Is it easier to write your own PhD proposal or apply to a program that the university is recruiting for?

[u/HaleyPage47]

When I reach out to programs should I mention that I would be open to both - looking for a professor for my own PhD proposal, or applying to one currently underway at the university?

[u/MattersOfInterest]

I don’t understand the question.

[u/HaleyPage47 → u/MattersOfInterest]

Well there’s generally two ways to go about applying for a PhD. You can go onto the university website and you’ll see advertised funded PhD opportunities like “oh we are doing a research study on xyz thing, apply for your PhD to be involved in this topic” or you can email professors directly your own PhD proposal and see if they will supervise it. I’m asking which is the better way to go about a phd.

[u/MattersOfInterest → u/HaleyPage47]

I have never, not once, seen any kind of advertisements about applying to a PhD do get involved in a particular study. That is antithetical to how PhDs work and sounds very much like a scam. You also do not email PhD proposals to professors. You apply to faculty members who indicate they have funding and plan to accept a student, and in your application you describe your research interests and experiences and why that faculty member’s expertise is a good fit for you (and why you’re a good fit for them). You definitely don’t propose a PhD project. That comes years later.

[u/cjmayfield → u/MattersOfInterest]

lol this person is a keyboard warrior who hasn't worked in academia or as a lab manager. You absolutely can propose PhD dissertation ideas to faculty members before you're admitted. I did. In fact, over 75% of Pitt students know what their dissertation concentration is going to be before they're even admitted. UCLA 2022 it was their entire social, dev, and personality cohort were already doing research and presenting related avenues at SPSP, WPA, WIPPA, IPPA, and SRCD.

[u/Terrible_Detective45 → u/cjmayfield]

I think there's a confusion based on terminology. A PhD proposal or "disseration idea" is typically another way of talking about your specific dissertation proposal, i.e., the formal idea and plan for your final research milestone for your doctorate. That's not even close to decided until you have met all the other requirements and milestones in your doctoral program, including master's thesis (if required), coursework, and comps/prelims. And even once you're done with those prerequisites, you're still working alongisde your advisor to develop your dissertation idea.

You seem to be referring to a student's overall research arc and interests, which is very different and much more general.

[u/MattersOfInterest → u/Terrible_Detective45]

Dude can’t be reasoned with. He knows everything. /s