University of Washington

1. 1

   Other round

   General SOP to CDS and department academic rank

   Rank from SOP, CV and CPI (one account guesses CPI is about half); MSE department interviewed, Mechanical did not.

2. 2

   Resume shortlist

   Project-wise SOP and resume reviewed by university faculty
   eliminatory

   Most accounts say selection was on documents alone.

3. 3

   Technical interview

   Interview by professor or PhD students
   easy

   interests · motivation · prior projects · extracurriculars

   Only some had one; mostly about interests and motivation, a bit technical in one case. Three accounts report no interview.

Advice from candidates

29 pieces of advice, in their own words. Names removed.

• 1. Maintaining a good CPI and writing about the different academic achievements like Dean’s List awards.

  resume · 2024-25

• 2. Always add project reports with links. Every single project on my resume has a report link as it shows credibility and your understanding of the projects.

  resume · 2024-25

• 3. Always include major course projects in your resume. They reflect both theoretical understanding and practical application.

  resume · 2024-25

• Try diverse domains in Material Science early: If unsure between experimental or computational research, dedicate one semester to each. This helps you find your interest while gaining hands-on experience in both.

  preparation · 2024-25

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