phd with no research experience

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Advantages of PhD Education Programs to Promote Students’ Skills

Facts to know about applying to phd programs online in the usa.

Getting a PhD isn’t an easy task. Not every student can resonate with the requirements of the dream university program. You can forget about applying to a PhD program if you have some shortcuts during studying or a low rating in disciplines that are your major. Whether you didn’t pay enough time studying or have no research experience – your chances will decrease noticeably, and unfortunately, you’ll fail to enroll in the PhD programs online in the US university this year.

Although, if you’re dedicated to studying, extracurricular activity, practical classes, and everything that relates to your specialization, you’ll gain more advantages to applying for the PhD program education opportunity successfully. To succeed, you should meet the high demands of the chosen program and possess sufficient background to compete among other applicants and work on a PhD research paper in the future. Luckily having reliable PhD assistance from qualified pros can help you in both cases.

Moving on to working on specialization-related projects and doing research and publications on your field of interest – these things will boost your rating and experience in the specialization area. So, meeting the masters PhD program demands will leg up your chances to get into the desired program.

What Are the Best PhD Programs in US Institutions to Apply to

There are more than 1000 PhD programs in US universities that appeal to students worldwide. The most popular PhD education programs are data science, computer science, and management. On average, studying a PhD program takes 4–6 years, but there are exceptions (like with some medical directions) when it can last up to 8 years. Other exceptions are related to the question: Can you do a PhD without a master’s degree? Yes, some programs allow that if you have enough research and industry expertise in your field.

Why do students want to study in the USA? The answer is clear: the country provides strong educational policies for students to develop their competencies and facilitate their professional growth. Here are the reasons why a doctorate program is of a high priority to apply to:

• A wide range of prestigious PhD institutions.
• Diversity of doctorate studying programs.
• A chance to get into funded scholarships.
• Diversified students’ life and activities.
• Flexible studying opportunities.

The majority of applicants prefer studying at PhD program Harvard, Stanford, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology can offer. These universities are in the top 3 PhD institutions according to the World Universities Rank. To apply to one of the high-ranking programs, a student has to possess exceptional research background, have a master’s degree in the specialty field, high academic ranking, and prepare perfect admission documents for PhD direction.

Besides the above-mentioned popular programs to gain a PhD degree, students are also interested in studying medicine and psychology at the University of Arizona and UC Berkeley, engineering at Cornell University, sociology at Wisconsin, and finance at the University of Pennsylvania. These programs are considered to be the best PhD programs for skillful students overseas.

Get Into a Dream PhD Program Thanks to Our Expert-Level Assistance

Want to impress the admission board with your excellent expertise in the subject, writing skills, and high tests scores? To apply to the desired course without problems, lean on our skillful academic writers who know everything about how to get into PhD program in any US institution. Thanks to an immense background in crafting diverse admission documents and research projects, ingenious writers do their best to make you stand out.

No matter what direction you specialize in, you can count on our trusted experts. Having a strong team of writers who deal with narrow-specialized PhD programs, we’ll assign a fitting specialist for your case. Moreover, we’ll boost your chances for successful enrollment due to effective documents preparation, so you’ll manage to submit the needed papers in advance.

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Know How to Get Into a PhD Program Easily to Show Your Mastery

What things to consider when applying to a PhD program? Before the enrollment process, you’d better outline what requirements are necessary to follow to increase the changes for your acceptance and not to get upset because of poor performance or improperly written admission documents.

The first point about how to apply to a PhD program is research background. Hence, show all available scientific works you previously wrote. It’ll indicate your determination to apply for a PhD and your distinctive finding in the specialization area.

Another point that will turn the doctorate program committee’s decision in your favor is joining some scientific and practical classes where you develop your research skills. Nevertheless, it’s possible to apply without research experience.

Here’s the deal on how to apply for a PhD program: if you have impeccable knowledge in the specialty disciplines and constantly deal with scientists and practice some research experience, then you can hope that the admission panel will keep an eye on your candidacy. Adequate knowledge in the defined field is your key to applying with no research background.

High PhD Program Requirements to Meet to Prove Your Eligibility

Let’s figure out how to get into a PhD program without problems and get a spot at the desired US university. To get into the dream course, it’s recommended to meet the admission requirements to increase the chances of appealing to the demanding admission officers. The first important thing is to choose a program that resonates with your background and suits your interest field. Then you’ll succeed in obtaining a PhD diploma.

The next step is to select a fitting university you can meet the PhD program requirements and where you’ll feel comfortable in all aspects. It’s crucial to collect the needed documents for admission and satisfy the primary demands:

• A master’s degree in a corresponding field.
• Research proposal showing your expertise.
• Strong CV and motivation letter.
• 3 LoRs from respected advisors.
• PhD entrance exams scores.
• High academic credentials.
• English test proficiency.
• GMAT/GRE results.

Additionally, you need to prepare for the entrance interview to show your enthusiasm and determination to get a PhD degree.

Princeton Correspondents on Undergraduate Research

Worried About a Lack of In-Person Research Experience? Don’t Be. Here’s Why.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a lot of in-person internships and research positions for students have been transitioned to remote opportunities. Last summer after my first year of college, I opted to take online classes over the summer because in-person opportunities were not a possibility. For this upcoming summer, I was hoping to gain laboratory experience in person, but my internship was also transitioned online. With only one summer left before I apply to graduate school, this left me with a looming question: will I have enough in-person research experience before I apply to graduate school?

