lewin

I think every year we have this thread -- is the general MA worth it? Myself, I was rejected from the PhD program and accepted to the MA so I sympathize with the dilemma. My opinion was that it was too expensive. $25,000/year in tuition with no tuition waivers or teaching/research assistantships? No thanks! And a huge part of graduate school is be working directly with professors but I got the impression that the MA program does not offer that opportunity. My decision was easier because I got accepted into other PhD programs, but I think even if I had not been, I would not have done the MA. I had kind of checked the box on a whim (on the PhD application) and didn't really think it through.

If you choose to email the professor, definitely start out with something like, "I saw on your website that you took students for 2011-12 but I did not see updated information for this application year. I hope I'm not intruding by emailing but...."

Wow, so much dislike. Maybe I was offering a link to be helpful, in case the OP hasn't seen that section already? The link's not helpful? The results pages also exist so that people can look things up in a systematic way and not have to hunt here and there for threads that might have dozens or hundreds of posts so it's most beneficial to report things there.

There's a whole section of the website dedicated to this already.

I really don't have the background to compare it to the American situation. At the time of application most people won't have received news about their SSHRC's yet, typically grad student decisions are in March while SSHRC's come out in April. The most that one can probably say is "My application to SSHRC was forwarded to national competition." (applications are a two-stage process, first you have to get out of the university, then compete nationally)

^^ I agree what you said about the unsolicited CV, but vehemently disagree that they don't owe a reply about whether they're accepting graduate students. Ten seconds' effort from the prof can save potential students significant money, time, and false hope. Supervising graduate students is part of their job and they owe a minimal reply. (Professors who have a current website with a statement about accepting students are excepted from this comment.)

It's funny you say this because I get the impression there is significantly more external funding for graduate students in Canada. In my program 80% of grad students have external awards from SSHRC, NSERC, or OGS. Our profs all have grants so I have plenty of funding for research and RA's, and I get a conference or two paid travel each year. I don't mean to toot my program's horn, but I don't want others to get the impression we lack for money. Maybe compared to the Ivys, but not necessarily compared to the average U.S. school.

If you have a poster presentation or two that's fine. Nobody will expect to see an actual publication unless maybe--maybe--you're applying to a top 5 program. My goodness, most people just hope to have publications by the time they finish graduate school.

Someone in my cohort wrote the wrong university name on his initial email to our advisor. It ended up fine.

I think "14.8" is a standardized score that ranges from 1 to 30.

I'm not a woman so I can't give real specifics, but I see a lot of women wearing a collared shirt with a sweater over it, and nice slacks. Come to think of it, a lot of men wear that one too. It's interesting to see what the tenured can get away with. I mean, Dan Ariely is Dan Ariely and grad students probably shouldn't go that casual for a talk. Last conference I saw an exceptionally famous person (i.e., he invented a methodology that revolutionized social psychology in the early 1990's) wearing old jeans and one of the rattiest aquamarine sweatshirts I've ever seen.

Dan Wegner, Kurt Gray, Nick Epley, Adam Waytz, and John Cacioppo are some of the biggest names in those areas right now (not necessarily in that order). Or Thalia Wheatley if you like more of a social neuroscience flavour. You're going to have lots of competition applying to those people.

P.S., I feel like approaching people to talk about research--especially as an eager, intrinsically motivated, young student--is more allowed than something that comes off as self-interested (e.g., potential grad student, job candidates).

Some things I've learned going to big conferences that might not generalize to smaller conferences: Academic dress codes. But seriously, business casual is probably fine. I've learned it's better to attend a good talk outside my field than a relevant talk that's bad. So now I look for "big name" people or people who others have told me give good talks. Keynote speakers are also generally quite good, and give you good small talk when networking. Poster sessions can be useful to see what else is happening in your area but they're mostly populated by graduate students. Networking is a tougher subject and you'll probably get various opinions on this. We're not profs, so it's hard to say for sure. I have heard from professors that they attend conferences to see their old friends, not to be bothered by strangers. Personally I would feel uncomfortable approaching somebody while they're eating or in the hallway. But it seems like approaching people after their talks is fine--it happens a lot--so if there is somebody you want to meet, attend their talk, go up to the front at the end, and say something nice/smart. If your conference offers any structured opportunities to meet profs (e.g., a lunch or social hour) take advantage of those. Networking with other graduate students can be a good idea and the poster session is a good time for initial contact..

"I would say Clinical, developmental are not ones that you have to worry too much about quantitative sophistication... " Maybe, maybe not. The clinicians in our department do a lot of dyadic and longitudinal analysis using exceptionally complicated models. They are constantly developing new methodologies too.

I really have no inside knowledge here, I'm just somebody who applied a few years ago and still has the form saved. I imagine "separate sheet" means one page but if you're really concerned check with the department. Most departments have someone who administers graduate applications. ...I applied in both Canada and the U.S. and don't remember the processes being much different from one another, except that the American places looooved their interview weekends and many Canadian places don't bother.

Depends what kind of grant. I would not list the money I received from the faculty of arts at my institution. I would list the refereed, competitive travel award I got from the conference I attended.

This. The "you may use a separate sheet" is a trick; they only provide a few lines so you should definitely use a separate sheet. The data for U of T say: "Average scores for students admitted in 2010 for Master's: GRE-V 604. GRE-Q 669. GRE-A 5.0 Psychology 750. Grade average of A- or equivalent is usually required."

You're in luck, apparently I saved the form from when I applied a few years ago. It asked: 1. Select a major and minor research area (e.g., social, cognitive) 2. Briefly describe your research interests more specifically. (If space is inadequate, you may use a separate sheet.) 3. If you have any teaching or research experience that you consider relevant, please provide details. (If space is inadequate, you may use a separate sheet.) 4. GRE scores (verbal, quantitative, analytical; psychology optional) 5. Which scholarships you applied for (e.g., OGS, SSHRC)

I think you'll really have to check with specific schools. Some might insist on the transcript, some might not.

The other schools won't know where else you've applied unless you tell them.

Going into my MA I listed conference posters/talks, teaching assistantships, and research assistantships. Going into my PhD I also included chapters and publications. I left my honours thesis topic to my plan of study; it was connected to my proposed graduate research. I agree with the poster who said it was a degree requirement, not an accomplishment in the sense they intend.

My IRB has sample forms online too. They can be idiosyncratic from institution to institution, but in case it's helpful this is what mine requires: Investigators' contact info. Invitation to participate in study and a few sentences describing the study's purposes and procedures in lay language. Statement that participation is voluntary and consent may be withdrawn at any time without penalty or loss of remuneration. Statement that participant may decline to answer any question. List of any risks associated with participation. Statements describing how confidentiality/anonymity will be ensured and procedures for data storage/dissemination. Contact information for IRB That's probably enough to get you started even if the specific wording is unique to your university.

This reminds me of people who are really struggling to write their statement of purpose (beyond just the regular difficulties of learning to write concisely and clearly in a new format). Grad school IS writing! If you don't like it, why do you want to attend? Here, grad school is research. If you can't generate your own ideas, why bother?

How could they marginalize you for going to Canada if the program isn't offered anywhere else? But seriously, I would worry more about jobs after you graduate. Only two programs indicates a lack of demand for that specialization. You might end up needing to apply to a history department. By the way, the York program has an interesting blog: Advances in the History of Psychology