Astronomy Doctorate in US

A lot of our tips talk about how you can strengthen your application, but you can build a stronger application when you’ve done the things this program values in the years prior to the application. The application itself is the communication part (in which you communicate what you’ve done to the admission committee), but this section gives guidance on the substance part (what you can actually do before you apply). In this section we talk about what you can do in the years leading up to applying that can make you an ideal candidate. Supplement the following tips with general tips (under the tab of ‘Pre-Application’) to become a competitive applicant. 

ACADEMIC BACKGROUND

Degree Requirement: 

Students interested in applying for an Astronomy Ph.D. in the USA are usually required to have an undergraduate degree in either Physics or Astronomy. This is a requirement that will usually be listed on the department website, so make sure to read over this carefully. You may be able to get away with not having a Physics or Astronomy undergraduate degree IF you have enough relevant courses in your transcripts, but you must confirm this with the department before applying. For more information on what type of courses these could be, view the CourseWork section below.

Coursework and Transcripts: 

Coursework is very important for this degree, and taking certain courses and doing well in them can take your application from being a good one to a great one. You will be expected to have taken core, and advanced-level Physics courses. Take as many higher-level Physics courses as you can, especially in Electricity & Magnetism, Quantum Mechanics, and Thermodynamics, to make your application look more impressive. University websites will usually specify if they strictly require you to take certain courses, so read over these carefully.

• Complement the above field-specific tips with general tips on transcripts (under the tab of ‘transcripts’).

GPA Requirement: 

Most universities will mention a cut-off of 3.0 on their websites, but a competitive GPA is at least 3.6 or higher, especially for higher-ranked schools.

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

This is one of the most important parts of your application. Think of your Ph.D. as an apprenticeship in research — admission committees want to see how suited you are for this sort of “apprenticeship”, and if you have no research experience under your belt this could indicate that you don’t know how to do real research, or you don’t like it, and both of these are warning signs for them. You need to show the committee that you are committed to researching, as this is the focal point of not only the Ph.D. but also of a career in astronomy.

Publishing a paper in a refereed journal, as a co-author or author, is the best indication of great research experience. If this is not possible, do not get disheartened. You can also show your interest in research by perhaps being a Research Assistant for a professor working on a paper, or even being part of a smaller project and presenting your findings at a conference. Students often make posters and manage to present them at conferences both big and small. Always keep an eye out for conferences and attend as many as you can, even if you are unable to present at them, as they are excellent for networking with the right people.

Note that, you do not need to have a specific or particular direction in your research, as that is something that your school will expect you to explore during your Ph.D. Just make sure to show passion for research and indicate that you have what it takes to be a great researcher through your prior experiences.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Work experience is not a strict requirement in most schools, but can certainly boost your application, especially if you do not have particularly high grades. Relevant work experience where you get to work with astronomy instruments, or computer programs that are important in the field of Astronomy can help tremendously in your application. 

Complement the above field-specific tips with general tips on building a resume (under the tab of ‘Resume/CV’).

VOLUNTEER WORK

This is not a requirement for this program, but any volunteer work (such as helping organize conferences relevant to the field) that can be linked to the field can make your application better. 

OTHER EXPERIENCE

Experience with computer coding can set you apart and make your application better. Try to start coding as early as possible to take full advantage.

App Overview

This section provides an overview of general guidelines pertaining to the application process. It also delineates the key components of the application process.

GENERAL ADVICE

You will have to send in applications through the websites of your desired universities, typically through the university’s own application portal.

To find out what you will need to provide in your application, read the section below.

Refer to the Program Selection Section for further information.

COMPONENTS

Complement the above field-specific tips with general tips on overview (under the tab of ‘overview’).

Pakistani applicants suffer most because of inadequate information — or wrong information — about essays and personal statements. This section will address those inadequacies specifically in relation to applying for this program. Supplement the following field-specific tips with general tips (under the tab of ‘essay’) to craft a stellar personal statement. 

BASIC INFORMATION

You will be required to enter at least one personal statement or statement of purpose into your application. Some universities will have a prompt or question that you will have to answer, as well as instructions on what the word or page limit is, and what format the essay needs to be submitted in. Make sure you read these instructions extremely carefully and follow them. If you are given no instructions on the word or page limit, try to aim for 1-2 pages and do not go beyond 3 pages.

ACTION-STEPS/ RESOURCES

• It is recommended to write your own statement, and not use some pre-prepared format. Just give yourself enough time to do it.

