Tolman's Rat

Hi all, I am applying to three PhD Psychology programs and 1 PhD CogSci program in California. For all of these applications, I waived my right to access the letters of recommendation accompanying my application. Is there any reason to waive it versus not waive it? Obviously I have already made my decision, but just wanted to get some insight on the advantages either way. It would have been nice to see the letters, but all of my recommenders have assured me that they are submitting very positive letters so I thought it might be a sign of confidence to waive my right. Thoughts?

I hope it is, since I referred to it as "Berkeley" with word count in mind. When faculty mentioned the school name in e-mails to me, that's how they referenced it, so I've kind of become accustomed to it. It reads better, too.

I applied for Psychology and there was no recommended length. Mine was about 1.5 pages single spaced. I know a few other programs that do (Goldman Public Policy, IIRC) asks for 1.5 - 2 double spaced. Some general advice - just e-mail the grad admissions advisor. I was in constant contact with the advisor for Psych and he was incredibly nice and accommodating, even taking the time (unexpectedly) to speak with me on the holiday weekend. He gave me advice on my PHS, told me that I should be as personal as possible, it's my opportunity to totally expose myself and show the adcomm exactly where I come from and what I went through to get where I am. So if that helps for people trying to get their PHS together for other programs...well, good

I like my coffee black, beer stout, and whiskey neat, but would never think to attribute that to myself being a 'gentleman' or a 'scholar' Even as someone who shares your tastes, I would roll my eyes (especially with some of the awkward sentence construction prior: I think the issue here is that you come off as completely serious, the "in another essential regard" part really sells me on that. This is something you can bring up in casual conversation, in a joking manner, but you really don't convey the light-heartedness of the statement here. It just sounds snotty. I hear something like "in another essential regard" and I expect to hear some grand conclusion about yourself as to why you're so well-suited to conduct graduate research.

I don't really know how much word count would hinder things, but like you said, it could cost you a supporting example or a counterargument. If I recall correctly (and to be honest - I did not study for this section, just BSed it) I used a bit of an introduction, 2-3 supporting arguments, a counterargument, and a brief conclusion. Probably 600 words or more, and got 5.0.

So...his response to my gaffe: is this good, bad, or totally neutral? Hi Charles, Great, thanks for thinking through the idea. Perhaps we'll get a chance to talk about this more in depth at the interview stage. Mike

Feels good, doesn't it? I'm glad but still feel like I'm just getting started...this app was probably the worst fit of my 4 choices, so although I put a ton of work into it, I want to engage even more in my next few (SOPs are almost done, just some tailoring, which is where the more intellectual side of things comes in - i.e., tying up more specific research interests) I made a bit of a gaffe though - I sent a note out to a POI after submitting my app, just to keep him informed on my interests and to further engage him in discussion. One of my recommenders said they knew him and that they were both from Montreal, so I mentioned this in my e-mail as an extension of friendliness or mutual interest or whatever. Of course, AFTER sending out the e-mail, I realize that there are two researchers, both interested in cognition and language, in psychology departments, named Michael Frank, and it was the other one - it seems - who is from Montreal. I quickly messaged back and said that my recommender must have gotten the two of them confused and that I hope it doesn't reflect poorly on me...aghhh

Ahhhh that feels good. Just submitted my first ever graduate school application, to the Stanford PhD program in Psychology. I feel pretty good about it. My quant GRE score sucked, but verbal and AW were very good, and though that part of my application might be below average, I think the rest of my application is stellar and should make up for it. Not saying I'll get in, it's a very competitive program, but I feel good about what I've put out. My GPA (esp major GPA) is extremely good in my estimation, my letters are very strong and I have one from a very influential figure in my field. I think my statement is pretty good. I was pretty specific about my research interests without limiting myself and proposed a preliminary research direction (not a very specific project, but something to build on that demonstrates I can take my research interests and apply them to potential research in the field). Use this thread to discuss how great it feels to get that first monkey off your back and perhaps how you feel about your prospects. Berkeley, UCSD, here we go!

My most influential recommender told me to upload my thesis, saying that it demonstrates "excellent writing skills and research skills" but he also said that he would choose to simply upload your best piece of writing. So for anyone else in this situation, this is the advice I received: Frankly the main concern I have when I read a paper by a prospective grad student is how well they write. I figure I can teach a smart student anything they need to know. But writing skill takes a lot more than can be taught in a few short years. So whichever is a better piece of writing I would go with.

