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How Long Does It Take To Get a PhD?

A PhD program typically takes four to seven years, but a variety of factors can impact that timeline.

A PhD , or doctorate degree , is the highest degree you can earn in certain disciplines, such as psychology, engineering, education, and mathematics. As a result, it often takes longer to earn than it does for a bachelor’s or master’s degree.

While many PhD programs are designed to be finished in four or five years, the average completion time is much longer when you factor in the time it takes to research and write a dissertation. In 2020, for example, doctoral students took between six and twelve years to complete their PhDs [ 1 ]. By comparison, you can complete a master's degree in one to three years.

In this article, we'll explore the requirements of a PhD, what often ends up adding to the length of time, and important factors you should consider when deciding whether it’s the right choice for you.

PhD requirements + general timeline

Doctoral programs typically require PhD candidates to take take advanced courses, pass a comprehensive exam (sometimes called "comps"), and produce an original body of research, such as a dissertation, to obtain the degree. In some cases, you may also be expected to fulfill a teaching assistantship or research assistantship, both of which are meant to prepare you for a career in academia or research.

PhD requirements

The precise requirements you'll need to complete in order to get your PhD vary from one program to another, but some common tasks include:

Advanced coursework: Graduate-level coursework that explores a number of advanced sub-topics related to your field

Comprehensive exam: An exam that requires you to show knowledge of your field, such as its history, important figures, major theories or research, and more

Dissertation: An original body of research you contribute to your field

PhD timeline

The specifics of a PhD program vary by college and university, but the following estimates give you an idea of what to expect during your time in graduate school:

Year 1: Complete advanced coursework.

Year 2: Complete advanced coursework and begin preparing for your comprehensive exams.

Year 3: Study, take, and defend your comprehensive exams. Begin researching your dissertation proposal.

Year 4: Submit your dissertation proposal to your committee chair, and, once approved, begin working on your dissertation.

Year 5: Finish writing your dissertation and submit for committee approval. Defend your dissertation and apply for graduation.

Note that while this timeline gives a general timeline of how long it will take to complete a PhD program, it's very common for candidates to take more than one year to research and compose their dissertation.

Read more: Should You Go Back to School? 7 Things to Consider

PhD timelines by focus

Some PhD programs take longer to complete than others. For example, earning a doctorate in a science and engineering field typically takes less time than earning a doctorate in the arts or humanities, according to data from the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) [ 1 ]. The list below shows the median length of time it took doctorate students to earn their degree in 2020:

Physical and Earth Sciences: 6.3 

Engineering: 6.8 years

Life sciences: 6.9 years

Mathematics and computer science: 7 years

Psychology and Social Sciences: 7.9 years

Humanities and arts: 9.6 years

Education: 12 years

Learn more: What Is a Terminal Degree and Do I Need One?

Why does it take so long to complete a PhD?

There are a few reasons why it takes more time to complete a PhD compared to other advanced degrees.

1. Dissertations

Once a doctoral student has successfully passed their comps, they are considered “All But Dissertation” or “ABD.” Yet, the number of students who successfully complete their PhD program remains low—estimates show that nearly 50 percent of students drop out, often after reaching the dissertation phase [ 2 ].

The dissertation phase can often take much longer to complete than the other requirements of a PhD. Researching and writing a dissertation takes significant time because students are expected to make an original and notable contribution to their field.

2. Assistantship obligations

Teaching and research assistantships are beneficial because they can help pay for a PhD program, but they may also take time away from working on your dissertation. Some students are expected to teach at least one class per semester on top of their other obligations as graduate students.

For universities that reduce the teaching or research load that students have as part of their assistantship, times to completion tend to improve. Humanities students at Princeton University began finishing their degree in 6.4 years (compared to 7.5 years) thanks to the institution's financial support and the reduced number of classes students taught [ 3 ].

3. Other responsibilities

Doctoral students tend to be older. Graduate students pursuing a PhD in science or engineering were an average of 31.6 years old by the time they earned their degree in 2016, according to the National Science Foundation [ 4 ]. In effect, some PhD students may have competing obligations, such as family. If a student’s funding has run out, and they have to find full-time work, it also may affect the time they can dedicate to writing their dissertation.

Is a PhD right for you?

People pursue PhDs for various reasons: Some want a job that requires the degree, such as teaching at a university, while others want the challenges or intellectual engagement that a graduate program offers. Identifying why you want to earn a PhD can help indicate whether it’s your best choice.

If your career aspirations don't require a PhD, it might be better to focus on gaining professional experience. Or if you're interested in an advanced education, a master's degree may be a better option. It takes less time to complete than a PhD and can lead to more career opportunities and larger salaries than a bachelor's degree.

Learn more: Is a Master’s Degree Worth It?

Benefits of a PhD

The primary advantage of earning a PhD is your increased demand and marketability in the workforce.

In 2018, less than 5 percent of the United States population had a doctorate degree, compared to about 48 percent with a bachelor's degree and 21 percent with a master's degree, according to the US Census Bureau [ 5 ]. As a member of this elite group, the potential for advanced roles, promotions, or pay raises may be greater.

Even before you have a degree in hand, working toward a PhD gives you opportunities to hone valuable skills , including writing, research, and data analysis . Furthermore, completing a PhD program can demonstrate to potential employers that you have specialized knowledge and the fortitude to finish such an advanced degree.

Costs of a PhD

Beyond the time they take to complete, PhD programs can be expensive. The average cost of a PhD program in the United States is just under $100,000. At some schools, the cost of a PhD can even exceed $200,000 [ 6 ]. While many institutions offer funding support in the form of assistantships or scholarships, many PhD students still graduate with student loan debt. In 2023, the average student loan debt for PhD was $134,797 [ 7 ].

Another factor to consider is the loss of income you might incur while you're working toward your degree. Some graduate students accept teaching or research assistantships to help fund the cost of their program, but these may not pay as much as full-time positions. Working on your education may also mean pausing the professional experience you’d gain in the workforce—and potentially losing out on promotions and raises. However, it’s worth noting that graduate degree holders earn much more over the course of their lifetime than bachelor’s degree holders, according to the US Social Security Administration [ 8 ].

Read more: How to Pay for Graduate School: 8 Ways

Set yourself up for success

A PhD is a major accomplishment. As you think about your long-term goals and whether a PhD will help you achieve them, it's important to understand ways you can set yourself up for success. According to the University of Georgia, success in a PhD program often means [ 9 ]:

Understanding the demands and expectations of the program

Receiving adequate program orientation

Getting support from peers and faculty

Feeling a sense of belonging as a member of an academic community

These conditions underscore the importance of choosing the right program and school to fit your personal and professional goals. Take time to research the ways your potential institution offers financial support, mental health support, and career placement support, among other program features.

An advanced degree can be a lucrative credential. You can earn your master’s in a number of in-demand fields from top universities on Coursera. Earn a degree in computer science , business , management , or public health , all while enjoying greater flexibility than an in-person degree program tends to offer. Earning your master's can also help you discern whether a PhD makes sense for your larger objectives.

Article sources

Survey of Earned Doctorates. " Path to the doctorate , https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsf22300/report/path-to-the-doctorate." Accessed January 30, 2024.

International Journal of Higher Education. “ Who Are the Doctoral Students Who Drop Out? , https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1188721.pdf.” Accessed January 30, 2024.

The New York Times. " Exploring Ways to Shorten the Ascent to a PhD , https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/03/education/03education.html." Accessed January 30, 2024.

National Science Foundation. " Science and Engineering Doctorates , https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/2018/nsf18304/report/age-at-doctorate-award-what-are-the-overall-trends-and-characteristics/characteristics-of-doctorate-recipients-sex.cfm." Accessed January 30, 2024.

US Census Bureau. " About 13.1 Percent Have a Master’s, Professional Degree or Doctorate , https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2019/02/number-of-people-with-masters-and-phd-degrees-double-since-2000.html." Accessed January 30, 2024.

Education Data Initiative. " Average Cost of a Doctorate Degree , https://educationdata.org/average-cost-of-a-doctorate-degree." Accessed January 30, 2024.

Education Data Initiative. " Average Graduate Student Loan Debt , https://educationdata.org/average-graduate-student-loan-debt." Accessed January 30, 2024.

Social Security Administration. " Education and Lifetime Earnings , https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/research-summaries/education-earnings.html." Accessed January 30, 2024.

 A Data-Driven Approach to Improving Doctoral Completion. " Chapter 2: Description of Projects , https://cgsnet.org/cgs-occasional-paper-series/university-georgia/chapter-2." Accessed January 30, 2024.

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Coursera staff.

Editorial Team

Coursera’s editorial team is comprised of highly experienced professional editors, writers, and fact...

This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

• The PhD Journey - Stages of a Doctoral Degree

The PhD Journey

Written by Mark Bennett

A PhD typically involves between three and four years of full-time study, culminating in a thesis which makes an original contribution to your field.

The process of getting a PhD is made up of quite a few components and milestones, from the literature review and writing up your dissertation right through to the viva examination at the end.

This section is a guide on how to do a PhD, providing in-depth advice and information on some of the main challenges and opportunities you’ll meet along the way!.

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7 stages of the PhD journey

A PhD has a few landmark milestones along the way. The three to four year you'll spend doing a PhD can be divided into these seven stages.

• Preparing a research proposal
• Carrying out a literature review
• Conducting research and collecting results
• Completing the MPhil to PhD upgrade
• Participating in PhD teaching, conferences and publications
• Writing your thesis
• Defending your PhD results at a viva voce

We've expanded on what you can expect from each stage below.

1. Preparing a research proposal

Strictly speaking, your research proposal isn’t part of your PhD. Instead it’s normally part of the PhD application process.

The research proposal sets out the aims and objectives for your PhD: the original topic you plan to study and / or the questions you’ll set out to answer.

It also explains why your work is worthwhile and why it fits with the expertise and objectives of your university.

Finally, a PhD proposal explains how you plan to go about completing your doctorate. This involves identifying the existing scholarship your work will be in dialogue with and the methods you plan to use in your research.

All of this means that, even though the proposal precedes the PhD itself, it plays a vital role in shaping your project and signposting the work you’ll be doing over the next three or more years.

2. Carrying out a literature review

The literature review is normally the first thing you’ll tackle after beginning your PhD and having an initial meeting with your supervisor.

It’s a thorough survey of work in your field (the current scholarly ‘literature’) that relates to your project or to related topics.

Your supervisor will offer some advice and direction, after which you’ll identify, examine and evaluate existing data and scholarship.

In most cases the literature review will actually form part of your final PhD dissertation – usually setting up the context for the project, before you begin to explain and demonstrate your own thesis.

Sometimes a literature review can also be evaluated as part of your MPhil upgrade .

Research vs scholarship

Research and scholarship are both important parts of a PhD. But they aren't the same thing - and it's helpful to know the difference. Research is the original work you produce with your thesis. Scholarship is the expert understanding of your subject area that enables you to conduct valuable research.

3. Conducting research and collecting results

Once you’ve carried out your literature review, you’ll move from scholarship to research .

This doesn’t mean you’ll never read another academic article or consult someone else’s data again. Far from it. You’ll stay up to date with any new developments in your field and incorporate these into your literature review as necessary.

