Philip Guo - Advice for preparing to apply and actually applying to science Ph.D. programs
Summary:
The Ph.D. application is best viewed as a job application rather than as a traditional college or professional school application. Candidates are applying for the job of a paid research assistant who just happens to also be able to take classes and work towards a degree. Therefore, to maximize your chances of admission, you must show how you will be a valuable asset to the school in terms of producing research results.