iphi

I would be a little nervous about your stats considering the calibre of the programs you are applying to! Low GRE scores especially, but GPA not great either. I'm not trying to discourage you, but is there any way you can take the GRE again? You didn't break 160 on Verbal, and your subject test didn't even break 600? Throw some safety schools in? I'm not really sure. Also, your research interests (in your signature) seem really diverse. Make sure you reign them in on applications (don't tell all schools you have all those interests) and make sure your references know what to say for which school. Basically you need to be extremely strategic in how you proceed.

Just so you know, Columbus is not a bad town. It was named one of the most intelligent cities in the world, and is certainly several steps up from Lansing! I even prefer it to Philadelphia (I've lived in both cities) but that's just me. Here is a link to an article you should read.

Yeah most of what I've found are a combined score cutoff. "Above 300/310/whatever".

I've seen one prompt that tells you to speak to your advantages as well. So saying that you are the beneficiary of... socioeconomic status/race/insert your privilege here... that counts as well. You could talk about how you know you have been lucky and the problems you know exist for others. Hopefully along with some volunteer experience or something to show how you have helped benefit your community. You might want to note that if you don't choose to complete that diversity statement, there's always going to be someone who does!

Go ahead and write a follow-up email about 10-14 days after you send the original request. Make sure you tell them that they should not feel pressured to accept if they don't want to, but that you would appreciate a response ASAP so that you have time to find someone else to do it if they are unable to.

Always do a follow-up email! 2-4 weeks later. I wouldn't do more than one follow-up, but definitely do it. Profs are so busy, they forget to write back sometimes.

Does anyone know which part of the GRE is weighted most heavily for school (not ed.) psych? I did really well in AW/Verbal, but my Quant score is lacking. Still in a decent range for the schools I'm applying to, but not at all the calibre of my other two scores.

Right, I said "not private univiersities that don't fund" (vs private universities that do).

Check UMass Boston. I have been looking at PhDs, so I'm not sure about many EdS programs, but I think I might have seen that they fund? Are you tied to a particular geographic region?

I know that UC Berkeley at least doesn't really care. If you are admitted with funding they will pay your first year's tuition with the stipulation that you become a CA resident by the next academic year. So that first year (and then all subsequent) should all be free. This is obviously for funded programs, not private universities that don't fund.

I agree - take it again!

Can we use this thread to talk about schools/research interests? Or should I start another one?

I have a hard time believing that you didn't have time to re-take them at all within a YEAR. That being said, you obviusly have other stuff going for you. What makes you think it was the GREs that kept you down? Most schools as long as you are within an acceptable range will accept you if the rest of your application is strong. If it really was the GREs you should have re-taken them. Why wouldn't you fix the one part of your application that supposedly barred you from acceptance? That's crazy. Even if you "explain" them they're going to want to know why you only tried once, one year ago.

Huh, I don't know where we're looking that things are so different! One thing I've learned about PhDs having lived with a grad student for the past 4 years is that the number of years it takes you is usually up to you. If you are motivated (and aren't looking for a job in academia at an R1) you can get out faster. If you like it, you can stay longer. Not true for all schools, I know, but a point worth considering.

Hm, I'm not sure I know enough about it. It seems strange that one could be a faculty member while performing administrative duties, but I really don't know much about higher ed other than what I've observed as a student! Can you talk to one of your coworkers/people who have attained these positions already to get their take on it? Or look around online at different institutions to see what their credentials are? I know that EdD graduates can and do get faculty positions, if that helps. Just not at the same rate because their goals going in are usually different.

I know this is an old thread, but I just wanted to say that I know someone who majored in History in undergrad who just graduated from a top Psychology PhD program last year and was the #1 most competitive candidate on the job market (academic positions at prestigious R1 institutions). It can happen!

Unfortunately you should probably re-take it. Your writing score is decent, but your math and verbal scores are not competitive. I don't know if you're required to take the GRE subject test in Psych, but maybe try it and see how you do. A good score on that would help overcome your lackluster general test scores, and if you bomb the subject test (assuming schools don't ask for it) you don't have to even submit it.

I got the impression that - depending on where you go - a PhD can really only be one year longer, maybe two years past an EdS. How long are they usually? I'm focusing on PhD programs, some of which are 3-4 years + internship, and I thought EdS was ~3? As to your research experience, there are all sorts of ways you can volunteer to get that experience. Being an RA in labs, etc. Of course, for EdS, practical experience with kids or interventions, something like that will probably help you more.

Many people who are already administrators go for EdD, since their experience "makes up" for the focus they would have in a PhD. If you don't want to do research (and you should really WANT to do research if you go for a PhD) an EdD sounds like a better choice for you. Also something to consider is that PhD programs are usually full-time, meaning you can not keep another job while you get your degree, whereas EdD is usually geared toward educators and can fit around a teacher/administrator schedule (evening and weekend classes). All in all based on the brief description you gave us I would say go for an EdD. Can you give more information about your ultimate career goals? A position title, for example? Also, is your current employer willing to pay for your education - or is that not a factor that you're considering at all?

You can explain your scores if you want. Sounds like you have other strong parts to your application. Your verbal is fine, are you worried about the math? Did you take any subject tests?

I am still finalizing schools! I took the GRE yesterday so I was focusing on that. I feel so far behind. I'm glad there's a School Psych thread now though!

Oh boy, no research experience + secretly wanting to do an EdS? That really means you should not choose PhD! The program is not going to be what you're looking for, and you're not going to be what they're looking for, and it's going to end in disappointment all around. Also it takes 2 or so years longer! Something I have learned from being around grad students for the last 4 years (partner & friends): if you are going for a PhD you have to want it or you won't make it. I'm not trying to discourage you! It does sound like you are qualified for an EdS!

Oh, sorry, guess I read too fast. As Scarf said, you have to choose one test to report, you can not combine scores from multiple tests.

163 is 91st percentile in Verbal for the new GRE, so I think it should be fine. Don't forget that your Writing will count too. A 163 Verbal with a 6 in Writing is excellent, with a 4.5 in Writing it's good, but not stunning. Your Quant is fine. ETS allows you to report whichever scores you want, so if you take it again and do better, no one need see your first attempt (and vice versa). You can retake every 21 days, no more than 5 times per year. I believe that ETS recommends 4-6 weeks to allow your full score report to become available/sent to schools. This is a conservative estimate, as I have also looked for answers on the subject and have not found any. You would think that once your Writing score becomes available (10-15 days after your test) they could send it right away. I would say no later than one month before your earliest application deadline, just to be on the safe side. I think your score is good enough and you should probably work on perfecting other parts of your application that will matter more. If absolutely everything is done, maybe you can try again but it's probably not worth the effort. Most likely you'll just stress yourself out and not see a significant change in scores with this little time left to prepare.