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SportPsych30

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  1. Upvote
    SportPsych30 reacted to Angua in Interview Questions   
    For what it's worth (maybe a little peace of mind?), my experience last year was similar to hobochic's, in that I really only had one experience that these kinds of interview questions would have been helpful for (and I never got the "standard" interview junk questions like "Tell me about a weakness").  A few tips, based on my own experience:
    If you are applying clinical, you should probably ignore me altogether, because all I really know about clinical apps is that they are often very different from other areas. My understanding is that clinical program interviews are much more like typical job interviews, but -- again -- if that applies to you, you should probably not be listening to me anyway! Many programs, especially top programs, are moving toward admitting students before the visit/interview weekend. One side effect of this is that there are fewer interview that feel like you need to impress -- the discussions are much more centered on finding out if a program is really a good fit. Another side effect is that, before you have been admitted, you are much more likely to experience a pre-admission "chat" with a POI (or several) that isn't styled as a formal interview, but that may well feel that way to you. Because it isn't an interview, though, you generally won't have to worry about "interview questions." These discussions (and all decent interviews!) will usually be about your research, your goals, and the research interests of the people you are speaking with (hopefully a POI). That leads to my top bit of interview prep advice... Be prepared to talk at length about your research: past, present, and future. You do not have to know exactly where you want to go with your research, and nobody is going to hold you to the things you talked about in your admit interview, but you DO need to have an idea which topics and approaches interest you (and which don't). If you haven't already (and maybe even if you have), spend some time thinking critically about your research and your future goals. You'll want to know all of this for your own purposes, too, so that you can be thinking about what to look for in a program (remember: this interview is a 2-way process, even though it may not feel that way). Think about: What motivates you to study psychology? Why study it in the way/area that you have identified? What research have you done? What was your level of involvement in that research? Who did you work with? What did you find? What (if anything) do you hope to continue from your previous research? What do you hope to move away from? What is the "next step" of your current/previous research? Are you interested in conducting that work? Why are you applying to this program? Who do you hope to work with? Why do you think your interests overlap with theirs? What are the weaknesses of your research? How will you overcome these weaknesses? What do you hope to do in the future (again, knowing that nobody will hold you to this, and it's okay to be unsure, as long as you have thought about it)? What kind of setting do you want to be in after grad school? Why do you think this degree (and this program specifically) will help you get there? What kinds of work is going on in the department (or with the POI) that you are interviewing? Most groups seem to have themes of related research -- try to know what the favored theme/approach is in this particular department group. Is that a good fit for your research? If so, why? Think about ways in which your research may not be a good fit for a particular department (because someone there will already have thought of it!). Is that a deal breaker? If not, why not? (as an example, my research interests are very applied, and I needed to think about what my theoretical interests are and I needed to be prepared to explain what theory I am interested in developing -- or at least, I needed to be prepared for that question to come up, and to explain that the theoretical background is what I hoped to gain from a PhD program). Have some idea what kind of research your interviewer has done, if you can.  If this is a POI, this should be a no-brainer, but if it's with other students or professors you haven't researched, be sure to ask them what they're working on. Remember that you should be evaluating them, too.  You are going to spend a very challenging few (4-7) years with these people, and you want there to be a good fit. And your advisor will be your collaborator and primary advocate for many years after you graduate as well.  So you need to be gathering information that will help you make an informed decision. Generally, you are being evaluated for fit. They wouldn't have bothered interviewing you if they didn't think you were "good enough" for the program, so you should consider that box checked before you even begin. If you have a substantial weakness in your application (lack of research, low grades, etc), you should be prepared to discuss it if asked, but someone there already thinks you can overcome that weakness! This is why it is so important to be ready to really discuss your research interests and goals. The point of the interview is not to prove that you are "smart enough" to admit. The point is to prove that you will be a good colleague and collaborator. That means, first and foremost, that you are doing or want to do research that your POI(s) find interesting and exciting. The interview is a chance to show, beyond what you've already demonstrated in your application, that you have good ideas and you can talk about them intelligently. It also helps if they think you are the kind of person they want to be around for the next 4-7 years, but that's honestly secondary (although it can be a much more important point when you are dealing with students in the program, who (in my experience) have little influence over the ultimate decision except that they can provide a powerful warning to the professors -- so, really, don't be a jerk). Hope that helps. Good luck to you all!!
  2. Upvote
    SportPsych30 reacted to digits2006 in Interview invitations already?   
    #HumbleBrag
  3. Upvote
    SportPsych30 reacted to repentwalpurgis in What's the story behind your avatar or username?   
    a VERY young Roberto Bolaño and one of my favorite songs of all time:
  4. Upvote
    SportPsych30 reacted to lewin in Social Psychology Fall 2014 Applicants   
    The prof took three months to reply to your last email so I wouldn't sweat it, unless you said something offensive in your scheduling email, e.g.,  "Thursdays aren't good because it's my weekly Klan rally." You didn't, RIGHT?
     
