A method for making spherical polymer particles, the method including: providing a polymer solution including a polymer in an amount of less than 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the polymer solution, and an organic solvent; combining the polymer solution, deionized water, and a first surfactant to provide an emulsification composition having an organic solvent fraction of 0.60 or higher by volume; forming an emulsion from the emulsification composition; and adding the emulsion into receiving water maintained at a temperature above the boiling point of the organic solvent for a period sufficient to evaporate the organic solvent, wherein the adding and the evaporating are at a rate effective to form an aqueous slurry comprising spherical polymer particles having a Dv100 (volume-based diameter) of 10 micrometers or less, as measured by laser diffraction.