Questions tagged [canonical-question]
For questions that are asked repeatedly on this site and for which general advice is appropriate for almost all cases. To be applied sparingly and after discussion on Meta. Canonical questions and their answers should be marked as community wiki.
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How long does it usually take to hear back for academic positions? Why haven't I heard back and when should I follow up?
This is a special community wiki 'canonical' question that aggregates advice on a frequently-asked question. See this meta discussion. Please feel free to edit this question to improve it.
I submitted ...
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(How) Can I switch from field X to field Y after getting my PhD?
This is a special community wiki 'canonical' post, which provides a comprehensive answer to this commonly-asked question. See this meta discussion. Questions about switching from X to Y may be closed ...
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How does the admissions process work for Ph.D. programs in Country X?
This is a special community wiki 'canonical' question that aggregates advice on a frequently-asked question. See this meta discussion. Please feel free to edit this question to improve it.
Please give ...
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What are the criteria for degree revocation?
I was awarded a degree from a reputable college or university. For what reasons could my degree be revoked after the fact? Should I be worried?
Note to readers: This is a special community wiki '...
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How can I find an old, obscure, or otherwise inaccessible paper when the usual methods fail?
I am trying and failing to find a particular paper. My university's library catalogue, Google Scholar, and Google all came up empty. I even tried the catalogue of the paper's institutional affiliation,...
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How should I phrase an important question that I need to ask a professor?
When needing to ask a professor about something important and potentially delicate, what is an appropriate way to phrase the question or write the email?
Examples include:
Requesting a ...
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I've been admitted to multiple PhD programs, how should I choose between them?
I've been admitted to more than one PhD program, and I'm having a very hard time making a decision.
The programs I'm accepted to have advantages and disadvantages with respect to one another. How do I ...
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What does the typical workflow of a journal look like? How should I interpret a particular submission status?
What steps does a manuscript typically go through from submission to publication (or rejection) in a typical journal? How are these steps referred to, in particular by editorial systems, and how long ...
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How are Ph.D. applications evaluated in the US, particularly for weak or borderline students? Am I likely to get into school X?
This is a special community wiki 'canonical' question that aggregates advice on a frequently-asked question. See this meta discussion. Please feel free to edit this question to improve it.
When ...
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What does first authorship really mean in field X?
In my field (theoretical computer science), authors of any paper are always listed alphabetically; our papers don't have "first authors". (Well... hardly ever.) In most other disciplines, ...