Thanks! Yes, I suppose that the advantage of a CV is that you've got all relevant information summarized in a neat way. The only reservation I have here is that there isn't too much info in my CV that isn't outlined elsewhere in my application. For example, my SOP talks about my research experience, teaching experience, and technical skills, and my major average (it doesn't appear in my transcript). Another part of the application has asked me for any awards or publications/presentations. Yet another part of the application asks about languages. Though I see the value in summarizing all of that info neatly in a CV, it is available elsewhere. I've e-mailed one of my recommenders to ask for his opinion as well...

Anyone? One of my apps is due tomorrow...I need to decide on uploading a research paper, my thesis, or my CV...

Thanks...this is helpful. You've posed a nice way of working in the outcome without making it overly personal or opening up the possibility of adcomms stigmatizing me.

If you are given this option, what do you do? I have a few applications where I am given the option to upload a resume, CV, writing sample, etc. and am not sure what to upload. Would they be looking for an essay written in a course? Thesis work? What is going to be more valuable? An essay that relates to your proposed research field, or a thesis that is not related but demonstrates quality research skills? Or would you just upload a CV to give adcomms a concise overview of everything you've accomplished? For example, I got a 96 on a paper written in an upper year cognitive development course. This is my area of interest, but is it something that adcomms will find useful?

OK...feeling a little better...analytical writing score came in and I got 5.0, 92nd percentile, so that quant score, I hope, is looking more and more like an aberration (if it wasn't already due to my extensive stats background)

If the swaps are still going on, I would like to get in on this. I am also applying to Berkeley, for the Psych PhD program. Not sure what all to put in there. I certainly have an 'interesting' background that few of my colleagues can relate to - well, not that I would know, I'm not one to make it known to others because I'm not sure how it would be perceived. I'm from a less fortunate family, not poor, but certainly not well off. This in itself probably isn't all that unique - but low SES is probably something worth mentioning as a barrier, along with the fact that I'm a first generation university student. My 'unique' history starts with some of the often-seen consequences of being from a low SES family. My father's an alcoholic and we've had some pretty rough times over here as a result. He had no problem with us 'doing what we wanted' so at a young age (15) I was pretty into some hard drugs that became a pretty big problem until I was 19 or 20, caused some pretty serious personal issues. I could go on and on with detail but don't at all see the need. I mean, is this the type of stuff they mean when they say "What hardships have you overcome?" or "What obstacles have come up? Show how you've persevered"? I'd like to think that if this stuff is too personal for casual conversation with colleagues, it's probably too personal for this letter. But I'm certain that it's a legitimate answer to the question "Were you in some way different from the majority of students in your class?" I could also get into some other stuff...my thesis research was looking at the biological underpinnings of sexual orientation development. I could certainly tie that into my awareness of prejudices placed on others and my own attempts to elucidate true mechanisms behind a needlessly controversial issue. I don't know...at this point I am just spewing thoughts...any comments?

I have awesome jobs and connections at my current institution, so I'm not too worried about sticking around if I absolutely have to. These are my dream schools, and honestly, there are not many other places where I would be happy long-term. I don't mind if I have to go through the process again next year, but I've come too far to let a crappy quant score get me down. Yeah, if it wasn't too late I would just do it over again. I should have taken the advice of a faculty member I'm close with and taken it during the summer. If there is a next time, now I know and have learned from it. Your last point is what I am truly worried about - the GRE as a filter. I hope that my discourse with faculty will preclude that possibility - I have had very positive conversations with several persons of interest - and that their knowledge of my situation for the GRE and other background will give me an upper hand. Also - I should mention that I am still above the cutoff for any programs that have a GRE cutoff. I would hope that those schools wouldn't automatically eliminate certain GRE schools, but I could be wrong.

I found that there was more inference necessary in the math section. It was just not intuitive. A lot of hypothetical-type scenarios where you need to have specific principles and/or "Smart Numbers" in mind because you're not actually given numbers to work with. I didn't study with ETS so I can't comment on the similarity of the questions. The verbal section was easy for me. I downloaded the Kaplans flash cards app on my Samsung and that helped a bit, but most of the vocabulary I had little difficulty with. I found that the multi-blank text completion were passages were difficult not for the vocabulary used, but for the ambiguity of the meaning of the passage. There were multiple options that would fit and you need to really read carefully and make sure you are choosing the set of words that fits best. There is some obscure vocabulary though, so be sure to study your vocab at least a little bit. Kaplans has 500 words organized into three levels of difficulty. It doesn't take long to learn those and it's well worth the download.

