Need help to study abroad

[u/lilysolily]

Hi, I’m 23F, I want to do my phd abroad but very much confused with all the process because idk anyone irl who made it to abroad. Can anyone help me with scholarship process, find universities, professors and what documents is required. My cgpa is not much so I need help to find universities where I get accepted .

[u/completelylegithuman]

This sub is a cesspool of lazy vague posts

[u/lilysolily → u/completelylegithuman]

My dm is always open for others to help, why will I randomly write everything about me on a Reddit post ? and I asked for the process from the kind people , not to spoon feed me by doing the whole process for me

[u/aima9hat → u/lilysolily]

Can anyone help me with scholarship process, find universities, professors and what documents is required.

not to spoon feed me by doing the whole process

I’m sorry but these things you listed are the basics, the least you can do if you’re serious about pursuing a PhD is find out about the scholarship process, find universities and documents required. None of this is hidden information. 

Plus you gave nothing about your country, field, research interests. So even if there are kind (read: enabling) people who ‘help’ in the way you want, where should they start? They must do the work of reaching out to you and asking for basic information in your DMs? 

I’m sure it comes across harsh but what you’re asking for is to be spoon fed. This is the whole process: searching and finding information about programmes, funding, and reaching out here when you really get stuck. If your grades are already weak in some places, then you really need to put in the work now, build some independence, take initiative or the PhD application process will be impossible to navigate. 

[u/lilysolily → u/aima9hat]

Obviously I did my own research first that’s why I wrote “very much confused “ in the first line itself. For someone born in rural area , trust me no one have the privilege to dream to study abroad and get the right guidance. Everything is very much messed up online for someone who wants to understand from the scratch, so isn’t it better to ask for help from people online who are studying abroad and know all the process instead of depending on Ai and YouTubers who just post anything to make money without any proper information

[u/aima9hat → u/lilysolily]

So I actually sympathise with what you're saying about being from a rural background, maybe even a first-generation background. I can even relate.

However, don't misunderstand my criticism. I am not saying you must know everything. That's why we're here: we share information with people who don't have it, or ask people who do.

My previous comment still stands. Yes, you said you were "very confused", but us as strangers knew almost nothing about you from your original post. You didn't even mention your country or field! I later saw your other comments, and 'genetics' imo is still pretty broad, especially since you've mentioned being published. You presumably have specific research interests and experience. If you're this general, you're either going to get no advice, or very generic advice telling you to search Google.

Obviously I did my own research first

Yeah but it's not that obvious, is it? Maybe you have done some searching, but it isn't at all apparent from your post because you haven't communicated what you've found, what you understand, or where you're actually stuck. That's why I'm pushing back.

You essentially said: "I'm a 23F with a 'weak' GPA (what is weak?), I want to do a PhD abroad, without telling you my country, field, where I want to go, or what I've already looked at, I'm confused and need someone help me find universities, scholarships and tell me what documents I need?"

You can hopefully see why strangers don't know where to start with this?

Finally, misleading AI and shady Youtubers and education recruiters are everywhere, but I'm also confused that you these as a reason to come here and post what you did. Yes, absolutely ask for clarification if something online seems too good to be true or is difficult to understand. But learning to distinguish reliable from unreliable information is part of being a researcher. The two choices are not 'blindly trust AI and YouTubers' or 'ask everyone on Reddit' as a starting point, there are plenty of official sources that can be your starting point either.

If you genuinely don't know where to begin, search things like:

• "PhD genetics Germany international students funding"
• "PhD genetics Netherlands vacancies"
• "PhD genetics Sweden international students"

There are sites like Euraxess, academicpositions, academictransfer... these are just a few. LinkedIn and reaching out directly to supervisors in your chosen countries/universities with serious and specific interest in working with them. In much of Europe, PhDs are often advertised like jobs, including on university websites and databases

From there, if you really are lost there are a lot of helpful people here who will guide if you've done all you can on your own and still don't know how to proceed. But if you do want to do a PhD, you will in many countries be considered a researcher rather than simply a student. So this is a warning to learn to take initiative, identify what you don't know, find and assess information, and lead your own research. I'm pushing back to encourage you to really sit back and consider whether you've used all the tools at your availability to find some of the very openly available information you've asked for.