     
     
  5. Upvote
    SportPsych30 reacted to PsychGirl1 in Interview Questions   
    I went on 5 interviews last year, and I'd say the majority asked me the type of questions above. (Or at least, a random handful of them). One or two of my interviews was more relaxing, but I think it's important to have answers to all of these in your back pocket. But yes, you might prepare them and not get to use them, depending on the luck of the draw :-D
  6. Upvote
    SportPsych30 reacted to iopsychohmygerd in Fall 2014 Applicant Thread!   
    Hi, everyone! This is my first time posting on the site, but I've been creeping on past applicant threads for the past six months or so, gathering intel on what applications are like. I've finally narrowed down my list of schools I'm applying to and begun my applications, and I just wanted to share since I found everyone else's information very helpful in past threads. The list is as follows:
     
    PhD
    University of Georgia
    Georgia Tech
    Penn State
    University of Central Florida
    Florida Institute of Technology
    George Washington University
    Saint Louis University
    Old Dominion
    University of Missouri Saint Louis
    Auburn
     
    MA/MS
    UNC Charlotte
    Clemson
     
    My undergraduate GPA: 3.6
    Jr/Sr GPA: 3.75
    Psych GPA: 3.8, I believe
    GRE: Verbal 162, Quant 156, Analytical 5.0. Psychology GRE (for Georgia Tech only) was a 710.
    I wish I'd done a little (a lot  cough cough) better on the quantitative section of the GRE. My practice scores on quant were consistently around 158-159, but when I got to the exam, I ran out of time on both sections. I was also practice testing in the 780-790 range for the psychology GRE, but got there and the material was completely different than what was covered in any of the practice books I studied or learned in any class. I was shooting for the 730 range, but fell just shy of that. 
     
    I have 3 semesters of research experience on projects of my own design, including one that resulted in a 55 page thesis-style paper (for my undergraduate capstone course), and volunteer experience working on the projects of two graduate students. I've worked in a counseling center all four years of college, mostly doing secretarial work with a clinical internship and some other odd jobs peppered in there, and worked there as my primary job since I finished up all my classes and graduated in July.
     
    Anyone have any idea what my chances are? Naturally, I'd prefer to go somewhere in Georgia, partially for in-state tuition, partially so I can stay near my home, and mostly because that is simply where I'm most interested in going. I'm really hoping for Georgia Tech and UGA above all others, but based on the program and research interests alone, I'd be excited to get into any of the schools I'm applying to.
     
    Thanks guys! Good luck on your applications!   I know this stuff is crazy stressful, but I'm sure we'll all make it somewhere! Fingers crossed!
  7. Upvote
    SportPsych30 reacted to hobochic15 in Interview Questions   
    I thought that it might be helpful to share another perspective on the whole interview thing. When I applied last year, I was invited to an "interview weekend" at my top choice university. I was very nervous, and tried to come up with great answers to the hard questions I assumed they would ask. In fact, I looked over the list of potential questions that was complied last year, which PsychGirl1 has posted above. These were very helpful, and I felt far more prepared. However, the interview weekend was actually extremely relaxing. There was never a formal interview. My PI took me and another potential grad student of his out for lunch and asked us about ourselves, but most of those questions were completely psych irrelevant (e.g., what's your favourite type of cuisine). I spent the rest of the weekend sight-seeing, meeting graduate students and faculty, and attending dinner parties. Anyways, I think the point that I'm trying to make is that not all interviews are what you're expecting, and you have to go with the flow. I think that there's certainly a benefit to preparing some answers to the very difficult questions (e.g., what are your greatest weaknesses), but in the end I think that it's more important to have an open mind and to be friendly and genuinely excited about the opportunity rather than nervous.
    Note: I was accepted to at that university, but I declined the offer because I found the program and the PI were not a good fit for me.
  8. Upvote
    SportPsych30 reacted to neuropatholover in What's the story behind your avatar or username?   
    @sportpsych30 hmmm.. could it do anything to do with you going for sports psychology!? lol I'm guessing the 30 is your b-day, lucky number, your number, or favorite player's number. 
     
