve maxed out direct unsubsidized loans for graduate study.

The graduate PLUS interest rate is slightly higher than the unsubsidized loan rate; the origination fee—4.228%, which comes out of the loan amount that’s disbursed to you—is much higher. PLUS loans are also the only federal loan type that require a credit check, but it’s possible to get a PLUS loan even if you’re determined to have an adverse credit history (more on that below).

High maximum loan amount

Loan terms: 10 to 25 years, depending on the repayment plan

Loan amounts available: Up to total cost of attendance , minus other financial aid received

Eligibility: Must be enrolled at least half-time in an eligible school. Must not have an adverse credit history.

Co-signer release policy: None

7.74% to 16.10%*

5.04% to 15.41%*

Ascent offers both co-signed and non-co-signed student loans, which gives borrowers without co-signers more college funding options.

Ascent stands out for its range of payment reduction and postponement options, rare among private lenders. Borrowers can choose a graduated repayment plan, which provides a lower monthly payment to start that increases over time. That can be useful for graduates just starting out, who will likely make more money as they move up in their careers.

Borrowers also can pause payments if they’re experiencing a temporary financial hardship for one to three months at a time, up to a maximum of 24 months total. (Taking this forbearance means you will repay the loan over a longer period, though.) Interest continues to accrue during forbearance, which is true for the vast majority of private student loans.

Ascent also offers a graduation reward of 1% cash back on the loan’s original principal balance. Check the conditions you must satisfy to qualify.

Both co-signed and independent loans available
International and DACA students can qualify with a co-signer who has
U.S. citizenship or permanent residency
Maximum fixed APR is above 12%

Citizens Bank

5.99% to 16.60%

3.99% to 15.60%

Citizens Bank provides an additional 0.25% loyalty discount if a student loan borrower or their co-signer has an existing account with the bank. (Checking and savings accounts are only available in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.)

It also makes its loans available to international students. But co-signers must wait a longer period of time to be released from the loan than what many other lenders provide.

International students can qualify with a co-signer who has U.S. citizenship or permanent residency
Up to 0.50% interest rate discount available for existing Citizens Bank customers
Co-signer release after 36 months, about 12 months later than many other lenders’ policies

Loan terms: 5, 10 and 15 years

Loan amounts available: $1,000 to $350,000 (depending on degree)

Eligibility: Does not disclose credit score or income requirements.

Forbearance options: Up to 12 months of forbearance available.

Co-signer release policy: Co-signers can be released from the loan after 36 payments.

College Ave

5.59% to 17.99%

with auto-pay discount*

3.87% to 17.99%

College Ave offers a solid all-around private loan product with a few unique features. Borrowers can choose an eight-year term, which is in addition to the typical five-, 10- and 15-year terms many lenders provide. Borrowers can also access an extended six-month grace period beyond the initial payment-free six months allowed after separating from school.

Long time period (210 days) before unpaid loans go into default
Relatively high APR

Loan terms: 5, 8, 10 and 15 years

Loan amounts available: $1,000 up to 100% of the school-certified cost of attendance

Eligibility: Applicants must have a minimum credit score in the mid-600s.

Forbearance options: Up to 12 months of forbearance is available, in three- to six-month increments

Co-signer release policy: Available after 24 payments

* Borrowers with a co-signer who choose the shortest repayment term available and who make full monthly payments while in school qualify for the lowest rates.

1 – College Ave Student Loans products are made available through either Firstrust Bank, member FDIC or Nationwide Bank, member FDIC. All loans are subject to individual approval and adherence to underwriting guidelines. Program restrictions, other terms, and conditions apply.

2 – All rates shown include the auto-pay discount. The 0.25% auto-pay interest rate reduction applies as long as a valid bank account is designated for required monthly payments. Variable rates may increase after consummation.

3 – Cover up to 100% of your cost of attendance as certified by your school and less any other financial aid you might receive. Minimum $1,000.

5.65% to 15.49%

4.15% to 13.99%

PNC Bank offers an extra-generous 0.50% interest rate discount for making automatic payments, and it provides a 12-month loan modification program for borrowers in financial distress (in addition to 12 months of forbearance). Loan modification lowers the interest rate and monthly payment charged.

It also offers co-signer release, though after an even longer period than Citizens Bank’s policy: 48 months.

Loan amounts available: Up to $65,000 to $105,000 with an overall maximum limit of $105,000

Co-signer release policy: Co-signers can be released from the loan after 48 payments.

Rhode Island Student Loan Authority

4.05% to 8.64%

Rhode Island Student Loan Authority, known as RISLA, is a nonprofit based in Rhode Island that lends to students across the country. It offers two different loan types for undergraduate students, which each come with their own fixed interest rates. One loan requires immediate repayment, and one lets you defer payments until six months after you leave school. Everyone who qualifies for each of the loan types gets the same rate, which makes it easy to compare RISLA loans with others you’ve qualified for.

For borrowers who struggle to afford their loan after graduating, RISLA is one of the only private lenders to offer an income-based repayment plan, which limits payments to 15% of income for a 25-year period.

RISLA was a winner of Forbes Advisor’s best private student loans of 2020 awards. Learn more here .

