karen1204

Hi everyone, I got accepted into the Educational Psychology program at the University of Illinois at Chicago (without an interview). I will be focusing in measurement and statistics. While I am happy that I am admitted, my appointed initial advisor tells me that they currently have no funding for me. But he said that all the current measurement/statistics PhD students have TA or RA assistantships. One thing he mentioned was that they faculty has four grants out for review. But they don't know of the approval date yet. If the grants are approved, then they will be able to fund new PhD students. I asked him what other funding sources are there and he sent me a link for Graduate Assistant positions inside the University. If i do land a job as a GA, I will be paid and be given a tuition waiver, only my income will be taxed. I'm really puzzled here and scared. This is actually my SECOND time applying for phd programs and UIC is the only school that I got into. (Though I'm still waiting to hear back from UC Berkeley and UW Seattle, all in the same discipline). I really want to get the PhD and, most of all, the statistics training. I'm thinking in the event that there is no funding in the first year (or even subsequent years), I can probably take out loans. Since my training will be in statistics, I will most likely land a favorable job after I graduate. I am a New York resident, so I'll have to pay out of state tuition. Plus if no assistantships and tuition waivers, I'll have to pay for my own health insurance. That will mean around 80+K in debt. =( One more question is, if there is no funding, will I have to fund my own research? Please HELP, what should I really do? One side of me is telling me to take the risk and hope that the grants will come through, but the other side of me is scared. I don't have a deadline to make a decision, partially is because of the unsure approval of the grants.

Hi everyone, I got accepted into the Educational Psychology program at the University of Illinois at Chicago. I will be focusing in measurement and statistics. While I am happy that I am admitted, my appointed initial advisor tells me that they currently have no funding for me. But he said that all the current measurement/statistics PhD students have TA or RA assistantships. One thing he mentioned was that they faculty has four grants out for review. But they don't know of the approval date yet. If the grants are approved, then they will be able to fund new PhD students. I asked him what other funding sources are there and he sent me a link for Graduate Assistant positions inside the University. If i do land a job as a GA, I will be paid and be given a tuition waiver, only my income will be taxed. I'm really puzzled here and scared. This is actually my SECOND time applying for phd programs and UIC is the only school that I got into. (Though I'm still waiting to hear back from UC Berkeley and UW Seattle, all in the same discipline). I really want to get the PhD and, most of all, the statistics training. I'm thinking in the event that there is no funding in the first year (or even subsequent years), I can probably take out loans. Since my training will be in statistics, I will most likely land a favorable job after I graduate. I am a New York resident, so I'll have to pay out of state tuition. Plus if no assistantships and tuition waivers, I'll have to pay for my own health insurance. That will mean around 80+K in debt. =( One more question is, if there is no funding, will I have to fund my own research? Please HELP, what should I really do? One side of me is telling me to take the risk and hope that the grants will come through, but the other side of me is scared.

For POME, did you guys get interviewed?

Do all schools offer stipend? I got into UIC, and from what I learned I have to take on an assistantship (RA, TA, or GA) of 20+ hours a week to be paid closed to $1800 a month (which I'm fine with) + tuition waiver. Are first year students allowed to work (even if they can't teach yet)? I'm just confused on how the first semester works for first year students.

I'm glad I found this thread. I recently got accepted to the Ed Psych program (focusing in measurement and stats) at the University of Illinois at Chicago without an interview. I was a bit puzzled at first, because I thought interviewing was the norm. I guess the popularity of interviews vary between schools? Or does the absence of interviews mean something else?

Hi everyone, I recently got accepted to UIC's Ed Psych PHD program, with a concentration in Measurement in Statistics. One thing I am puzzled by is that they offered me admissions without an interview. Is this normal? Should I be worried? I've had several email exchanges with the faculty that is temporarily assigned to be my advisor. He told me that currently all the Measurement and Stats students have have are funded by assistantships. I am an resident of New York, so the funding is definitely a factor in my decision. Is any here a UIC Education student? Or can anyone link me to someone who they know is an UIC Doctoral student in education? preferably ed psych. If anyone is a UIC student, can you tell me about the funding opportunities and the generosity of the funding packages? (You can message me privately if you do not want to discuss it here) Also, how is your overall experience in the program? Thank you so so much!

Hi everyone, I recently got accepted to UIC's Ed Psych PHD program, with a concentration in Measurement in Statistics. One thing I am puzzled by is that they offered me admissions without an interview. Is this normal? Should I be worried? I've had several email exchanges with the faculty that is temporarily assigned to be my advisor. He told me that currently all the Measurement and Stats students have have are funded by assistantships. I am an resident of New York, so the funding package is definitely a factor in my decision. Is any here a UIC Education student? Or can anyone link me to someone who they know is an UIC Doctoral student in education? preferably ed psych. If anyone is a UIC student, can you tell me about the funding opportunities and the generosity of the funding packages? (You can message me privately if you do not want to discuss it here) Also, how is your overall experience in the program? Thank you so so much!

Hi everyone, I'm re applying to two programs (one is Fordham quant psych and one is Rugters ed psych with quant focus) that I was not admitted to last year. This year I am a better and more confident candidate. Last year I experienced a few setbacks during my application period that I was not able to have a full application preparation. (A natural disaster happened my neighborhood) I'm wondering whether I should write that I am a reapplicant in my statement? Of course, if I do I will frame it professionally. But I don't know if I should write it in my statement or should I email the faculty..? Deadlines are due very soon, so any advice is helpful! Thank you!

