RubyBright
-
Posts
447 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Posts posted by RubyBright
-
-
This has been... a very entertaining thread, I must admit.
As for me, I'm in a kind of off, kind of on relationship, where we are waiting for school for both of us to finish, especially since he's attending school in another state... As for kids in the future? Maybe. Could aggravate some health problems, so maybe I'd rather adopt. And certainly that's a fine option for me if I don't get married until I'm a bit old to have my own children.
Regardless of how this relationship or future ones turn out, I'm getting this degree because I'm really interested in this field, and I want to be able to support myself. I'm not interested in using school as a hunting ground for a husband - I'm after my MA (and possibly my PhD), not a "MRS" degree. My three closest friends are married, engaged, and engaged, respectively, and I'm very happy for them (our relationship dynamics also didn't really change since when they were single, so I don't feel left out - they're just not as available as often to get together). I want that too, someday, but there's time. Besides, grad school is rather all-consuming right now. I'm glad my aforementioned off/on friend is good with being a supportive friend right now, and understands.
Honestly, I'm just excited to get a dog or two. Works just fine for me.
-
My advice would be to talk to a financial aid counselor at your school. They would be best able to advise you based on your situation as an international student. Good luck!
-
Some differences between group coverage (university) and private polies that you need to consider. Group policies have to take you no matter what past medical problems you may have, with no upcharge for covering you for those conditions. Remember things such as asthma, parents with heart problems, any genetic problems are all covered under group health.
If you choose to purchase a private policy, the insurance company underwriters can advise that your premium be rated higher for past medical issues or family history of heritable disorders. Also, most private policies that I've seen lately have pre-existing clauses. So if you have been treated for something in the past, let's say kidney stones, you will have to wait usually one year after paying premiums until they will cover you for kidney stones. If you saw your doctor last year for allergies and now that you have a private policy insurance coverage, the doctor wants to do a CT of your sinuses, the insurance company is probably deny payment until you wait for at least one year. Also many inexpensive private policies have low maximum lifetime coverage. I saw one policy that had an annual limit of $10,000. Honestly, in today's market that's not much. It may not even cover a complicated ER visit in full. Neighbor had kidney stones a few years ago, no surgery just the laser thing to break up the stones, overnight in the hospital, $60, 000. Also look at the lifetime maximum carefully. If anything catastrophic should happen and you can't ever change policies (now you are basically uninsurable because the underwriters are going to only ofer you coverage at a price you can't afford), stuck with this current policy for a long time...you want the lifetime max to be more than $50,000 - $100,000.
Be an informed consumer, read the policies carefully, ask lots of questions, know what you are paying for.
My understanding was that, per new insurance laws, all insurance plans must cover pre-existing conditions, as long as there is not a gap in coverage (i.e. between your old plan, and starting the new one). Perhaps I am misinformed, but I looked this up specifically because I am on prescriptions that I could not afford out of pocket, and a lapse would be... dangerous at best.
-
I agree with the above posters... I have seen people try to "diagnose" friends and family members simply because they didn't like specific personality traits of the person, and hoped that they could label it as something that needed to be "fixed." In addition, a suggested diagnosis (which would most likely be inaccurate, since no one on this website has met the person in question or objectively assessed them), also would not provide any constructive treatment options if something is actually wrong. However, if you are truly concerned about the person, you could take them to see the family doctor. He or she should be able to tell you if it is worth going to see a psychologist/psychiatrist or not.
-
Which CSU are you talking about? Also, what was the trend in your grades (i.e. did they rise towards the end)?
-
It can be a little overwhelming at first, but a good way to figure out what types of research you're interested in are the program/faculty pages. For example, you might go to the website of a university you're interested in, find the developmental program, see which faculty are part of it, then look at the research each of them is doing. Or social, or whatever else you like as a broad field. What you're looking for is a professor whose lab is doing specific research projects that you would want to be a part of.
-
I PMed you, danman8511.
-
Hey, I wish you all the best!
It is my gut sense that entering, and planning to transfer out, is not a great practice. I imagine you are making good connects and conducting research... and bam! you surprise the department by desiring out. However, having no funding sounds to me like a good reason to consider elsewhere (someone out there, please correct me if I am wrong). In a year's time, maybe you can talk with your advisors or the department about seeking internal and external funding. If they can't help you/this doesn't work, then you can bring up funding concerns/living expenses.
Also, if you don't get help finding grants/funding/help financially, if you do transfer, keep in mind that you'll want to transfer out before any major exams, thesis-ing, etc.
Lastly, I totally TOTALLY get why you would not want to develop debt, as I wouldn't, but if you could somehow swing it, I'd really consider finishing the Master's if you start. I imagine that is a better seque into a PhD, anyway. You'll have a department cheering you on (hopefully!), as well as you'll have graduate LORs and no burned bridges...
While I don't have any relatable experience (where I can support these aforementioned concerns for sure), I thought I would mention them to you, as this is my hunch that transferring out is tricker in graduate school, and you should be aware of the consequences/planning requirements as you accept this unfunded degree program.
Yes. Believe me, I am well aware of all of this, and I already feel guilty for even considering leaving halfway through. I'm not quite going in absolutely planning to transfer out, though - it's something that I'm considering, as probably my only chance to work towards a PhD. It's also something I really don't WANT to do. We'll see what happens over the next year, especially regarding funding. For now, my main concern is figuring out how to make this master's something that really works for me.
-
I understand, though, it is bummer to be somewhere not new. Do you plan to re-apply for PhD programs in upcoming cycles? Perhaps then you'll funded and you'll get to try somewhere new.
