[Parents at Orientation]

Guys, I did not say I was offended by all the comments, just one, and even then I acknowledged it might have been a misunderstanding. I thanked everyone for their responses (I am sorry if it came off sarcastic but it wasn't) that yes, I asked for, and I wasn't offended by them besides one. Yes, the contents were all similar but I was offended by the wording of one specific, not the content. So everybody relax. I am not choosing not to go to the events because I got mad at a random faceless person on the Internet--yall are great people but yall don't influence my life by THAT much. The comments just gave me an informed view of what I could possibly expect and I made my decision based on that, my values, and my unique circumstances. Not solely on an anonymous Internet comment. That's ridiculous, people.

Again, thanks everyone for your input! (Genuine. Not sarcastic. Not angry.)

[Parents at Orientation]

eteshoe, while I am sure you meant no harm, I was offended by your comment/assumptions. I did not say that I was not an adult or that I NEEDED my parents there... all of which appear to imply that I need someone to hold my hand. I personally think it is downright rude to have them visit and assist in the moving process, then tell them I am busy and they should go entertain themselves in an empty college town when there may have been another option (for them to tag along).

But maybe that was my fault. I thought I was clear when I mentioned guests were allowed, but maybe I should have been clearer. These events are, by no means, payroll, course load, healthcare-type serious events. They are non-mandatory welcome receptions, lunches, dinners, etc. that clearly state guests are allowed (with example listed as "children") and asks for the number of guests.

Thank you everybody who commented, for your input and insight! Now I know not to bring my parents... and to not attend myself as well

[Parents at Orientation]

So I am starting graduate school this fall and my parents will be flying in with me to help me move in and settle down. I just wanted to see if this was a common practice or if they would feel out of place at the orientation events (guests allowed, but may be geared towards spouses and children). Anyone else's parents helping/helped out in the moving process or have seen parents helping other students move in and attending orientation events before?

[Psychology Funding Packages]

Can we start adding to this? I will add mine later because I want to stay anonymous, if anyone is willing to start off the process!

[Psych Results Page Questions/Clarifications]

If UNC Greensboro peeps could pm me their poi, I'd be really grateful!

[Applying to both grad schools and jobs]

Anyone else doing this? As I tackle through the assessments and interviews, I'm getting worried about receiving job offers before I can even get any grad school decisions... so I thought I was being smart applying to many things and now I'm not sure. Anyone else in the same boat?

[Wrong School on SOP]

So, not only did I write the wrong university name, I also have a paragraph repeat itself................................ I have no idea how I got this interview. I think I accidentally uploaded a rough edited version, because I do have an everything correct version in my folders. New question. With these horrifying discoveries, should I still leave it as it is and hope for the best?

 

MORE SPECIFIC QUESTION: Since the professors got through reading SOPs to extend the interviews, do they not go back to them after?

[Wrong School on SOP]

I would try to get it swapped, the worst thing that will happen is they will say no. If you can't get it swapped I don't think it's a huge deal.. I mean you still got the interview: ) Can I ask what school? 

 

My expected worst thing was that I would call attention to the mistake (if they had SOMEHOW I HAVE NO IDEA HOW missed it). I got the interview, but I don't want this dumbest mistake ever to be the deciding factor for actually getting admitted. I can message you the school!

[Wrong School on SOP]

Worst mistake ever. I wrote the wrong school name on my SOP (in the beginning, but wrote the right one at the end). But I still got the interview. Should I stop worrying about it, or bring it to the office's attention and try to swap it even though it's two weeks past the deadline)? Specifically, since I got through the application screening and got the interview, will this error affect me in the long run? Super anxious. 

[Applying to clinical Ph.D. without experience]

Super belated (I haven't been checking back here), but thanks to everyone (Applemiu, Generis, and whatsinmind!) for their constructive and very encouraging feedback! 

 

Applemiu and Generis said it, you definitely need to have a more positive outlook. The application process is always hard, but you seem to have the qualifications and you should feel that way or it won't come out in your application.

 

In response to your concerns about lack of experience, I think the biggest priority is finding a lab to simply volunteer in. Research experience is crucial in the admissions process for any PhD program; however, I think many admissions committees are more forgiving about lack of posters, publications, or other forms of independent research, especially if you are a recent graduate from your bachelor's. While it would be a tremendous advantage to have posters/conferences/etc, this may be impossible for some applicants for various reasons (lack of resources in their labs/undergrad institutions, dept's strong focus on grad students vs. RAs, etc).

 

Besides, poster/publication citations, your capacity for independent research could be demonstrated through other components of your application such as your letter of recommendations and your other research experience. Did you interview patients for a study? Did you help analyze the data afterwards? Did you contribute to writing the IRB proposal? Even if it doesn't relate to clinical psych directly, your duties as a research assistant in other labs show that you have the ability to work independently. 