Borrowers may qualify for multi-year financing after applying once
No late payment or returned payment fees
Reduced payments and forbearance available for hardship
Loan cap of $50,000 per year
Borrowers (or co-signers) need a minimum income of $40,000

Loan terms 10 and 15 years

Loan amounts available $1,500 to $50,000 per year, with a $180,000 aggregate limit per borrower.

Eligibility Applicants or co-signers must show a minimum income of $40,000$40,000 per year and a minimum credit score of 680680.

Forbearance options Forbearance available for up to 24 months.

Co-signer release policy Co-signer release is available after 24 consecutive months of on-time payments. Periods during which borrowers use income-based repayment do not qualify.

Prodigy Finance

Minimum Variable APR

Many international students don’t qualify for federal student loans, and they typically need a U.S. citizen co-signer in order to get approved for a private student loan. Prodigy Finance is a London-based company that offers private student loans to international master’s students without requiring a co-signer.

You must attend an eligible school in one of the 18 countries Prodigy Finance lends in. All interest rates are variable, meaning they can change with market conditions, and borrowers receive rate offers based on their course of study and future earning potential. The average rate, according to Prodigy Finance, is 7.3%. The loan comes with a 4% administration fee.

Prodigy Finance doesn’t lend to U.S.-based borrowers living in these states: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming.

No co-signer required
Available to international students
Multiple hardship repayment options available
Only variable interest rates available
High minimum APR

Loan terms: 7 to 20 years

Loan amounts available: $15,000 minimum; maximum amount based on individual application.

Eligibility: Must be a resident of an eligible state and country attending an eligible school either part-time or full-time

Forbearance options: Available for nine months. Borrowers with financial hardships may apply for an interest-free payment arrangement; those facing low incomes, medical emergencies, unexpected family responsibilities or unemployment can apply for $0 or reduced payments.

Co-signer release policy: N/A

5.37% to 14.97%

3.99% to 14.48%

Sallie Mae graduate loans offer loans from $1,000 up to the total cost of attendance. You’ll pay no origination fee or penalty for paying off your loan before its due date. What’s more, you’ll receive a 0.25% rate discount when you enroll in autopay.

Borrowers can qualify for a Sallie Mae graduate loan even if they’re attending school less than half-time, which not all lenders allow. After graduation, borrowers also have access to a few hardship repayment programs beyond forbearance, including a rate reduction or one year of interest-only payments.

Sallie Mae’s graduate loan offers a comparatively short time period—12 months—after which primary borrowers can apply to release their co-signers.

No origination fee
Co-signer release available after 12 monthly payments
Students must apply for a new loan each school year
No rate estimate available with soft credit check

Loan terms: Terms up to 15 years are available.

Loan amounts: Loan amounts of $1,000 up to the total cost of attendance are available.

Eligibility: Borrowers are eligible if they’re attending full-time, half-time or less than half-time.

Forbearance options: Sallie Mae offers a six-month grace period and 48 months of deferment.

Co-signer release policy: Co-signer releases are available after 12 on-time monthly payments.

5.89% to 15.97%

(includes .25% auto pay discount)¹

3.89% to 14.30%

Earnest offers a fee-free private loan option—no origination fees and no late fees—and borrowers have the ability to skip² one monthly bill every year, in addition to applying for standard forbearance when necessary. Borrowers have multiple repayment terms to choose from, and graduate students receive a nine-month grace period³ before they must make payments after graduation, which is longer than the typical six-month grace period.

Earnest doesn’t have a co-signer release program. That means borrowers who use a co-signer must keep that person on the loan unless they refinance it into their own name.

9-month grace period for graduate students
Option to skip one payment per year
No co-signer release program

Loan terms: 5, 7, 10, 12 or 15 years ⁴

Loan amounts available: $1,000 up to total cost of attendance (no aggregate loan amount listed).

Eligibility ⁵ : Students must be attending school at least half-time. International students can apply with a U.S. citizen co-signer.

Forbearance options: Available for up to 12 months throughout the loan term

Disclosures

¹You can take advantage of the Auto Pay interest rate reduction by setting up and maintaining active and automatic ACH withdrawal of your loan payment from a checking or savings account. The interest rate reduction for Auto Pay will be available only while your loan is enrolled in Auto Pay. Interest rate incentives for utilizing Auto Pay may not be combined with certain private student loan repayment programs that also offer an interest rate reduction. For multi-party loans, only one party may enroll in Auto Pay. It is important to note that the 0.25% Auto Pay discount is not available while loan payments are deferred.

²Earnest clients may skip one payment every 12 months. Your first request to skip a payment can be made once you’ve made at least 6 months of consecutive on-time payments, and your loan is in good standing. The interest accrued during the skipped month will result in an increase in your remaining minimum payment. The final payoff date on your loan will be extended by the length of the skipped payment periods. Please be aware that a skipped payment does count toward the forbearance limits. Please note that skipping a payment is not guaranteed and is at Earnest’s discretion. Your monthly payment and total loan cost may increase as a result of postponing your payment and extending your term.

³Nine-month grace period is not available for borrowers who choose our Principal and Interest Repayment plan while in school.

