One of the initial hurdles that must be overcome prior to pursuing a Ph.D. is obtaining an undergraduate degree. Additionally, many Ph.D. programs seek out students who have graduated from their college or university with high grade point averages and academic honors. This is one of the more difficult aspects of obtaining a Ph.D., as graduating with academic honors is no easy feat regardless of the undergraduate institution.
An additional hurdle to obtaining a Ph.D. is the fact that a standardized test is involved. The GRE, or Graduate Record Examination, is an exam that potential Ph.D. candidates must take prior to applying to Ph.D. programs. The test is made up of three parts: verbal, quantitative and analytical writing. The exam is difficult, and Ph.D. applicants should spend a significant amount of time preparing for the exam. In order to be accepted into most Ph.D. programs, a quantitative score of at least 700 and a verbal score of around 600 is required. This is a difficult task as both scores are well above average.
The process of obtaining a Ph.D. is further complicated by the fact that applicants need letters of recommendation from professors at their undergraduate institution. While the number of letters needed varies depending on the program, the letters must be from professors who can write about the applicant's past academic achievements and ability to take on the challenge of obtaining a Ph.D. Obtaining letters of recommendation should not be too difficult as most students have at least three professors who can vouch for their academic achievements.
In addition to having good grades and high GRE scores, Ph.D. applicants must be good writers. Ph.D. programs require applicants to submit writing samples in the form of published works or thesis papers. Further, applicants must be able to convey in writing why they want to pursue a Ph.D. Additionally, Ph.D. applicants will need to interview with the different Ph.D. programs during the application process. The publication requirement is arguably one of the more difficult aspects of applying for a Ph.D., as having a thesis or other published writings requires a high undergraduate GPA. The interview is also difficult as the interviewers are respected experts in the academic field.