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HigherEdPsych

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  1. Hello, I use ExpressScribe on my laptop. It's user-friendly and free!
  2. I was granted admission into a program that I had previously been denied to the year before (no interview offered the first time) - given, I was not the first pick but an alternate. I used the same GRE scores and my GPA had not changed. In fact, I even used the same general SOP including what had changed during the course of the year. What did change was my number of publications and presentations and presumably my LORs given the time in between the application.
  3. Which top tier program is this? As I mentioned in the other thread, there are no universal practices when it comes to GRE scores - just as there is no science when it comes to getting accepted into a clinical program. Getting offers depends on many variables, some of which are not even within your control. Furthermore, while one advisor might view an applicants openness as naive, another may not and see it as just that. To answer your question, yes. I have heard of other students in my former lab discussing GRE scores with potential advisors, and receiving useful advice on whether they should apply or not. I mean, unless your scores are absolutely horrible, you obviously would not want to contact someone directly.
  4. Again, I can't say I agree with you. It sounds as though you had a bad experience. I'm sorry you had to deal with that.
  5. That's an interesting interpretation, I can't say that I agree with your former mentor, though. When it comes to GRE scores, there are no universal beliefs across all institutions. I'm sure there is a tactful way to do it, perhaps without providing your actual scores in detail. For example, asking if there are aggregated hard cut offs, in my mind, would hardly classify someone as stupid. Also, since we are on the topic, here's a helpful article that discusses actual "kisses of death": https://psychology.unl.edu/psichi/Graduate_School_Application_Kisses_of_Death.pdf
  6. If you are not willing to retake the GRE to improve that score, I suggest reaching out to the advisors you want to work with and ask them directly. It looks like you have great experience that might make up for your quant score, however, that experience might not do much for you if the schools you are applying to have hard cut offs (like many of the "top" ranking programs do) or the person you are wanting to work with is inflexible when it comes to GRE scores.
  7. I took the GRE three times as well and was told by multiple mentors and advisors NOT to send all of my scores. The rationale behind this is, by sending multiple scores, you're telling the person you're applying to work with (a) you were not prepared for the test the first time, and (b) you do not know the material to begin with. I can't say that this rationale is universal, though. It might be best to look at the GRE acceptance averages of the schools you are applying to try to match them (typically committees are more lenient with the lower quant scores). You could also reach out to the Director of Clinical Training (or even the person you are applying to work with - if you're feeling brave) and ask them what they recommend. Not only would you likely receive a straightforward answer, but you will also begin to build a relationship with someone at the school - which, I think, is the best way to get an edge on applying.
  8. While GPA is a relevant, there are many other factors that are more important, including your GRE scores, research experience, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose/application material, clinical experience, etc. (and likely in that order, too).
  9. To be candid, getting two interviews in your first application round is impressive and signals that advisors see you as a competitive applicant. If it were me in this situation, I would avoid applying to Master's programa and focus on ways in which I could improve my chances this next round, including tightening up any application material, learning more interpersonal interview skills, etc. The reason I say this is, it sounds as though you're on the right track as far as research experience and what you have done has already gotten you this far. Additionally, in the event that you do not get in this next round, imagine what another year of experience will do for your application? That's probably not the advice you want to hear and I hope that is not the case, but in terms of time and resources going straight into a Ph.D. program will usually save you both.
  10. Linked is a recent study you might be interested in. The PI Kim Binsted is also linked in the article. https://www.space.com/30425-yearlong-mock-mars-mission-begins.html
  11. I will be starting a doctoral program in the fall and have been awarded a fellowship through the university's graduate college. The fellowship comes with a tuition waiver (which covers up to 9 credits in the fall and spring and 6 credits in the summer) and also a stipend that is larger than any of the assistantships offered through the department. So, my question is: In this situation, is it common practice or acceptable to apply to other fellowships or scholarships? Perhaps, I would not apply to another fellowship, though, I would prefer to take an additional course in the fall, which would not be covered under the fellowship that I have been awarded. While I would like to avoid taking on any new loans, many - if not all - of these awards require letters of recommendation and the last thing I want is to seem selfish and stingy by applying to funding that may seem like much more than I need.