⁴Earnest’s Loan Cost Examples: These examples provide estimates based on principal and Interest payments beginning immediately upon loan disbursement. Variable APR: A $10,000 loan with a 15-year term (180 monthly payments of $118.28) and a 11.69% APR would result in a total estimated payment amount of $21,290.40. For a variable loan, after your starting rate is set, your rate will then vary with the market. Fixed APR: A $10,000 loan with a 15-year term (180 monthly payments of $126.82) and a 13.03% APR would result in a total estimated payment amount of $22,827.79.

These examples provide estimates based on interest only payments while in school. Variable APR: A $10,000 loan with a 15-year term (180 monthly payments of $145.41) and a 11.69% APR would result in a total estimated payment amount of $26,173.03. For a variable loan, after your starting rate is set, your rate will then vary with the market. Fixed APR: A $10,000 loan with a 15-year term (180 monthly payments of $156.59) and a 13.03% APR would result in a total estimated payment amount of $28,186.67. Your actual repayment terms may vary. Other repayment options are available.

These examples provide estimates based on fixed $25 payments while in school. Variable APR: A $10,000 loan with a 15-year term (180 monthly payments of $169.92) and a 11.69% APR would result in a total estimated payment amount of $30,584.74. For a variable loan, after your starting rate is set, your rate will then vary with the market. Fixed APR: A $10,000 loan with a 15-year term (180 monthly payments of $188.42) and a 13.03% APR would result in a total estimated payment amount of $33,915.55. Your actual repayment terms may vary. Other repayment options are available.

These examples provide estimates based on deferred payments. Variable APR: A $10,000 loan with a 15-year term (180 monthly payments of $174.79) and a 11.69% APR would result in a total estimated payment amount of $31,462.16. For a variable loan, after your starting rate is set, your rate will then vary with the market. Fixed APR: A $10,000 loan with a 15-year term (180 monthly payments of $193.75) and a 13.03% APR would result in a total estimated payment amount of $34,874.28. Your actual repayment terms may vary. Other repayment options are available.

⁵Loan Eligibility criteria: Eligible students must: 1) For college Freshmen, Sophomores and Juniors, attend, or be enrolled to attend, a Title IV school full-time. For college Seniors and Graduate students, attend, or be enrolled to attend, a Title IV school at least half-time; and 2) be pursuing a Bachelor’s or Graduate degree. Earnest private student loans are subject to credit qualification, completion of a loan application, verification of application information, self-certification of loan amount, and school certification.

Responsible borrowing tip: Explore all scholarship, grant and federal options before applying for a private loan.

Earnest Private Student Loans are made by One American Bank, Member FDIC, or FinWise Bank, Member FDIC. One American Bank, 515 S. Minnesota Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57104. Finwise Bank, 756 East Winchester, Suite 100, Murray, UT 84107

Earnest loans are serviced by Earnest Operations LLC, 535 Mission St., Suite 1663 San Francisco, CA 94105, NMLS #1204917, with support From Navient Solutions, LLC (NMLS #212430). One American Bank, FinWise Bank, and Earnest LLC and its subsidiaries, including Earnest Operations LLC, are not sponsored by agencies of the United States of America.

Federal direct unsubsidized student loans are a strong option for graduate students because they don’t require a credit check or a co-signer.

If you need more money for school than what unsubsidized loans provide, you might turn to graduate PLUS loans, which require a credit check. But there are specific negative marks the government is looking for. You’ll be considered to have “adverse credit history” if you have one or more of the following on your credit report:

Debts totaling more than $2,085 that are at least 90 or more days past due or that were in collections or charged off in the past two years
Default determination within the past five years
Bankruptcy within the past five years
Foreclosure within the past five years
Repossession within the past five years
Tax lien within the past five years
Wage garnishment within the past five years
Charge-off of a federal student aid debt within the past five years

But if you learn you have an adverse credit history after you apply, you can explain the circumstances that led to it and the government could determine that you’re eligible for a PLUS loan after receiving loan counseling. Another option is to get an endorser, similar to a co-signer, that can help you qualify.

Some borrowers might qualify for a lower rate on a private graduate student loan than on a PLUS loan. But when comparing interest rates among private lenders, know that only the borrowers with the highest credit scores, least outstanding debt and strongest incomes will get the lowest rates. For graduate students, that often means using a co-signer. All private student loan rates listed on this page also include a standard 0.25% interest rate discount for using automatic payments.

It’s best to identify the interest rate and terms you’d receive on a private loan, then compare the overall cost and features with those of a PLUS loan. A student loan calculator can help you determine how much you’ll pay over time.

We collected data from 14 student loan entities that offer graduate student loans in at least 25 U.S. states and scored them across 12 data points in the categories of interest rates, fees, loan terms, hardship options, application process and eligibility. We chose the best to display based on those earning three stars or higher.

The following is the weighting assigned to each category:

Hardship options: 20%
Interest rates: 20%
Loan terms: 15%
Eligibility: 10%
Application process: 20%

Specific characteristics taken into consideration within each category included number of months of forbearance available, hardship repayment options beyond traditional forbearance, origination fees, availability of a post-school grace period and other factors.

Lenders who offered maximum interest rates below 12% scored the highest, as did those who offered more than the standard 12 months of forbearance, who offered interest rate discounts beyond the standard 0.25% for automatic payments, who charged no origination fees and who offered a co-signer release option.

In some cases, lenders were awarded partial points, and a maximum of 3% of the final score was left to editorial discretion based on the quality of consumer-friendly features offered.