But, from here on in, your primary focus in your PhD process is going to be investigating your own research question. This means carrying out organised research and producing results upon which to base your conclusions.

Types of PhD research

The research process and the type of results you collect will depend upon your subject area:

• In Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects you’ll focus on designing experiments, before recording and analysing their outcomes. This often means assembling and managing complex numerical datasets – sometimes in collaboration with the rest of your laboratory or workshop.
• In Social Science subjects you’ll be more focussed on designing surveys or conducting case studies. These will produce quantitative or qualitative data, depending on the nature of your work.
• In Arts and Humanities subjects you’ll often have less raw data, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be working with ‘hard’ factual information. You’ll analyse texts, sources and other materials according to an accepted methodology and reflect upon the significance of your findings.

Whatever subject you’re in, this research work will account for the greater part of your PhD results. You’ll have regular meetings with your supervisor, but the day-to-day management of your project and its progress will be your own responsibility.

In some fields it’s common to begin writing up your findings as you collect them, developing your thesis and completing the accompanying dissertation chapter-by-chapter. In other cases you’ll wait until you have a full dataset before reviewing and recording your conclusions.

4. Completing an MPhil to PhD upgrade

At UK universities it’s common to register new PhD students for an MPhil before ‘ upgrading ’ them to ‘full’ doctoral candidates. This usually takes place after one year of full-time study (or its part-time equivalent).

Forcing you to register for a ‘lesser’ degree may seem strange, but it’s actually an important part of the training and development a PhD offers:

• As an MPhil student you’re able to comprehend your field and produce new research.
• As a PhD student you’re able to go that crucial step further and produce the significant original contribution to knowledge that defines a doctorate.

The MPhil upgrade is when you take the step from the former to the latter.

The MPhil upgrade exam

Upgrading from MPhil to PhD registration usually involves a form of oral exam – similar to the viva voce that concludes a PhD. But, unlike a full viva, the MPhil upgrade is less formal and only covers part of your thesis.

In most cases you’ll submit a small amount of the material you’ve produced so far. This could be a draft of your first chapter (or part of it) and / or your literature review. You could also be asked to reflect on your progress in general.

You’ll then sit down with your supervisor and someone else from your department (familiar with your field, but unrelated to your project). They’ll offer feedback on the quality of your work and ask questions about your findings.

The aim of the process won’t be to examine your drafts so much as to confirm that your project has the potential to justify a PhD – and that you’re on track to complete it on time.

‘Failing’ a PhD upgrade is actually quite rare. Your university may ask you to repeat the procedure if they are concerned that you haven’t made sufficient progress or established a viable plan for the rest of your project.

What is an MPhil?

The MPhil (Master of Philosophy) is also a research degree, but its scope is more limited than a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy). And no, just like a PhD, an MPhil isn’t necessarily a Philosophy qualification. Our guide covers all you need to know about the difference between a MPhil and PhD .

5. PhD teaching, conferences and publications

During the PhD process, you’ll have lots of opportunities to take part in extra-curricular activities, such as teaching, academic conferences and publications.

Although it isn’t usually compulsory to participate in these, they can be an incredibly rewarding experience and will look great on your CV.

Teaching during a PhD normally involves hosting undergraduate seminars or supervising students in the lab, as well as marking work and providing feedback.

Academic conferences are an excellent way to network with like-minded colleagues and find out the latest developments in your field. You might even be able to present your own work to your peers at one of these events.

Publishing during a PhD will help you increase your academic profile, as well as give you experience of the peer review process. It’s not normally a requisite of your PhD, but publications will certainly help if you plan on applying for postdoc positions.

6. Writing your thesis

As the culmination of three or more years of hard work, the thesis (or dissertation) is the most important part of the procedure to get your PhD, presenting you with the opportunity to make an original scholarly contribution to your discipline.

Our guide to writing your thesis covers everything you need to know about this lengthy research project, from structure and word count to writing up and submission.

We’ve also written a guide to the PhD dissertation abstract , which is an important part of any thesis.

7. Defending your PhD results at a viva voce

Unlike other degrees, a PhD isn’t normally marked as a piece of written work. Instead your dissertation will be submitted for an oral examination known as a viva voce (Latin for ‘living voice’).

This is a formal procedure, during which you ‘defend’ your thesis in front of appointed examiners, each of whom will have read your dissertation thoroughly in advance.

Examiners at a viva voce

A PhD is normally examined by two academic experts:

• One will be an internal examiner, usually appointed from elsewhere in your faculty and department. They won’t be directly associated with your project, but will have sufficient expertise to assess your findings.
• The other will be an external examiner. They will be a recognised expert in the area you are researching, with a record of relevant research and publication. Most universities in the UK allow you to invite an external examiner of your choice, provided there is no existing conflict of interest.

Your supervisor will help you prepare for the viva and will offer advice on choosing an external examiner. However, they will not normally be present during the examination.

The PhD timeline

Ready to take the next step?

There's lots more information about how to get a PhD in our advice section . Or, if you're ready to start looking at different projects, why not check out one of the thousands of current PhD opportunities in our database?

Not sure how PhD study will differ from a Masters? In this guide, we take a look at how the two qualifications compare, including applications, course structure, assessment and more.

Every student will need to write an abstract for their PhD dissertation. Here's everything you need to know about what an academic abstract is and how to write one.

What can you expect from a PhD? What's life actually like as a postgraduate student? Read our guides to the doctoral research experience.

The viva voce is the final oral exam at the end of a PhD degree. Our guide explains the usual viva format, covers common questions and explains how to prepare.

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How Do You Get a PhD? A Guide to the PhD Timeline

Everyone who considers a doctoral degree knows a PhD is a big commitment. 

Not only will it require all your mental energy, focus, and persistence, but it will also require a significant investment of your time. Your particular area of research, your institution’s policies and procedures, and the standard expectations within your field affect how long it takes to earn a PhD. The average PhD length is five or six years, while some students may take eight or nine years.

Regardless of how long a PhD program takes,  there are some common stages of a PhD that all doctoral students share. These significant and essential milestones shape the timeline for earning your doctorate . Read on as we take you through each step and explore the typical steps to a doctorate degree.

How Long Do PhD Programs Take?

The number of credit hours that you need to complete your doctoral coursework might depend on several factors: do you already have a master’s degree? Will you earn one en route to the doctorate? Or do you even need one? 

Different disciplines and research interests have their own PhD process, but even within your field of study, institutions may have diverse pathways for obtaining that terminal degree. For most, coursework will take anywhere from two to three years to complete.

During this time, students can serve as graduate research or teaching assistants or could even lead their own courses as instructors. In many degree programs, students develop their potential dissertation topics through their coursework and define their research plans in the next few years.

Steps to Getting a PhD: PhD Qualifying Exam and Comprehensive Exam

Many programs set up academic checkpoints to help keep students on track during their PhD journeys. The timing varies by program, but one of the most common – and possibly most stressful – forms of benchmarking is the PhD comprehensive exam or qualifying exam. Often administered around the end of the student’s coursework, these exams are your chance to demonstrate what you learned in your classes.

A faculty committee from your department oversees testing. Usually comprised of at least three members, your professors ask questions or assign writing prompts based on your experience in the program thus far. The format is generally a combination of written and oral exams designed to test your expertise in your discipline’s methodologies and significant content areas.

To better prepare yourself, research the number and kind of qualifying benchmarks the program will require in the university catalog before you begin your program. This will allow you and your advisor to effectively plan out the first few years of your degree and give you an idea of how you’ll be evaluated throughout your program.

Doctoral Dissertation Prospectus and Defense

You may be required to complete and defend a dissertation prospectus before officially becoming a PhD candidate. A prospectus is a document outlining your dissertation plan, which includes an explanation of your research topic, a potential outline of your dissertation, the methodologies you intend to employ, the significance of your research question, and a bibliography including sources that form the foundation of your research.

Your prospectus allows your dissertation advisor to understand the scope of your project. It should be thorough enough that they can provide useful feedback to help shape your research plan. After some revisions, an approved prospectus is the green light to move into the next stage of your PhD.

Advancement to Doctoral Candidacy

If you have heard the term ABD – “All But Dissertation” – then that means you are in the home stretch of your doctoral program!

Well, sort of…only your dissertation remains!

Doctoral Dissertation Research and Writing

While you’ve made it through the coursework and qualifying exams, the dissertation is the culminating component of the doctoral degree. At this point, your approved research plan is ready to be set into motion. Depending on your discipline, this could be the stage where you travel extensively to conduct fieldwork, explore archives, or visit labs to collaborate on projects that relate to your dissertation work. For many students, the research phase can take a couple of years, but some may be able to complete it in one.

Writing your dissertation can be one of the most challenging parts of the whole PhD process. Not only are you condensing years of research into a single cohesive document, but you are also formulating graphs, charts, and other textual references to help clarify your argument. Often, formatting can be a major challenge for many students. 

In this stage, it’s most helpful to seek out resources to help you with the writing process. Many universities have dissertation writing workshops where you can learn best practices, as well as support groups where students meet regularly and help keep each other accountable. Most universities also offer competitive dissertation completion grants, supporting students with additional funding so they focus more of their time and effort on completing this undertaking.

Dissertation Defense

Everyone gets nervous about this major rite of passage. It can be difficult to take criticism over something you have poured your heart and soul into for years. Remember, though, that a good advisor will not let you defend if you’re not ready, and you literally wrote the book on your topic!

The dissertation defense is not intended to tear your work apart but rather is your opportunity to prove your expertise to your dissertation committee. Many defenses are open to observers, so you should attend a few in advance of your own, especially within your department, to get a sense of what it’s like. 

First, you’ll present the main points of your thesis. Then the committee will ask questions so they can clearly understand your arguments. Finally, they’ll send you out of the room while they deliberate and decide if you pass or not. If all goes well, you’ll be addressed as “Doctor” the next time you walk into the room!

Get Started on Your PhD Journey Today

No matter what your particular timeline looks like as you work toward your doctorate, know that the faculty and other students within your program are frequently a huge source of support — which means you won't do this alone! Additionally, every school has resources to assist PhD students, from libraries to writing centers to dedicated student support services. 

If you are excited about beginning your PhD journey, we invite you to request more information or reach out to one of our admissions professionals today. Best of luck as you begin this transformational experience!

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what it takes to apply to and succeed in a PhD program. Explore our resource — A Guide to Choosing, Applying for, and Thriving in a PhD Program!

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Suggested Graduate School Prep Timeline

This suggested timeline is for students planning to attend graduate school immediately after earning a bachelor’s degree, and can be easily adjusted for students planning a post-baccalaureate or gap-year experience or for master’s students applying for doctoral programs.

Freshman and Sophomore Years

• Do well in your coursework
• Meet with academic advisors to plan your coursework and help you consider graduate programs
• Develop relationships with faculty
• Actively seek and participate in research and internship opportunities at your home institution during the academic year and during the summers

Summer between sophomore and junior years

• Apply for and participate in research and internship opportunities at your home institution or elsewhere (many application deadlines are in the winter or spring before the summer)

Junior Year (or one year before application season)

• Participate in research at your home institution
• Identify graduate programs and fellowships that are relevant for your plans
• If possible, attend conferences in your discipline, especially if they include sessions for prospective graduate students or grad school fairs
• If possible, start visiting institutions with graduate programs that interest you
• If needed, prepare for taking the GRE general and subject exams
• Take the GRE exams if needed
• Look into extramural fellowships in your relevant fields

Summer between junior and senior years

Senior year (or in final year during application season).

