Today, I’m joined by three incredible first-year PhD students from Harvard, MIT, and Northeastern University to discuss how they successfully navigated the PhD application process. We talk about everything — from choosing programs, writing the statement of purpose, finding research fit, handling interviews, and the best advice they received along the way.

If you're preparing your PhD applications or thinking about applying in the future, this conversation will give you real, honest insights from students who were just in your shoes.

⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:33 Ella Hugie: Harvard
00:41 – Why a PhD?
01:09 – School selection
01:44 – Hardest part
02:04 – Statement of Purpose
02:31 – Lessons learned
02:54 – Best advice
03:22 – Tips for applicants
03:39 – Kai Nylund: Northeastern
03:50 – Why a PhD
04:09 – School selection
04:44 – Hardest part
05:02 – Statement of Purpose
05:49 – Lessons learned
06:13 – Best advice
07:04 – Arnav Verma: MIT
07:14 – Why a PhD
07:50 – School selection
08:23 – Hardest part
09:14 – Statement of Purpose
10:18 – Lessons learned
11:29 – Best advice
12:52 – Tips for applicants

🔍 Keywords
PhD application tips, PhD interview advice, graduate school admissions, statement of purpose, how to apply to a PhD, how to get into Harvard PhD, MIT PhD advice, Northeastern PhD student, grad school motivation, research statement example, applying to computer science PhD, psychology PhD advice, how to write a strong SOP, academic success, grad school interview questions

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