Although this question bothered me for a while, I realized that I was approaching this issue from the wrong perspective. I feel as though many students are probably dealing with similar issues now that many summer opportunities have been canceled or moved online due to the pandemic. In this article, I am going to walk through the reasoning behind why you should not worry too much about lacking in-person research experience and also include some additional opportunities you should be on the lookout for. 

“Enough” in-person research experience is not what is important.  I was really concerned about only having one summer during my undergraduate experience where I could actually do laboratory research in person. However, I realized that the  quantity  of lab experience does not matter much; what is much more important is the  quality  of those experiences. Knowing that you have limited laboratory experiences as an undergraduate will likely push you to pursue research that you find more meaningful and better aligned with your interests. This will make the experience much more rewarding and fulfilling, while also preparing you better for graduate school. Thus, the key is to focus your future in-person opportunities on topics that you are really interested in and make the most of these experiences. Plus, being able to take a few more classes before working in the lab will help you hone your interests, meaning that you can gain a deeper conceptual understanding of topics before starting with hands-on work.

Students around the world are in the same position.  Just because you have not been able to get into the lab and do research does not mean the rest of the world has. The pandemic has affected students around the world, so you are not alone in this predicament. Graduate school admissions committees will be understanding and will recognize that the circumstances were simply out of your control. You will in no way be penalized for not having in-person research experience, and you should not feel as though you are “behind” because everyone else is in the same position. Instead, in your application, highlight the skills that you developed through your remote experiences.

Don’t shy away from a remote research experience.  Virtual research positions are great learning experiences, and you can gain a lot of valuable research skills from these opportunities. Often times, remote research focuses on reading journal articles, conducting a literature review, running data simulations, and analyzing results. These are all very important skills to have for graduate school and a career in research. So, take advantage of remote research programs because you will still be engaging with the research process and developing skills that can better prepare you for future in-person research opportunities.

Even though my summer research internship has been transitioned online, I am looking forward to delving into a research topic and engaging with the research process through literature reviews and possibly data analysis. Every research opportunity is a chance to develop skills, and I want to use this experience over the summer as preparation for research during my junior year and senior thesis.

Consider Senior Thesis or Junior independent work.  Princeton is unique in the fact that most seniors pursue a year-long senior thesis. In fact, the university is committed to giving seniors the opportunity to pursue independent research and has allowed some seniors to work in labs for their research throughout the year as well as for this upcoming summer . Take advantage of this opportunity to gain research experience during the school year, and pursue a research topic that you are truly invested in. Also, if your department gives you the opportunity to do junior independent work, this would be a great year to gain some experience in research before your senior thesis.

Join a research lab during the school year.  If you are still itching to have as much in-person research experience during your undergraduate years as possible, you can always reach out to professors and ask to be a part of their lab group for the upcoming semester. Most professors are very enthusiastic about having undergrads work in their labs, so feel free to reach out and ask. Additionally, Princeton plans to have a full in-person experience in the fall , meaning that laboratories would most likely allow undergrads to do research in-person. You can start by looking at the faculty online in the department that you are interested in and then reach out to them via email. Many lab groups are still actively doing research on campus, as featured in our Seasonal Series on Doing Research in a Pandemic , so you can always contact faculty members and ask about what projects they are working on.

One of the main takeaways is to not worry over lack of in-person research experience. In no way does this put you at a disadvantage in terms of graduate school or other endeavors. Instead, focus on the great remote opportunities that you have in front of you because they are valuable experiences for your personal and career development. Plus, the labs will not be closed forever. They will open up again, and when they do, you’ll be even better prepared.

– Bridget Denzer, Engineering Correspondent

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Research Experience for Prospective PhD Candidates

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Most graduate schools will expect applicants to have practical experience in a lab. A strong application portfolio will most likely include participation in research throughout the undergraduate years, both during the academic year and the summers.

It's important that you pursue research opportunities during the academic year and summers (which provide full-time experience) to immerse yourself in a laboratory/project and to show your commitment and motivation for research. The letters of recommendation from your research mentors are a very important part of your graduate school application.

Making the most of your summer experiences

• Participate in research summer programs throughout the undergraduate years. These can be at your home institution or at other institutions.
• Identify and apply to several summer programs. This will give you a preview of the application process for graduate school.
• Apply to summer programs that take place at schools where you may be interested in pursuing your graduate degree.
• Complete and submit the application materials during the prior winter/spring.
• Become fully immersed in the research projects that you work on.
• Talk with advanced students and faculty advisors about graduate school and their experiences.
• Take advantage of other skill-building activities that the summer program offers.

Finding opportunities

• Summer Undergraduate Research Programs.
• NIH Summer Internship Program in Biomedical Research.
• NIH Undergraduate Scholarship Program.

Baylor College of Medicine/National Science Foundation brochure on the importance of summer research experience.

Helpful tools and information regarding medical MD-PhD programs.

Helpful tools for those applying to medical PhD programs

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Econ PhD with no research experience?

By lily714 October 22, 2011 in PhD in Economics

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If your trying for ag you probably could get even better than top 40. Ag programs are a bit easier, and they kind of have their own market. They are a more applied field and the application intake you get is different from traditional programs. its kind of like the difference between econ Ph.D. and Finance/business. The prerequisites for admission are similar, but generally ag has different departments.