Thanks for the advice. I did pick up the Manhattan tests, but didn't use them to their maximum potential. I did find that, though I was familiar with most of the concepts tested, I wasn't prepared for the tricks of the GRE, so I might grab the Princeton next time around. At this point, I am in too deep and it is just too late to re-take by the deadlines. I am going to apply and give it everything I can in the meantime. My GPA, by my own calculations, is well above the average GPA of admitted students. I have very strong letters, very strong statements (as I have been told by my recommenders), strong research experience, and valuable TAing experience in stats. I don't know that I'll get in. Optimistic but sort of expecting the worst. Everyone that I have been in contact with from those programs, though, has told me that the rest of my background looks strong and to apply because the application is considered holistically. A GRE score is not going to make or break my application. I guess I am hoping that A. the rest of my application is so far above the average, that a quant GRE score isn't going to pull me down, B. my stats background demonstrates my quant GRE score to be an aberration, and C. the GRE isn't as highly valued as it once was and faculty would rather focus on aspects of an application that, you know, actually matter Again, thanks for the advice, and it's sort of what I was expecting. I am fully prepared to give it another try next year if this application cycle doesn't work out for me. I know that I can do well on the GRE, it's just about putting the work in.

I am going for simplicity as well. I think it will be most important to demonstrate you have a thorough understanding of what you want to do, why you are prepared to do it, and how it fits with specific faculty in the department. A nice style will help you to get your point across, so that is obviously important, but I find that the 'inspired opening line' could be interpreted the wrong way. I want to strike a chord with my potential advisors because I am a better candidate than other applicants, who will conduct outstanding research in their lab for the next 5-6 years, not because I am witty and cute.

I wrote the GRE last week, and my unofficial scores after test came up as: 152 Q 162 V Looking at the approximation charts on the ETS website, this means 52nd percentile for quantitative and 89th percentile for verbal. I feel my analytical writing section went fairly well, but I didn't really study for it, so I can't say for sure. My average is very solid, at least by my estimation. I am a Canadian student, overall average of 84% and major average of 88%. I have just one B in my major, and five Bs overall. All other grades are As. Just posted in the IHOG forum and I have been reassured that my GPA is pretty strong. My recommenders have told me that they are writing very strong, complimentary letters. I have worked with all of them in a research scenario, and one of them both in research and in coursework strongly related to my field of interest. This latter faculty member is very well-known in his field (Sid Segalowitz - editor-in-chief of Brain and Cognition journal) and should be able to provide a pretty influential letter. They have also told me that my statements are very strong. I have worked as a TA for a few years now - for two years as a stats TA (beginning in my third year of undergraduate study) and this year as a TA for intro psych. I have done very well in all of my stats courses and anything quant related, so I feel that my quant score on the GRE is an aberration on my quant history. I had a terrible, terrible day on the day of the GRE (basically culminated in losing my passport on the streets and having my identity questioned by the testers - kind of an amusing story now that I would be glad to share if anyone wants a laugh ) The high-school type math tested on the GRE is just not intuitive to me like verbal reasoning is, and I was not in the frame of mind to really focus in on it like I needed to. I am applying to Psych PhD programs at UCSD, Berkeley, and Stanford and the CogSci PhD program at UCSD. Do I have any chance? Will a poor GRE score absolutely ruin me? I plan on really honing in on my stats background in my statements to demonstrate that my GRE score is just an aberration, but I am not sure if it will matter much. I have been told over and over again that a GRE score won't make or break an application, but I want to get as much input as possible. PS. I am still above any cutoffs for GRE scores.

Thanks! It was very helpful, just the self-esteem boost I needed I haven't actually been asked to convert my GPA, so this information is just for my own use. I wanted to be able to accurately compare my own average with average admitted GPA for the programs to which I am applying. I should clarify, though, I only have one B in my major. This is what I meant to say above, but I obviously mistyped. Otherwise I have a few more, 4 or 5, so it is not as strong as you may have thought.

Hello everyone, I am applying to Psychology PhD programs at Berkeley, Stanford, and UCSD, as well as the CogSci PhD program at UCSD. I am currently studying at a Canadian university, Brock in St. Catharines, and would like to get an idea of where my average stands in terms of GPA. I have seen so many different ways of calculating GPA and can't seem to find one that would accurately convert my % to GPA. So I have an 84% average overall, 88% major average. I only have one B, everything else is an A or A+. Any help would be appreciated. Obviously I am going through with the applications regardless, but perhaps a self-esteem boost will help me through the last stages of the application process