Applying to PhD from Bachelors with limited research experience.

Hello everyone,

I'm a senior at a small-to-medium university in Illinois, and I'm planning to apply for a PhD program at UIC this year. As a backup, I'm also applying for a master's at my current school. My main concern is my little to no research experience. I may get some experience through my school's SURE program this summer, but beyond that, my resume has mostly personal projects, with no internships or related experience.

How challenging is it to get into a PhD program without much research experience? What can I do now to strengthen my application?

Also, I would like to work in AI/ML, but by the time I graduate, I won’t have taken many formal courses in the field. Could this affect my performance if I get accepted? Should I prioritize taking AI/ML courses now, or will I have opportunities to get that knowledge during the program?

For context, I am an international student studying in the US.

I’d really appreciate any advice. Thanks guys.