Hi all, thank you for all the feedback. It has been a while since I responded. I've been working on my personal statement, but alas I am finished. Basically since I have had no intensive training in statistics, I just wrote an honest essay how I found quantitative methods, how it changed my perspective on psychology (I included how i initially wanted to be a clinical psychologist to understand the human expereince and alleviate human suffering), and through being a TA and RA I learned that quant psych could indeed perform the same mission. Therefore I would like to further my training in the respective quant program. But for my research interests, I'm not sure if this is good enough for a quant program: "...Broadly, I am interested in studying psychological measurement, longitudinal methods and developmental changes. I am particularly interested in how acculturation levels account for differences in psychological well-being and academic performance over time for minority youth. I am also interested in the relationship between acculturation and social behavior, such as drug abuse and gambling, which are prevalent issues among the immigrant population. Furthermore, I hope to study latent variable models to tackle these research topics. " Then after this I wrote about why I would be a great fit to work with Prof A and B, why I want to study in their program, how I will prepare for grad school by familiarizing myself with the R, taking linear algebra and calculus courses before beginning grad school, and then my short term and long term goals. One more thing** I explained in one sentence about my GRE score (V. 152 Q. 155. The comparable chart shows on the old scale it's somewhere V. 490 Q.700-710), that standardized testing is my Achilles' heel but my past academic record should be more indicative of my graduate ability. I did this because my GRE is considered mediocre/average for some of the more prestigious programs I'm applying to like UCLA, who listed that their average applicants have GRE scores in the 80th or 90th percentile. Do you think it is necessary to explain this? Or should I leave it out? How important are GRE scores for quant programs? Any feedback would be helpful! Thanks and happy holidays!

Ok will do... I am currently working on the NSF application, applying for quant psych field of course. I have to submit two essays 1. Personal statement + research experience 2. My graduate research topic and my approach I don't have trouble with the first essay. Still finishing that up. But the second one I will have some major issues with, since I have to formulate a concrete research topic. I am hoping the committee will take into account that my background was not in stats? Ok some of the articles I have are: Factors Affecting the Item Parameter Estimation and Classification Accuracy of the DINA Model By Jimmy de la Torre (Rutgers) Comparing longitudinal profile patterns of Mathematics and Reading in early child longitudinal study, kindergarten: The Profile Analysis via Multidimensional Scaling (PAMS) approach By Se-Kang Kim (Fordham) Recruiting, Preparing, and Retaining High Quality Secondary Mathematics and Science Teachers for Urban Schools: The Cal Teach Experimental Program by XiaoXia Newton (UC Berkeley) A Model of Cognition: The Missing Cornerstone of Assessment by Mark Wilson (also from UC Berkeley) I've downloaded many of Dr. Wilson's articles but just found out that he's not serving as an adviser for any new students (sad, since I really liked the research he's doing) I really really appreciate all the feedback. I've never been so lost at words in writing up an essay about myself. I can describe how I got into stats and all but it's just the research interest part that is hindering me from finishing. May I also message you guys my SOP once I'm finished? As well as my NSF essays? Thank you so much!

Thanks for all the feedback, everyone! I would say that I am interested in both, educational outcome + statistical modeling. However, how broadly or specifically should I define my research interests in my statement of purpose? Would writing covariates affecting educational achievement be too broad? I was told by my professor that I should also write about my quant interest in my research interests section. I'm trying to write the same paragraphs about how I developed interest in the quant field and what I did as an undergrad, and tweak the last paragraph where I talk about my research interest for each program. The tough part is to add some "quant" element into my research interests - especially in essays for the strictly quant psych programs, not the Ed psych programs. I've read some papers written by professors in the programs I'm applying. For the most part I understand what they're talking about when the articles are about things like Rasch model, longitudinal data in high schoolers etc but am floored when they write articles that are strictly about statistical models, as I don't have that kind of training yet... Any advice on this? Or how did you all write your statement of purpose? Thanks again for reading!

Hi everyone, I am applying applying to Quantitative Psychology and Educational Psychology programs which offer a Quantitative Methods concentration. The schools I will be applying to are UC Berkeley, UCLA, USC, UC Riverside, UI- Chicago, University of Washington - Seattle, Fordham University, Rutgers - New Brunswick, and CUNY Graduate Center (but for CUNY this will be I/O Psych, because I've been working with a professor in Baruch for almost two years and got familiar with the program). I have a BA in psych, have 2+ years of research experience, worked on 3 projects ( 1 of which was my own independent project as part of NSF's REU program), was a TA for an undergrad psych stats course for one semester, audited for a doctoral level Psychometrics course, and have job experience working with youth. My mentor has stated that my experience should give me a good shot at in applying to quant programs. However, I'm worried about my chance in these programs, mainly because I do not have an extensive math or stats background. I am stuck right now at writing up a strong statement of purpose, because I don't know how broad or specific I should define my research interests. My mentor says given that I do not have a math or stats background, the grad admission committee should understand, and that I can broadly define my research interests. My interest in statistics developed when I was a TA for psych stats. But undergrad stats only taught up to ANOVA, linear regression, and chi square. I am currently learning advanced stats tests on my own, like logistic regression and factor analysis. i have a book that teaches me stats using SPSS and the R. As for research interests, I am interested in test validity and using cognitive diagnosis models to do this. My experience working with youth led me to take great interest in testing. I'm particularly interested in how covariates like SES, gender, or race can have an effect on educational outcomes. does this "make sense" or is it "good enough" to be in a SOP? I am very excited to find a field that can combine my interests stats and education. I've looked up the publications of the faculty in the programs I'm applying, but I cannot say I understand these articles completely, since it requires advanced training in stats, so it's especially hard to determine which faculty I would like to work with. Can anyone give me some guidance? Thank you so much for reading! Any advice is appreciated!