Peaceful Learner

I think you absolutely have a chance mainly because very well respected social psychological scholars are thriving in research fields related to business and consumer behavior, and your experience may be seen as adding something new to their program. As a result, it will be most important for you to clearly outline your interest in the field of psychology. From your description, it sounds like social psychology and/or judgment and decision-making programs may suit you well. Accordingly, it may be beneficial for you to check out the trajectories and research interest of the faculty members in (Please note: Although these programs provide doctoral training in business and behavioral science, the listed faculty all have PhD's in social psychology or a closely related judgment and decision making science) the University of Chicago School of Business and Behavioral Science--(e.g., Eugene Curuso, Nicholas Epley, Jane Risen, Wilhelm Hoffman, Ayelet Fishbach, and Christopher K. Hsee), the Northwestern Kellog School of Business --http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/-- (e.g., Derek Rucker, Galen Bodenhausen--actually in the Psychology department, Ulf Bockenholt), and the Stanford's Graduate School of Business --http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/users/ztormala-- (e.g., Dr. S. Christian Wheeler & Zakarary Tormala). Overall, the University of Chicago's social psychology program has a lot of the faculty with dual professorship appointments in business and psychology. I say all this to say that you can take a few approaches. One approach is that you can use their research interest to make a link in your statement of purpose that illustrates how your interest coincide with social psychology and JDM (and how you've fallen in love with the field, blah blah). Another approach would be to apply to professors at those or similar business programs who did their doctoral training in psychology. IMHO, I would look at those social psychologist in the previously listed business programs as a starting point to your faculty and program search as there are wonderful non-business faculty who focus on what you're interested in. Maybe take a look at Dr. Galen Bodenhausen at Northwestern as he is actually an advising faculty member in social psychology with interests in implicit/explicit, culture, and consumer behavior research (I thinki). Although you probably already know this and it may not be helpful, also try going to socialpsychology.org. There, you will find PhD program rankings to some of the top programs and links to the faculty's research interests. As a starting point, I know that Northwestern, Washington University in St. Louis, University of Chicago, University of Rochester, University of British Columbia, UCLA, and Cal-Berkley have faculty that focus on some of the things that you're interested in.

Wow!! That is fantastic. Release from TAship is huge in that you can accept a TAship appointment when you're trying to get teaching experience instead of having to balance teaching and research. Also, summer funding is great. One other thing to think about could be along the lines of what the user 'NicholasCage' suggested in terms of lab software upgrades, equipment, and research assistants.

Thank you all so much for the feedback. It definitely helps my thought processes. I sensed that I could be happy at school A, but it's tough to really gauge the environment on a recruitment weekend. It's going to be tough to make a decision.

Thanks for the feedback RubyBright. The students are miserable because of the politics, the intense rigors of the program (even though all programs are tough, this department's culture seemingly takes pride in breaking down its students), and the fact that they don't have the close support that the POI I was accepted under provides.

Here's my dilemma so far until I hear back from other schools: School A: All the graduate students seem happy; young faculty and rising stars willing to collaborate and work with students, but no distinguished faculty; research fit is strong; smaller program; POI is a younger faculty member that is still learning how to be an effective mentor; program is well respected; climate is warm and supportive. School B: Graduate students are comfortable, but feel that the program's structure is too loose; POI is a rising star and really develops his students; researh fit is the strongest of the three; the program is not as respected as school A or C; climate is sporadic in that it varies as a function of the faculty's mood. School C: All the graduate students seem miserable; a group of distinguished faculty and a few rising stars; less opportunities for collaboration; research fit is strong, but not as strong as school A; large program; POI is extremely supportive and is one of the most respected in the field; program is elite; climate is political and gossipy. Should I favor school C because of its reputation and the supportive relationship from my POI even though all the graduate students are miserable (beyond the normal grad school misery)? -OR- Should I favor school A because of the warm and supportive environment even though the faculty are not yet well-established? -OR- Should I favor school B because of the strong research fit with the POI even though the program is not as respected and the climate is sporadic? any thoughts?

This is why I love gradcafe!!! I feel the EXACT same way in almost the EXACT same situation. I have a school A that is fantastic, I know the POI, but almost everyone is miserable. However, if you make it through the rigors you come out refined like a diamond (that is, if you make it to the other side). I've also dealt with my imposter syndrome and had a rough summer as well. I have no idea what I'm going to decide, but I wish you nothing but positivity and well wishes.

LOL!! That's too funny....what a coincidence. I appreciate the encouraging words and the info. It is comforting to know that I don't have to make an internal attribution for not being admitted into one of the top programs on my list. I wish you and your peers/colleagues well, and I hope morale rebounds. The job market is a tough, but keep the faith.

Well...this news is EXTREMELY disappointing to read (sigh). I did, however, have an understanding that few profs at Northwestern (the purple dream as I've been calling it) were reviewing new applicants with the intent to accept. Northwestern's program and profs are really awesome from the outside looking in and it seems as though it will remain that way. Watson, best of luck to you during the rest of your journey and thank you for the info. I guess the fantasies of being sleeped deprived in Evanston are ostensibly over. Just tell me one thing: when you walk through the department is the Tron Legacy soundtrack song, "The Son of Flynn," or the A Beautiful Mind soundtrack song, "A Kaleidoscope of Mathematics," playing as you feverishly write a novel experiment idea in your notebook on your way to a 'brown-bag' like they do in my daydreams (since submitting my dreams/daydreams are really weird). Wait--don't tell me. Some things are best left to the imagination. I don't know about anyone else, but one of the main reasons I can't wait to hear about admissions decisions is so that my mind will stop creating weird dreams and daydreams about being in grad school. I'm sure if we receive the privilege of being admitted we will dream about getting out at some point in the near future.

Thanks for the helpful information!!! I will take it all into consideration. Now, I believe it is time to prepare for interviews (assuming I am contacted) and hope I don't sound like an idiot.

Hello all, I stumbled across this site when searching the web for positive reassurance, and I am humbled by the great information and support everyone gives to one another. I hope that I can reciprocate valuable information and/or help in the near future. I applied to 10 competitive social psychology doctoral programs (it’s done and there’s nothing we can do/change!!!), but in reading the forums I have begun to believe that I may have developed an incorrect expectation as it relates to the post-submission admission process. In particular, I have been reading through various forum topics and have encountered what seems to be an expectation that programs contact applicants for interviews. I was under the impression that formal interviews were typically a component of the cognitive psych, clinical psych, and masters programs application process. Besides the Stanford affective area doctoral program, was anyone expecting to hear something about interviews (if not rejected) in the social area? I have heard that a good portion of social doctoral programs do not interview, but rather render admissions decisions via rejection or invitation to a recruitment weekend. I do, however, understand that is common practice for POI’s to contact applicants for informal/formal phone and Skype conversations. Thanks for the help!!! Stay Stress Free and let’s try not to let this process run our lives (I will try, if you try).