To learn more about how Forbes Advisor rates lenders, and our editorial process, check out our Loans Rating & Review Methodology .

Related: Compare Personalized Student Loan Rates

Graduate student loans—whether federal or private—are designed for graduate students pursuing their master’s, doctorate or other advanced degrees.

Federal graduate student loans include Direct unsubsidized and grad PLUS loans. Direct unsubsidized loans have a maximum borrowing limit of $20,500 per year. Grad PLUS loans, on the other hand, let you borrow up to your school’s cost of attendance minus any other financial aid you’ve already received.

You can also find graduate student loans from private lenders, such as banks, credit unions and online lenders. Many let you borrow up to your school’s cost of attendance, though some set lower limits. Some lenders design loans specifically for MBA, law and medical school students.

While federal graduate student loans have fixed interest rates that are the same for all borrowers, private student loans offer a range of rates that may be fixed or variable. Borrowers with the best credit typically qualify for the lowest rates.

Whether you borrow a federal or private graduate student loan, you can use your loan on tuition, fees and other education-related expenses.

Featured Partner Offers

Via College Ave's Website

5.37% to 15.70%

3.99% to 15.49%

Via Sallie Mae's Website

Graduate student loans work similarly to undergraduate loans. Both federal and private student loans are available for graduate students. Federal loans are generally easier to qualify for, have more flexible repayment options and can come with lower interest rates than private debt. They also come with major benefits and protections, such loan forgiveness programs as well as the pause on payments and interest accrual that’s been in effect since March 2020 due to Covid-19.

Keep in mind that graduate student loans typically come with higher loan limits compared to undergraduate debt—meaning you can borrow a larger amount each year, up to your school’s cost of attendance or up to a lifetime limit. This is because options like business or law school are generally more expensive than a bachelor’s degree.

Along with higher borrowing limits, graduate student loans usually come with higher interest rates, too. For example, undergrads can borrow federal unsubsidized loans with a 3.73% rate in the 2021-22 school year while graduate students will pay 5.28% for the same loan.

Graduate Student Loan Limits

The maximum amount you can borrow for graduate school varies by loan type. Direct unsubsidized loans have an annual limit of $20,500 and an aggregate limit of $138,500 (no more than $65,500 of this can be in subsidized loans). Grad PLUS loans allow you to borrow up to the total cost of attendance minus any other financial aid you’ve received, as certified by your school.

Private student loan borrowing limits vary by lender. However, many allow you to borrow up to your school’s total cost of attendance.

There are three types of graduate student loans. Borrowers can choose between two federal options— direct unsubsidized loans or grad PLUS loans —or opt to borrow from a private lender. Keep in mind that while the interest rates and loan terms for federal loans are standardized for all borrowers, the terms you’re offered on a private loan can vary widely depending on your credit and other factors.

Here’s a look at how these student loans compare:

Company	Forbes Advisor Rating	Variable APR	Fixed APR	Learn more CTA below text	Learn More
SoFi®	5.0	5.74% to 14.48%*	4.74% to 14.48%*	On SoFi's Website
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan	5.0	N/A	8.08%
Federal Graduate PLUS Loan	5.0	N/A	9.08%
Ascent Graduate Student Loan	4.0	7.74% to 16.10%*	5.04% to 15.41%*	Via Credible.com's Website
Citizens Bank	4.0	5.99% to 16.60%	3.99% to 15.60%	Via Credible.com's Website
College Ave	4.0	5.59% to 17.99%	3.87% to 17.99%	On College Ave's Website	Go to Lender Site
PNC Bank	4.0	5.65% to 15.49%	4.15% to 13.99%	Read Our Full Review
Rhode Island Student Loan Authority	4.0	N/A	4.05% to 8.64%	Read Our Full Review
Prodigy Finance	3.0	13.29%	N/A	Read Our Full Review
Sallie Mae	3.0	5.37% to 14.97%	3.99% to 14.48%	On Sallie Mae's Website
Earnest	3.0	5.89% to 15.97%	3.89% to 14.30%	Via Earnest's Website

The process to apply for a graduate student loan will depend on whether you want to get a federal or private student loan.

Federal student loans

If you want to take out a federal student loan, you’ll need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) . This form determines your eligibility for all types of federal aid, including student loans and grants. While most undergraduate students must submit both their and their parents’ financial information, graduate students are only required to provide their own information. You’ll have to complete a new FAFSA for each year you plan to attend school.

After the FAFSA is processed, you’ll receive a financial aid award letter from your school detailing what federal student loans and other aid you qualify for. You can then choose which loans to accept and how much you need to borrow. Before the start of the semester, the money will be sent directly to your school. After tuition and fees are taken care of, any remaining amount will be refunded to you to use for other school expenses.

Private student loans

If you’d like to get a private student loan , be sure to take the time to shop around and consider as many lenders as possible. Since each lender has its own individual rates and terms, comparing them can help you find the right loan for your needs. Many lenders allow you to prequalify for a loan, which will let you see the estimated interest rates you qualify for.

Also review each lender’s policies, including applicable fees, when repayment starts, how long you’ll have to pay off your loans and how the lender can help if you ever have trouble making payments.