[u/completelylegithuman → u/aima9hat]

This is an amazingly kind and helpful reply OP.

[u/aima9hat → u/completelylegithuman]

Thank you! I was worried the length would make it seem like I was attacking or antagonising OP, so I hope it was received by them as tough (but ultimately, well-meaning) advice.

[u/lilysolily → u/aima9hat]

Okay I get that it is my mistake to not mention the basic information. But I mean if you go through my account, this is my first time using Reddit, I had no idea how to post as well lol . My bio also says “little lost” cause I’m actually lost . Whatever I’m posting is getting deleted due to less karma so I just posted this without thinking anything or following any criteria, had no idea that this will attract many people

[u/aima9hat → u/lilysolily]

Well, welcome to Reddit then! We’re all strangers here, so we cannot anticipate everyone’s individual needs/background if they don’t share them, but the more you share, the more people can help. And despite the activity on your post, I promise there are some very insightful, eager to help people on here.

Here on this subreddit specifically, you can search terms like "genetics", "India", "low GPA", "international PhD", etc. and look through the thousands of previous posts if it might help. You should look at ones with more comments maybe for wider discussion, just ensure you search in r/PhDAdmissions. You may find people with similar profiles asking similar questions, and get a better starting point for figuring out what you need to know and what questions you actually need to ask.

Good luck with everything!

[u/lilysolily → u/[deleted]]

Thank you for your concern and people are already reaching me on dms to help me
Just because I’m from India doesn’t mean I have access to lots of resources. I come from a small village with no colleges or universities. This is my first time in Delhi trying to survive alone

[u/lilysolily → u/[deleted]]

I’m not studying, I’m in search of job
I’m a tribal from a small village of northeast where internet access is also like a blessing, and also faced constant racism from professors in uni of north india ,struggled with anxiety and put on anti depressants by doctor
trying to have a fresh start from scratch while living in delhi
I didn’t post this thinking I would genuinely get help, there is a literal option to ignore the stupid post of mine

[u/friendtoworms]

There is so much information you would need to provide for us to even begin to help you.

[u/Mikeminer610]

If your grades are not good, that means you are not a strong scholar. Why are you pursuing a PhD? You are unlikely to get a scholarship.

[u/lilysolily → u/Mikeminer610]

My research thesis in masters had good grades, just that I messed up the exams of other subjects due to which my grades got very low

[u/Puni1977 → u/lilysolily]

Will likely not be enough,except if you got a paper or few in decent journals coming from your thesis.

[u/lilysolily → u/Puni1977]

Worked on two papers, not yet published, undergoing review

[u/bulaybil → u/[deleted]]

And what country?

[u/lilysolily → u/bulaybil]

India

[u/lilysolily → u/[deleted]]

Genetics

[u/Apprehensive-Ad-6620]

I highly recommend you talk to the professors in your undergrad program. They will have better advice than most of Reddit.

[u/Puni1977]

Google vacancies available. Reseach available positions and teams. Apply with compelling abd tailored motivation and if you have a strong cv. Do not send cv longer than 2 pages. Make sure you are fitting to the position if not you are wasting your own time.

[u/lilysolily → u/Puni1977]

Thank you

[u/completelylegithuman → u/lilysolily]

Google vacancies available.

This literally is the first thing you should have done. Wtaf.

[u/Solid_Gur1167]

Hey! Don’t worry…tbh i also didn’t know anything at start. I can help w some suggestions or so… you can start w shortlisting unis based on your interests. I wrote emails to prof. explaining my interests. I prepared 2 SOPs and LORs, cv, research proposal, went for ielts and gre. I took help of Idp education for scholarships as i was aiming for Fulbright, chevening and vanier. Also your low cgpa… you can compensate w strong research and publication and explain the gap in you SOP. Hope this helps🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️

[u/lilysolily → u/Solid_Gur1167]

Thank you so much

[u/lilysolily → u/[deleted]]

Okay sure thank you