AMCAS phd options

[skittles]

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Is what you choose as possible PhD interests on AMCAS very important? Will it in any way affect your chances of getting into a school? (Ex: you pick a research interest that the school's not so strong in, or they're recruiting for a particular dept?) Also, they have the "Other" option, which may mean non-science PhDs or other science PhDs not listed above. Is this an option to stay away from? In other words, is it a plus to go into the app process sounding like you know exactly what you want?

 

[kels]

My experience (keep in mind AMCAS may have changed slightly from last year) was that it does not matter at all. They send you the same secondary regardless, and that's where you make the real indication. Even then, it's not too important as they sometimes ask for 2-3 departments you'd be interested in. Hopefully others can confirm what I'm saying...

 

[Neuronix]

Most schools don't look at what you put on your AMCAS about research interests, but rather what you put on your secondary. I don't think any school is really going to say "Wow, we're really weak in that entire department", so I don't think you should worry about that. If they were to think that, you wouldn't want to waste your time there anyways 🙂

After that it depends on the school. Here, they take your research interests from your secondary, and if they don't mesh well with our departments they either reject you post-secondary or if they really like you they contact you to talk about it. If you just express some broad interest, it would be a safer bet I guess in this regard. But, if you have specific interests perhaps you should do research into where these interests could be best filled.

At some other schools (Duke for example) they pay little attention to what you say you want to do, with the theory you'll probably change your mind anyways.