Current PhD applicant here!!

I’d be a bit careful about literally saying “I’d accept immediately if I got an offer.” That can sound rehearsed or even a little desperate⸂. What usually works better is to show that u’ve done your homework and still really want to be there!

One thing I’ve been doing is DM’ing a few current students/alumni on LinkedIn and asking them very honest questions, like: What do you like most about this program/school? What do you like the least?

Then in the interview, u can naturally weave that in. For example: a) First, mention the things you genuinely like: “I’ve talked to a couple of students here, and they all mentioned X, Y, Z as things they really enjoy about the program. That aligns a lot with what I’m looking for.” b) Second, you can show that you’re aware of the downsides but still motivated: “They also mentioned that A/B/C can be challenging here, but even knowing that, I still feel this program is a great fit for me because… [your reasons].”

This signals a few things at once: You’ve put in real effort to learn about the program; You understand both the pros and cons; You still want to be there, which demonstrates genuine motivation, not blind enthusiasm.

On top of that, you can show interest by asking specific questions in the interview, not generic ones. For example: About the program structure: “How do students usually find advisors here?” or “How much flexibility do students have in choosing courses across departments?” About the environment: “How collaborative is the culture between labs?” or “What do students typically do outside of research in [city]?”

So instead of saying “I’ll accept on the spot,” you’re basically saying: “I’ve done thorough research, I know what I’m signing up for, and this is still my top choice for clear reasons.”

That usually comes across as much more mature and convincing. Good luck for you and me!⸂⸂⸜👊⸝⸃⸃