Week 2 | The Application Process

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The video provides valuable, practical information for prospective graduate school applicants, especially those from Africa. The speakers share personal anecdotes and specific strategies, such as attending webinars for fee waivers, cold-emailing professors, and using social media to connect with potential advisors. The advice is actionable and grounded in real experiences, making it highly relevant. The argumentation is solid, as the speakers support their claims with examples from their own application cycles. However, the information is largely anecdotal and may not be generalizable to all fields or institutions. The discussion is well-structured, with clear topics and a logical flow, but it lacks formal citations or references to external sources.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The video is a panel discussion, not a formal academic presentation, so it does not cite traditional sources. The speakers are credible as current graduate students, and their advice aligns with common knowledge in the field. The title accurately reflects the content, which is a detailed discussion of the application process. The video does not include any formal references or links in the description, so the sources cited are limited to the speakers’ personal experiences. The content is consistent with widely known practices in graduate school applications, but it is not rigorously sourced. The title is appropriate and does not mislead the viewer.

The title accurately reflects the content, which is a detailed discussion of the graduate school application process.

7/10

The video is a panel discussion with two graduate students sharing personal experiences and practical advice on graduate school applications. The information is anecdotal and based on individual experiences, but it is credible and consistent with common knowledge in the field. No formal sources are cited, but the speakers are credible as current graduate students.

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

• 00:00Introduction and welcome by the host, Ukachi Agnes, who introduces the ML Lagos community and the session's agenda.
• 03:00Introduction of the two speakers: Joan, a PhD candidate at University of Michigan, and Samuel, a robotics researcher at WPI.
• 10:00Joan discusses the stress of PhD applications compared to master's, highlighting the funding aspect.
• 15:00Joan shares her application journey, including her first attempt in 2020 and her second in 2021 where she applied to 16 schools.
• 25:00Samuel talks about his application strategy, emphasizing the importance of planning and tailoring CVs for academia.
• 35:00Discussion on recommendation letters, with Joan explaining how she managed multiple recommenders and provided drafts to help them.
• 45:00Samuel highlights the importance of LinkedIn and networking in the application process.
• 55:00Advice on standardized tests like the GRE, with both speakers sharing their perspectives on their importance.
• 1:05:00Q&A session where speakers answer questions from the audience about various aspects of the application process.
• 1:15:00Closing remarks and announcements from the host, summarizing key takeaways.