PhD Application Agency: Do You Need One?

Why Would You Need a PhD Application Agency?

At this point in your academic career, you have dealt with applications before and have likely completed both an undergraduate and master’s degree, so you may not feel like a PhD application agency is necessary. The reality is: while it’s true that getting grad school application help may not be necessary for you depending on your situation, it is usually better for your chances than not receiving any assistance at all. A PhD application is not something to take lightly. Therefore, partnering with an agency that employs trained consultants can be a viable course of action for those who have even the slightest of doubts about their application. Here are some of the main reasons why some students would consider a PhD application agency:

1.    Applications Are Competitive

PhD programs can be very small in number (much smaller than undergraduate and master’s programs) with only a few accepted applicants from a much larger pool, which means the competition is very tough. Doctoral programs can also have qualified applicants from all over the world competing for a small number of spots, which can further narrow your chances. The slightest difference in GPA or quality of application documents can result in rejection rather than acceptance.

That being said, it is difficult to fully assess how competitive PhD programs are as a whole because they can range across a wide variety of disciplines and are not as well-specified as medical school admission rates, for example. The general takeaway is that many post-graduate programs are competitive, but depending on the discipline or the institution, PhD admissions can have some of the lowest acceptance rates. For instance, the University of Toronto admits about 22.6% of applicants to its post-graduate program. Meanwhile, Ivy League schools such as Brown University could have even lower rates, accepting only about 10% of their total PhD program applicants. Regardless of where you apply, you want your application to stand out against the competition to give yourself the best shot at getting in.

2.    Applications Are Complicated

Not only are PhD programs competitive, but they also have many components that can be difficult to keep track of. Each university could have a list of requirements you need to complete just to apply that may or may not be the same as another school. Requirements for a PhD program can include, but are not limited to, admission exams, standardized testing, GPA requirements, transcripts, written documents such as a resume, a graduate school statement of purpose or research interest statement, grad school letters of recommendation, and interviews. PhD programs aim to accept the most qualified applicants based on a variety of factors. If you are an international student, there can be additional requirements for you as well, such as English proficiency tests, certificates, and more. None of this also considers finding a place to live if you get accepted and are moving for your PhD program and settling any other additional matters.

Needless to say, there is a lot to think about and prepare for when going into a PhD application and you will have a lot on your plate. You will need to be organized and know exactly what is needed for every part of your PhD application timeline. Part of the reason you may choose to enlist the services of a PhD application agency is simply to help you parse through everything you must accomplish as part of your application, while still submitting a successful package. It takes a lot of time, money, and energy to apply for advanced graduate programs such as PhDs, so having a helping hand can be a saving grace for many applicants.

3.    Applications Are Challenging

Motivation is a significant part of completing a PhD. The multiple requirements of graduate school applications will force you to evaluate what you really want out of the degree. Before applying, ask yourself, "should you pursue a master’s or PhD?" to really dig deep into the reasons why you’re interested in a PhD in the first place. Applicants are coming into doctorate applications for multiple reasons, whether for career prospects, to expand a research project, or to become a notable expert in their field. PhD applicants are usually very determined and have specific goals in mind when they decide to go on this journey. This determination is what leads prospective graduate students to creating the best application package they can, adding to the overall competitiveness of the pool.

You may require a PhD application agency to solidify your own motives for continuing your education at the doctoral level. Academic consulting or other higher education services could improve your chances of reaching whatever goal you have. Peace of mind is extremely important when embarking on a new stage of your life. Speaking with a consultant who understands the process will be able to lead you in the right direction and satisfy any doubts. Some advisors will also help you plan a path that allows you to better learn how to find a job after grad school. From a mental standpoint, a PhD application agency can ultimately assuage worry surrounding your choice to pursue a doctorate degree.

What Does a PhD Application Agency Do?

PhD application agencies are essentially businesses or companies that are meant to help students succeed. At the base, they do this by helping you get into a program that will advance your academic and professional career. The PhD consultants that work in these agencies are experts in admissions for a variety of disciplines. Ideally, they will have useful advice and strategies to give you as you navigate any part of the process. In private sessions, they can review an application that is already basically complete and just provide tips for how to improve it or be with you from A to Z. There are no guarantees, but a PhD application agency can significantly improve your chances of getting accepted. Here are some of the standard ways a prep company can have a positive impact on your application:

1.    Preparation Stage

Applications are all about how much effort and thought you put into them in advance. You will often be told to research and get everything ready as soon as you can before the deadline, which is pretty good advice. The quicker you have a game plan, the more likely you are to plan for it and execute it effectively. What that plan consists of can shift depending on the goals you have for your PhD and what you want to get out of it. It can be tough to know what programs are looking for and what research or work experiences are best for your intended field. It is easy to simply look online for information and base your plan off of that. This method can work for some applicants, but you are not getting any personalized help. This is where PhD application agencies can help, by sorting all this out for you and setting you up nicely to achieve an acceptance.