I also think the value of a thesis/research is kind of over stated. I may be wrong, but I had asked both my letter writers if I should wait an year and go do an R.A. and their comment is that predisseration research is "cute". I think their is some marginal benefit, and if you do have something that is clearly publishable it might have value. I think the main reason to do it is it gets them an oppurtunity to get a better letter than what you would get in a class of several people.

NC state also has a reputation for failing out a lot of its students. I really think you should look into some M.A> programs. Especially foreign ones, but duke is a good bet too. I think its clear from your profile that you can compete with anyone, but school reputation and your letters writers ability to write letters and credibility play a huge wieght in the application. Your one of those cases that a good M.A. would improve your chances at a top 25 university. Look at some of the Canadian masters programs a lot of them offer funding. UBC I think has a startup natural resources M.A. and their normal M.a. is well known. Its tuition is quite low (about 5000$ for the program) and 40% of the students get a T.A. ship. SFU, Mcmaster fund most of their incoming students (They are tier 2 in CAnada). Toronto has another top M.A. and also offers some t.a. ship. They are a little pricier than UBC, but have a doctoral stream m.a. that funds many students.

P.S. UBC has a seperate agricultural econ department that hosts agricultural econ M.A.

You should also consider washington state for Ph.D. if you have not.

That sounds like a good plan. I think I'll apply to the UBC, UT, McGill (I'm a French speaker) and LSE Climate change economics/environmental economics masters programs. Do you think it would be better to pursue the UBC Econ MA over their Ag MA since it is more well-known?

It's so frustrating, because I know I could succeed at a top 25 program. I nearly transferred to Penn State as a sophomore, and right now it looks like that would have been a better option. Oh well, no regrets! I'm hoping that my study abroad experience will be unique enough to set me apart in some small way.

I'm currently working on my SOP, and I was wondering if I could get your input. At the moment, my research interests are focused on the Asia-Pacific region (environmental, public and health economics). Will the narrowness of my interest end up working against me?

Also, I was already considering Washington State because of their enviro-econ faculty.

If your a french speaker apply to UdeM. They are almost as good as the top 4 programs, and but are french only. Their strengths are outside of your domain, but they would be a very good stepping stone M.A. to a top Ph.D. program and you probably would have a good shot at getting in since their application draw is more limited. Also they may offer full funding. I'm not sure, but besides U of T and UBC most Canadian schools fund their M.A. students.

Mcgill isn't a bad place to do M.A., their econ department isn't the best. They have two good econometricians, but they are regarded as a top 100 school by most. U de Montreal can probably can claim its top 50-60ish. They are probably comparable to UCSC or Boulder.

TEcon PhD: Uni Hawai-Manoa, University of Illinois- Chicago, University of CO- Boulder, NC State, Wyoming, U Oregon, Washington State, UCSB, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame, U Washington, Clemson; Ag Econ/Natural Resource PhD: Oregon State, Colorado State, Cornell, UC Davis, Penn State, U Illinois- Urbana C, U Maryland, Wisconsin, Minnesota

Just to weigh in, I think you have a very good chance of being admitted at the majority of Ph.D. programs you have listed and I think that a master's program may be ill-advised. Of course you can apply to MA/MS programs such as Duke and the Canadian schools, but your profile is very good despite the lack of research. My notion is that undergrad research is discounted pretty heavily. I think you'll get into most of the programs you have listed. UCSB, U Washington, Cornell AEM, Davis ARE, Maryland ARE, and Wisconsin AAE will be the most competitive but I bet the chance of admission at the other programs is high.

Thanks for the replies. At the moment, I think I'm pretty satisfied with the list I have but might add Florida State, Georgia State, and Rutgers. NC State has a reputation for having an unusually high acceptance rate for its position, correct? Are there any other programs out there like that? BTW, I'm female :)

NC State is relatively easy to get in, but funding is sparse and I think the recent prelim fail rate was around 40%. Pretty high for a 50ish ranked program. That said, I think you'd be competitive for admission at NC State (as well as Florida State, Georgia State, and Rutgers).

For the record, I'm not sure if money is much of an inconvenience, but I think 20-25 schools at the range you are considering is excessive. I would recommend dropping programs that don't have strong faculty in your field (i.e., Rutgers, Notre Dame, Illinois-Chicago, Illinois-Urbana, Clemson, Hawaii don't have extensive breadth in enviromental econ).

Thanks for all the suggestions. It's given me a lot to think about. I've spoken to one of my advisors, and I'm going to begin a literature review that will serve as the foundation for a thesis in the spring. After meeting with my recommenders, I feel more confident about the strength of my LORs. It seems like they are all really pulling for me.