August/September

• Actively seek and apply for application fee waivers
• Contact faculty members to seek their advice and ask if they are willing to write you a strong recommendation letter
• Gather information about required application materials and deadlines
• Work on personal and research statements
• If your discipline requires you to reach out to prospective faculty for your graduate program, start reaching out to them

October/November/December (depending on the application deadlines)

• Complete and submit application materials
• Ask your letter writers to submit their recommendation letters, providing all the forms, information, and deadlines
• Order transcripts (if official transcripts are required)
• If needed, confirm that all of your application materials were received

January/February/March

• If appropriate, look into visiting institutions on your own
• Some programs typically include interviews (e.g., in bioscience fields) or recruitment trips for admitted students
• Admissions offers with financial aid packages are often provided around this time
• If you have been admitted into multiple programs, reach out to others to help you make your decision, and review the other section of this document with further suggestions on making your decision
• Most universities participate in the CGS (Council of Graduate Schools) resolution which allows admitted students to have time to make a decision and respond by April 15
• After you have made your final decision, thank all of your friends and colleagues for their assistance and inform them of your final decision
• If you declined admission from some institutions, remember to still thank them for their offers, because you’ll likely encounter the faculty and scholars again

© Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305

A PhD timeline for finishing quickly [Free Gantt Download]

Navigating the labyrinthine journey of a PhD program is no small feat.

From the day you step into your graduate program as a bright-eyed doctoral student, you’re immediately thrust into a complex weave of coursework, research, and milestones.

By the second year, you’ve transitioned from coursework to research, laying the groundwork for your dissertation—a pivotal component in your scholarly endeavour. 

Come the third year, you face the critical oral examination, a hurdle that could make or break years of hard work.

But how does one streamline this multifaceted journey? The answer lies in a well-planned PhD timeline.

This blog serves as an invaluable guide for any PhD student looking to complete their doctoral studies efficiently, walking you through each milestone from coursework to graduation.

How to Begin with the PhD Timeline Planning?

Planning your PhD timeline is an essential first step in your PhD program.

Success in any PhD program depends, to a large extent, on effective time management and keeping track of progress through a thoughtfully crafted PhD timeline. 

Start with outlining all your major requirements:

• coursework,
• dissertation,
• and the expected time needed for each task.

I also highly recommend factoring in failure time – give yourself a little bit of wiggle room for when things, invariably – go wrong. 

It’s crucial to remain realistic about the time you can commit daily or weekly while keeping long-term goals in mind.

Regular check-ins on your PhD timeline and supervisor will help you stay on track and allow you to adapt if necessary.

Adjustments may be needed as you progress through your PhD program, but having a timeline as a guide can make the journey less daunting and more achievable. 

Elements to include in a 3-year PhD timeline

The initial stage in this timeline typically involves coursework, often lasting one year, where the student engrosses themselves in advanced study in their chosen field.

Once the coursework is done (USA PhDs), they focus on proposing, conducting, and presenting their initial research.

By the end of the second year, most students should have a clear direction for their dissertation, a core component of the PhD process.

In this third and final year of the PhD timeline, the student focuses primarily on completing their dissertation, which involves collecting data, analyzing results, and organizing their research into a substantial, original, and cohesive document that contributes to contemporary knowledge in their field.

Regular reviews and modifications of the PhD timeline may also be necessary to accommodate various unpredictable circumstances, thus making this timeline both a guide and a flexible workplan.

It is a significant tool in successfully navigating the maze of becoming a PhD holder. 

Create Your PhD Timeline for a 3 year completion

Creating a timeline for a 3-year PhD program requires careful planning, as you’ll have multiple milestones and tasks to complete.

This timeline may vary depending on your specific field, institution, or country, but here is a general outline you can use as a starting point:

Free Gantt chart excel template

Here is a free template you can modify for your own research:

Example Gantt chart for a USA PhD

Here are some common steps involved in completing a PhD, which I’ll use to create the Gantt chart:

• Orientation and Coursework (Semester 1) : Familiarization with the university, department, and coursework.
• Coursework (Semester 2) : Continued coursework and possible teaching/research assistantships.
• Select Advisor and Research Topic : Usually done towards the end of the first year or the beginning of the second year.
• Preliminary Research : Initial research and literature review.
• Complete Coursework (Semester 3) : Wrap up any remaining required courses.
• Research Proposal : Develop a full research proposal including methodology.
• Qualifying Exams : Exams to transition from a Ph.D. student to a Ph.D. candidate.
• Begin Research : Start of actual research based on the approved proposal.
• Conduct Research : Data collection, experiments, and analysis.
• Intermediate Review : A review to assess the progress of the research.
• Write Papers : Start writing papers and possibly publishing in journals.
• Finalize Research : Final experiments and data analysis.
• Write Dissertation : Writing the actual Ph.D. dissertation.
• Dissertation Defense : Defending the dissertation before the committee.
• Graduation : Completing all requirements and graduating.

Example Gantt chart for a UK, European and Australian PhD

For Ph.D. programs outside the United States, especially in Europe and some other parts of the world, students often go straight into research without the need for coursework. Here are some common steps for such programs:

• Orientation : Familiarization with the university and department.
• Select Advisor and Research Topic : Usually done at the beginning of the program.

Wrapping up

The journey to earning a PhD is complex and demanding, filled with academic milestones from coursework to research to dissertation writing.

The key to a smooth and efficient doctoral journey lies in well-planned time management—a structured PhD timeline.

This blog serves as an invaluable guide, offering detailed tips for planning out each academic year in both U.S. and international PhD programs. It emphasizes the importance of starting with an outline of major requirements and factoring in “failure time” for unforeseen challenges.

For those looking to navigate their PhD journey in three years or beyond, having a flexible but comprehensive timeline can be the compass that guides them successfully through the academic labyrinth.

Whether you’re just starting out or already deep into your research, the principles and strategies outlined here can help streamline your path to that coveted doctoral hood.

Dr Andrew Stapleton has a Masters and PhD in Chemistry from the UK and Australia. He has many years of research experience and has worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Associate at a number of Universities. Although having secured funding for his own research, he left academia to help others with his YouTube channel all about the inner workings of academia and how to make it work for you.

Thank you for visiting Academia Insider.

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Planning your PhD research: A 3-year PhD timeline example

Planning out a PhD trajectory can be overwhelming. Example PhD timelines can make the task easier and inspire. The following PhD timeline example describes the process and milestones of completing a PhD within 3 years.

Elements to include in a 3-year PhD timeline

What to include in a 3-year PhD timeline depends on the unique characteristics of a PhD project, specific university requirements, agreements with the supervisor/s and the PhD student’s career ambitions.

For instance, some PhD students write a monograph while others complete a PhD based on several journal publications. Both monographs and cumulative dissertations have advantages and disadvantages , and not all universities allow both formats. The thesis type influences the PhD timeline.

The most common elements included in a 3-year PhD timeline are the following:

The example scenario: Completing a PhD in 3 years

Many (starting) PhD students look for examples of how to plan a PhD in 3 years. Therefore, let’s look at an example scenario of a fictional PhD student. Let’s call her Maria.

In order to complete her PhD programme, Maria also needs to complete coursework and earn 15 credits, or ECTS in her case.

You may also like: Creating awesome Gantt charts for your PhD timeline

Example: planning year 1 of a 3-year PhD

Most PhD students start their first year with a rough idea, but not a well-worked out plan and timeline. Therefore, they usually begin with working on a more elaborate research proposal in the first months of their PhD. This is also the case for our example PhD student Maria.

Example: Planning year 2 of a 3-year PhD

Example: planning year 3 of a 3-year phd, example of a 3 year phd gantt chart timeline.

Combining the 3-year planning for our example PhD student Maria, it results in the following PhD timeline:

Final reflection

In fact, in real life, many PhD students spend four years full-time to complete a PhD based on four papers, instead of three. Some extend their studies even longer.

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Guidelines to draw a timeline of your PhD

2018 Nov 20 | Resource , Soft Skills | 0

In a previous article I talked about how project management can help reduce PhD students’ anxieties . Most of my PhD I felt very much confused. Sometimes I could not even say whether I was still in the beginning, somewhere in the middle or close to the end of it. Therefore, I suggested that supervisors and students should try to define a tangible objective early on in the doctoral process, and that they should have regular check-point meetings to adjusts plans in order to keep the student’s project on track. I also mentioned that it is highly important to clarify what the supervisors and students long-term expectations are .

In another article I talked about Gantt charts , a great project management tool to draw and visualize a project outline.

Do you see where we’re going here? Let’s draw a timeline of your PhD in the shape of a Gantt chart! I know, it’s in the title ;)

In this other article about Gantt charts, I explained that there are some drawbacks to keep in mind. Indeed, upfront planning techniques like Gantt charts tend to lack flexibility and when things don’t work as planned it can actually increase the feeling of failure, which is exactly what we want to avoid here.

So, does it even make sense to draw a timeline early on in the doctoral process? I believe it does! We can keep the drawbacks of Gantt charts in mind and draw such a timeline if we define guidelines of how to use it .

• Example & download
• Why draw a timeline?
• Guidelines for how to make & use the timeline throughout your PhD

1. Example & download:

I draw below an example for the institute where I did my PhD: the Institute of Biology at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland. Therefore, it is designed for a 4-year PhD program with annual committee meetings and for students who spend a lot of time performing lab experiments . However, it can be easily adapted to any field or any doctoral program.

You can download for free the Excel file I used to make this timeline by clicking here .

Because I want this to be a general example but also because it is such a long time scale, I kept the level of detail to the minimum to make it flexible and to avoid over-planning . The time for each task here is a very rough estimate, it is meant to be adapted to what you think is best for you or to what is expected in your doctoral program. Importantly, the uncertainty level is increasing with time . You don’t have to start writing a paper on the 11th month of your third year, maybe you’ll start much earlier or much later and it will be perfectly fine. This is just a broad overview to help visualize what the main steps are, but their exact length or when they should start will get clarified once you are closer to it.

2. Why draw a timeline?

To draw such a timeline and for it to be realistic and useful, you are going to ask very concrete questions, to yourself and to your supervisor , like what are the important steps, what are the milestones (technical milestones for developing a protocol, committee meetings, exams…), what are the risks, do you have only one project or do you have more, maybe one large risky project and one smaller safer project, and all other questions which are relevant to you.

Project management is effective if concrete questions are openly discussed. If your supervisor doesn’t bring up these questions with you, it might feel quite scary for you to ask for it. To help you find the courage to so, I believe that having such a timeline will provide you a highly visual and attractive medium to foster these discussions.

When I learned about Gantt charts at the beginning of my second year of PhD studies, I draw myself such a timeline, but I didn’t dare to discuss it with my supervisor. With no surprise things really didn’t work out the way I planned it. Supervisors by default have more experience than a junior PhD student so they should know better what is realistic, what is expected and how much upfront planning can be done depending on the project.

