PhD Applications Communication Studies Fall 2025 Cycle

[colorvegas]

Hello everyone! I hope you are doing well. I wanted to create a forum for PhD applicants in Communication Studies. 

How are you feeling? What programs are you applying to? Where are you at in the process? What is your experience/have you applied for PhD programs before?

Just trying to find some commonality with some people because I have been freaking out lately! (lol)

[AppleSpice]

Hello! Thanks for creating this forum, it was much needed. I'm feeling a little nervous, googling the odds of each school and the likelihood of getting into a PhD program isn't helping haha. I'm applying to 9 schools, some in the California area, some on the East Coast. It's my first time applying to a PhD program, I have a masters and am currently working professionally before I transition into a PhD program next Fall. How about you all?

[elontries]

Just finished applying to a mix of history and comms programs! This is my second round of applications- I already have my master's in international affairs and a good amount of work experience. For communication, I applied to the PhD programs at USC, UW-Madison, UPenn, and American University

Edited November 22 by elontries

[AppleSpice]

Great schools! I have applied to USC as well. Most of the schools I have applied to say decisions come in anytime between late Jan to late March, so a little nerve-racking waiting for results.

[elontries]

9 hours ago, AppleSpice said:

Great schools! I have applied to USC as well. Most of the schools I have applied to say decisions come in anytime between late Jan to late March, so a little nerve-racking waiting for results.

I feel you. Last year was my first round of applications, so all I did was refresh gradcafe and my application portals, and worry about the results XD

[Martyna]

Hello! Thank you for creating this thread. 

This is my third round of applications, but the second one for Communication programs. 

I'm applying to 12 universities this year, some on the West Coast, East Coast, South, Mid-West. 

In have a master's and some professional experience plus volunteering research experience. 

Some of the schools I'm applying to are Oregon, USC, NYU, Brown, UCSD, Northwestern, UIUB. 

I have 4 more applications to submit and then the waiting period begins! 

Good luck everyone! 

 

[c202]

Hi everyone! Thanks for creating this thread. My first deadline is Dec 1 (tomorrow) and one of my profs still hasn't submitted their LOR, anyone knows how bad it would be if their letter is late?

[Martyna]

It depends what university you're applying to. Some universities like NYU (Steinhardt) will just send your application materials for a review without that one recommendation and will review it based on everything else you have, it won't make much difference if everything else in your application stands out. Other universities don't have a set deadline for LORs, a lot of them have a deadline for application but no specific deadline for getting recommendations, so I wouldn't panic and still apply. 

[c202]

17 hours ago, Martyna said:

It depends what university you're applying to. Some universities like NYU (Steinhardt) will just send your application materials for a review without that one recommendation and will review it based on everything else you have, it won't make much difference if everything else in your application stands out. Other universities don't have a set deadline for LORs, a lot of them have a deadline for application but no specific deadline for getting recommendations, so I wouldn't panic and still apply. 

Thanks!!! It is NYU 😅 I submitted it and will remind the prof again. 

[colorvegas]

Hello everyone! I am currently a Master's student and am in the process of applying. The schools that I have successfully finished the application process for are UConn, Minnesota, Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and University of Arizona!

The programs I am still in the process of applying to are Rutgers, University of Iowa, Missouri, Tennessee-Knoxville, and University of Delaware!

My main research interest is interpersonal communication and have recently been finding myself focusing on romantic relationships and families!

 

Edited December 4 by colorvegas

[Martyna]

4 hours ago, colorvegas said:

Hello everyone! I am currently a Master's student and am in the process of applying. The schools that I have successfully finished the application process for are UConn, Minnesota, Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and University of Arizona!

The programs I am still in the process of applying to are Rutgers, University of Iowa, Missouri, Tennessee-Knoxville, and University of Delaware!

My main research interest is interpersonal communication and have recently been finding myself focusing on romantic relationships and families!

 

Nice! Well done on submitting your first applications 👏 Let's hope we all get in somewhere this year! 🤞

[AppleSpice]

Good luck to everyone, hope we all get into our dream programs! Just curious, did you all connect with professors with the universities you were interested in or are you waiting until you get in? With comms PhDs, it's not as clean-cut because many programs don't require a commitment by a professor, but then many recommend you do since it's good for professors to know more about your research interests and whether you're a good fit for a program.

[colorvegas]

1 hour ago, AppleSpice said:

Good luck to everyone, hope we all get into our dream programs! Just curious, did you all connect with professors with the universities you were interested in or are you waiting until you get in? With comms PhDs, it's not as clean-cut because many programs don't require a commitment by a professor, but then many recommend you do since it's good for professors to know more about your research interests and whether you're a good fit for a program.

Hi! I was able to talk to some professors of interest while I was at NCA about a week and a half ago. However, other programs I have am applying to I have not reached out to anyone. It is not too late to reach out to them though if you feel like that is the best decision!

[Martyna]

1 hour ago, AppleSpice said:

Good luck to everyone, hope we all get into our dream programs! Just curious, did you all connect with professors with the universities you were interested in or are you waiting until you get in? With comms PhDs, it's not as clean-cut because many programs don't require a commitment by a professor, but then many recommend you do since it's good for professors to know more about your research interests and whether you're a good fit for a program.

I reached out to 3 professors from each university and introduced myself and proposed topic. Some of them were very nice and replied to me, we exchanged a couple of emails. One of them had a zoom meeting with me. Another one encouraged me to apply reasuring me that my topic fits the department. Some said they don't accept new students, which was obviously helpful to know before I mentioned them in SoP. I also have one Professor whom I've been exchanging emails and calls for the last two rounds of applications and their help was instrumental in drafting my SoP! Once you find a professor who really likes you and your topic, you should keep in touch and make yourself known and interesting to the department, it helps a lot. Beware though as some universities advise not to contact professors, for example, U Minnesota. 

[Rev_Gamedev]

Hi everyone! I'm finished my Master's in Entertainment Arts and Engineering from the University of Utah (2024), where I worked as a Research Assistant at The GApp Lab on therapeutic games. I've applied to PhD programs in:

• Michigan State University (Media & Information)
• Northeastern University
• RPI
• UT Dallas and couple more universities

Has anyone else applied to these programs? Would love to connect and share experiences!

[c202]

Hi all, I am also finishing my master's over here. I just finished the application process for UPenn (Annenberg), NYU, Brown and Rutgers. I will also be applying to Canadian universities in January. Good luck to everyone!

[icedchai]

Hi everyone! This is my first Ph.D. application cycle, some of the schools I'm applying to that I've seen other people mention are NYU Steinhardt (where I did my undergrad), Brown, and UPenn. I'm mostly just relieved all my letters of rec got in (mostly) on time! I had a bit of a nightmare experience with recs when I was applying for Master's programs so that was the thing I was most nervous about 😅 

[colorvegas]

I just got my first acceptance letter today! Manifesting the same for all of your applications! 

[Bear_hug1234]

@colorvegas Congratulations! Which school is your acceptance to?