I'm going to wait until I receive my official GRE scores before applying anywhere. However, I'd like to know- are there any Econ/Ag programs that have faculty in environmental economics that I've missed?

ust to weigh in, I think you have a very good chance of being admitted at the majority of Ph.D. programs you have listed and I think that a master's program may be ill-advised

When I looked at the OP's profile, it looks very good on paper. The thing that didn't concern me is the lack of research, the fact that he's at a school which didn't even have an undergraduate major in economics. ARE programs are easier to get into than traditional doctoral programs, however having witnessed this on a few occasions it seems really difficult for people from departments that don't have an established group of research faculty to get admitted to top 35 programs. Unfortunately your letter writers connections do play a moderate role in your admissions process. Also the ability of your letter writer to write the kind of letters that get students admitted and perception of institution you attended. For applicants who are strong, but lack connections due to the choice of their undergrad institution an M.A. program is a decent way to overcome this. So in the OPs case I think if he finds that he gets to the bottom half of his choices, he'd be better off doing an M.A. if he does well there a top 20 admit probably come his way. If he gets a top admit, then he can skip the M.A.

r When I looked at the OP's profile, it looks very good on paper. The thing that didn't concern me is the lack of research, the fact that he's at a school which didn't even have an undergraduate major in economics. ARE programs are easier to get into than traditional doctoral programs, however having witnessed this on a few occasions it seems really difficult for people from departments that don't have an established group of research faculty to get admitted to top 35 programs. Unfortunately your letter writers connections do play a moderate role in your admissions process. Also the ability of your letter writer to write the kind of letters that get students admitted and perception of institution you attended. For applicants who are strong, but lack connections due to the choice of their undergrad institution an M.A. program is a decent way to overcome this. So in the OPs case I think if he finds that he gets to the bottom half of his choices, he'd be better off doing an M.A. if he does well there a top 20 admit probably come his way. If he gets a top admit, then he can skip the M.A.

First off, the OP is a she.

Secondly, you are correct in that some ARE programs are easier to get into than traditional doctoral programs in the same way that some traditional economics program are easier to get into than some other traditional economics programs. Berkeley ARE is easily on par with the top 20 pure econ programs -- I'd choose ag programs at Davis, Maryland or Cornell over, say, the Univ of Washington, given the OP's interests. Also, ARE programs tend to be smaller, which makes the fit of the program/student a little more important.

Third, the OP stated that she was risk averse and would prefer applying to 20+ ranked programs (also indicated by exhaustive the list of schools she provided that are of interest to her). Perhaps, if you were in her situation, an MA would be the best route to a Ph.D. from top 20 program. If, however, she is not interested in a top 20 admit, then I would recommend NOT applying to master's because I feel that she will surely receive admission from a decent proportion of the schools she listed.

I agree that the she will be hurt by her undergraduate program's, and LOR writers', lack of reputation, but I don't think this is a necessary condition for admission at any of her desired schools.

I have found that these forums tend to repeatedly offer homogeneous advice for very heterogeneous individuals. In this case, based on the OP's stated preference, I do not think a master's degree is an optimal decision.

Lily714, I think your list of ag econ programs looks pretty good. I honestly think you could shoot a bit higher on the straight econ PhD side of things. I don't think your undergrad institution or letters will hurt you at all (except maybe for top 15-20 schools). In fact, even if your letter writers are relatively unknown, if they all sing your praises, the admissions committees will take notice and give weight to that. I came from a well-known but not well-reputed state school with relatively unknown letter writers, and was offered admission at MSU, UIUC, Vanderbilt, and more. Don't be afraid to shoot a bit higher - one of my biggest regrets from last year's application cycle is that I applied to too many lower-ranked programs and not enough reach/mid-tier schools. I was worried about precisely the same things you are.

One school you may want to look at adding to your list is Michigan State (both econ and ag econ). From what I've seen, the ag econ program here seems pretty strong and there are a few people doing environmental econ as well.

Hope this helps and good luck with everything!

Edit: You also have a good amount of math, which will bode well for you. You should also discount the hype that having taken RA and having a grade in it before sending applications is crucial. It won't hurt you that much (if at all) at schools ranked 20-30 and below.

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Celebrating 150 years of Harvard Summer School. Learn about our history.

How to Land Your First Job — Even With No Experience

Trying to get a job in your early career can be a challenge. Here's how to get started.

Melissa Russell

Navigating the job market can be a daunting exercise, even for professionals with long careers and lots of experience behind them.

But whether you’re a recent or soon-to-be college graduate or a high school student contemplating the future , figuring out how and when to start your first job search is even more intimidating.

How are you supposed to get an entry-level job when you have little or no job experience? Even if you don’t have formal job experience, you do have value to offer employers. These tips can help you land an interview and gain the early professional experience that will kick off your career.

What Does It Mean to Have No Experience?

Generally speaking, having no experience in a job means you have not held any positions similar to ones that you are interested in applying for. But, even if you are new to the working world, you have likely gained skills in school, through volunteer work, or through internships that will transfer to the workplace.  

If you are applying for a job that is listed as “entry level” companies already know you have limited or no experience. What they want are candidates who are intelligent and reliable and are quick learners who can soon master the skills needed to do the job.

If you are a high school student thinking about next steps, check out Harvard Summer School’s Career Pathways courses, where you can learn how to prepare for a future career.

What Is an Entry-Level Job?

Although entry-level jobs can vary by industry, for the most part these jobs are the first step on the career path. It is an entry point that either requires no experience or minimal education and experience to apply. They are the lowest ranked jobs — compared to mid-level or senior-level roles — and are meant to help employees develop needed experience and skills. 

It may be the first position you take as you begin your career, and there will likely be training involved. To find out about entry level jobs in your area of interest, go on a job platform and search “entry level” under a company’s name. 

Even if a job posting asks for experience you don’t have yet, apply anyway! You might have a background interesting enough to qualify for an interview.

What Do Employers Look for in New Hires?