When you’re ready to apply, you can typically submit an application directly on the lender’s website. Approval usually only takes a few days, and if you agree with the final terms and conditions, you can sign off on the closing paperwork. Most private lenders will send the funds directly to your school, which will apply the funds to your tuition and fees. Any remaining amount will be released to you.

While student loans can help you cover a gap in funding, you may want to keep borrowing to a minimum. Consider these alternatives to graduate student loans to help you pay for school:

Grants. You may qualify for federal, state or school grants, which require no repayment, based on your financial need or course of study. Federal grants for graduate students include TEACH grants and Fulbright grants.
Scholarships. It’s also worth applying for scholarships, which may be awarded based on financial need, academic merit, athletics or other achievements.
Work-study. Students with financial need can qualify for the work-study program, where they can find part-time jobs on or off campus.
Part-time job. If you don’t qualify for work-study, you might still seek out part-time work to make some money for school.
Savings. Drawing on your personal savings can also help you reduce the amount you need to borrow in student loans.
Income-share agreements. Another alternative to graduate student loans is an income-share agreement, through which you get help to pay for school in exchange for a portion of your future earnings for a set period of time.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can graduate students get subsidized loans.

Federal subsidized loans are only available for undergraduate students with financial need. Graduate students are not eligible for direct subsidized loans.

Can you use graduate student loans for living expenses?

You can use student loans to pay for living expenses, whether it’s rent, utilities, transportation costs or food. If you live on campus, those costs are included in your full cost of attendance and get paid directly to your school. Any leftover money from your loans will be refunded to you, which can then be applied to remaining living expenses.

How much graduate student loans can I borrow?

It’s always best to borrow as little as possible in student loans, which means maxing out scholarships and grants first. Make sure to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or the FAFSA , each year you’re in graduate school to get all the financial aid you qualify for.

When deciding how much to borrow, graduate students have the potential added complication of still having outstanding loans from undergrad. Ideally, your total debt after leaving graduate school should be no more than you plan to earn your first year in the workforce with your degree. Undergraduate loans should be included in that total.

So if you are getting a master of arts in industrial and organizational psychology and expect to earn a starting salary of about $70,000 (according to a salary resource like PayScale), you shouldn’t have more than $70,000 in total student loans after graduating.

Does student loan forgiveness include graduate school?

Some types of graduate student loans are eligible for forgiveness. While unsubsidized federal loans are the only type of graduate loan eligible for Teacher Loan Forgiveness , both unsubsidized loans and grad PLUS loans are eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) .

Unsubsidized federal loans and grad PLUS loans may also be eligible for income-driven repayment (IDR) plans , which promise forgiveness after 20 or 25 years of payments. Not all types of loans are eligible for every IDR plan, so review the requirements carefully.

Both private and federal grad school loans may also be eligible for state-based repayment programs , which often offer student loan repayment if you work in a qualifying career in high-need areas. Some states or cities even offer loan repayment if you relocate to a qualifying area.

How is the interest rate on a private graduate student loan determined?

Private student loans usually offer variable and fixed interest rates that are based on the borrower’s creditworthiness. Variable rates rise and fall according to the index they follow. For example, the lender may use the prime rate as its benchmark.

If you have good or excellent credit, then you’ll be eligible for a lower interest rate . But if you have poor or fair credit, prepare for an interest rate on the higher end of the range. Using a creditworthy co-signer can help you get a lower rate.

What is ‘co-signer release’?

Some private lenders offer to release the co-signer from a loan after the borrower makes a certain number of payments. That can protect the co-signer from a credit hit as a result of the primary borrower’s negative payment history. If you plan to use co-signer release, check your loan documents to see when it will be possible (in 36 months, for instance) and what additional requirements you might need to meet.

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Practical tips for graduate students undertaking a doctoral dissertation

Producing a doctoral dissertation can be an intimidating process, writes Bill Huckle. Here, he shares practical strategies for graduate students taking on the work to share their original contribution to knowledge with the wider community

William R. Huckle

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Perhaps you’ve heard the adage “the best dissertation is a done dissertation”. Facile? Maybe. Once you’re on the other side of a finished dissertation, however, you may find yourself agreeing.

Yes, the writing is important, but earning a PhD is a process that includes not only your research and literature review but also adhering to submission requirements, collecting feedback and preparing your oral defence.

As an associate dean in the Graduate School at Virginia Tech, I am involved in student support and mentorship, curriculum design and programme governance. These experiences continually remind me that the dissertation process can feel overwhelming, fraught and exceptionally challenging.

Resource collection: Advice for surviving your PhD dissertation
Get a head start in the first year of your PhD
Get your PhD thesis beach ready

Below are practical strategies for tackling the PhD dissertation that I share with the graduate students I advise. While these pointers are perhaps most relevant to students in the life or physical sciences, I expect that many will translate to the arts, humanities and other disciplines as well.