3. Guidelines for how to make & use the timeline throughout your PhD:

• I suggest that you draw a first version within the first two months of your PhD . But it’s never too late to start =)
• Take my example and adjust it , maybe you already have a clearly defined project, maybe not, maybe you don’t need to design a new method, maybe you’ve been included in someone else project with a clear short-term objective, maybe you think you should start drafting a paper earlier, go and adjust it to what feels right to you.
• Make sure to keep in mind that this chart is going to change many times until you graduate, stay flexible. This first timeline should only be an overview of the main steps which you expect in your PhD. It is here to give a direction, and if used regularly it can give a feeling of moving forward.
• Schedule a meeting with your supervisor to discuss this initial timeline ( still within the first two months ), ask the maximum of questions, clarify the maximum of points and make sure you both agree.
• Then whenever needed, go back to it and adjust it, maybe there is a great collaboration opportunity and for a few months you’ll be asked to put your main project aside and work fully on this collaboration, maybe your new protocol is working great and you’re already getting publishable data, maybe the protocol is not working well and you need to change strategy, how does it affect your timeline?
• Whenever a big change happens or whenever you feel too lost, schedule an extra meeting with your supervisor to specifically discuss the timeline and the long-term objectives. Hopefully it should give you a feeling of being on a track, even if it’s not the first one you pictured.
• I would suggest having such a discussion at least every 6 months .

This timeline is now a tool which is going to grow with you throughout your PhD. At first it is a rough overview of the main steps, if you keep it update with what you really do, at the end it will be a true overview of everything you’ve accomplished. Therefore, on top of guiding you through it, it will become a great tool to look back at your PhD experience once you’re finished.

Thanks for reading and I hope these ideas can help you :)

Make sure to read my previous article about Gantt charts where I explained that it can be used both for long-time scale like here, or on shorter time scale (like 2 months) with a higher level of detail.

Looking for more reading about project management for research? Have a look at the resource I made Project Management resource for PhD students and supervisors !

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• Applying to graduate school

When to Apply for Graduate School | Month-by-Month Timeline

Published on February 17, 2021 by Lauren Thomas . Revised on June 1, 2023.

Once you’ve decided to apply for graduate school , you need to carefully plan out the application process, leaving yourself enough time to:

• Choose which schools you’ll apply to
• Gather transcripts and recommendation letters
• Write your personal statement or statement of purpose
• Take any standardized exams you might need

In general, you’ll need to start preparing your application at least 6 months in advance of the deadline. Most application deadlines are about 7–9 months before the program’s start date.

Table of contents

When is the right time to apply for graduate school, month-by-month timeline for grad school applications, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about applying to grad school.

Some students apply to grad school straight from undergraduate degrees, but it’s also common to return to school later in life. If you’re not sure yet whether you’re ready to apply for graduate school, ask yourself these questions.

Career and field

• Do you want to change your career? Many individuals attend graduate school to enter fields like nursing, physical therapy, medicine, business, marketing, communications, etc.
• Do you need a graduate degree to progress in your field? In some fields (like law, research, most of health care, and business), a graduate degree is usually necessary to progress. In others (like software engineering or data analytics), degrees are less important.
• How much work experience do you need before applying to graduate school? For instance, MBA programs usually expect you to have several years of work under your belt, whereas many people start medical school right out of undergrad or soon after.

Personal considerations

• Are you at a place in your life where you can focus most of your attention on school?
• Are you prepared to move across the country or even to another country if needed? If not, you should only apply to graduate schools near you.
• Does your family situation permit you to go back to school?

Money matters

• Do you have enough money saved up or a realistic plan to finance graduate school? If you plan to take out government loans, carefully consider how much you will have to pay back after graduation with your expected earnings.
• Can you leave or cut back on your job without drastically harming your financial health?
• Do the graduate programs you’re interested in allow you to work part-time? For instance, medicine rarely allows you to attend part-time. This may also be subject to visa restrictions if you’re planning to study outside your own country.

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You should generally start thinking about graduate school around 18 months before you plan to start. Most program deadlines are 7–9 months before the start date, so you’ll have 6–9 months to get all your materials together, ask for recommendation letters, and take any necessary exams.

Note that some graduate schools—notably medicine—follow a different timeline. Also, some fields, particularly law, use rolling deadlines, meaning the earlier you get in your applications, the better!

The timeline below represents the most typical one, with a December submission deadline. If your deadline is earlier or later, you should adjust your timeline to match.

Decide which type of graduate program you’d like to apply for and start researching schools that fit your criteria. Discuss which programs you should be aiming for with your former professors or current supervisors.

Most programs provide statistics about the test scores, undergraduate grades, or work or research experience of the students they accept. Aim high, but be realistic about your chances. Make sure to choose some programs that are likely to accept you.

Sign up and begin studying for whichever standardized test you need. Different programs require different exams, so you should make sure to check the website of the program you intend to apply to.

Continue studying for standardized tests. Study books can often be checked out for free from your local library. Aim to do at least a little bit of studying every day—that way, it becomes a habit.

Begin the process of asking for recommendation letters.

Take the necessary standardized test for the first time. You aren’t penalized for taking the test multiple times and can send your best score, so don’t panic if you don’t meet your target score on the first try. However, note that each attempt costs (a significant amount of) money, so don’t completely slack off!

Make a list of the specific programs you’re going to apply to. One tip: organize your information in a spreadsheet with required materials, application fees, links to the online application sign-in, recommenders for each program, and deadlines. This will aid you later in the process!

Follow up on rec letters. Now is a good time to begin face-to-face meetings with potential recommenders. Update your resume so that you can send it to recommenders and they can write you a strong letter.

Decide if you need extra funding. To plan your finances, make a monthly budget with expected rent, food, transportation, prorated monthly tuition/fees, and any other potential costs. If the cost is more than what you have in savings or expected financial support (including loans), then you’ll need extra support.

If you need funding, look into potential options—many, such as the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program , require extra essays and have earlier deadlines.

Now is a good time to begin requesting transcripts, if you haven’t already. For most graduate applications, you must ensure you’ve requested transcripts from every university you’ve attended, even if you only studied there for a semester or it is located in another country.

Retake any standardized exams if you weren’t happy with the scores the first time around.

Begin writing your statement of purpose . A statement of purpose is a short essay that discusses your professional and academic interests and background.

You may also be required to write a personal statement , which should talk about your personal story and personal motivations for applying to graduate school. It may include your potential to bring an underrepresented perspective or add to the diversity of the program you’re applying to.

Send off your statement of purpose and personal statement to recommenders to aid their recommendation letters and to receive feedback.

It’s also a good idea to have your statements checked by a friend, family member or professional editor , who can help make sure your writing flows clearly and catch any grammatical mistakes.

A statement of purpose should be understandable to any professional in your field, even if they don’t specialize in your sub-discipline. Most graduate programs rely on a committee of professors throughout the field to evaluate applications, so there’s no guarantee yours will be read by an expert in your particular interest.

October is generally your last chance to retake any standardized exam whose scores you’re not happy with.

Perfect your statement of purpose and personal statement. It’s a good idea to take a week-long break from your applications so that you can approach them again with a fresh eye.

Many graduate applications are due this month. Remind your recommenders of the final deadlines, and finish up your application.

Ensure you have your perfected resume, transcripts, and final personal statement ready. Upload them—and don’t forget to pay the application fee if that’s required!

If you’re American and think you might want to take out any amount of loans to fund your degree, you should fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) . Once completed, you’ll be eligible for a loan to fund up to 100% of the total cost of your degree, including both tuition and living costs.

February to April

Most graduate school results will come back in this time period. Many graduate schools offer in-person visit days in March and April. Some will even pay for your transportation and hotel costs. These visits will allow you to ask questions to faculty members and current students.

When choosing a graduate program, make sure to pay attention to how well the program fits your interests as well as its prestige. You should also pay attention to placement or job outcomes after graduation.

If you’re in a research degree, your supervisor is vitally important to your potential success—carefully evaluate your potential options (but remember that some advisors could leave, so you shouldn’t choose a program for just one potential supervisor!)

Try to hang out with current students in an informal setting to ask them questions you might not otherwise be comfortable asking. Ask what the work expectations are like—do they get time off? Do they feel like they’re being treated fairly? This is especially important for doctoral programs, which are several years long.

Make sure to read the fine print of any funding that you might receive. Will you have to teach or work in a certain position for a certain number of years afterwards? Choose carefully!

If you want to know more about college essays , academic writing , and AI tools , make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.

College essays

• College essay examples
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• Diversity essays
• Scholarship essays

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• Burned or burnt
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• Dreamt or dreamed
• Gray or grey
• Theater vs theatre

A good starting point to aim for is about 18 months before you would start the program, or 6–9 months before the applications are due.

In the first few months of the process, research programs and study for any standardized exams you might need.

You can then begin writing your personal statements and statements of purpose , as well as contacting people to write your letters of recommendation . Ensure that you give recommenders plenty of time to complete their letters (ideally around 2–4 months).

Most graduate school applications for American graduate programs are due in December or January for a September start.

Some types of programs, especially law school, are rolling applications, meaning that the earlier you apply, the earlier you’ll hear back. In this case, you should aim to apply as early as possible to maximize your chances.

Medical school follows a completely separate timeline with much earlier deadlines. If you’re applying for medical school, you should speak to advisors at your university for more information.

Some students apply to graduate school straight from undergrad, but it’s also common to go back to school later in life. The ideal time to do so depends on various financial, personal, and career considerations . Graduate school is a big commitment, so you should apply at a time when you can devote your full attention to it.

Your career path may also determine when you should apply. In some career fields, you can easily progress without a graduate degree, while in others—such as medicine, business, and law—it’s virtually impossible to move up the career ladder without a specific graduate degree.

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Thomas, L. (2023, June 01). When to Apply for Graduate School | Month-by-Month Timeline. Scribbr. Retrieved August 12, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/graduate-school/when-to-apply/

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*** 2022-2023 MD/PhD cycle - Questions, Comments, and other things ***

• Thread starter MD-PhD-NonTrad
• Start date Jun 2, 2022

MD-PhD-NonTrad

M3 md/phd, in clerkships, pre-phd.

• Jun 2, 2022

VaultArmitage

Import pandas as pd.

• Jun 3, 2022

Accepted student here about to start summer rotations. This community was key to my success last cycle and I want to pay it forward. PM me and I'll be more than willing to read essays and offer some feedback!  

Full Member

• Glutenlover1948
• Jun 21, 2022

vibe check, how we doin folks?  

• Jun 24, 2022

@Fencer Do you have any expectations/predictions on how many applicants we will have this year compared to the norm? When do you start seeing this cycle's data regarding number of applicants?  

MSTP Director

Until Sept. No information... except that AMCAS opened up today for 2023. I am excited for my school.  

• Jun 26, 2022

This is a bit of a naive question, but do most secondaries have to be completed in one sitting? I have obviously pre-written some answers, but in case the questions change from last year, once I open the secondary application do I have to complete it within that session? Is this something that varies on a school-by-school basis? TIA!  