A few important traits employers look for in new hires include:

Employers value employees with ambition because they are motivated and focused on what they want to achieve. If you have big dreams, let your future employer know. You’ll be demonstrating you are striving for something beyond just paying your bills.

Communication skills

Employers want employees who show competence in verbal and written communication. Before you send in your cover letter and resume, or an emailed query, be sure your communication is clear, concise, and spell checked. If you land an interview, be sure to speak clearly and demonstrate active listening.

Dependability

A dependable employee follows through on assignments, is punctual, meets deadlines, and has a strong work ethic.

Eagerness to learn

Being willing to learn can help you expand your skill set, adapt to situations, and improve yourself. It also shows your employer that although you have a lot to learn, you’re committed to learning and growing your professional acumen.

Positive people help create healthy work environments and are valuable team members. When you are positive at work, people will likely follow your example.

Employers want people who can work effectively in a group, and are likely to ask in an interview how you work as a member of a team.

Learn more about Career Pathways

How to Make a Job Application Stand Out

There are numerous ways you can optimize your job applications to improve your chances of success.

Inexperience can be an asset

Don’t try to hide your inexperience — embrace it! Show that you are motivated to learn by highlighting your other skills, such as those listed above.  

For example, if you are interested in working in journalism or public relations, let your prospective employer know you developed strong writing skills in a challenging writing class. If you studied abroad , share how the experience enriched you and taught you about cultural differences. 

Share brief personal anecdotes in cover letters and interviews that show how life lessons taught you to be dedicated, hardworking, and motivated; the very qualities employers are looking for in new employees.

Do your research

Learn about the company you are interested in and tie their mission to your personal passions and life experiences. For example, if you want to work for a film studio, be sure to discuss how you loved movies growing up. Explain how that shared passion will enable you to learn quickly once you’re hired.

Build your skills

As you peruse job listings, pay attention to the skills employers are looking for and find commonalities. Do they all seem to use a specific database management system? If so, find out how to gain experience with that platform, through online training or courses at a local college. 

If you are still in college or recently graduated, you might be eligible for an internship in an industry that interests you. Sometimes internships are paid or come with a stipend, and many times, they lead to a job offer with the company after the internship is completed. 

A 2019 study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that more than 70 percent of internships led to a job offer.

Earn a professional certificate or certification

Professional certification can be an invaluable addition to your resume. In technical careers like cybersecurity, IT, or data analysis, holding industry-approved skills will show potential employers you are qualified to do the work — even if you have never held a job in the industry.

Networking involves building relationships with people in the industry that interests you. These people will be immensely helpful as you apply for entry level positions.

Resume and Cover Letter Tips

A resume is your opportunity to highlight the value you bring to an employer. A cover letter makes the argument that you are the best person for a particular job. Employers will have different needs, even for the same type of job, so it is necessary to customize your resume for each application to improve your chances of getting an interview.

Create a “master” resume highlighting the qualifications, experiences, and skills that make you right for this job, including relevant coursework such as computer science, math, economics, or writing. If you have a strong GPA and academic honors, list them. Additionally, if you have relevant volunteer or extracurricular experience — particularly if you held a leadership role — if you worked in internships or attended programs like Harvard Summer School , include those as well.

When you are planning to apply for a particular position, read through the job description and note the skills, experiences, and qualifications they are seeking with those that match your own. Tailor your “master” resume by highlighting the specific skills and qualifications emphasized in the job posting. Mirror the language they use, whenever possible, to help get through an automated scanning tool such as applicant tracking systems.

Tailor your cover letter by elaborating on those same skills and experiences you highlighted in your resume. If you completed projects in classes that would be relevant to a future employer, briefly describe them. Relevant skills will likely vary depending on the industry you are interested in, but could include:

• Microsoft Office, Google Suite, or Adobe products like Word, Google Sheets, and Photoshop
• Computer programing
• Social media
• Multiple languages
• Public speaking

If you are having trouble identifying relevant skills, consider volunteering at an organization that could provide that necessary experience. This will also give you the opportunity to familiarize yourself with the day-to-day workings in the field and build relationships that will be useful to you later on.

How to Leverage Job Boards

Many employers list entry-level positions on job boards such as Indeed , Zip Recruiter , Monster or LinkedIn.  

LinkedIn is a social media platform designed to connect people professionally and you can seek out recruiters at companies you are interested in, as well as industry professionals. The LinkedIn jobs section can give you insight into what sort of careers are available in industries that interest you, the types of skills needed, and the names of recruiters and hiring managers who may be willing to answer your questions. 

You can also use LinkedIn to research relevant professionals to gain insights, research companies, set alerts for entry-level jobs, and find alumni from your high school or college to connect with.Consider using LinkedIn to help build your personal brand to show off what you can offer potential employers.

Increase Your Value

Once you’ve determined what skills are sought out in your ideal first job, identify gaps in your experience so you can invest in becoming the ideal candidate. 

Whether you’re in high school, college, or recently graduated, Harvard Summer School may have a course that can help you build these skills such as Web Programming with Python and JavaScript or Strategic Communication and Public Relations . If it’s the interview you’re worried about, consider a Public Speaking course .  If you have yet to decide what career path to take, consider an exploratory course like these Career Pathways courses to find what’s right for you.

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About the Author

Melissa Russell is an award-winning journalist and editor living in the Boston area. She has written for many news outlets as well as for websites, trade publications and other platforms.