Rather than waiting until well into your studies, start writing introductory chapters relatively early in your graduate programme as soon as is feasible.
Preparing a detailed literature review can more effectively inform your experimental approaches and may result in a manuscript suitable for publication.
Familiarise yourself with institutional requirements for preparing and defending your dissertation well ahead of time. This can include document-formatting conventions and submission procedures, as well as deadlines for the formal scheduling of your oral dissertation defence with the graduate school. These details are typically found in an official graduate catalogue or programme website.
Counting backwards from your desired formally scheduled defence date, set (and adhere to) a schedule for completion of requisite tasks. These will include drafting the document, executing your own revisions and those suggested by your advisory committee, and originality confirmation.
Allow at least three or four months for writing and editing your dissertation and collecting feedback from your advisory committee. Resist the temptation to do “just one more experiment” and other distractions that will slow the preparation of the document.
Clearly convey to your advisers your needs and expectations for editorial turnaround time to help them plan and manage their own time…and don’t hesitate to remind them as deadlines approach.
Often it is time-efficient to distribute chapters for feedback as you complete them rather than waiting until the entire dissertation is finished; you can then focus on another task while your advisers review the writing in hand.
If your dissertation will consist of multiple already published or submitted manuscripts as separate chapters, allow time to write comprehensive introductory and concluding chapters that contextualise and tie together the individual reports.
If your scholarly work has been done in conjunction with other graduate students, make sure to acknowledge who is responsible for which specific contributions and that work you contributed has not been/will not be claimed by another student as their own.
Allow time to check that copyright law is followed. If you have signed away copyright for images or other protected elements to publishers, secure the needed permissions to use them in the dissertation document well in advance of submission.
Write your dissertation abstract last . You won’t have an accurate picture of what you’re abstracting until the full document is finished. This is like the executive summary of a report or a presentation; the details will be finalised upon completion.
It is common for your advisory committee to suggest – or insist – that certain editorial revisions be completed following your oral defence . Give these your full attention such that the final document can be submitted and approved within the required time window.

And a quick word to clarify terms: in the US, the term “dissertation” is typically reserved for the document produced by doctoral candidates, whereas master’s level graduate students complete a thesis. Both are written products that reflect and document the detailed exploration of original concepts in a particular field of scholarly endeavour, and the terms are often used interchangeably.

Writing is essential for successfully sharing your work in your field of expertise with the wider community. That may seem intimidating, but it can also be highly motivating and rewarding. Remember too that, once released online, your dissertation will be accessible by other scholars all over the world and will be the single, quasi-tangible representation of the totality of your doctoral study – make it the most polished document it can be. And if you need help, reach out and ask for it.

William R. Huckle is associate professor in the department of biomedical sciences and pathobiology at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, and associate dean in the Graduate School at Virginia Tech.

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Good questions to ask the current PhD students in the lab

A potential supervisor of the project that I have applied to got me in contact with current PhD students in their research group. What are good questions to ask besides ‘What is your experience working with this supervisor?’

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illustration of teacher reviewing varied back-to-school surveys from her class

Questions to Make Your Back-to-School Student Survey Worthwhile

These questions—from simple intros to explorations of students’ dreams and challenges—can help teachers build relationships on day one.

Getting to know your students during the first weeks of school is essential for motivating them, understanding their individual needs as learners, and integrating them into the larger classroom community throughout the school year.

The back-to-school survey is one of the most tried-and-true strategies to quickly find out some of the most important information about your students—their cultural background, their interests outside of school, their struggles, their dreams, their academic goals. The responses you receive can also help set the groundwork for building strong relationships with students.

That said, asking the right questions can be tricky. Overly specific questions—for example, like “How many siblings do you have?” or “What is your favorite subject?”—aren’t all that useful because they tend to result in curt, uninformative answers, writes educator and author Katie Martin .

Instead, educators suggest asking open-ended questions that allow students to show you who they are in greater depth. The best surveys, writes educator and coach Elena Aguilar , result in answers that help teachers “create a classroom culture where student voice is valued, where students feel their needs will be attended to, and where students begin to trust their teacher.”

To help you get started, we’ve compiled a grab-bag list of 25 effective, teacher-tested survey questions—aimed primarily at middle and high school students—that you can use to quickly learn about students’ home lives, sources of support, strengths, weaknesses, learning preferences, and more. Some questions might be a better fit for your classroom than others; the goal is to find the right mix of questions to elicit the most helpful responses from your new students.

Tell Me About You

Show your students you care about who they are as people by starting your back-to-school survey with some light get-to-know-you questions. Uncovering their deeper interests and passions can help inform your lesson planning throughout the year, writes elementary teacher Tara Olagaray . To build engagement—and a sense of relevance—in the classroom, “I like to write math story problems that feature student hobbies,” like cooking, martial arts, or Roblox, Olagaray says.

Something I enjoyed this summer was _____.
Outside of your home and school, where do you spend the most time? What do you do there?
What languages do you speak? What language do you speak at home?
What is your favorite TV show, movie, or song? Why?
If you could have three wishes, what would they be?
If you could have lunch with a famous person (living or dead), who would it be? Why?
What do you think you want to do after you graduate from high school?

Building Support

Some students may struggle in school—particularly at the start of the year—because they feel like they don’t belong or that no one cares about them. Asking students to reflect on their sources of support—and share how you can help them feel supported—can bolster their sense of belonging from the start. Uncovering “the conditions necessary for students to learn, be happy, feel relevant, and be resilient” in school can greatly impact kids’ social and academic success, writes psychology professor Maurice J. Elias .

What helps you feel welcomed? How do you like to be greeted?
Who at home helps you bounce back from setbacks?
Tell me about a teacher who you feel knew you well. What did he or she do to get to know you?
How do you like to be recognized for accomplishments and hard work?
Who do you want me to tell when you do really well in school?