TIPS ON GOOD AND BAD STATEMENTS

What is essential in the statement:

• Decent language skills. This doesn’t mean that you should spend time making the language in your essay extremely complex or flowery, but make sure that there are no grammatical errors or glaring mistakes in sentence structure, spelling, etc. This is because as an international student, the personal statement becomes an important factor for the admission committee to assess your language skills (even if you have a perfect TOEFL score), and it’s very important you do not get rejected just because of your language skills.
• Include a description of your education and experience as it relates to your future graduate career. Mention all research experience you have or special projects you may have done in a course, and try to combine this with your interests in Astronomy. Mention any specific faculty members you want to work with at the university you are applying to, and why your background and interests suit this professor. 
• Mention, and explain clearly, any abnormalities in your application or in your path to graduate school. You may have a low GPA or a low GRE score, or you may have taken a gap year or switched colleges or majors in the middle of your degree. You will need to give context to any of these issues or they could become a red flag or cause of suspicion for the committee. You do not have to go too far into your personal issues to explain, just give a big picture.
• Try to answer this question at all times with your essay: what makes you qualified to attend the program you are applying to? This will ensure that you stay to the point because this is the question that the committee is most interested in when looking at your application and personal statement.

What are some elements of exceptional statements:

• Be aware of the research going on in the universities that you are applying to, and show it in your statement. Highlighting potential areas where your prior experience overlaps with the research going on in the departments you are applying to will be golden and will make the committee consider you more closely. 
• Make sure your personal statement exhibits the following: a passion for research, a high level of motivation, organization skills, and good verbal and written skills. These are all very important for a Ph.D. in Astronomy. 

What are bad statements/ what things to avoid:

• Stay relevant and do not spend too much time writing about childhood wishes or experiences. This is not like your undergraduate personal statement, you have to stay on point and mention recent experiences and how they will help your graduate career. If you focus on flowery stories from years past, it will not leave a good impression. 
• Do not focus on a narrow piece of research or idea when talking about your future paths in graduate school. It is perfectly okay to state broad preferences (examples are observational cosmology, numerical astrophysics, ultra-fast optics, etc.), but mentioning one very narrow topic will show the committee that you are not flexible or open to different ideas. No matter how interested or passionate you are about a very specific topic, make sure you exhibit that you are open to more ideas and avenues.
• Try not to mention a topic you are interested in if you know that the university you are applying to has no one working on that topic. You want to show that you are the perfect fit for a specific program, so if you talk about something that the department itself is not interested in, they will rank your application lower than people who fit in more with their research plans.

Pakistani applicants suffer most because of inadequate information — or wrong information — about essays and personal statements. This section will address those inadequacies specifically in relation to applying for this program. Supplement the following field-specific tips with general tips (under the tab of ‘essay’) to craft a stellar personal statement. 

BASIC INFORMATION

You will be required to enter at least one personal statement or statement of purpose into your application. Some universities will have a prompt or question that you will have to answer, as well as instructions on what the word or page limit is, and what format the essay needs to be submitted in. Make sure you read these instructions extremely carefully and follow them. If you are given no instructions on the word or page limit, try to aim for 1-2 pages and do not go beyond 3 pages.

ACTION-STEPS/ RESOURCES

• It is recommended to write your own statement, and not use some pre-prepared format. Just give yourself enough time to do it.

TIPS ON GOOD AND BAD STATEMENTS

What is essential in the statement:

• Decent language skills. This doesn’t mean that you should spend time making the language in your essay extremely complex or flowery, but make sure that there are no grammatical errors or glaring mistakes in sentence structure, spelling, etc. This is because as an international student, the personal statement becomes an important factor for the admission committee to assess your language skills (even if you have a perfect TOEFL score), and it’s very important you do not get rejected just because of your language skills.
• Include a description of your education and experience as it relates to your future graduate career. Mention all research experience you have or special projects you may have done in a course, and try to combine this with your interests in Astronomy. Mention any specific faculty members you want to work with at the university you are applying to, and why your background and interests suit this professor. 
• Mention, and explain clearly, any abnormalities in your application or in your path to graduate school. You may have a low GPA or a low GRE score, or you may have taken a gap year or switched colleges or majors in the middle of your degree. You will need to give context to any of these issues or they could become a red flag or cause of suspicion for the committee. You do not have to go too far into your personal issues to explain, just give a big picture.
• Try to answer this question at all times with your essay: what makes you qualified to attend the program you are applying to? This will ensure that you stay to the point because this is the question that the committee is most interested in when looking at your application and personal statement.

What are some elements of exceptional statements:

• Be aware of the research going on in the universities that you are applying to, and show it in your statement. Highlighting potential areas where your prior experience overlaps with the research going on in the departments you are applying to will be golden and will make the committee consider you more closely. 
• Make sure your personal statement exhibits the following: a passion for research, a high level of motivation, organization skills, and good verbal and written skills. These are all very important for a Ph.D. in Astronomy. 