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Pharmacy lab assistant accepted to M.D./Ph.D. program

Since the time she conducted her first research experiment as a student at the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics, Darby Porter was hooked on research.

While completing her undergraduate studies in chemistry and neuroscience at the University of South Carolina Honors College, Porter joined the lab of Jun Zhu , Ph.D., in the College of Pharmacy. After graduating in 2023, Porter continued as Zhu’s lab assistant and has now been accepted into the Medical Science Training Program to pursue an M.D./Ph.D. at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Porter joined Zhu’s lab after searching through the university’s research registry.

“I typed in drug discovery and drug design, and while I didn’t understand what much of it meant, I thought Dr. Zhu’s research was a good option because I knew what the main keywords were – dopamine and HIV,” she says.

Turns out, it was the perfect fit for Porter’s ambition to conduct research and do benchwork.

“I love conducting experiments and analyzing results,” she notes. “I love connecting the results from one experiment or set of experiments to a broader issue that is affecting people’s health. Being able to tie in what is happening at the molecular level with patients who are experiencing a disorder is a nice blend that I want to incorporate into my career.”

I love connecting the results from one experiment or set of experiments to a broader issue that is affecting people’s health.

Porter developed an interest in serving patients alongside her research while working at CAN Community Health, an HIV- clinic providing care to underserved health populations in the Columbia area.

Zhu noted Porter’s dedication to successfully conducting experiments as well as drafting manuscripts and grant applications.

“What distinguishes Darby from other students is her deep interest and passion about her work and the potential implications it may have on human health,” Zhu adds. “She is an example to students who want to develop their career in the field of biomedical science. For faculty, it is our responsibility to not only provide research training opportunities but also guide students for future career development.”

Porter will begin the arduous eight-year process of earning her M.D./Ph.D. in June, where she will begin her studies in translational research before starting her medical school studies in the fall.

“I think I want to eventually do clinical research,” she says, “The advantage of having an M.D. and a Ph.D. is that you can identify a therapeutic target on the bench and then develop some level of treatment while working with patients. I like the idea of working on one project and seeing it to completion.”

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Persistent questioning of knowledge takes a toll: New study supports theories that baseless discrediting harms

by Kate Blackwood, Cornell University

It can be demoralizing for a person to work in a climate of repetitive skepticism and doubt about what they know, a new study shows.

"I'm not talking about healthy, well-founded skepticism. I'm talking about failures-of-exchange when a person is persistently overlooked, unheard, brushed off and explained to," said Laura Niemi, assistant professor of psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S), and co-author of the study.

"Why? Something about who the person is—their identity—suggests to their interlocuter that they couldn't possibly be right due to the interlocuter's bias. These biases take many forms: race or ethnicity, manner of speaking, weight, attractiveness, age, style and so on."

Researchers have theorized that baseless discrediting of what people with marginalized social identities know is a central driver of prejudice and discrimination. In a new study, Niemi and colleagues conducted experiments that backed up these theories, finding that people are emotionally invested in being treated as credible, even in anonymous games. Further, they found that emotional impact of discreditation varies based on gender, race and experience with racial discrimination .

"The Emotional Impact of Baseless Discrediting of Knowledge: An Empirical Investigation of Epistemic Injustice" is published in the journal Acta Psychologica . Co-authors include doctoral student Migdalia Arcila-Valenzuela; Natalia Washington, University of Utah; Cliff Workman, University of Delaware; and Felipe De Brigard, Duke University.

The authors believe that hostility in intellectual arenas is an ethical issue, said Niemi, who specializes in moral psychology, an interdisciplinary field seeking the psychological underpinnings of ethical action.

"Discrediting of a person as a legitimate knower can be subtle, which makes it difficult to isolate, and, therefore, understudied," said Niemi, also faculty director of the Dyson Leadership Development Program in the SC Johnson College of Business.

"But growing research shows regular exposure to even relatively subtle prejudice and discrimination degrades physical and mental health , leading to outcomes like high blood pressure, chronic stress and depression."

To deepen their understanding of the impact of epistemic injustice—injustice around the domain of knowledge—the researchers focused on the emotional consequences of feedback. They modeled epistemic injustice in the lab by creating an experiment to safely simulate everyday experiences of invalidation. Participants observed a game, then shared their knowledge about the game—either how it worked or how they felt about it.

The crucial part of the experiment came next; participants received feedback, supposedly from their partner in the game, about what they shared. Some feedback was validating, some was discrediting, and some was mildly insulting.

"The participants then rated how positive or negative that feedback made them feel, the key measure of their emotional responses," Niemi said. "We combined the experiment with surveys of variables thought to factor into epistemic injustice—race, gender and experiences with race-based discrimination and trauma."

The experiment revealed an important generality about knowledge, Niemi said. People find it more emotionally taxing to have their understanding of facts questioned than to have their feelings questioned.

But more important findings came from the experiment outcomes combined with the surveys, which showed that race and gender factored into the experimental results.

The most consistent finding, replicated twice, was that Black men rated discrediting feedback as significantly less negative compared with Black women and white men and women, Niemi said. Correlations with survey responses, also replicated twice, provide some insights into why.

"Experience with race-based discrimination and trauma predicted Black men's responses to discrediting feedback, suggesting a coping strategy of avoidance or downplaying of emotion when the discrediting feedback was encountered," Niemi said.