Exploring Ups and Downs

It’s helpful to know what your students are struggling with—not just academically, but personally. When Aguilar’s middle school students shared “difficult in-school or out-of-school experiences” in their survey responses, it opened the door for impromptu conversations with students and helped her support them throughout the year. On the flip side, asking students to reflect on what motivates them can help them keep a positive outlook when things get difficult—and give teachers an insight on how to tap into that motivation.

Tell me about something that has been hard for you in your life.
Tell me about something you feel proud of.
It was difficult for me to learn _____. It was easy for me to learn _____. Why?
What inspires you in school?
What happens in school that makes you afraid, frustrated, or defeated?
If you could change anything about school, it would be _____.

Let’s Talk About Learning

Knowing more about your students’ study habits, their preferred method of learning, and what engages them the most can help you differentiate your lessons and better assist students who fall behind. Additionally, there can be long-term academic benefits when students are given the opportunity to reflect on their own learning.

How do you learn best: hands-on, reading, listening, independent work, small group work, etc.? Why?
How do you typically study for a test or a quiz?
Describe a moment in school last year when you felt really engaged. Why do you think that moment was such a positive one for you?
Describe the most interesting activity you ever did in school.
What are some characteristics of a good teacher, in your opinion?
Write down three things you did not understand in math class [or history class, science class, etc.] last year: _____.
What else can you tell me that would help me be a better teacher to you?

(Questions sourced from Lindsay Kervan , Tara Olagaray , Education World , Elena Aguilar , Mr. DeRosa , Maurice J. Elias , Cheryl Abla , Macomb Intermediate School District .)

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Individual monitoring committees for PhD students (CSI)
PhD Interviews