Information online can provide advice on a topic in general to appeal to as many students as possible, but only a PhD consultant or graduate school advisor can truly provide tailored feedback that is relevant to your situation. For example, a consultant can further expose you to different options you may not be aware of, such as MD-PhD programs, or research schools with the best funding options to help you save money on your degree. Moreover, reading a blog post can advise you regarding which references to ask for a graduate school letter of recommendation, but a PhD consultant can help you pinpoint who in your network will be able to provide the strongest letter based on your current position. A PhD application agency can be an essential component of your planning phase before turning your focus to the actual application.

2.    Application Stage

A PhD application agency and its consultants can review every part of your application to make sure the documents you submit speak to one another and create a cohesive story. They can help put your distinctive motivations into words by editing your statement of intent. Written documents are some of the most crucial when program directors must distinguish applicants beyond GPA or test scores. Your grammar and syntax need to be flawless, so it is okay to ask for help from a professional if you struggle in this area. It’s important to note that consultants will not write these for you but can provide feedback based on their expertise while also improving your writing skills. This way, your writing will come from you, but still receive the necessary edits and polish that it deserves. Advisors can also teach you how to write a CV for grad school to make sure you highlight the most relevant life experiences that justify your candidacy.

In addition to the submission of written documents, situational judgment tests (SJTs) are becoming more and more prevalent for medical school admissions, residency applications, and general graduate school applications, such as for a master’s degree or PhD. If your program requires the completion of CASPer or any other test of this nature, a PhD application agency can provide a mock SJT such as a free sample CASPer SIM practice test that will closely replicate the conditions of the actual test. Consultants can then provide custom feedback on your responses and how to improve them for the real thing. When it comes time to apply for your doctorate degree, PhD application agencies exist to serve your individual needs as a student, so their objective is to give you every opportunity to succeed.

3.    Interview Stage

The interview is usually one of the last steps before receiving the final decision, where you are evaluated on your communication and interpersonal skills. It is also the moment when graduate program directors or department chairs meet you in person and get a first impression of your personality. It is a common misconception that you cannot prepare for an interview, but there are concrete measures you can take to receive a better interview score. On your own, you can read up on some graduate school interview questions to get to know what you may be asked, but you can never receive unbiased feedback on your responses unless you are close to someone who is very familiar with graduate school interviews.

This is where PhD application agencies come in. A PhD application agency can offer graduate school interview preparation that is meant to best prepare you when you walk into the interview room. A consultant can conduct mock interviews using the most common questions until you are ready to go. They can help you practice identifying various question types and learn strategies for how to answer each one. Regardless of the interview format, this framework can be applied to any question you face. Even general questions such as “tell me about yourself” will become much less daunting once you work them through with a trusted advisor. Working with a consultant to adjust your strategy to interviews will help you get accepted. Interviewing is a skill that can be useful to you for the rest of your life. Your eventual proficiency at interviews when you enter the professional world can start with a PhD application agency.

How to Find a PhD Application Agency

Now that you have discovered what a PhD application agency can do for your chances of getting into a doctoral program, the issue is where to find one that is suitable for your needs. For instance, if you’re wondering, “do I need a graduate degree to gain admission to medical school?", there are companies that specialize in medical school admissions that will be able to perfectly address any of your concerns. When researching consulting companies such as BeMo Academic Consulting, you can determine whether the services provided are of interest to you.

Word of mouth is also always a great option. If you know anyone who has been accepted into a PhD program in your field, you could always ask them to inform you of any advising they have used. Student forums and reviews can be useful if you need to hear other opinions about any agency or advisor before you fully commit. In addition, your current university might have in-house advising for PhD applications or offer services to help with other academic matters, such as how to find a PhD topic. There may be just what you need within the halls of your school. Always make sure to see what options you have at your disposal.

Conclusion

Applying for a PhD program can be rather overwhelming, but what is important to remember is that you do not have to go through the process alone. A graduate school admissions consultant from a PhD application agency or elsewhere can be just the push you need to put your best put forward and get into your program. The goal is to get accepted in as few attempts as possible to not waste any extra time, money, or energy. Rejection can result in delaying your career by a year or having to settle for another option as you figure out how to transition from academia to industry. Partnering with a consulting company such as BeMo can definitely be one way to put the necessary effort into getting into a great PhD program and expanding your horizons. You are more likely to succeed if you give yourself the opportunity to do so. A PhD application agency will allow you to do just that.

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To your success,

Your friends at BeMo

BeMo Academic Consulting

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