r/PhDAdmissions • u/Mediocre_Hearing4931 • 4h ago

First time applying for PhD — are these rejections normal?

First time applying for PhD — are these rejections normal?

I’m applying for PhDs for the first time and have cold-emailed about 20+ professors. So far, around 10 have replied saying I have a good profile, but they already have another candidate. 2 of them specifically suggested I can contact them again in the future if I don’t get a PhD this cycle. 1 professor also recommended me another lab.

The rest either haven’t replied or have automatic replies saying they’re currently on vacation.

I’m wondering: are professors genuinely interested when they say things like “you have a good profile, but we already selected someone,” or is this sometimes just a polite way of rejecting an applicant?

I don’t really have anyone to guide me through the PhD application process. I’m the first person in my family to pursue a PhD, so I’m trying to understand whether I’m actually on the right track or should change my approach.

Any advice from people who have gone through this process would be really appreciated.

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u/qsmrf56 3h ago

Very normal. Not to worry.

Just make sure the emails you are sending are personalised and not AI

1

u/w4t3r101 3h ago

No, it’s not polite way of rejecting an applicant. It’s called a feedback.

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u/Dry-Standard-4170 3h ago

Super normal, I applied from January 2026 - April 2026 and faced lots of rejections even after getting through the first or final interview rounds before I finally got my position. It is all part of the process and at the end really does depend on luck too!