The AI time estimates are wildly high IMO, across basically every category. Some parts are also clearly optional (e.g. spending 2 hours reviewing). If you know what you want to research, writing a statement can be much shorter. I have previously applied to ML PhDs in two weeks and gotten an offer. The recommendation letters are the longest and most awkward to request at such notice, but two weeks isn’t obviously insane, especially if you have a good relationship with your reference letter writers (many students do things later than is recommended, no reference letter writer in academia will be shocked by this).
If you apply in 2025 December, you would start in 2026 fall. That is a very very long time from now. I think the stupidly long application cycle is pure dysfunction from academia, but you still need to take it into account.
(Also fyi, some UK programs have deadlines in spring if you can get your own funding)
I agree that it’s not impossible, but it’s definitely very late in the cycle to start thinking about PhD applications, and the claim that it would be more helpful to make the case for a PhD to people earlier in the cycle seems totally reasonable to me
The AI time estimates are wildly high IMO, across basically every category. Some parts are also clearly optional (e.g. spending 2 hours reviewing). If you know what you want to research, writing a statement can be much shorter. I have previously applied to ML PhDs in two weeks and gotten an offer. The recommendation letters are the longest and most awkward to request at such notice, but two weeks isn’t obviously insane, especially if you have a good relationship with your reference letter writers (many students do things later than is recommended, no reference letter writer in academia will be shocked by this).
If you apply in 2025 December, you would start in 2026 fall. That is a very very long time from now. I think the stupidly long application cycle is pure dysfunction from academia, but you still need to take it into account.
(Also fyi, some UK programs have deadlines in spring if you can get your own funding)
I agree that it’s not impossible, but it’s definitely very late in the cycle to start thinking about PhD applications, and the claim that it would be more helpful to make the case for a PhD to people earlier in the cycle seems totally reasonable to me