Recommended Application Deadline: February 14, 2024
Application Deadline: March 11, 2024
The Graduate Applications International Network (GAIN) is inviting applications for motivated individuals who want to apply to graduate programs at top institutions worldwide and eventually pursue a PhD in economics and other social sciences. Accepted participants will attend the free, biweekly webinar series, where guest speakers will discuss different aspects of graduate school admissions and careers in research or policy. After completing the webinar series, participants may apply for the mentoring stage. Accepted participants in the mentoring stage will be matched with an experienced mentor to guide them through the graduate school application process.
GAIN offers financial support to cover the costs incurred in the application process, which may be prohibitive for prospective students from low-income countries. These include fees for a limited number of applications, standardized tests, and the submission of transcripts. Support is limited to students selected for the mentoring phase and is subject to funding availability. The webinars will start on February 15th, so it is recommended that applications are submitted before then.
Eligibility
- Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in economics or a related field.
The applicants being looked for are seeking to pursue a PhD in economics or related fields, or a Master’s program in economics with the intention of pursuing a PhD in this field thereafter. - Applicants must be willing to study abroad and commit the necessary time to participate in the GAIN Webinar Series. Typically, participants dedicate 3-5 hours per week to the program from March to December.
The Graduate School Application Process
The Webinar Series
The webinar series covers every aspect of the graduate application process and features panel discussions with leading African scholars worldwide. The webinars take place every two weeks on Zoom from March-July. Previous seminars have covered: scholarships and funding opportunities; strategies for taking standardized tests (GRE, TOEFL, etc.); advice for choosing universities and different career paths; and balancing family responsibilities with graduate studies.
Participants must complete 3-4 practical assignments related to the application process. Assignments may include: compiling a list of scholarships; reaching out to potential recommendation letter writers; drafting application essays; and taking practice GRE exams. At the end of the webinars, participants may apply to be considered for the mentoring phase of the program. The completion and quality of all assignments, as well as the availability of suitable mentors, will determine selection for the mentoring phase. In 2021, over 70 students advanced to the mentoring phase.
The Mentoring Phase
In the second phase of the program, GAIN matches each accepted participant to a suitable mentor. Mentors meet virtually with mentees every two weeks to support them in choosing programs of study, preparing application materials such as the CV and statement of purpose, and preparing for standardized tests such as the GRE and TOEFL. Matching between mentors and mentees is based on the field of study, professional experience, and personal background, e.g. country of origin. Our volunteer mentors are professors, researchers, and policy advisors at leading institutions worldwide with a passion for improving representation in the research community. During this stage, the GAIN leadership team offers additional support to mentors and mentees via monthly check-ins and ad-hoc troubleshooting.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and accepted participants will be notified by March 13th at the latest. Applicant should check mailbox for an email by we******@ga**********.net .
