When applying for a Ph.D. program, do not just look at the specific department or a school's reputation. Look at specific individuals and determine which professors you wish to work with and the type of research you find interesting. While schools are interviewing you to be part of their program, you should also be interviewing the Ph.D. program. Make sure you can get what you want out of the Ph.D. program by choosing the program that is right for you.
Unlike bachelor's programs, there is a wealth of funding opportunities for a Ph.D. student. There are many funding bodies out there; your Ph.D. should be fully funded and should include a stipend, tuition and research funds.
Look for funding at the university of your choice, the federal government, institutions, and specific grant and scholarship programs. Many times a professor will advertise a Ph.D. position as he will have obtained funding for research and needs a student to complete the funding. Also inquire about a research assistantship, teaching assistantship, training grant or in state tuition awards.
Formulate a plan to meet both short-term and long-term goals. This plan should include meeting deadlines, as well as contingency plans if an experiment does not work properly or if an emergency, educational or personal, occurs. Have a time line. And as you write the proposal, think about the number of papers you need to produce and if the planned research will contain enough results for these necessary publications.
Understand the role of your supervisor, who is there to help the student define the project when creating a research proposal. The supervisor helps the student create original research, provide guidance on scientific writing and ensure the student has the right attitude for research. While the supervisor helps you, he will not hold your hand the entire time. Many supervisors only offer help when the student asks for it. Make sure you schedule regular meetings so you and your supervisor know what is going on in your project.
A successful Ph.D. pursuit results in a dissertation submitted after three or four years of study and research. Be aware that the dissertation does not contain everything you have attempted. It presents specific contributions to the field and tells a story to answer the main research aim.
The dissertation must also be successfully defended by an oral exam. Each university will require a specific number of publications or conference presentations as a result of the Ph.D. research. The research should be beneficial to the field and uncover some new information.
Get to know the staff in your department, including the non-academic staff. Many times the secretaries and technical staff know how the department works and can help you get the research, information and materials you require.