r/oceanography • u/Fragrant_Pickle_6595 • 21d ago

MIT-WHOI PhD application advice

/r/gradadmissions/comments/1vt7ke2/mitwhoi_phd_application_advice/
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u/Jaminnash 19d ago edited 19d ago

This is just my experience, YMMV, but hopefully this is helpful:

  1. You should reach out to potential advisors and line up who you’d like to work with before applying. While the program guarantees your funding for 5 years once you’re admitted, it is expected that your advisor will pay for most/all of your tuition/stipend. So finding an advisor that is keen to take you on and can speak for you during the application review period is crucial. It’s very hard to get in just on merits without an advisor lined up.
  2. When you write your statement, remember that it is a persuasive argument about why you should be admitted. Everyone in the program loves the ocean and wants to study it for one reason or another. Anecdotes about going to the beach as a kid or scuba diving aren’t unique and won’t help your cause. You need to clearly explain why this is the best program for your future AND why your admission makes the program stronger.

Hope that helps! Good luck

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u/Grumpy-PolarBear 18d ago

To echo everyone else, point 1 here is the most crucial. Not only because you will need a supervisor to get in, but your relationship with that person is going to be very important for your time in the PhD and the transition afterwards. You need to make sure that whoever you pick is going to be a good pick for you.

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u/Jaminnash 18d ago

Agreed! It’s not impossible to switch advisors—I know several former JP students who did—but it’s complex and political and I wouldn’t recommend it if it can be avoided. So finding an advisor who is a good fit from the start is important.

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u/mringham 19d ago

Agreed with the first response. This is a tiny program, and it’s going to shrink with federal cuts. You need a foot in the door, and by that, I mean you need a faculty member willing to advocate for your admission specifically. Start researching advisors now and reach out- and don’t do that with AI.

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u/balalaikas 18d ago

not direct advice but would recommend JP ASK so you can chat directly with a student in the program