GENERAL INFORMATION About graduate school application materials
What is the main goal of graduate school applicationS?
Completing a Ph.D. is no easy feat, so your application should show that you are ready and equipped to take on this challenge. In your written statements, consider:
Highlighting your career goals and how a Ph.D. will help you achieve them
Demonstrating your preparedness by reflecting on how your research and coursework have given you a realistic understanding of what graduate training entails
Showing your enthusiasm for the program by explaining why you’re a strong fit. For example, mention faculty whose work aligns with your interests and any university resources that will support your success (this information can usually be found on the program or university website).
Most importantly, tell your story: how have your background and experiences shaped the scientist you are today?
Research statement/ statement of purpose
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The research statement, also called the statement of purpose, discusses your previous and/or current research experiences and how they shaped your current research interests. You can talk in depth about your most significant research experience or give a broader overview of multiple experiences, as long as you fulfill the program’s prompt.
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Since this essay will be more technical, it’s important to:
Explain your research in a way that scientists outside your field can understand
Show that you grasp the broader significance of the work beyond day-to-day tasks.
Demonstrate your understanding without making the essay overly complex. Weave your research experiences into a compelling story, rather than just listing your lab duties.
Consider addressing the following questions:
Why was your research important?
What did you learn from your experience?
How did it inform your next steps (not just technically, but personally and/or professionally)?
After discussing past experiences, transition into what you hope to study now and which faculty you’re interested in working with—be specific about why. This is a powerful way to show your fit for the program.
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Think of your research statement as a type of abstract or project summary that includes some reflection on what you gained from your research experiences. Be specific about your individual contributions to the project. It is perfectly normal if you did not conduct the project yourself. No one is expecting you to be a PI already. Consider addressing all or a mix of the questions below:
Where are you conducting your research and with whom?
What is the general topic of the lab? How is that topic generally approached?
What is your main project? Give a little background about your project. What “gap” in knowledge are you addressing?
What is the hypothesis you are testing?
What approaches are you taking to address your hypothesis? What techniques are you doing by yourself? Be concise in the methods.
What are the results? How do you analyze your results?
What is the significance of your results within the field? If you ran into trouble with your experiments, explain what happened and how you resolved the situation. If you did not finish the project, share your ideas on what you would have tried to resolve the issue.
What can you conclude from your experiments? Why? Again, your past research does not need to be the most groundbreaking or flawless, but do you think like a scientist and understand its limitations?
How does your project fit into a big picture that moves science forward?
What are some future directions you propose?
Has your experience resulted in any publications or poster/oral presentations?
What insights have you gained from this experience? How does it shape your research interests and career goals?
As you write your research statement, remember that failure is part of science. You can write a successful essay about an experiment that failed or work that did not support your original hypothesis, just make sure you clearly communicate what was learned from the experience! Please avoid taking sections straight out of the mentor’s grants (or using AI), it will be obvious to application readers. If you have several research experiences, you can pick your favorite or most meaningful. You do not have to discuss all of them.
Personal statement
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Personal statements are your opportunity to tell your story to the admissions committee and demonstrate why you are a strong fit for the program. These essays can be tricky to start—read plenty of examples [insert hyperlink to examples] and expect to go through multiple rounds of editing. A strong personal statement strikes a balance between showcasing your individuality and answering the key questions clearly and professionally. Be sure to explain why you want to study neuroscience and why you are specifically interested in pursuing a Neuroscience Ph.D. at UPenn. And remember, do not hesitate to ask peers and mentors for feedback along the way!
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Some applicants use the personal statement to reflect on challenges they have faced in their path to graduate school and how they have overcome them. This is a space where you are free to share meaningful experiences that have shaped your journey and decision to pursue neuroscience. While your research essay will focus on your past scientific work, the personal statement is your opportunity to highlight your path to science and the experiences beyond the lab that make you a strong candidate for the program.
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How did you get interested in science? What motivated you to study science in college?
Why did you choose neuroscience (or your subject of interest)? What aspect of the field interests you the most?
What events and/or people motivated you to pursue science?
Why would getting a Ph.D. be the best and most logical next step for you (this can be related to your career goals)?
How have you prepared for graduate school (e.g., sought research opportunities in a lab, joined summer research internships, participated in science outreach, worked as a research technician, completed a postbac, etc.)? What did you learn from these experiences?