What are bad statements/ what things to avoid:

• Stay relevant and do not spend too much time writing about childhood wishes or experiences. This is not like your undergraduate personal statement, you have to stay on point and mention recent experiences and how they will help your graduate career. If you focus on flowery stories from years past, it will not leave a good impression. 
• Do not focus on a narrow piece of research or idea when talking about your future paths in graduate school. It is perfectly okay to state broad preferences (examples are observational cosmology, numerical astrophysics, ultra-fast optics, etc.), but mentioning one very narrow topic will show the committee that you are not flexible or open to different ideas. No matter how interested or passionate you are about a very specific topic, make sure you exhibit that you are open to more ideas and avenues.
• Try not to mention a topic you are interested in if you know that the university you are applying to has no one working on that topic. You want to show that you are the perfect fit for a specific program, so if you talk about something that the department itself is not interested in, they will rank your application lower than people who fit in more with their research plans.

This section will cover the basics of recommendation letters, which are one of the most important parts of the application process. Supplement the following field-specific tips with general tips (under the tab of ‘recommendations’) to ensure you have strong letters of recommendation.

BASIC INFORMATION

You will be expected to have 2-3 letters of recommendation in your application. You will typically not be allowed to see your recommendations, and will just enter your recommenders’ contact information into your application. Your recommenders will then be sent instructions on where to complete the recommendation. 

Good recommenders are mentors, professors who have taught you relevant courses (Physics, specifically advanced-level Physics courses), or research supervisors. It’s more important to have letters from people who know you well than from people who are well-known themselves. Also, always try to choose someone who you have worked with for a longer time, for example, choose the professor you did research with for a year, rather than a research supervisor you had over one summer, because the former will have more weight.

TIPS ON GOOD AND BAD LETTERS

What is essential in the LoRs:

• Explanations of how you are fit for a Ph.D. program, and how you are suited for this specific program and university. They need to talk about positive qualities that make you a good Ph.D. candidate for astronomy such as passion for the subject, great research skills, excellent academic abilities, good organization skills, and a lot of motivation.
• Explanations of any shortcomings in your application such as bad grades, a bad GRE score, etc. They do not need to go into too much detail, but just confirm anything that you have talked about in your personal statement.

What are some elements of exceptional LoRs:

• The following point is particularly important for a recommender who has supervised your research or has worked with you on a research project: make sure the recommender makes useful comparisons of your performance with other students or workers. An example taken from this source illustrates this point: “General statements such as ‘I was amazed how quickly Amanda learned how to analyze the data’ are nice but useless for admission committees. We are looking for ‘I was impressed that within a month Amanda taught herself IDL, learned how to extract and calibrate data from the X database and re-plot them in the new coordinate system she developed with my assistance. I have worked with 10 students over the past 3 summers and the only student of her caliber is now finishing a Ph.D. at Top Notch University.’”

What are bad LoRs/ what things to avoid

• Having no context in the recommendation. Make sure your recommender writes about who they are and in what capacity they know you so that it is clear to the committee.

This section will cover everything else related to the application process; including transcripts, interviews, resumes, and standardized tests.

STANDARDIZED TESTS

Basic Information: 

You will usually be required to do both the General GRE and the Physics GRE. You will also have to do the TOEFL/IELTS or equivalent. Universities will indicate what scores are required for you to be eligible to apply (usually 550 for TOEFL, and 6.5-7 overall on the IELTS).

Resources:

• The following link gives a detailed table that shows which schools in the USA require what type of GRE for the Astronomy program (Endorsed by Astrobetter): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/19UhYToXOPZkZ3CM469ru3Uwk4584CmzZyAVVwQJJcyc/edit#gid=0

Test Tips:

• Students should make sure they understand the grading system of the GRE. Specifically, wrong answers lead to a subtraction of points (a substantial penalty). 
• The Physics GRE is an extremely important part of your application. A low score can set you back considerably. Prepare for it well ahead of time. 
• A low GRE score the first time you take it can be compensated for if you take the exam again and do much better the second time.
• Your verbal score on the General GRE is an important indicator for the admission committee, so try to score as high as possible on it.
• Complement the above field-specific tips with general tips on preparing for standardized tests (under the tab of ‘tests’).

FINAL COMMENTS ON APPLICATIONSComplement the above field-specific tips with general tips on final comments on applications (under the tab of ‘overview’).

See United States of America Country Profile | Shaheen

We thank our volunteers for their contribution and hope their tips and advice help you in your application.

In addition, the following sources were consulted in developing this tip sheet and we encourage you to consult these sources for additional information and guidance on your application.

• Tip for Applying to Graduate School in Astronomy by University of Texas
• How to Get Into Graduate School by Sean Carroll
• So You Want To Go To Graduate School in Astronomy? By Jane Rigby
• Honest Advice for the Astronomy Graduate School Process by Miles Currie
• Applying to Graduate School by Fran Bagenal

Furthermore, the following sources were also consulted in developing this tip sheet: AstroBetter, UC Berkeley, The World University Rankings, American Astronomical Society, The Eternal Universe (1) (2) (3), Cornell University, California Institute of Technology, University of Arizona, University of Chicago

Good luck!