Once your application is verified, they a get transmitted to programs within 24 hours. Secondaries are typically triggered by program receiving the application. A better strategy is to apply/adding 5 schools every week. In that way, you spread out secondary applications.  

panexm22 said: This is a bit of a naive question, but do most secondaries have to be completed in one sitting? I have obviously pre-written some answers, but in case the questions change from last year, once I open the secondary application do I have to complete it within that session? Is this something that varies on a school-by-school basis? TIA! Click to expand...

• Jun 27, 2022

RunningMSN said: In pretty much every case you can open and close the secondary as many times as you like until you are ready to submit it. Click to expand...

Thank you all!  

NALOL>>EU

• Jun 30, 2022

Hey everyone, two questions here: should I count clinical research hours for the MD/PhD significant research hours question? I had a significant clinical research (part of my MME) but since my interest really lies in basic bio IDK if that will be important/looks good. Should I also talk about it in the 10000 character essay? Should I mention one semester research course experience in my essay, which was not listed on my work/activities list? It was kind of my first real lab exposure so I really appreciated that opportunity and have a lot to say about it. I didn't mentioned that in my W/A section since it was already very research heavy (I'm applying to several MD schools as well) and not enough space. Thank you for your insights!  

• Jul 1, 2022

NALOL>>EU said: Hey everyone, two questions here: should I count clinical research hours for the MD/PhD significant research hours question? I had a significant clinical research (part of my MME) but since my interest really lies in basic bio IDK if that will be important/looks good. Should I also talk about it in the 10000 character essay? Should I mention one semester research course experience in my essay, which was not listed on my work/activities list? It was kind of my first real lab exposure so I really appreciated that opportunity and have a lot to say about it. I didn't mentioned that in my W/A section since it was already very research heavy (I'm applying to several MD schools as well) and not enough space. Thank you for your insights! Click to expand...

VaultArmitage said: When I applied I used the significant research essay to basically trace my path from joining an undergraduate lab to working with a cancer center full time. This meant I included A LOT of experiences (Even smaller projects I did on the side for professors outside of class) because I thought it helped highlight the path I took to knowing I wanted a research career. Click to expand...

• Jul 14, 2022

Hello All. I am a current MD/PhD applicant. I am hoping/planning to do a PhD in virology; I’m particularly interested in HIV/AIDS. I chose my school list partly looking for programs with an emphasis on infectious diseases/virology & those that have a Center For AIDS Research. My question is: for listing the faculty that I’m interested in meeting or working with, would it be too narrow of focus to list only virology labs? (Particularly those schools that have 5+ HIV/AIDS labs that I’m interested in?) I don’t want it to seem like I am ‘microbio or bust’- because I’m not. I could see myself working in any lab with a supportive PI and an interesting biomedical question.  

• Jul 15, 2022

ioniansea said: Hello All. I am a current MD/PhD applicant. I am hoping/planning to do a PhD in virology; I’m particularly interested in HIV/AIDS. I chose my school list partly looking for programs with an emphasis on infectious diseases/virology & those that have a Center For AIDS Research. My question is: for listing the faculty that I’m interested in meeting or working with, would it be too narrow of focus to list only virology labs? (Particularly those schools that have 5+ HIV/AIDS labs that I’m interested in?) I don’t want it to seem like I am ‘microbio or bust’- because I’m not. I could see myself working in any lab with a supportive PI and an interesting biomedical question. Click to expand...

nashvillehotwingskfc

• Jul 19, 2022

How does this cycle look compared to the last one? Give me your best speculation  

Hey everyone! Best of luck to you all who are currently applying this cycle! I was very lucky to have had a very successful application process last cycle; therefore, if I could be of any assistances to anyone applying now or in the future, feel free to PM! You all got this!  

• Jul 23, 2022

Anyone know when IIs start going out? I see they have been for MD and I think I've heard before it's usually a little later for MD-PhD  

fhuiwela said: Anyone know when IIs start going out? I see they have been for MD and I think I've heard before it's usually a little later for MD-PhD Click to expand...

• Jul 29, 2022

hubz said: Hello all, Looking for some opinions here. I included a pretty large high school summer research experience (>400 hrs) in my Significant Research Experience Essay as I got two publications out of it and thought that it would be weird not to mention it as it was a formative experience. However, I did not think to include it in my Works and Activities section as I thought high school experiences should generally be avoided. Will this discrepancy look weird? I'm worried that adcoms might be confused why I listed it in one section but not the other. I had extra spaces left in Works and Activities so I'm kicking myself a little bit... Click to expand...

Hey guys, I recently re-submitted both a first author manuscript to a lower IF journal and a middle author manuscript to a higher IF journal. Assuming we hear good things back about both of them (i.e. acceptances), how should I go about updating schools? I've already submitted my secondaries, and indicated that resubmission has occurred, but if they are accepted I would like to update my applications. Should I wait until I have information about both and submit it as one update to schools that accept pre-interview updates? If I get an interview somewhere, should I update those programs upon invitation to interview, or during the interview, or send an additional formal update afterward? Also, should I wait until they are both published/in press or update ASAP, i.e. as soon as they are accepted? TIA for the input!  

2021-2022-NonTrad said: Did you have any publications beyond those two listed/did you still list the pubs even if you didn’t list the experience? Click to expand...

hubz said: Yes for both questions, I had publications from other experiences and I also listed the pubs from this experience. Click to expand...

pcm810 said: Hey, I had a summer internship for non biomedical research as a freshman that I included in my significant research but not my work and activities. It was brief and formative, but didn't have anything to do with the field I am interested in now. I just didn't feel like I had anything else to say about it, and choose to include a hobby in my work and activities instead. I feel like there is no one way to do this correctly, and I don't think this would confuse anyone. Click to expand...

• Aug 2, 2022

panexm22 said: Hey guys, I recently re-submitted both a first author manuscript to a lower IF journal and a middle author manuscript to a higher IF journal. Assuming we hear good things back about both of them (i.e. acceptances), how should I go about updating schools? I've already submitted my secondaries, and indicated that resubmission has occurred, but if they are accepted I would like to update my applications. Should I wait until I have information about both and submit it as one update to schools that accept pre-interview updates? If I get an interview somewhere, should I update those programs upon invitation to interview, or during the interview, or send an additional formal update afterward? Also, should I wait until they are both published/in press or update ASAP, i.e. as soon as they are accepted? TIA for the input! Click to expand...

panexm22 said: Sorry for the double post, I'm just going to bump my question from earlier as I think it may have gotten lost in the larger conversation. Thank you! Click to expand...

• Aug 8, 2022

MD-PhD Interviews and Revisit Days

• Aug 9, 2022

Glutenlover1948 said: If I remember correctly, there's usually a google calendar that lists all of the MD/PhD interview dates throughout the cycle compiled onto a single calendar. I've found the link on the AAMC website, but it has not been updated yet for this year. Any idea when it gets updated, or if it's still being maintained? MD-PhD Interviews and Revisit Days calendar.google.com Click to expand...

panexm22 said: It looks updated to me? There appear to be dates for Fall 2022, no idea if they're right or not. Click to expand...

Some completely unsolicited advice on that google calendar. I would only use it potentially much later in the cycle when you're planning out your second look visits (especially if they're in person). Please do not drive yourself crazy by trying to guess when schools will send out interview invites or use it to see which interview batch you were in. This is a very long, very stressful process that is made much worse by trying to predict things or comparing yourself to others. You're all amazing applicants by virtue of choosing to apply to MD/PhD programs. Trust your application, don't try to predict anything, and NEVER compare yourself to others. I hope to see some of you at my school next year!  

VaultArmitage said: Some completely unsolicited advice on that google calendar. I would only use it potentially much later in the cycle when you're planning out your second look visits (especially if they're in person). Please do not drive yourself crazy by trying to guess when schools will send out interview invites or use it to see which interview batch you were in. This is a very long, very stressful process that is made much worse by trying to predict things or comparing yourself to others. You're all amazing applicants by virtue of choosing to apply to MD/PhD programs. Trust your application, don't try to predict anything, and NEVER compare yourself to others. I hope to see some of you at my school next year! Click to expand...

• Aug 12, 2022

hey guys, I was wondering if y'all had any suggestions for interview resources that you guys have used to prepare? Thank you so much for all the contribution to this forum, it has been immensely helpful to me!  

riocourt16888

• Aug 23, 2022

Does someone hear that Cornell or Columbia sent another II except the dates were listed above? How do these school operate? I submitted on July 14 for both schools. I did not hear any. Will I have a hope? Thank you all.  

• Aug 24, 2022

riocourt16888 said: Does someone hear that Cornell or Columbia sent another II except the dates were listed above? How do these school operate? I submitted on July 14 for both schools. I did not hear any. Will I have a hope? Thank you all. Click to expand...

RunningMSN said: You can see some interview invitations here from this and last year. Application submission dates do not necessarily correlate with when you may receive an interview invite. Also, it's still extremely early in the interview season. You can receive an interview invite at any time before the final interview for each program. Click to expand...

Coffeefueled

• Aug 25, 2022

I just checked my Uni of Miami portal and have a message under the portal status for MD PHD that says my app has been reviewed but no final decision made. Does anyone else have a different status? Submitted I think August 1st.  

Peritus_Medicus

Mstp student.

• Aug 27, 2022

Coffeefueled said: I just checked my Uni of Miami portal and have a message under the portal status for MD PHD that says my app has been reviewed but no final decision made. Does anyone else have a different status? Submitted I think August 1st. Click to expand...

• Aug 30, 2022

thehierophant said: I know its still super early, but I'm anxious and am wondering when it would be best to update schools? For context, I currently have 0 publications, but 3 potential ones in limbo. The first is a mid-author and was preprinted in June, but is awaiting resubmission. The 2nd is a 2nd author and will hopefully be submitted in mid-September. The last one is another mid-author that must be submitted by October. Though each of these papers will be preprinted at the time of submission, they are all pretty large-scale projects and will likely take a long time (tbh probably after the admission cycle ends) to be reviewed. I'm wondering if I should update schools about submission since it doesn't mean that the paper will actually be accepted, or will having a preprint will count as something? Click to expand...

• Aug 31, 2022

Hi! For previous applicants, around when did you get most of your interviews? It looks like a lot of people have gotten several interviews already but I've heard nothing except for one rejection. I know it's still early but I'm a bit worried that the one rejection might be a bad sign.  

I’m just going to paste a blurb from an old thread as I could not have said it better myself. Please be kind to yourself! “A word of advice to current applicants: these threads are definitely helpful, it's good to know when a school has started sending out invites and acceptances. Last cycle, I (and many other applicants) would watch dejectedly as these threads filled up in July and August with the same three or four people receiving 10 or 15+ interview invites while our inboxes remained empty. The silence can be nerve-wracking and it's especially deafening when you're reading about other applicants who are seemingly drowning in attention from schools. Don't worry, you'll be fine. A lot of us last year didn't receive our first interviews until late August or September. Keep your blinders up, you've put in a lot of work up until this point, and as long as you've applied rationally you'll be fine. Stop checking SDN so much for your own sanity.”  

Are the applicants a same pool with gap and non-gap year? Thank you！  

riocourt16888 said: Are the applicants a same pool with gap and non-gap year? Thank you！ Click to expand...