These findings are consistent, Niemi said, with research on prejudice and discrimination showing that Black men experience more racial discrimination in areas where credibility is extremely important—such as employment, educational settings and interactions with law enforcement —but where credibility can be undermined by emotional responses.

Another consistent finding underscored the importance of individual differences. Validation—when participants were told that they were right—was significantly more positive for white women compared with white men, Niemi said, which resonates with studies showing that positive interventions boost women's academic performance.

In this study, the researchers pursued a recruitment strategy that allowed them to investigate discrimination against Black Americans. Niemi said that other groups facing systemic racism in the U.S. will benefit from focused epistemic injustice studies.

Insights from this study could benefit managers, educators and people interested in living and working in safer and more just communities, Niemi said, "For universities, we think the results highlight the world of emotional coping mechanisms spoken about too rarely, but always under the surface in intellectual spaces."

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Key facts about U.S. Latinos for National Hispanic Heritage Month

National Hispanic Heritage Month, which begins in the United States each year on Sept. 15, celebrates U.S. Latinos , their culture and their history. Started in 1968 by Congress as Hispanic Heritage Week, it was expanded to a month in 1988. The celebration begins in the middle of September to coincide with independence days in several Latin American countries: Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica celebrate theirs on Sept. 15, followed by Mexico on Sept. 16, Chile on Sept. 18 and Belize on Sept. 21.

Here are some key facts about the U.S. Latino population by geography and by characteristics such as language use and origin group.

As part of our ongoing research about Hispanics in the United States, we analyzed how this group has changed over time using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The decennial census ( PL94-171 census data ) provided some historical state and national population counts, and population estimates provided the latest data on total population, births and immigration.

We also examined characteristics of the U.S. Hispanic population using the American Community Survey (ACS), which provides data for states and the U.S. on Hispanic origin, language use, country of birth and educational attainment. Data from the 2022 ACS and some from the 2010 ACS are from tabulations released by U.S. Census Bureau . Some ACS and census data is from Integrated Public Use Microdata Series (IPUMS) of the University of Minnesota.

The U.S. Hispanic population reached 63.6 million in 2022, up from 50.5 million in 2010. The 26% increase in the Hispanic population was faster than the nation’s 8% growth rate but slower than the 34% increase in the Asian population. In 2022, Hispanics made up nearly one-in-five people in the U.S. (19%), up from 16% in 2010 and just 5% in 1970.

Hispanics have played a major role in U.S. population growth over the past decade. The U.S. population grew by 24.5 million from 2010 to 2022, and Hispanics accounted for 53% of this increase – a greater share than any other racial or ethnic group. The next closest group is non-Hispanic people who identify with two or more races. Their population grew by 8.4 million during this time, accounting for 34% of the overall increase.

The number of Latinos who say they are multiracial has increased dramatically. More than 27 million Latinos identified with more than one race in 2022, up from 3 million in 2010. The increase could be due to several factors, including changes to the census form that make it easier for people to select multiple races and growing racial diversity.

Growth in the number of multiracial Latinos comes primarily from those who identify as at least one specific race and “some other race” (i.e., those who write in a response). This population grew from 2.1 million to 24.9 million between 2010 and 2022 and now represents about 91% of multiracial Latinos. The increase was due almost entirely to growth in the number of people who identified as White and some other race, according to the 2020 census.

At the same time, the number of Latinos who identified as White and no other race declined from 26.7 million in 2010 to 10.7 million in 2022.

The roughly 37.4 million people of Mexican origin in the U.S. represented nearly 60% of the nation’s Hispanic population in 2022. Those of Puerto Rican origin are the next largest group, at 5.9 million, which does not include another roughly 3.2 million Puerto Ricans who lived on the island in 2022. The U.S. population of Puerto Rican origin has grown partly due to people moving from Puerto Rico to the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Six other Hispanic origin groups in the U.S. each have 1 million or more people: Salvadorans, Cubans, Dominicans, Guatemalans, Colombians and Hondurans. In addition, in 2022, Spaniards accounted for nearly 1 million U.S. Latinos.

Puerto Rico’s population has declined by about 500,000 since 2010, from 3.7 million to 3.2 million. Puerto Rico has experienced a net population loss since at least 2005 , driven by low fertility rates and migration to the U.S. mainland. An ongoing economic recession and devastation from hurricanes Maria and Irma in 2017 have also contributed to the decline.

Venezuelans have seen the fastest population growth among U.S. Latinos. From 2010 to 2022, the Venezuelan-origin population in the U.S. increased by 236% to 815,000. Four other groups saw growth rates exceeding 50%: Hondurans increased by 67%, followed by Guatemalans (62%), Dominicans (59%) and Colombians (51%).

By contrast, the number of people of Mexican origin in the U.S. grew by only 14%, by far the slowest rate among the most populous origin groups.

Hispanics are the largest racial or ethnic group in California and Texas. This demographic milestone in California happened in 2014 and was a first for the state with the nation’s largest Hispanic population . Latinos accounted for 40% of California’s population in 2022, among the greatest shares in the country.

That year, there were about 15.7 million Hispanics in California, up from 14.0 million in 2010. The non-Hispanic White population, the next largest group, declined from 15.0 million to 13.2 million during this time, reflecting a broader national trend .