  12. Thanks for the advice, but it's pretty clear (to me at least) that I've found all the information I need. Cheers!
  13. Apparently, most - but not all - states mandate CSWE (Council of Social Work Education) accreditation as part of the educational requirement for licensing to become a Social Worker. The immediate question, then, is what constitutes CSWE accreditation? Taken directly from Social Work Licensure.org: "CSWE Accreditation means: Graduates will know how to apply ethical principles and critical thinking to social work practice." As I mentioned above, "critical thinking" is a far departure from evidence based practice and is prone to biases. Moreover, there appears to be exceptions where this most basic standard is not even necessary for CSWE accreditation (e.g., for new programs going through candidacy and programs which are state approved [for example, programs in Oregon]). Are these the same accreditation standards you were mentioning?
  14. Thank you for the reply. A quick lit search bolsters my original claim and further conveys the disconnect between social work and evidence based practice/science. It seems that a large body of evidence exists, which attempts to bridge the gap between the practice of social work and empirical evidence - suggesting that this is no new argument. And, frankly, I don't think it matters much whether it is one MSW program or one thousand MSW programs that lack a science based curricula. All training programs should be evidence based, especially if they aim to produce practitioners who heavily influence others' lives. 1) The Scientific View of Social Work: http://socialwelfare.library.vcu.edu/social-work/the-scientific-view-of-social-work/ 2) The Science of Social Work and Its Relationship to Social Work Practice: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/274647142_The_Science_of_Social_Work_and_Its_Relationship_to_Social_Work_Practice 3) Philosophy of Science and Social Work: http://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780195389678/obo-9780195389678-0100.xml 4) Science and Social Work: A Critical Appraisal: https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=ikusAgAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR9&dq=social+work+science+&ots=7d_40pVGag&sig=UEnCfRSq-SmngPNB7Vdzc15Qugw#v=onepage&q=social work science&f=false
  15. It looks like you have some excellent experience. Well done! To better answer your question, what aspect of autism are you interested in? Many autism researchers, despite having clinical psychology degrees, work in other emerging fields (e.g., Applied Behavioral Analysis [ABA]). Here's a site with programs that might fit your interests better: https://www.abainternational.org/accreditation/accredited-programs.aspx
  16. I can say with absolute certainty that the MSW students in my area do not get enough training that is science based nor are they prepared for the myriad of consequential job responsibilities. Working with local state organizations (e.g., Child Welfare Services, Department of Human Service, etc.), I've seen many Social Workers make assessments, recommendations, or suggest interventions based on past/personal experiences. When asked how decisions were made and if they had a set of procedures (specific to situations or populations), I learned that decisions were commonly based on other cases or personal beliefs and no such procedure existed. Which worries me deeply - how do we know Social Workers are not influenced by biases in making their decisions? I've also witnessed Social Workers who categorize individuals into a immutable mold: "Oh, they've experienced sexual trauma? Well, then you can expect to see [X, Y, and Z] from them. They will not like [X, Y, and Z], so be sure not to do any of those things. Only [X, Y, and Z] will help in this situation." Perhaps, this is only my experience. To improve practice and service, attention needs to be focused on the ways that Social Workers form judgements and make decisions with an aim to have the most efficacious outcome. And, that's where research comes in, how do we train competent Social Workers - who are expected to make crucial assessments or provide counseling - when they simply do not know/implement the science? To be absolutely clear, I am not saying a MSW is lesser than a PhD. I am saying that a MSW should not be tasked with responsibilities nor make crucial, lasting decisions that are above their training level.
  17. Sadly, most MSW programs don't even require a Master's Thesis! What's more disturbing is, the whole field seems to operate based on personal feelings and experiences rather than evidence and research. Where I live, Social Workers conduct group therapy sessions, even though they have no formal training. Unfortunately, this is probably the case due to the need and lack of trained professional. Furthermore, I suspect that this is a way of "cutting corners" in terms of saving money.