I'm considering the possibility of applying to transfer to a combined MS/PhD (funded) program next application cycle (i.e. leaving halfway through the master's if I were accepted) if I find that I don't like it much. I know that transferring is a much bigger deal in grad school than in undergrad, but the big problem for me is that this master's is totally unfunded, so if I stay for the duration, I will likely have too many loans at the end to embark on a PhD. Maybe the transfer scheme will work out; maybe it won't. I think I will be okay in either case. I debated waiting a year and reapplying later, but I decided that getting started on graduate work is the best option for me right now.
Thanks for all the wonderful suggestions so far!
-
Well, when all was said and done, I found myself without funded PhD offers thanks to sequestration cuts. So I'll be starting a master's program at my undergrad school in the fall. It wasn't what I was expecting, and it wasn't what I was hoping for; after four years, I was pretty ready to move on. But this is my new grad school, so I want to make the best of it. The question is, how do you get excited about a school you've already been at for four years, and an area you've been living in for far longer? Anyone have experience, or in the same boat?
-
Is it a one year program? Would you be finished in time to start a phd elsewhere fall 2014? That might be a help in getting accepted...
No, it is a two year. But it is a thought - trying for a PhD afterwards. The only problem is that it's mostly industry-oriented, not really meant to put you on a PhD track. That's why it was my backup. Still, I guess it is what you make of it.
And thank you, Sweetpearl. This is why I keep coming back to GradCafe - the community is not only awesome, the people here actually understand what you're going through.
-
Ah, if only. I had to decline one of my acceptances because they weren't offering funding. The other is for a master's at my undergrad institution. I guess I have to decide if I want to go that route or reapply elsewhere next year.
-
Just rejected from the waitlist - funny how all the professors were in direct contact with me, talking up their program, but when it comes to rejection, I get a generic form letter... I'm going to go cry in a corner before I go in search of ice cream. Best of luck to the rest of you.
-
I just got admitted off the waitlist! The excitement hasn't really hit me yet. I am still in such complete shock at the moment that I am almost shaking. I hoped so much for this to happen, but did not expect it to. Good luck to everyone else who is still waiting! I hope the next few days brings everyone wonderful news
Ahhhh! Congratulations!!
-
I'm pretending to stress about a future wedding that isn't even in the works just so I don't have to stress about applications...oh boy
Yeah... I'm the Maid of Honor for my friend, so I am stressing about a future wedding that is in the works. At least you get to stop planning when you get bored with it.
-
One week to the magic April 15th!
-
cruise ship
-
Well, she makes it very clear in the first couple of paragraphs that she's primarily talking about a literature PhD. In my field, a graduate degree is pretty much required to work in industry. I've even heard a professor bemoan how few of the graduates stay in academia because of all the great industry jobs luring them away... I can only hope I'm so lucky to be successfully "lured away" in a few years.
-
Welcome to our humble, crazy corner of the internet, friasc!
Personally, I think it sounds like a typo - like the writer had two sentences that they decided to combine, but became distracted while doing so.
-
Human factors in a big field - you haven't mentioned what you're working in, and I'm afraid I have no experience with the types of jobs available in Idaho.
-
I emailed the graduate admissions director to find out if there was any way to find out where I stood on the wait list. I received an immediate response back (this morning, after I sent the email last night) and the director told me that "We will notify you with your specific status as soon as we hear from other students by April 15th. You will hear from us very soon." Is it promising that I was told I would hear from them very soon? I am just trying to patiently wait for April 15, but that is not happening very well! April 15 needs to get here quick and with some good news
I think they were just referring to the fact that you will hear from them after April 15, which is soon. Sorry... but good luck!
-
I've actually been less stressed as we get closer to April 15... I've been waitlisted at my top school since February, and they told me the students have to decide on the spot by April 15. So the closer we get, the higher the chances are that I'll finally hear my final decision.
-
12 more days til April 15th...ugh hopefully this waiting is almost over.
... Until they tell you, "we gave some people an extension on the deadline." Ugh. Praying this doesn't happen.
-
I would say that a masters in psych isn't any more employable than a BA, but it could be more likely to bolster your application. I would probably be wary of doing it since you'll get an MA on your way to your PhD, you will likely have to repeat the coursework, and a lot of programs do not help your application (only the research-heavy, mentorship model MA programs seem to really elevate your application).
Actually, a master's in Human Factors, if you can find it, is fairly employable. One of the programs I'm looking at boasts employment for all of their MA students within two months of graduation. As for repeating coursework, it widely varies in HF. If you can find an HF-specific master's, and then apply only to PhD programs that are willing to take master's credit, I think you will find that a lot of it transfers.
I'm kinda getting two different goals from your posts.
One is that you really want to do a PhD because you want to do research.
The other is that you want to go to grad school because a BA in Psych isn't employable.
The second one is a really bad reason to get a graduate degree, imo.
That depends. A BA in psych is unemployable in Human Factors. A graduate degree is not. If you're at all interested in industry, then wanting to be qualified to work in your field at all isn't a bad reason to get the degree.
Ph.D in 3 years (or maybe less than 5years !!)
in Psychology Forum
Posted
Perhaps social and personality programs are different, but in many of the PhD programs in my subfield of psychology (Human Factors), it is possible to bring in credit for a completed master's. The catch is that it has to be a master's with a thesis that is examined by the PhD school and deemed acceptable. You may lose anywhere from 3-12 credits, but yes, there are definitely schools that will let you start as a brand new "third year" as if you had done your master's there as part of their combined 5-year MA/PhD program. However, I'd like to stress again that this is my experience with HFac programs, not social or personality. This type of information (and any rules governing credit transfer) is usually available in the student handbook, which you should be able to find on the department website of a given school.
I also agree with juilletmercredi - just because you applied to master's programs doesn't mean you have to attend one. You could use an extra year to get more research experience and make yourself more marketable to PhD programs.