 

Unfortunately, my 2 yrs of research experience consisted of data collection, organization, scheduling, developing assessment material.... anddd yahh. that's about it lol. Lots of running subjects, some literature review. Which is why I am so worried.

 

 

I think you need to : 

-focus less on the negative

-focus more on the process

If you volunteer as RA, well, first of all you can put it on your CV, talk about it on your SOP, and just live the experience and see how you like it. Then if you don't apply or you don't get in this cycle, you can keep working as RA, gain more experience and maybe present a poster or attend a conference. 

This is a general useful resource:

http://psychology.barnard.edu/sites/default/files/inline/gradstudyhandout.pdf

Don't be scared! Most people apply more than once. It is a number game, and largely imponderable. 

 

So I took this advice (thank you!), and have decided to do volunteer RA work at a community psychology lab (even though I wanted to clinical... this was the closest thing I could manage to get myself into). However, I haven't done anything in it yet.... which is not good.

 

 

To update, my current standing is:

- 3 LOR's from my previous research lab professors

- 3.87 overall GPA

- 3.94 psych GPA

- GRE of 164V/161Q

- 2 yrs of minimal research experience in 3 labs (i/o psych, applied cog, cog)

- volunteer experience with PTSD children

- work experience with clinical population (PTSD, ASD, schizophrenia, OCD, MDD, etc. etc.)

 

I am planning on applying for Fall 2015.........definitely not confident, thanks to the lack of significant research experience, but my sliver of hope comes from admissions mentioning how the most important thing is "fit" as expressed through my personal statement. So here are my questions:

1. How exactly do you show "fit" without citing specific research experiences that is related to POI's current research, considering I don't have any? Am I just supposed to say that it SOUNDS exciting (will that suffice for "fit")?

 

2. With the updated and brief description of my potential application, do I have a chance for these crazy competitive clinical psych programs?

 

3. Is there a current psych grad student who would be so kind to read over my things/give advice? Because then, you are awesome.

[Applying to clinical Ph.D. without experience]

I think that your profile is quite strong. Do you have good LORs? It all depends on what you will do this year to strengthen your application. Even if you decide to wait I would definitely try one or two places to get a feel for the process.

 

I'm not sure... I do have three professors (lab PI's and class teachers) who wrote my LOR before. What do you think would be the best way to strengthen my application this year in time for the fall applications if I were to try? I am just a little scared, looking at all the admission rates for clinical programs. I never considered applying to 1 or 2 as a test run before though, and I think it might be a good idea so I will definitely keep that option open. Thank you for your response! 

 

You can definitely still apply for Fall 2015 if you can make your application show your interest, passion, and focus in clinical psychology. You have great numbers and extracurricular experience.

 

Your rec letters and personal statement will be extremely important in this case --your previous professors need to speak to your ability to work in a different discipline and your personal statement will attest that you have ideas and skills that can be applied to clinical psych. 

 

Lab manager jobs are hard to come by, but is there anyway you can volunteer as a research assistant in a lab that matches with your research interests? Most principal investigators are happy to have free labor and this will do wonders to strengthen your application --even if it is only a couple hours 1-2 times a week because you have another job. I would talk to your professors/advisors from your undergrad institution and ask if they have recommendations and/or if they can connect you to researchers looking for help. If you are able to secure this type of experience, I would definitely not wait until the next cycle, you would have a strong enough application to apply now.

 

Thanks for the advice! I am little bit wary about volunteering as RA for a short amount of time weekly for a small span of time (until the end of application process) though. Would that make much of a difference in that case then for the fall admissions?

Overall, I am just concerned about not just my lack of clinical psych research experience, but also my COMPLETE lack of independent research/publication/poster conference experience. Like, it's not just the lack of clinical experience the admissions will have to frown on, but the lack of indepdendent research/publication/power conference experience too. The above responses were very encouraging, and I thank you all, but with the cut-throat competition in the clinical psych field, I am still unsure. 

[Applying to clinical Ph.D. without experience]

So I recently graduated with a 3.87 from a top tier undergrad with zero experience in clinical psychology research. I have about 2 years of experience in various I/O and cognitive psychology labs, but even then, I don't have any independent research/publication/conference/poster experience. I decided on clinical psychology after two undergraduate courses relevant to clinical psych, volunteering at a center for sexually abused children and AIDS hospice, and working as a mental health specialist at a psychiatric institution. I want to do research. How would my lack of research experience and publication in clinical psych hurt my chances? I originally planned to apply for programs this fall, but now I am having second thoughts on if I am ready in terms of competitiveness. I already graduated, my applications for lab manager positions did not work out because of my lack of experience in clinical, and now I have a job I have to attend to while I try to strengthen my application. Do you guys think I will need an extra year (apply for Fall 2016 admissions) to be competitive enough and what can I do to get there?