  18. Well, I should add that I've been working in my current lab for the last 2.5 years as a volunteer. In my lab, we typically work on 3-5 projects simultaneously with a fairly short amount of time spent on finishing projects. Again, I built a relationship with my lab director, and asked him directly if we could participate in local and national conferences and conventions. To which he did not object. When it comes to publishing, I suppose I am luckily in the sense that he is really open to RAs helping with the process. Another way to present is to start your own project and search for a mentor to help direct the project - surely one of your LORs would be willing? As soon as I knew I wasn't getting in last year, I began to design my own quant study with a survey measure. With outside help, I got IRB clearance, ran the study for a few months, did analyses, and had more data at my disposal. As for your current situation, the reality is: if you are having personal, family, or financial issues, perhaps this is not the time to start a PhD until those things are addressed. I know this is likely not the news you want to hear, but rushing into a PhD program with other obligations could potentially leave you worse off.
  19. I think I saw that you posted, in another thread, that you have applied more than 3 or 4 cycles. My best advice to you is to reach out to the advisors you applied to work with and ask them directly about how you can improve your application. Last year I applied to six programs, got denied at five, and got one interview - however, ultimately, I didn't get accepted. Following the suggestion of my mentor, I reached out to all my denials and asked for very specific feedback in regards to why I was denied. The feedback varied; basically, though, the main reasons were: 1) one section of my GRE score was too low, 2) only one poster presentation, and 3) no publications. In the course of the next year, I did as many poster and paper presentations that I could manage and got second and third author on two publications. I took my GRE again and my less than average score improved slightly. When applying to schools again, I didn't apply to any of the same schools I applied to - with the exception of the one I interviewed at. Before applying, I also sent out emails to potential advisors with an introduction of myself - including my GPA, past clinical and research experience, and research interests, my CV, and the very specific questions: "Are you accepting a student? If so, do you feel that I would be a good fit in your lab?" These emails really were my foot in the door. Out of the 30, about 25 of them replied on whether they were accepting students and whether I should apply. The majority welcomed my application and some even shared their CVs or put me in contact with their current graduate students. Those that thought I was not a good fit, sent me information for others in their department that I could potentially contact. Some even told me flat out that I was not competitive enough for their program, but still welcomed me to apply. Obviously, I didn't and put that money toward other programs where I got more positive feedback. Moreover, three advisors offered me phone calls to learn more about their research, program, and institution - which, of course, I did not turn down. I truly believe building this relationship with potential advisors is the most advantageous way to get an interview. Out of the schools I applied to, I got invited to four interviews and received three offers; two as first choice and the last as first alternate. I hope this information helps! If you want to PM me, I don't mind sharing a more in-depth explanation or templates of my emails. Best of luck!
  20. Hey all, The purpose of this thread is to give a brief evaluation of the program(s) and surrounding area(s) that you visited during any interviews this past application season. The aim is to assist future applicants in making a more informed decision on which programs to apply to. I've included a list of items to elaborate on below. Feel free to rate the bullet point items with the provided rating scale and include a rationale if you feel that it is necessary. Please also include any additional information or tips that you feel would be useful for others to know. 5 = Very Satisfactory; 4 = Satisfactory; 3 = Neither Satisfactory nor Dissatisfactory; 2 = Dissatisfactory; 1 = Very Dissatisfactory -- Name of institution: Specialization: Faculty: Facilities: Funding: Cost of living: Surrounding location: Comments:
  21. To the poster for the UGA acceptance, do you mind sharing your PIs initials with me! I am asking for a friend, thanks!
  22. Hello, My best advice is to try to do both simultaneously. While there is no exact science to getting accepted into a clinical PhD program, this route worked very well for me. If you can do part-time positions, it would probably be most ideal.
  23. I apologize for the extremely late reply. My research interests include: childhood trauma, childhood anxiety, and CCBT. Wishing you luck as well!
  24. School: University of Nebraska - Lincoln Area/Degree: Clinical Psychology PhDRationalization: Low/average GRE scores (specifically quant score) given large pool of applicantsComment: Applied to multiple POIs; all seemed very friendly after initial contact emailCoping tactics: https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ne/lincoln/crime/ School: Central Michigan UniversityArea/Degree: Clinical Psychology PhDRationalization: Low/average GRE scores and POI research interest fit not exactly alignedComment: 117 applicants with 5 openings Coping tactics: Still waiting to hear from 10 programs
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