COMMENTS

phd
I'm in mathematics, though I don't know if the answers to this will be field-dependent. There have been previous good questions that answer what to ask graduate students here and only somewhat relatedly here (about what to ask students of potential advisors). However, I don't know what good questions are to ask professors themselves.
120 Questions to Ask Grad Students
Successful grad students often possess the following traits: Self-motivation: Driven to achieve personal and academic goals.; Resilience: Bounces back from setbacks and persists through difficulties.; Time management: Balances study, work, and personal life effectively.; Passion for research: Deeply interested in their field of study.; Communication skills: Articulates ideas and research ...
To ace your Ph.D. program interviews, prepare to answer—and ask—these
To ace your Ph.D. program interviews, prepare to answer—and ask—these key questions. You've made it to the last step of the Ph.D. application process: the interview. Congratulations! But amid the excitement and butterflies, don't neglect the crucial next step: preparation. Grad school interviews—in which aspiring graduate students meet ...
Questions to Ask A Graduate Program
Going for a campus visit or preparing for an admissions interview with a graduate program? Bookmark this page (or download it as a PDF) to make sure you ask the right questions that will help you decide if the program is right for you. Graduate Student Support. Is there a diverse group of students, faculty, and administrators?
PDF The Definitive 'what do I ask/look for' in a PhD Advisor Guide
⠀Advisor's current PhD students⠀ ⠀Current PhD students in program⠀ ⠀Advisor's current PhD student (candid)⠀ ⠀Yourself⠀ Research Fit & Projects How directly applicable will your future technical skills be to the roles you want after graduating. [If set on industry] What 'research methods' does the lab use?
PDF Questions to consider asking during your graduate school visit
This is a non-exhaustive list of questions that graduate students came up with based on what they wish they'd known to ask. Please view this list as a starting point for formulating your own questions. Be bold and explore! Questions to ask faculty (we also recommend you get their students' perspectives on these topics): 1.
Questions to Ask a Prospective Ph.D. Advisor on Visit Day, With
These are my (@andrewkuznet) opinions, formed by being a SCS PhD student at Carnegie Mellon University in the US.This post is meant as a followup to a poster I made in 2019 with the help of many people. Following the trend, this guide was also created collaboratively. Every PhD, advisor, and situation is different, but I've written this question guide to help a diverse set of readers during ...
Questions to ask grad students at your grad school interviews
The grad students you meet during recruitment weekends are participating because they want to help you, so get to know them! Prioritize which questions you find most important and ask them to anyone who seems willing to chat with you. Don't forget to be mindful of surroundings and sensitivities when you ask certain questions.
Crucial Questions To Ask Graduate Students
First, speaking with current or past students can provide valuable insight into the program and its various offerings. This can allow you to ask questions about courses, faculty, resources, and more. Additionally, it will help you understand what type of workload or culture exists in the program and whether or not it fits your career ambitions.
The Best Questions to Ask During a PhD Interview
5. Will I have the opportunity to teach during my PhD? If you want to be a professor, teaching will be an essential part of your job. It is extremely beneficial to gain teaching experience during your PhD and many North American PhD programs actually require at least one year of teaching. 6.
Discover Questions To Ask About Grad School 2022+
70 Questions To Ask About Grad School. Find Graduate Programs. Spending time on campus can be an important part of the graduate school selection process. But to make it truly worthwhile, there are a number of questions to ask about grad school. These can touch on a wide range of topics, such as how the listed student to faculty ratio varies ...
What questions should one ask to the former/current students of a
Link to the urch.com forum discussing exactly these kinds of issues: Questions to ask current graduate students The problems people have differ greatly by field, e.g. the funding issue depends on whether students are supported by grants of their advisors (sciences and engineering) or by the university.
20 questions to ask about potential PhD programmes
Unique interest. And you should be aware that unexpected things can happen. For instance: care leave, illness or simply failed experiments can delay the completion of a PhD programme. Therefore, it is good to test the water and ask about the stance of the PhD programme when it comes to being flexible. You may also like: 9 smart questions to ask ...
PhD Interview Questions and Answers
Don't just ask questions 'for effect' though. This is your chance to find out more about the project you'll be doing, the people you'll be working with and the expectations of you as a PhD student. Remember: you're a good student, with lots of potential. You're considering at least three years of hard work with this university.
20 Graduate School Questions To Ask Your Potential ...
A campus visit is often given as an opportunity for graduate students to get to know the graduate school before they get admitted. It is also a chance to get the feel of their particular program, faculty members, and potential advisors. You may want to check whether your graduate program has several aligned professors to serve as a safeguard.
Questions to ask current students in PhD programs
Questions to ask current students in PhD programs Questions to ask current students in PhD programs. By hejduk July 1, 2010 in Applications. Share More sharing options... Followers 2 ... and while the conversation ended good, I still can't help but feel like I'm a candidate sticking out in a bad way. No more mass emails for me... Don't feel bad ...
Questions to Ask During Your PhD Interview
The reason to ask the second question of how many students gained PhDs is to get an idea of the supervisor's track record of successful supervision. The lower the percentage of students that went onto complete their PhD under his or her supervision (and not leave the program early ), the more alarm bells that should be ringing for you.
What to Ask at Your PhD Interview
Whilst it's possible to generalise about the PhD supervision process, the actual routines are as varied as the people involved. Ask how often your supervisor typically 'meets with' their students (whether face-to-face or otherwise), how often they expect to read and feedback on work, etc. Again, this shows that you're serious and thinking about ...
10 Overlooked Questions About Grad School
Consider not just the immediate but long-term financial implications of graduate school. You may be giving up a steady salary or taking out additional loans to cover the cost of living in addition to tuition. Before undertaking such a commitment, ask these questions to ensure you're minimizing financial loss. 1.
What style questions should I ask potential graduate students
Ask them about their expectations out of their coming 3-5 years as a grad student!. I find that a significant portion of the frustration that I (and those others around me) have experienced is due to severe disparity between expectations and reality.Note that this is as much for the benefit of the prospective student as it is for you as the PI.
As an applicant, what would be some good questions to ask during a PhD
It might not help in interview, but the best questions you can ask are to people that are already there doing a PhD (eg others in the lab). Find out what the culture is like, what the supervisor is like to get on with, and whether they enjoy their time there. Nothing else is as important. 10. Reply.
Best Graduate Student Loans Of August 2024
We collected data from 14 student loan entities that offer graduate student loans in at least 25 U.S. states and scored them across 12 data points in the categories of interest rates, fees, loan ...
Practical tips for graduate students undertaking a doctoral
Resource collection: Advice for surviving your PhD dissertation; Get a head start in the first year of your PhD; Get your PhD thesis beach ready; Below are practical strategies for tackling the PhD dissertation that I share with the graduate students I advise. While these pointers are perhaps most relevant to students in the life or physical ...
PNSB PFA Recipients Discuss Studying abroad and internships
PNSB Palau Fellowship Award Recipients Discuss Studying abroad and internships | August 7, 2024 | EPFM Studio
Good questions to ask the current PhD students in the lab : r/PhD
Participation is open to anyone, including PAs, Physicians, NPs, nurses, students, other medical professionals, and the general public. Please review our forum rules before contributing. For pre-PA help, check out /r/prephysicianassistant. And PA students may be interested in /r/PAstudent for discussions about PA school.
Questions to Make Your Back-to-School Student Survey Worthwhile
Show your students you care about who they are as people by starting your back-to-school survey with some light get-to-know-you questions. Uncovering their deeper interests and passions can help inform your lesson planning throughout the year, writes elementary teacher Tara Olagaray.To build engagement—and a sense of relevance—in the classroom, "I like to write math story problems that ...
2024 Therapeutic Recreation Internship Fair
The employers are prepared for you to ask questions about your interest. The Career Fair will be located in Student Union 362 A/B on the 3rd floor of the Student Union. You do not have to register in advance to attend the In-Person Job Fair. You may simply show up at the Student Union Ballroom on the day of the Job Fair. Good luck!

	Direct unsubsidized loan	Grad PLUS loan	Private loan
Eligibility	Be enrolled at least half-time and meet	Be enrolled at least half-time, pass a credit check and meet general federal lending requirements	Typically must have good credit, have consistent income, be a U.S. citizen and be enrolled in an eligible school
Credit check?	No	Yes	Usually yes
Interest rate for 2022-23	6.54%	7.54%	Varies; highly qualified borrowers may receive lower rates than what’s offered on federal loans
Origination fee for 2022-23	1.057%	4.228%	Usually none
Borrowing limit	$20,500 annually, $138,500 lifetime limit	Up to total cost of attendance minus any other financial aid you’ve received	Usually up to the total cost of attendance
Co-signer allowed?	No	Yes	Yes