• Sep 1, 2022

VaultArmitage said: There's one pool of applicants. @Fencer would know the breakdown better but I believe it's about 60% take gap years to 40% who do not. Click to expand...

RunningMSN said: "From 2013 to 2020, the prevalence of gaps rose from 53% to 75%, with the time usually spent doing research." This metric is for accepted/current trainees, so does not directly reflect the applicant pool. Nevertheless, here is an article on this topic if you are interested: JCI Insight - Gaps between college and starting an MD-PhD program are adding years to physician-scientist training time Click to expand...

• Sep 2, 2022

poptrop said: Hi! For previous applicants, around when did you get most of your interviews? It looks like a lot of people have gotten several interviews already but I've heard nothing except for one rejection. I know it's still early but I'm a bit worried that the one rejection might be a bad sign. Click to expand...

• Sep 6, 2022

Anyone have a good template/advice for writing an MD/PhD CV? I have a general resume with all of my activities, but I am not sure how to format this specific one. Do I include bullets of my research projects and my skills, or would it be small paragraphs? Should I was include relevant upper level undergraduate courses I have taken? Do I include honors/awards/presentations and other non-clinical activities?  

lemon.slice

Hi there! Has anyone received an II from Emory? Their first interview date is coming up pretty soon and I am curious if they are going to send out stuff last minute or if I just did not get anything as of yet. Thanks!  

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• PhD Overview and Timeline

Given here are School-wide graduate degree policies and guidance.  Program-specific degree options, requirements, and model programs can be found on the "Graduate Programs" pages under each of the subject areas listed in  Academics .

General Ph.D. Requirements

• 10 semester-long graduate courses, including at least 8 disciplinary.   At least 5 of the 10 should be graduate-level SEAS "technical" courses (or FAS graduate-level technical courses taught by SEAS faculty), not including seminar/reading/project courses.  Undergraduate-level courses cannot be used.  For details on course requirements, see the school's overall PhD course requirements  and the individual program pages linked therein.
• Program Plan (i.e., the set of courses to be used towards the degree) approval by the  Committee on Higher Degrees  (CHD).
• Minimum full-time academic residency of two years .
• Serve as a Teaching Fellow (TF) in one semester of the second year.
• Oral Qualifying Examination Preparation in the major field is evaluated in an oral examination by a qualifying committee. The examination has the dual purpose of verifying the adequacy of the student's preparation for undertaking research in a chosen field and of assessing the student's ability to synthesize knowledge already acquired. For details on arranging your Qualifying Exam, see the exam policies and the individual program pages linked therein.
• Committee Meetings : PhD students' research committees meet according to the guidelines in each area's "Committee Meetings" listing.  For details see the "G3+ Committee Meetings" section of the Policies of the CHD  and the individual program pages linked therein.
• Final Oral Examination (Defense) This public examination devoted to the field of the dissertation is conducted by the student's research committee. It includes, but is not restricted to, a defense of the dissertation itself.  For details of arranging your final oral exam see the  Ph.D. Timeline  page.
• Dissertation Upon successful completion of the qualifying examination, a committee chaired by the research supervisor is constituted to oversee the dissertation research. The dissertation must, in the judgment of the research committee, meet the standards of significant and original research.

Optional additions to the Ph.D. program

Harvard PhD students may choose to pursue these additional aspects:

• a Secondary Field (which is similar to a "minor" subject area).  SEAS offers PhD Secondary Field programs in  Data Science and in  Computational Science and Engineering .   GSAS  lists  secondary fields offered by other programs.
• a Master of Science (S.M.) degree conferred  en route to the Ph.D in one of several of SEAS's subject areas.  For details see here .
• a Teaching Certificate awarded by the Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning .

SEAS PhD students may apply to participate in the  Health Sciences and Technology graduate program  with Harvard Medical School and MIT.  Please check with the HST program for details on eligibility (e.g., only students in their G1 year may apply) and the application process.

PhD Timeline

--> Also see the separate pages with on-boarding information for new PhD students <--   Information and Resources for New Graduate Students Wiki site for incoming PhD students (behind Harvard Key)

First Year (G1)

• Notify your financial aid officers of any external funding. Contact:  Erin Bishop  in SEAS Finance and  Emily Fingerle  in GSAS Financial Aid.
• Make note of the course registration deadline. (previously known as "Study Card Day"). See the GSAS Policies  Academic Calendar.
• Register for courses before the deadline  (previously known as "Study Card Day")
• Mid-January: Deadline for submitting materials to be reviewed at the January CHD meetings .
• Late-January: Course registration deadline (previously known as "Study Card Day").
• G1s: Your  Prospective Program Plan  due to the Office of Academic Programs on this day.
• Transfer of up to 3 classes of coursework may be allowed. Include the  Application for Credit for Work Done Elsewhere  with your Prospective Program Plan. 
• April 1:   Research Advisor Selection Form /Research Assistant appointment form due to Office of Academic Programs.
• Note: The April CHD meeting is the last CHD meeting in all academic year. CHD does not meet over the summer. Remember to plan ahead.

Second year (G2)

Throughout year.

• G2’s are required to serve as a Teaching Fellow in either the Fall or Spring semester.
• Make sure you complete the  TF form once you line up a TF position! 
• G2’s are required to take their qualifying exam in either the Fall or Spring terms.
• Email quals_defenses@seas  to book a room. If you book your own room (e.g., external to SEAS) you must still email  quals_defenses@seas  well in advance in order for your required documentation to be ready, else your exam cannot take place.
• Upon completion of the exam, students are required to submit the  Designation of Research Committee  form to OAP.
• If you plan to request a delay of the qualifying exam, complete a  Request to Delay Qual Exam  form. Note that delays until September (i.e. start of G3 year) are typically approved as a matter of course
• Mid-September: Course Registration Deadline (previously known as "Study Card Day"). See the GSAS Policies  Academic Calendar.
• Mid-October :  Final Program Plan  due to OAP; see the  CHD page  for dates.
• Late-January : Course Registration Deadline (previously known as "Study Card Day"). See the GSAS Policies  Academic Calendar.
• May 1 : Advising Agreement form due to OAP.
• May:   Commencement and diploma options for Masters en Route / Continuing Master’s students - You can apply to receive your S.M. degree en route to your PhD after you have completed eight of your core courses (this requirement may depend on area). You will receive your S.M. diploma, and participate in the Commencement if you choose to. However since you will be considered a non-terminal degree recipient, you will not be able to join the ceremony in Sander's Theater. 

Third year (G3+) and beyond

• Meet with your Research Committee at least annually, as indicated by your area's expectations.
• Send any changes to your Final Program Plan to the CHD for review. See the  CHD page  for submission dates.   Note that   the Committee on Higher Degrees expects students not to petition for a revised Program Plan less than a year prior to the final defense  in case additional coursework is required, so it's important to keep your plan up to date with your courses as actually taken.
• Inform OAP of any  changes to your research committee . 
• PhD candidates can review their eligibility to receive an SM en route . 
• Early-September:  Course Registration Deadline (previously known as "Study Card Day"). See the GSAS Policies  Academic Calendar.
• Late-January: Course Registration Deadline (previously known as "Study Card Day"). See the GSAS Policies  Academic Calendar
• May 1 :  RA reappointment  form due to OAP.

Completing your degree

Degree application.

• Check out FAS degree-completion information  here  (Registrar) and deadlines  here  (GSAS calendar)
• Complete the  degree application  via my.harvard by the Registrar's deadline.
• If you schedule your own room (e.g., external to SEAS) you must still email quals_defenses@seas   well in advance in order for your required documentation to be ready,  else your defense cannot take place.   You must also get agreement from your full committee to hold your defense in a non-SEAS room.

Dissertation Submission and Commencement

• The best way to share your dissertation with others is by linking to the DASH copy. DASH uses persistent URLs and provides you with download statistics, and the DASH copy of your PDF will not include the signed Dissertation Acceptance Certificate (DAC). If you choose to post or share your PDF in some other way, you should remove the DAC page so that readers do not have access to the scanned signatures.
• Get ready for commencement by updating your email and other contact information via  my.harvard.edu .

In Academic Programs

• Non-Resident and Part-Time Study
• CHD Meeting Schedule
• PhD Course Requirements
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• Teaching: G2 year
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Tim Walz career timeline: From high school teacher to Kamala Harris' vice-presidential pick

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris chose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate on Tuesday.

The Minnesota governor was selected by Harris to join the ticket over a short list of other contenders, including Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro , Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly , Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg .

A former teacher, coach, veteran and member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Walz was elected as Minnesota's governor in 2018.

He is expected to be introduced as Harris' running mate at a campaign rally Tuesday in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Here's what to know about Tim Walz.

Tim Walz is Kamala Harris' VP pick: Minnesota governor named running mate: Live updates

April 1964: Tim Walz born in West Point, Nebraska

Walz was born April 6, 1964 in West Point, Nebraska. The 60-year-old Minnesota governor grew up in Nebraska, graduating from Butte High School in 1982.

After high school, Walz enlisted in the Army National Guard, according to his Minnesota Governor bio.

He graduated with a bachelor of science in social science education from Chadron State College in 1989. He spent a year teaching abroad before he returned to the U.S. to serve full time in the National Guard, and worked as a high school social studies teacher and football coach.

He graduated with a Master of Science in educational leadership from Minnesota State University, Mankato in 2001.

1994: Tim and Gwen Walz marry

Walz married his wife, Gwen , in 1994. The couple has two children, Hope and Gus. The family lived in Mankato, Minnesota for nearly 20 years before moving to Saint Paul when he was elected governor.

Gwen Walz, whose maiden name is Whipple, was born in Glencoe, Minnesota and grew up in western Minnesota, according to her Minnesota First Lady website. She met Walz when she was an English teacher in Nebraska, and the couple moved to Mankato, Minnesota in 1996, where they both worked at Mankato West High School .

As teachers, the Walzs established a summer trip to China for their students, traveling there nearly every summer through 2003.

2004: Tim Walz gets involved in politics

Walz began his political career in by volunteering for John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat in 2007, beating the incumbent, Republican Gil Gutknecht.

He was reelected in 2008, again in 2010, and in 2012, 2014 and 2016.

2018: Tim Walz elected Minnesota Governor

Walz was elected as Minnesota's governor in 2018, running after former Gov. Mark Dayton announced he would not seek a third term. He won reelection in 2022.

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Here’s a look at questions about Tim Walz’s military record

Walz’s military record under scrutiny as Vance, GOP question his service

FILE - Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the running mate of Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, is pictured at a campaign rally in Philadelphia, Aug. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

• Copy Link copied

CINCINNATI (AP) — Republicans are questioning Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s military record after Vice President Kamala Harris named him as her running mate this week.

Here’s a look at the issue:

He retired before his unit’s deployment to Iraq

Walz served a total of 24 years in various units and jobs in the Army National Guard. But it’s his retirement in 2005 that’s prompting criticism from some Republicans who are suggesting he abandoned his team to pursue a campaign for Congress.

As he ramped up for a congressional bid in 2005, Walz’s campaign in March issued a statement saying he still planned to run despite a possible mobilization of Minnesota National Guard soldiers to Iraq. According to the Guard, Walz retired from service in May of that year.