    Mine is pretty up front as well. I love neuropathology. 
  9. Downvote
    SportPsych30 reacted to Loric in None Of It Matters   
    Don't say things like that! You'll penetrate their dellusions! And then what? WHAT? What will do with all that laundry they sorted for that professor to get an A instead of an A-?
  10. Upvote
    SportPsych30 reacted to Sigaba in What's the story behind your avatar or username?   
    Given the time of year and the amount of anxiety many members of this BB are displaying, I'm bumping this thread so that some may find a diversion from their cares.
  11. Upvote
    SportPsych30 reacted to DropTheBase in Sh*t Grad Applicants Say   
    Applicant: "Will my stats be enough for schools A, B or C?"
     
    GradCafe responses, by category!:
     
    Different applicant, same season (worse stats): "Wow! with those stats you definitely should apply!"
    Different applicant, same season (better stats, will certainly be admitted to schools A, B and C): "It's about fit, not ranking." 
    Different applicant, same season, just submitted 2 applications (stats irrelevant): "It's about fit, not ranking. Your GRE scores might be a little low."
    Already attending: "you have a chance."
    Lurking professor: "I don't care about your GRE scores."
     
    What do they all have in common? None of them know what schools A, B or C look for in an applicant.
     

     
    DTB
  12. Upvote
    SportPsych30 reacted to GeoDUDE! in None Of It Matters   
    We have different definitions of what facts are.
     
    Just sayin.
  13. Downvote
    SportPsych30 reacted to Loric in None Of It Matters   
    So.. fun fact..
     
    People who take offense to broad statements are those who identify qualities laid out in the statement as being identifiers of self..
     
    Just sayin.
  14. Upvote
    SportPsych30 reacted to SportPsych30 in Sh*t Grad Applicants Say   
    "Hold on, I have to check my email real quick"..... repeat
  15. Upvote
    SportPsych30 reacted to GeoDUDE! in None Of It Matters   
    While I want to agree with the sentiment, as it seems it would give hope to many people on this forum, I can't help but wonder If you have ever experienced the research environment at a top tier university AND the research environment at a lower ranked university? I certainly have, and going from an IVY league to a lower ranked public institution was night and day. Prestige itself does not get your paper published in nature, that prestige often brings money to conduct an experiment or project that is of higher quality than ones at lesser universities. Obviously, I am speaking in generalities.
     
    With regards to applications, there is a larger point; Does doing better on the GRE make you any less likely to conduct great research? If there is no correlation between research and GRE, which I think there probably is a stronger one than many would like to admit, because there is a large correlation between competency and GRE scores. Why should a grad school take someone with a lower GRE score ? Is that person with a lower GRE score really that much more special? How can someone call them self a scientist yet not be able to do high school level math ?  Maybe you can get through graduate classes if you did poorly on the GRE, as many people in my program did, but graduate level classes aren't supposed to be hard or take up a lot of time. Research is. And if you have to struggle with high school level math in your classes, it's going to eat up all your research time.
     
    Graduate Schools want students to be healthy. If you have to work 80 hours a week to get all your work done, you aren't going to be healthy. There will be weeks where you work a ton, but if every week you are not sleeping and every week you are working all the time you will not be happy. I would bet my left nut that there is a correlation between strong research and happiness.
     
