jennesy

I think I read an article in the NY Times a while back that referenced this (and other sites, like the LJ applying to grad community)

Excellent site! Thanks for sharing! The part about applying when you're in a relationship is great - luckily I have a partner who is waiting another year to apply (she wants to do a MA, I want a PhD) until I know where I'm going. Congrats on UMich!

Do visit the prof during office hours! (Seriously...I'm a TA and the only time I have students come in is when there is a paper due or something. Visit when it's not paper-panic-time and your prof will remember.) You really should submit 3 letters of rec. if they ask for 3. If you have 2 strong letters from profs who know you well (and have connections at the schools you're applying to) and one from someone who you haven't worked with much (someone in administration, leader of a group/research program you were in, etc.) you should be ok. I'm also wondering about my recs. I'm applying to Soc/Interdisciplinary programs. I have one prof who knows me really well (4 years of research in his lab) but he's in the Psych dept. I have one in Soc who doesn't know me that well but I had 2 small seminar classes with him. Another is a prof who I had one small class with where I did a huge research project in my area. She's in a completely different area. So...my letters are coming from all over the place. Last time I applied I had my Psych prof, someone who I had a research job with (he was a dept. head from a different department and didn't know me, I worked with his grad student very closely - I think she wrote the letter) and another Psych prof who didn't know me too well (just had one class with him, but I'm interested in his type of research and he knows the people I applied to work with). So, I don't feel like my letters were very strong last time. Hopefully these will be much better. When are your deadlines? Best of luck!

What's your program?

Thanks for the advice. I tried a similar strategy when I was applying last year. I thought that I was a good fit for the departments I was applying to and that my research interests meshed well with professors there. I did apply to a range of schools, but most of the people who were doing the type of research that I wanted to do were at top schools. Unfortunately, I don't think my stats were good enough, even though I have a ton of research and teaching experience. (But so does everyone else applying to grad school!) Also, I really think that I wasn't trying hard enough to get into the programs which I applied to. I think you're right - I didn't sell myself well enough!! :? I've got a few programs now that I'm really excited about - I'm getting (getting? ha! I AM) nervous because I feel like it's so late! Some of the deadlines aren't till mid-January, though. These programs seem much more interesting to me, and I also feel that I'm more prepared for an interdisciplinary psych/soc program rather than a Social Psych program.

Thanks, I'll look into it. What departments are you working in? Do you know anything about funding for international students? (I guess I would be, since I'm coming from the states!)

Ten. I got into one MA program but wasn't offered funding, so that was out. Last time I was reaching too far - I didn't have many safety schools. I also think that part of me knew that a Social Psych PhD program wasn't the right fit so I wasn't as aggressive in contacting faculty members as I should have been. Just the thought of going through the application process makes me want to curl up into a ball on the floor or go into a cleaning frenzy (cleaning is my way of bring productive while still procrastinating). I did go to a grad school fair today and found out about a few programs that seem like a great fit for me. Now I just need to write that pesky personal statement...

I posted back in August, but I'm re-posting. I've put off thinking about my apps for this year until now, which is horrible. I just feel so behind on everything! I'm terrified of being rejected everywhere again, and have no clue what I'll do if I don't get in anywhere. Right now I'm researching programs (I know, something I should have been doing this summer) and have found a few that are a better fit. I applied for Social Psych PhD programs last time around, but I'm definitely more interested in an interdisciplinary program that combines Psych, Soc, and Policy work. About me: I majored in Psych and Soc, minors in Women's and European Studies from a large Midwestern research university. I have an average GPA (3.5/4.0) strong research background in clinical psych (4 years or lab research), but I haven't done any research since graduating in May 05. I've been working as a TA in the psych department at my undergrad institution since graduating (great job, great experience, but no research involved) and I'm worried that I've been out of school for so long that it's going to be hard getting back into that routine. I'm really starting to freak out because apps are due in about 2-3 months. (Thank god that some programs have January deadlines!)

Thanks! The HUDV program looks great. I wish I knew these programs existed last year!!

Does anyone use this site anymore? It seems like there hasn't been much activity lately. Maybe things will pick up once application deadlines get closer.

I'm interested in interdisciplinary programs in Soc, Psych, and Policy. So far I'm looking at Human Development & Family Studies (HDFS) programs at Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, and Michigan's Social Work & Social Sciences joint PhD. Does anyone know of other programs like this? I've went through the applications process (albeit unsuccessfully) last year, I applied to Social Psych PhD programs. Looking back, I think I knew that I didn't want to do Social Psych but felt but felt like that was my only option. I've decided that an interdisciplinary program would be better for me, I feel like I'd be happiest where I can do research, teach (I'm an Experimental Psychology TA now and love it) and some kind of applied work (policy? outreach?). A purely research-based program/career does not excite me as much as actually applying research to solve problems. (Yes, I'm one of those "save the world" types.) My undergrad majors were Psych and Soc and I had minors in Women's and European Studies; my research was in Clinical Psych. I almost feel as if I'd be stifled in a Social Psych program since I'm used to doing work in so many different fields.

I'm going to reapply this fall as well. I applied to 10 social psych PhD programs last fall and got rejected everywhere. I did get into a MA program at NYU, and deferred that for a year as a back up plan. I know what I need to do - retake the GRE, get stronger rec letters, and be more aggressive about contacting faculty/knowing who is taking students for that year. I'm just scared that I'm going to get rejected everywhere again...and then what?!

Grrr...but maybe they really don't know? I called NYU last week and they hadn't made a decision...then they put me into their MA program instead of the PhD program...maybe I called and bugged them too much.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to the General Psych MA program at NYU.

PETRAL - Why did she decide to switch to counseling? I'm really curious about funding - did your sister get any? I have no funding (obviously - it's a master's program) but I'm really hesitant to take out that much in loans. Is it possible to be an RA/TA if you're in the master's program? (I'm sure I'll have other questions, but funding is the main thing on my mind right now...that $24k tuition combined with living in NYC is making me ill...) Thanks!

Psychology - I applied for the Social PhD

I feel your pain - I got one (email) rejection on Friday and FINALLY got accepted (my one and only acceptance...) to a masters program on Monday. WHY do they have to wait so long! agh!

What are the 2 schools? What are your future plans?

Which program are you in?

No funding, not even a TAship, at NYU.

Not that I'm surprised that my offer into the MA program didn't come with a financial aid package, but what does one do in this case? I never applied to a masters program, mainly because they generally don't come with funding. I applied for the PhD and got accepted into the MA program (which is fine, I need more training before embarking on the PhD) but I'm not sure where to go from here. Tuition at NYU is $24k, there's no way my family or I can afford that (plus living expenses in NYC...agh!). Help!

What about if you get accepted into the master's program when you applied to the PhD?

I applied for the Social PhD program at NYU and got accepted into their General Psychology MA program. I wasn't offered any funding. Anyone else get this offer? I know of someone who is doing a similar program at University of Chicago for next year. Has anyone else gone through this program or gotten a similar offer?

For those of you who haven't gotten accepted, or are waiting on the last few (most likely rejection) letters to trickle in, what are your plans? I know you're supposed to have a back up plan for if you don't get into grad school - how many people actually did? I'm still waiting on 2 schools, but I've resigned myself to thinking I'm not going next year - it's already April 12. As of now I have no concrete plans for next year, but I'm thinking of trying to find work in a lab somewhere, traveling/teaching English (depending on the financial situaiton...) or continuing to teach for another year. Obviously working in a lab for a year would be my best option if I'm going to reapply. So many things to think about!!

Bianca - How did you get your rejection? I still haven't heard from NYU yet. Just curious.