In August 2005, the Department of the Army issued a mobilization order for Walz’s unit. The unit mobilized in October of that year before it deployed to Iraq in March 2006 .

There is no evidence that Walz timed his departure with the intent of avoiding deployment. But the fact remains that he left ahead of his unit’s departure. In a statement, the Harris campaign pushed back on GOP characterizations of Walz’s service, and also noted that he advocated for veterans once he was elected to the U.S. House.

“After 24 years of military service, Governor Walz retired in 2005 and ran for Congress, where he chaired Veterans Affairs and was a tireless advocate for our men and women in uniform — and as Vice President of the United States he will continue to be a relentless champion for our veterans and military families,” the campaign said.

Before leaving Detroit, where she and Walz played up their support for organized labor , Harris on Thursday responded to a question about the criticism of her running mate’s record.

“Listen, I praise anyone who has presented themselves to serve our country,” she said. “And I think that we all should.”

Walz didn’t serve in a combat zone

Earlier this week Harris’ campaign circulated on X a 2018 clip of Walz speaking out against gun violence, and saying, “We can make sure that those weapons of war, that I carried in war, is the only place where those weapons are at.” That comment suggests that Walz portrayed himself as someone who spent time in a combat zone.

According to the Nebraska Army National Guard, Walz enlisted in April 1981 — just two days after his 17th birthday — and entered service as an infantryman, completing a 12-week Army infantry basic training course before graduating from high school.

While attending the University of Houston in 1985, he was reclassified as a field artillery cannoneer as a member of the Texas Army National Guard, later serving as an instructor with the Arkansas Army National Guard.

In 1987, Walz returned to Nebraska’s Guard detachment, continuing field artillery assignments while he completed a college degree. By 1996, he transferred to the Minnesota Army National Guard. In 2003, he deployed to Italy in a support position of active military forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. But he was not in a combat zone himself.

“Do not pretend to be something that you’re not,” Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance said Wednesday as he campaigned in Michigan. “I’d be ashamed if I was saying that I lied about my military service like you did.”

Vance enlisted in the Marine Corps after graduating high school, serving four years as a combat correspondent, a type of military journalist, and deploying to Iraq in that capacity in 2005.

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Neither Trump nor Harris has served in the U.S. military. Trump received a series of deferments during Vietnam, including one attained with a physician’s letter stating that he suffered from bone spurs in his feet.

The Harris campaign statement said Walz “would never insult or undermine any American’s service to this country” and “thanks Senator Vance for putting his life on the line for our country. It’s the American way.”

What about his rank?

Harris’ campaign has referred to Walz as a “retired Command Sergeant Major,” one of the top ranks for an enlisted soldier. He did in fact achieve that rank, but personnel files show he was reduced in rank months after retiring. That left him as a master sergeant for benefits purposes.

Minnesota National Guard officials have said that Walz retired before completing coursework at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, along with other requirements associated with his promotion.

Associated Press writers Darlene Superville, Trenton Daniel and Richard Lardner contributed to this report.

Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://x.com/MegKinnardAP

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Graduate School Application Timeline

If you're planning to apply to graduate school, it's best to start early—it will increase your odds of being admitted. Many graduate programs have rolling admissions, which means applications are evaluated as they arrive (rather than all at once after the final deadline).

Here's a sample schedule for a student hoping to enter grad school in the fall. This is a best-case scenario which leaves time to craft a great application, resolve unforeseen problems (a lost transcript, a delinquent recommender) and submit with time to spare.

Your GRE Application Timeline

Begin researching grad schools . Take a GRE practice test . Your GRE score will help you determine how much preparation you'll need for the real deal.

Sign up for a GRE test prep course (we recommend the in-person or online options). Register for the GRE general test if necessary.

Request information from schools that interest you. Consider paying a visit to your alma mater to meet up with a few former professors. They can recommend good programs and may even help you make some connections.

Register to take a GRE Subject test (if necessary) during one of their Fall windows. In the 2023-24 application cycle, ETS offered three date ranges to take a subject test: late September/early October, late October/early November, or mid to late April. Take the GRE general test. If you're not happy with your scores, sign up to take it again. Begin drafting your statement of purpose .

Finalize your list of prospective schools , and familiarize yourself with the professors who share your research interests at each school. Contact your recommenders. Keep polishing your statement of purpose.

Request official transcripts from your undergraduate institution. Send your recommenders supplemental materials (like your resume, personal statement, etc.) that they can use as a reference. Make contact with students and professors at your prospective schools. Arrange a campus visit if you can.

Have someone in the field and a few smart (and honest) friends read over your personal statement. Take the GRE subject test; make sure that your scores will be sent directly to schools.

Complete and submit all grad applications , keeping copies of every section for your records. Verify that your recommendations have been sent.

Read More: What's a Good GRE Score?

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Take a GRE practice test with us under the same conditions as the real thing. You'll get a personalized score report highlighting your strengths and areas of improvement.

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Normal length of time taken to arrive at a phd admission decision?

I would like to know, if possible, how long it takes on the average to reach a first admission decision for doctoral programs?

Let us say a doctoral program promises to inform the applicants of the outcome three months after the deadline for submitting application packages. Does this really mean that to reach a decision requires exactly three months?

• graduate-admissions
• application

• 3 I am not quite sure what you are uncertain about. I do not see any way the quoted statement could mean what you ask. They just promise not to spend longer than that. –  Tobias Kildetoft Commented Dec 27, 2014 at 16:23
• Downvote for what? My question is clear. That my motivation is unclear does not constitute a reason for downvoting, by the rules here. –  Yes Commented Dec 28, 2014 at 1:58
• @TobiasKildetoft I am afraid you asked a wrong question. That you cannot tell why something causes a question does not mean that the question is not a question. My question is clear in itself. –  Yes Commented Dec 28, 2014 at 2:01

2 Answers 2

In my experience it's common for academic departments to have a graduate admissions committee that meets periodically to make admissions decisions and decisions on financial aid. Sometimes decisions on financial aid are made separately from decisions on admission.

In our department we review applications as they come in and typically respond with a decision on admission within a few weeks. However, decisions on financial aid are made only a few times per year. For example, we'll meet in early April to decide on assistantship awards for the fall semester.

Under this system, if you applied for admission now, we'd review your application and reach an admissions decision by the end of January, and you'd either be told "no", or "you've been admitted but we'll make decisions about financial aid in early April."

I've seen other institutions where all of the applications are held until one meeting where both admissions and financial aid decisions are made at the same time. Under that system, you probably wouldn't hear anything at all until the committee met and made its decisions.

A couple of other comments:

Applications are often sent to a central office ("graduate studies" or something similar) and then distributed to the departments to make admissions decisisons. In my experience, there are many incomplete applications received by our graduate office. We don't see them in the department until and unless all of the required materials have been submitted. You can and probably should check with the office where you sent your application to make sure that the complete application has been received.

Christmas (December 25) and New Year's Day (January 1) are important holidays in the US. Traditionally, fall semester classes end before Christmas and spring semester classes don't start until after New Year's Day. Many colleges and universities are effectively closed for a few weeks around these holidays. You shouldn't expect to hear anything from any university in the US until after New Year's Day because of these holidays.

I am assuming that you are referring to programs that offer rolling admissions —that is, programs where you can submit an application at any time of the year.

The key words in your question are on average . If you consider all of the applications received by the committee, it will take the committee approximately three months to reach a final decision on a randomly chosen application. However, that is definitely not an exact number—in clear-cut cases, they could reach an answer much sooner. Similarly, applications received during "peak" periods or during the summer—when many faculty are on travel and therefore not as readily available to meet for such decisions—it may take a bit longer.

Part of the reason for this is that several layers of decision are usually involved: first the applications need to be reviewed, and individual members of the admissions committee will have a chance to weigh in. Then, if needed or part of the program's process, interviews will be conducted. After that, the application will still need to be approved by the entire admissions committee, and possibly departmental-level approval will also be required.

If you have not heard anything after three (or better, three and a half) months, then a politely worded email to the admissions office to ask about the status of your application would be appropriate.

On the other hand, if there is a single admissions cycle per year, the decision-making schedule is usually more or less the same each year. Thus, regardless of when you actually submit the forms, notification of the decision comes at the same time for everyone.

• Thank you very much for the answer :) In fact, I am not referring to the rolling admissions! I am referring to the normal admissions: One admission for one year. To this case, does the answer still apply or situations might be different? Thanks! –  Yes Commented Dec 27, 2014 at 16:06
• The situation is more or less the same. The issue is that when you submit the application relative to the deadline has less of an effect. The decision will be made for everybody as a group, not just on an individual basis. –  aeismail Commented Dec 27, 2014 at 17:20

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Blind cavefish have extraordinary taste buds

Cavefish increase the number and location of taste buds — to the head and chin, say uc biologists.

Over thousands of years, cavefish evolved and lost their vision, earning the moniker “the blind cavefish,” but some cavefish also developed an inordinate number of taste buds on the head and chin. 

In a new study, now published in the Nature journal Communications Biology , scientists at the University of Cincinnati have determined when the taste buds start to appear in areas beyond the oral cavity. The study was supported by the National Science Foundation. 

To begin, blind cavefish evolved in cave ponds in northeastern Mexico. They are pale pink and nearly translucent compared to their silvery counterparts that live in surface rivers and streams. While cavefish have the faintest outline of eye sockets, the surface fish have enormous round eyes that give them a perpetually surprised expression.

Despite the many obvious physical differences, the two fish are considered the same species.  

Professor Joshua Gross peers through a microscope in his biology lab. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Creative + Brand

“Regression, such as the loss of eyesight and pigmentation, is a well-studied phenomenon, but the biological bases of constructive features are less well understood,” says the article’s senior author  UC professor and biologist Joshua Gross , whose laboratory is dedicated to the study of evolution and development of cave-dwelling vertebrates.

“Knowing just how many doors this opened for future research involving taste bud and taste development was a truly rewarding aspect of this research; especially considering how long these fish live,” says co-author Daniel Berning who earned his master’s degree in biology at UC in 2022, while working on the study in Dr. Gross’ lab.

Cavefish have a keener sense of taste.

Joshua Gross Professor of biology

Although scientists in the 1960s discovered that certain populations of blind cavefish had extra taste buds — on the head and chin — there was no further study of the developmental or genetic processes that explain this unusual trait, says Gross.

To determine when the extra taste buds appear, Gross and his research team looked at the species Astyanax mexicanus, including two separate cavefish populations that dwell in the Pachón and Tinaja caves in northwestern Mexico, known to have the additional taste buds. 

The research team found that the number of taste buds is similar to the surface fish from birth through 5 months of age. The taste buds then start to increase in number and appear on the head and chin in smatterings, well into adulthood, at approximately 18 months.

Blind cavefish. Photo by Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand.

Cavefish can live much longer than 18 months in nature and captivity, and the authors suspect even more taste buds continually accumulate as the fish get older.

The increase correlates with the time that the cavefish stop eating other live foods for sustenance and start to pursue other food sources, Gross says, such as bat guano. Equally fascinating, he says, is that the expansion may occur in other cave locations where there are no bat populations.   