In Texas, the state with the next largest Latino population (12.1 million), Latinos also made up 40% of the population in 2022 and became the largest racial or ethnic group in 2021. In Florida, the state with the third-largest Latino population (6.0 million), Latinos made up 27% of residents.

Rounding out the top five states with the largest Hispanic populations were New York (3.9 million) and Arizona (2.4 million). Eight more states had 1 million or more Hispanics: Illinois, New Jersey, Colorado, Georgia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Washington and New Mexico.

Vermont had the nation’s smallest Latino population (15,000) in 2022, followed by Maine (29,000), West Virginia and North Dakota (34,000 each), and South Dakota (42,000).

In New Mexico, Hispanics have been a majority of the population since 2021 and the state’s largest racial or ethnic group since the early 2000s. In 2022, the state was home to 1.1 million Hispanics.

Three states’ Hispanic populations increased by more than 1 million from 2010 to 2022. Texas (2.5 million increase), Florida (1.8 million) and California (1.6 million) accounted for almost half of the growth nationwide since 2010. Arizona (480,000 increase), New Jersey (464,000) and New York (432,000) had the next-biggest increases. All 50 states and the District of Columbia have seen growth in their Hispanic populations since 2010.

North and South Dakota’s Hispanic populations have grown the fastest since 2010. The number of Hispanics in North and South Dakota more than doubled (146% and 107% increases, respectively) from 2010 to 2022. But even with that growth, these states each had fewer than 45,000 Hispanics in 2022, among the smallest populations in the country.

The slowest growth was in New Mexico (10% increase), California (12%), and Illinois and New York (13% each), all states with significant Hispanic populations.

The makeup of the U.S. Hispanic population varies widely across major metropolitan areas.  Most of the metro areas in the Midwest, West and South with the largest Hispanic populations are predominantly Mexican. About three-quarters of Hispanics in the Chicago (77%) and Los Angeles (75%) areas identify as Mexican, as do 67% in the Houston area.

Metro areas in the Northeast tend to have more diverse Hispanic origins. For example, no origin group makes up more than 30% of the New York and Boston metro areas’ Hispanic populations.

Metro areas in Florida and the nation’s capital have distinctive Hispanic enclaves. Puerto Ricans make up 43% of Hispanics in the Orlando area, while Cubans make up 39% of Hispanics in the Miami area. In the Washington, D.C., metro area, Salvadorans account for 30% of Hispanics.

Catholics remain the largest religious group among Latinos in the U.S., but they have become a smaller share of the Latino population over the past decade. In 2022, 43% of Latinos adults identify as Catholic, down from 67% in 2010. Meanwhile, 30% of Latinos are religiously unaffiliated (describing themselves as atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular”), up from 10% in 2010. The share of Latinos who identify as Protestants – including evangelical Protestants – has been relatively stable.

Newborns, not immigrants, have driven the recent growth among U.S. Hispanics. During the 2010s, an average of 1 million Hispanic babies were born each year, slightly more than during the 2000s. At the same time, about 350,000 Hispanic immigrants arrived annually, down substantially from the previous two decades.

The recent predominance of new births over immigration as a source of Hispanic population growth is a reversal of historical trends. In the 1980s and 1990s, immigration drove Hispanic population growth.

From 2020 to 2022, average annual births among Hispanics were slightly below the previous decade, but immigration decreased considerably, from 350,000 per year to 270,000. Some of this decline can be attributed to immigration into the U.S. stopping almost entirely during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the removal of pandemic-related restrictions , the contribution of immigration to Hispanic growth appears to be returning to early 2010s levels.

The share of Latinos in the U.S. who speak English proficiently is growing. In 2022, 72% of Latinos ages 5 and older spoke English proficiently, up from 59% in 2000. U.S.-born Latinos are driving this growth: The share of U.S.-born Latinos who speak English proficiently increased by 9 percentage points in that span, compared with a 5-point increase among Latino immigrants. All told, 42.3 million Latinos in the U.S. spoke English proficiently in 2022.

At the same time, the share of Latinos who speak Spanish at home declined from 78% in 2000 to 68% in 2022, and most of that decline was among the U.S. born.

Even though the share of Latinos who speak Spanish at home has declined, the number who do so has grown from 24.6 million in 2000 to 39.7 million in 2022 because of the overall growth in the Latino population.

The share of U.S. Hispanics with college experience has increased since 2010. About 45% of U.S. Hispanic adults ages 25 and older had at least some college experience in 2022, up from 36% in 2010. The share of Hispanics with a bachelor’s degree or more education also increased, from 13% to 20%. The share with a bachelor’s degree or higher increased more among Hispanic women (from 14% to 22%) than Hispanic men (12% to 18%).

The number of Latinos enrolled in college or postgraduate education also increased between 2010 and 2022, from 2.9 million to 4.2 million. Among all U.S. undergraduate and graduate students, the share of Latinos increased from 14% in 2010 to 20% in 2022, slightly higher than the Latino share of the total population.

Four-in-five Latinos are U.S. citizens. As of 2022, 81% of Latinos living in the country are U.S. citizens, up from 74% in 2010. This includes people born in the U.S. and its territories (including Puerto Rico), people born abroad to American parents, and immigrants who have become naturalized citizens. The Center recently published citizenship rates among Hispanic origin groups for 2021; this data is not yet available for 2022.

Note: This post has been regularly updated since it was originally published on Sept. 16, 2014.

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