    With poor stats, there is a case to be made. I had barley above a 3.0 GPA in physics with a few conference presentations / REUs and found myself in a fully funded masters program. But don't kid yourself and think that prestigious schools are all smoke and mirrors; Funding can deliver stability, along with many other things. Fusion needs lasers to heat up atoms. It is difficult to find out we are not who we someone think we are; We all can't be great. Somewhat depressing, to confront yourself.
  16. Upvote
    SportPsych30 reacted to yhakak in Keep A Word Drop A Word   
    wandering eyes
  17. Upvote
    SportPsych30 got a reaction from MSW13 in Keep A Word Drop A Word   
    you may
  18. Upvote
    SportPsych30 reacted to SportPsych30 in Fall 2014 Applicant Thread!   
    Indeed, naturally so
  19. Upvote
    SportPsych30 reacted to SportPsych30 in Fall 2014 Applicant Thread!   
    All of you procrastinators make me feel really good about getting all my apps in so early

    You'll all be okay, don't forget to breathe!

  20. Upvote
    SportPsych30 reacted to SportPsych30 in Keep A Word Drop A Word   
    Everything Gained
  21. Upvote
    SportPsych30 reacted to JadeS in Results Search   
    yes... my apps are all due 12/1 or 1/2 and I am still checking it regularly! Why, I do not know.
  22. Upvote
    SportPsych30 reacted to Sigaba in Letter Denial - ouch   
    @handk--
     
    The woman has done you a favor, and shown you respect, by detailing why she said no. I recommend that you keep those reasons in mind when you're in graduate school.
  23. Upvote
    SportPsych30 reacted to nugget in Finding a husband in graduate school.   
    Have you heard of Randy Pausch, a man who died of pancreatic cancer and wrote a book called The Last Lecture? It's a great little book that's very moving and inspirational. His daughter Chloe was a baby when he died and he left her a piece of advice for when she gets older and starts dating. I'm posting it here as I thought you might find it helpful in your search for a good man who will treat you right.
     
    “When it comes to men who are romantically interested in you, it’s really simple. Just ignore everything they say and only pay attention to what they do.”
     
    Randy Pausch
  24. Upvote
    SportPsych30 reacted to ztyrobert in What Do Acceptance and Rejection Mean to Us?   
    The following two to three weeks, a lot of us will receive emails from schools, and many years of our life will have more certainty. Either we receive acceptance letter, and go for grad school; or, we receive rejection letter, and start a new way of life. This is clear. What is not clear, is what does it mean for us personally.
    Certainly, acceptance means recognition. It means the school believes that you can help it, and do well there. There is no doubt about that. Now, many will infer that rejection means disapproval, including me. Regardless how strong and rational we claim we are, deeply, we feel rejection means disapproval. Like many have described in this forum, it is like a relationship. There could many potential suitors, and you know that. But, as long as you want to be genuine and loyal, it always hurts to be rejected. We are just as fragile as it is.
    I applied for PhD program in Finance, and today received yet another rejection letter. Disappointing. It is a school that I visited, and I even talked with the admission staff and students there. Very beautiful campus. Such vivid experience only makes the pain more tangible. However, I know one thing: I did not really get to know the scholars there well. They need someone that can help them in their specific field, and it could well be that I am not the one they think that can do the job, compared with other candidates. Education at doctorate level is about contribution to school, not the other direction. We know it, because we got paid to do PhD, not the other way around any more.
    The question is what is the message of rejection: does the rejection mean that we are not qualified for the job? Certainly no. It is the opinion of schools, and we all know for certain that schools are not always right. By monetary measure, Harvard dropout makes more money that the one who completed, and hundreds of others who did not go to prestige schools ends up with purposeful and successful life, such as Steve Jobs, and many other entrepreneurs. Academic achievement seems to concentrate more in school these days, but I doubt how many of us really want to end up doing that.  It only means one thing, that you and the school has a disagreement. You believe you can help the school in the field you applied, and the school disagree. What we should do? Simple: move on.
    Those who deeply believe in academic success will apply again next cycle. Those who really do not will think about what they really what, and find other opportunities in life.
    I have four more school to wait. I have no idea, and I am only optimistic about one of them. I will only keep thinking about my own purpose during the last waiting, and then, see how it will turn out to be. I hope every body here stay calm and happy and finish this process, whether you end up doing your PhD, or discover new things in life. 

    A master student in Washington DC.

     
     
  25. Upvote
    SportPsych30 reacted to MSW13 in Keep A Word Drop A Word   
    Hard drink
     
     
     
    OUCH!
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