With more taste buds, he says, the cavefish have a keener sense of taste, “which is likely an adaptive trait.”   

“It remains unclear what is the precise functional and adaptive relevance of this augmented taste system,” says Gross, which has led the team to begin new studies that focus on taste, by exposing the fish to different flavors such as sour, sweet and bitter. 

Read more about Dr. Gross' cavefish studies on the UC website:

  "How blind cavefish survive a low-oxygen environment." 

"How do blind cavefish find their way?"   

Featured image at top of cavefish by Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand. 

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UC biologist Josh Gross studies blind cavefish, a species of fish that dwell in cave ponds in Mexico. In a study, supported by the National Science Foundation, Gross looked at the timeline for when the cavefish develop additional taste buds on the head and chin, finding the taste bud expansion starts at five months and continues into adulthood.

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Examining representation and voice at the 107th AEJMC Annual Conference

Top photo: Interim Associate Director of Graduate Studies Kenneth Campbell and graduate student Shamira McCray present at the 2024 AEJMC Conference

The School of Journalism and Mass Communications had robust representation at the Association for Education and Journalism and Mass Communications 107 th Annual Conference, which focused heavily on the impacts of AI on teaching and research. 

“AI was a topic in many of this year’s sessions,” says Dean Tom Reichert. “I was glad to know that our faculty are already exploring many of the ways that AI is changing the fields that we teach.”

Twelve faculty members and six graduate students attended the conference, presenting papers, participating in panel discussions and serving on committees. This year’s theme was “Representation and Voice: The Future of Democracy,” and the conference was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

“Continuous improvement and professional development are critical if a program wants to continue to innovate,” says SJMC Director Damion Waymer.

“From learning about new approaches to teaching to better serve our students to presenting new ideas via research presentations, SJMC faculty and graduate students arrived in Philadelphia to network, to recruit, to learn, to hone, and to share our expertise. Our strong representation at the AEJMC conference is evidence of our place among the leaders in journalism and mass communication education.”

Visual communications student Callie Hribar will have an impact on the 2025 AEJMC Annual Conference as the winner of this year’s logo design competition. Read more »

Who Do You Want to Share AR Experience with? Friends or Strangers?  Anthony Palomba, Virginia; Linwan Wu , South Carolina; and Danny Pimentel, Oregon.

Desperately Seeking Advertising Creativity- Re-Engaging in the Imaginative  3P’s Agenda Adetutu Wande-Kayode (graduate student) and Sabrina Habib , South Carolina

Partisan Media and Political  Discussion as Regulators of Identity  Jacob Long, South Carolina

Virtual Influencers for Cause-Related Marketing: Desirability vs. Feasibility Messages  Yu Chen   (graduate student) and Linwan Wu , South Carolina

Reddit Reaction to Negro Leagues Inclusion in MLB The Show Video Game  Kevin Hull , South Carolina

Irving E. Lowery,   Negro Journalist on a Southern White Daily in Early 20th Century Kenneth Campbell, South Carolina

Priestly or Prophetic Framing: Newspaper Coverage of Black Ministers’ Reaction to Emanuel AME Church Shooting Kenneth Campbell  and Shamira McCray (graduate student), South Carolina

Artificial Impressions: Trust and Credibility in AI-Enhanced Profile Pictures  Jacob Long  and graduate students Carrie Xiao, Shamira McCray, Ertan Agaoglu, Abdullah Alajmi, Chinwendu Akalonu, and Yanzhen Xu, South Carolina

Content Removal: The Moderation Practices of Google and Governments Around the World  Chinwendu Akalonu (graduate student), South Carolina

Police Brutality in the News: A Framing Analysis of Walter Scott’s Murder***  Shamira McCray (graduate student), South Carolina

Panels/Discussions 

Globalization and MNO Prosocial Communication in Public Relations: Perspectives from Bangladesh, Botswana, Indonesia, and Kenya Discussant: Damion Waymer , South Carolina

Fire in a Political Theater: The First Amendment Legacy of Donald J. Trump   Moderating/Presiding: Eric P. Robinson , South Carolina  

Teaching Panel Session  Chatting ChatGPT: Ethical Use of AI in Research  and Pedagogy Panelist:    Laura K. Smith, South Carolina

Research Panel Session  I Am Not Able to Assist with That.”: AI Assistance in Risk and Crisis Communications (Research) Panelist : Taylor Jing Wen, South Carolina

Refereed Research Paper Sessions The Influence of Emotion in Social Media Visuals Moderating Presiding:  Denise McGill , South Carolina

Audience as Epistemic Agent in the News Coverage of the Russian War in Ukraine Discussant: Anli Xiao, South Carolina

Authorship and Newsroom Image Crediting Practices on Instagram Discussant: Tara Mortensen , South Carolina

Innovations in Teaching Panel Visual Communication and Magazine Media Divisions Presiding:  Denise McGill , South Carolina

Creating Funding Programs to Assist Students Afford Internships and Applied Learning Experiences Panelist: Denise McGill , South Carolina

Commitees/Competitions

2024-24 AEJMC Elected Standing Committee Members Laura K. Smith, South Carolina

Annual AEJMC Conference Logo Contest Chair: Tara Mortensen , University of South Carolina

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Things to do TV and Streaming

San diego arts & culture newsletter: ‘dark winds’ headed to netflix, also this week: steve poltz in solana beach, a '70s music review in carlsbad, a binational exhibit in downtown san diego and more.

But this is for those of you who do binge watch. On Monday, Netflix makes available the first two seasons of the psychological cop drama “Dark Winds,” originally produced for AMC.

If you didn’t catch this stylish, visceral adaptation of Tony Hillerman’s Navajo Nation mysteries when it began two years ago, get busy, bingers. You won’t regret it.

The show produced by, among others, Robert Redford and George R.R. Martin stars Zahn McLarnon (“Reservation Dogs”), Kiowa Gordon and Jessica Matten as three Navajo Tribal Police characters created by Hillerman, who wrote 18 novels set on the “Big Rez” as he called it before he passed away in 2008. His daughter Anne has continued writing about the characters of Joe Leaphorn, Jim Chee and Bernadette Manuelito since 2013.

The Netflix arrival will allow those like myself who’ve watched the show from the start the luxury of episodes not being interrupted by AMC’s incessant blocks of commercials.

But again, for those who didn’t see Seasons 1 or 2 of “Dark Winds” (it’s tentatively scheduled to premiere Season 3 sometime next year), find out what you’ve been missing — like its vivid characters and the stark beauty of a Navajo country threatened by violence and malevolence.

He’s back, and the Belly Up’s got him. Six months after headlining his “Annual 50th Birthday Bash” at the Solana Beach venue, Steve Poltz takes the stage there on Sunday night at 7 p.m. The Bay Area bluegrass band The Brothers Comatose opens. https://bellyup.com/calendar/#tw-event-dialog-13560164

If you’re a fan and/or you’ve followed Poltz for years you already know he’s a founding member of the indie-rock locals The Rugburns and once a staple of places like the Ould Sod in Normal Heights and the Inner Change in PB. But that’s going way back. For a quarter-century Poltz, now based in Nashville, has been making records and touring. Touring a lot. His shows are as clever, cool and entertaining as ever. For more visit poltz.com .

I love asking college students I teach if they know what an 8-track tape is. Most of the time I get bemused stares and dead silence. Those clunky cartridges ubiquitous in the 1970s are long gone, but many people cling with fond nostalgia to the music they contained.

Should that be you, New Village Arts Theatre in Carlsbad is your destination for the jukebox musical  “8-Track: The Sounds of the ‘70s.”   Beginning with preview performances Friday, a cast of six in period garb (brace yourself for bell bottoms and leisure suits) will belt out songs by performers who were at the forefront of this sometimes-disrespected musical era. From the sublime (like Marvin Gaye) to the ridiculous (KC and the Sunshine Band — sorry, disco fans.)

Tijuana-born and -based SDSU graduate Hugo Crosthwaite has been reflecting border narratives in art for more than two decades. His installation “ The Rupture of the White Cube,” curated and designed by Smadar Samson, will be on exhibit beginning Monday at the Mesa College Art Gallery.

In this comparatively small gallery you’ll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in Crosthwaite’s work on a more intimate basis. The artist himself will be on hand at a reception there from 4 to 7 p.m. Aug. 29. He’ll also do a live endurance painting session that can be viewed beginning Monday (through Aug. 28) from noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday. A parking permit is required on campus. For hours and details, visit sdmesa.edu/art-gallery .

Many students are back in school now, but the summer movie season isn’t over. Friday brings the opening nationwide of the sci-fi horror film “Alien: Romulus.”

It’s been well over 40 years since the first “Alien” flick, directed by Ridley Scott and starring Sigourney Weaver, taught moviegoers that “in space, no one can hear you scream” (the film’s catch line). Scott is one of the producers of this seventh “Alien” movie which is set between the first movie’s timeline and that of the follow-up, “Aliens,” in 1986.

Cailee Spaeny, who you might have seen playing Priscilla Presley in a theatrical biopic last year, tangles with a force even more powerful than Elvis in “Alien: Romulus.”

University of California Television invites you to enjoy this special selection of programs from throughout the University of California. Descriptions courtesy of and text written by UCTV staff:

“Performance: The Lyrical Groove

The Intersections Concert series presents the award-winning hip-hop soul band The Lyrical Groove. Known for their unique blend of spoken word and live instrumentation across diverse musical genres, the band features the talents of producer and poet Kendrick Dial, artist Brisa Lauren and a seasoned ensemble of musicians. Their music, which has earned them three San Diego Music Awards, including Best Hip Hop/Soul Artist and Best Hip Hop/Soul Album, resonates deeply with themes of humanity and soulful expression. Beyond their musical achievements, band members like Lauren engage in political and civic advocacy, while Dial trains human service leader professionals, underscoring their commitment to creating impactful, enjoyable art.

“The Art of Mexico’s Currency”

Deputy Vice Governor of Banco de Mexico Galia Borja Gómez discusses the transformative redesign of Mexican currency. Delving into themes of national identity and technological advancement, she explains how the new banknotes are a celebration of Mexico’s rich cultural and natural heritage, integrated with advanced security features to bolster public trust. This redesign is not just a functional update but a cultural revival, aiming to foster national pride and deepen the public’s connection to their heritage. Borja Gómez emphasizes Banco de Mexico’s dedication to marrying tradition with innovation, ensuring that each banknote not only serves as legal tender but also as a storyteller of Mexico’s storied past and vibrant present.

“Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disparities among Black, White and Filipino Women”

Dr. Maria Rosario (Happy) G. Araneta explores health disparities among Black, White and Filipino women, with a focus on visceral fat accumulation and its links to diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Dr. Araneta highlights the significant impact of prenatal and childhood malnutrition on health outcomes such as coronary heart disease. Despite lower Body Mass Index (BMI) levels, Filipino women exhibit higher levels of dangerous visceral fat compared to their Black and White peers. She underscores the importance of physical activity, strength training, and inclusive research to address these disparities, emphasizing the need to understand unique health profiles across different demographics to develop more equitable health policies and practices.

And finally, top weekend events

The best things to do this weekend in San Diego: Aug. 16-18.

David L. Coddon, for the Union-Tribune

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