mewtoo

I *think* its best to send in an actual manuscript you completed for an experiment you conducted because it shows off every aspect of your skills. After that I would think whatever you think your best written paper is, regardless of what area of psych it is. You don't want to send them a paper on their subject that you wrote two years ago versus something different that is current and your more improved writing. If thats not the case then send in on their subject. Though I always worried, what if you came to some conclusion that wasn't correct/not what they believe and they are ultra critical of your sample. But thats just me being paranoid. I think manuscript length (minus measures and appendices) is okay, though I'm no authority on this. Much longer you may risk them not really reading.

The closest to where I live currently is 3 hours away and I'll be moving 10 hours away from it now! There's not one in the entire state I'm moving to! No Ikea lists for me. Sadness.

Just wondering, but is that your general cumulative gpa or are you referring to your cumulative psych gpa? I'm just wondering how you would think it would compensate for your gpa if thats your general cumulative gpa. Was your psych gpa low or what you stated up there? For me I have a 3.3 cumulative and ~3.9 psych gpa and 4.0 psych grad gpa (just 1 class so far), but I can't see how my relatively low cumulative gpa would be compensated by taking the psych GRE since I obviously did well in my psych classes. I don't need to prove I can cut it in psych. Now, I would want to take the subject test, say, for a bio program which is what brought my gpa down so low with my bio minor. You thinking more just a general package sort of thing? I've only heard of compensating with the general GRE (which I think you've done with that high of scores). Just wondering.

No one looks at them until after the deadline. You aren't more likely to get an interview or acceptance because you submitted your app earlier.

Many of the online applications list a section to upload a CV or supplementary materials (where you can also upload a writing sample). Upload it there. If they don't look at it, oh well, but if they do it can really enhance your app. If its old school and uses snail mail, just send it anyway, also. They aren't going to get mad if you send it and they didn't want it. At worst they will just throw them away.

If I were you I would just go with what you got. You totally rocked the verbal section and did the average for those programs for quant. As long as you are at least the average it should not impede your chances. Once you get past the GRE score cut they won't look back at them. That's when the rest of your app comes into play. I increased my Q score a bit, but its mostly due to taking the old vs new test and the addition of the calculator. Though, I'm sure studying a math gre book did not hurt. If you feel a compulsion to take it again, just get a quant book or two and study the hell out of them. Then take a practice test. If you score higher (or just enough that it would be worth shelling out that money!) then go ahead and take it again. That's just my thoughts.

Ahhh, we meet again application cycle. I'll most likely be applying again at least to some programs. Not quite sure yet since I'm about to start a masters program, but if I can go on to doctoral clinical or health psych programs earlier, why not? Save me money and time. :S

Personally I'm not too worried about the letters aspect. I did research with three different profs in undergrad and they gave me very awesome letters. I was talking to my UG mentor and actually asked about that and she said if I was on top of my game with research her past adviser who will most likely be my adviser would be happy to write me one. If not, however, I feel confident in my past letter writers. Yes, I plan on telling them I want to apply to doctoral programs before I actually apply to them. I figured being upfront and truthful was the best policy. I haven't thought about what it would be like my 2nd year if I didn't get in that much. I just assumed it would go back to normal. Are you thinking my professors may treat me differently? Personally, I've come to expect nothing in terms of getting in after this past cycle, so I don't think I will be an emotional wreck from it. Thanks for some insight.

I applied to doctoral programs in clinical psychology this past cycle and had one interview (was waitlisted for another interview) but didn't make it in. So I applied to a fully funded experimental psych masters program and got in. During the lapse between applications and now my CV has improved (won 2 research awards). I talked to my undergraduate mentor about applying during my first year and leaving a year early if I got in and she thought it would be a great idea, but I've heard others be more wary. I tend to give stock to my mentor's opinion since she actually went to this exact masters program and expressed concern she thought it would be a rigorous as I wanted or needed. For something to note, typically psych only lets you transfer 6 hours from a masters program and have to get another masters, so this degree won't put me ahead in that sense. Plus I'm having to take out a lot of loans to live on since the stipend is less than half of what doctoral programs in psych usually get! I thought it would be a good idea since if I got in, I got in! If I didn't get in I could just stay and finish out my masters program and apply again. To me its a win-win situation, but... I wonder, how does it look to doctoral programs that I would be leaving a year early if I got in? I don't think it would be a "burn bridges" situation since my mentor said she thought the masters program would be supportive of me applying to doctoral, but will doctoral programs think I won't care or am fickle if I do this? Any advice on the situation would be appreciated! Sorry if this isn't quite the board to post something like this.

I would think so. I went to the one for the interview I had and everyone wore business casual, pretty much.

The school I had an interview at used the terms interchangeably. If its a clinical phd, I'm 99% sure its an interview.

As I've heard a thousand times on other websites like SDN, professors aren't going to be sitting there looking at your transcript dissecting it. As long as you have the basic background knowledge, they aren't going to complain. Take whatever class you think you will enjoy, about the subject that you want to learn more about, and that you think will help fill gaps in your knowledge.

If it makes you feel better I read it the same way.

I was informed that I was waitlisted for an interview today. .-. So close yet so far away! I'll should find out next week if I get to go because someone rejected. It sucks knowing that (since most POIs bring in ~3 people for a lab spot in my field) I'm just number 4! Couldn't they squeeze me in too? Haha.

I am afraid to ask what exactly a lip gloss party is. o.O This was my first non-regional conference and I thought it was awesome. Lots of cool symposia and posters. Depending where I end up for grad school I hope I can make the one in Austin.

I gave my LOR writers ornaments I made in our uni's colors during finals week. They all seemed to like it, especially one professor who told me it made her week and insisted I give her a hug. Haha. I see them all the time since I'm still in school and will probably tell them in person or email them the outcome.

You can always check if you are waitlisted. Acceptances from there are not unheard of, even for people who weren't interviewed in person. I've heard of programs defaulting to phone interviews in this case. Note though, that I think this happens more often with mentor based models than other types.

My mom still thinks psychologist=psychiatrist 99% of the time, yet she understand the difference in degrees. I think she hears med school and goes, "OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, fancy." Much to her chagrin if I wasn't doing psych I would probably try to get into a microbiology doctoral program. Though, I can not argue with your "correction" personally.

Having an interview already means you may be in that 20%. If it makes you feel better the highest acceptance rate of all the schools I applied to is 5% and the lowest 1%.

My mom is the same way. She doesn't want me to apply to master's programs if I don't get into a doctoral program. She says its a dead end degree even though it would just be a stepping stone for reapplying. Instead she wants me to use the year to post-bacc the rest of the pre-med reqs and go to medical school. Because clinical psychology programs are so similar to med school.

I think most usually extend the invite via email or a second call.

Do programs tell you if you are waitlisted, or do you have to inquire about it?

My research interest is not terribly popular, so I had trouble finding POIs period. All of mine had only 1 POI save for 2 schools at which I had 2 POIs at each.

Some schools have overlap programs where you can take a graduate class while still in undergrad. I'm taking one this coming semester as part of an overlap program. After I applied I was able to sign up for the class just like my undergrad ones. You can always either ask the graduate school or ask the graduate coordinator in the department that you want to take the classes from.

What about if you are told the diner is supposed to be casual? I was probably going to wear a nice pair of jeans with a professional-ish blouse and the ankle boots I'm wearing with my professional outfit. They specified they wanted professional at the interviews and casual at the diner. Is that code for business casual or are a nice pair (dark wash, no holes etc.) of jeans ok? I believe that at least the entire clinical staff will be there as well as grad students and its supposedly to last until like 10 at night.