As a European applicant...
Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2015 7:38 pm
I want to express my deepest sympathies towards the American students because holy *** are they being abused. You people must be nothing short of superhuman to have survived under this kind of human rights violation throughout your high school and undergraduate career. Something about this whole application process, the insane stress, all the deadlines and countless little things that you can *** up really blows everything way out of proportion. You forget a physics department is made up of human beings that simply love their work and do not get paid very much. Instead these application committees become pantheons of stern old-testament gods with the power to crush your dreams and take away your reason for living.
European PhD positions, especially where I'm from, are essentially job openings and are treated that way. They appear throughout the year, allow you to apply for them, be interviewed to see if you got what it takes, and possibly be hired. You have useful skills and departments look for your useful skills. You are a valuable person. In no way, shape or form are you expected to pay upwards of $125 for the privilege of applying to the position. You are not constantly being reminded you're just one small packet of paper among hundreds, insignificant and prone to be judged by a mirthless group of grim, grim professors who will throw out your file over the slightest transgression.
The paranoia I've seen on here is understandable, even justified. At first, it was kind of amusing to see those threads that essentially read "I only got 950 for my pGRE, please recommend efficient ways to off myself". Now, I completely see where the attitude comes from. Standardized testing is a cruel, cruel beast. You are forced to learn an arbitrary set of techniques that you must apply in a 170-minute window which tells you how much better you are than others. Because indeed, you are told exactly where you rank. And for some reason you have to pay hundreds of dollars to be submitted to this torture and another few hundred to have your execution warrants sent out (because clicking 'send email' is a $27 dollar job now and adding a cc is apparently another $27). I understand Americans are primed for these tests way in advance and are often told the number that rolls out of them is directly proportional to their value as a person. I also heard the Chinese and Indians have cracked these tests and integrated 'giving' them into their culture. My own results in these tests were only okay, but I think I'll take my 'only okay' score over a lifetime of panicking
Don't get me wrong, I am glad I went through all of this. I set out to do something and no matter the outcome, I have done it to the best of my abilities. But the sheer stress that is so particular to the American grad school application must be acknowledged. Good job, guys and girls. I admire you just for having weathered this onslaught all your lives.
European PhD positions, especially where I'm from, are essentially job openings and are treated that way. They appear throughout the year, allow you to apply for them, be interviewed to see if you got what it takes, and possibly be hired. You have useful skills and departments look for your useful skills. You are a valuable person. In no way, shape or form are you expected to pay upwards of $125 for the privilege of applying to the position. You are not constantly being reminded you're just one small packet of paper among hundreds, insignificant and prone to be judged by a mirthless group of grim, grim professors who will throw out your file over the slightest transgression.
The paranoia I've seen on here is understandable, even justified. At first, it was kind of amusing to see those threads that essentially read "I only got 950 for my pGRE, please recommend efficient ways to off myself". Now, I completely see where the attitude comes from. Standardized testing is a cruel, cruel beast. You are forced to learn an arbitrary set of techniques that you must apply in a 170-minute window which tells you how much better you are than others. Because indeed, you are told exactly where you rank. And for some reason you have to pay hundreds of dollars to be submitted to this torture and another few hundred to have your execution warrants sent out (because clicking 'send email' is a $27 dollar job now and adding a cc is apparently another $27). I understand Americans are primed for these tests way in advance and are often told the number that rolls out of them is directly proportional to their value as a person. I also heard the Chinese and Indians have cracked these tests and integrated 'giving' them into their culture. My own results in these tests were only okay, but I think I'll take my 'only okay' score over a lifetime of panicking
Don't get me wrong, I am glad I went through all of this. I set out to do something and no matter the outcome, I have done it to the best of my abilities. But the sheer stress that is so particular to the American grad school application must be acknowledged. Good job, guys and girls. I admire you just for having weathered this onslaught all your lives.