While it is okay to reference some of the same experiences mentioned in your research statement, avoid repeating content across both essays. The personal statement can take a broader approach. If your previous research was not in neuroscience, explain how it is still relevant to your scientific journey or why you are now shifting fields. This could be due to limited neuroscience opportunities at your institution, prompting you to pursue available research in other areas. Or, your interests may have evolved after taking a course, reading an article, or having a new experience that sparked your curiosity about neuroscience.
Why are you interested in the program? Do your homework to give specific answers. You can cite individual professors you might want to work with, unique characteristics about UPenn’s program, the university’s resources, etc.
How can the program help you achieve your short- and long-term career goals? What can you offer to the program?
curriculum vitae/Resume
**Please note: This is an example of a typical CV. Specific formatting and organization may vary depending on the applicant’s background, experiences, and the conventions of their field.
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A curriculum vitae (CV) is a document commonly used for academic positions and is typically required in Ph.D. applications. Unlike a resume, a CV can be longer (i.e., multiple pages) and more detailed, allowing you to highlight your academic achievements, research experience, publications, and relevant skills. However, longer does not always mean better—clarity, organization, and relevance are key.
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Academic Major(s): There is no requirement to be a science major, but you should have completed a strong foundation of science coursework.
Research Experiences (very important): Include the PI’s name, institution, location, time spent in the lab, and a brief description of your research focus—emphasize scientific questions over techniques. Avoid vague labels like “neurophysiology lab.” Keep descriptions short (1–2 sentences); you can elaborate in your research statement.
Publications: List any papers (published, in press, under review, or in preparation), abstracts, posters, and conference presentations. Use standard formatting: full author list, title, journal, volume, pages, and year.
Awards: Include academic, state, national-level awards, fellowships, and scholarships.
School/Leadership Activities: Include outreach, mentoring, teaching, or leadership roles, especially those involving science communication or education.
Extracurriculars: It is appropriate to list time-intensive activities (e.g., athletics, dance, orchestra) that show discipline and commitment.
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Keep the document clean and consistent—use the same format, spacing, and organizational style throughout (e.g., reverse chronological vs. chronological). Avoid flashy designs or unnecessary graphics.
Begin bullet points with strong action verbs and, when possible, quantify your contributions or impact (e.g., “Analyzed data from 50+ experiments…”).
Briefly describe any awards, programs, or experiences that may be unfamiliar to the admissions committee, especially those specific to your college or region.
Ask mentors to review your CV multiple times. Their feedback can help you improve organization, clarity, and content to better reflect your accomplishments.
Be sure to convert your CV document to PDF before uploading to any application portals.
Letter of recommendation
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Letters of Recommendation (LORs) play a crucial role in your Ph.D. application by providing the admissions committee with an independent, professional perspective on your abilities and potential as a researcher. Unlike your research/personal statements or CV, LORs offer firsthand insight into your work ethic, intellectual curiosity, problem-solving skills, and ability to contribute to a research community. Strong letters from mentors or supervisors who know you well can highlight your strengths, contextualize your achievements, and speak to your readiness for the challenges of graduate study. Because these letters serve as trusted endorsements of your character and capability, selecting recommenders who can provide detailed, specific examples of your skills and growth is vital.
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When requesting letters of recommendation, ask early (ideally 2 to 2.5 months before the deadline) in writing (e.g., via email) to give your recommenders ample time. Make sure to confirm that they feel comfortable writing a strong, personalized letter on your behalf. Provide them with your resume or CV for reference, details about the program you are applying to, and suggest some information you would like them to include in the letter. Be sure to clearly communicate the due date, include portal links if available, and offer to send polite reminders as the deadline approaches. Since recommenders often receive many requests, asking early increases the likelihood they’ll gladly agree to support you.
Keep in mind, if you are asking for an LOR from a professor, PI, or other employer with whom you have not worked with in the recent past, it is strongly suggested you remind them of your connection (i.e., what class you took, the details of your research project, etc.).
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Letters of recommendation are most impactful when they come from people who know you well. Strong letters often come from lab mentors during your undergraduate, summer or post-baccalaureate research, such as your direct PI, a collaborating PI, or a professor whose lab shared meetings with yours. If you have worked in industry (e.g., pharmaceutical or neuroscience-related fields), supervisors there can also be excellent letter writers. For academic references, choose professors from upper-level courses where you made a strong impression and who can speak to your strengths. Professors you assisted as a teaching assistant or worked with on independent study can also be good options, though generally not as strong as lab PIs. If you have a publication in progress, it is helpful for your letter writer to mention it in their recommendation.