dftbkatie

Basically that the master's program is just a degree mill, not very individualized, etc. etc. I don't know how true that is, but I've called admissions to ask a few questions, and even then, they were not very helpful. Usually, if a student is accepted to a program, a school is all about being as helpful and accommodating as possible. However, I wouldn't rely on things said on the internet. Like you mentioned, try to seek out a current student and do your own research. Who knows? This could be a great alternative. Again, it is a degree from Columbia. No one can knock that. You should be very proud that you were accepted, even if it's the masters program! I know I am. How many people can say they've been accepted into an Ivy League school?

This thread helped me confirm that I will not be accepting my offer. The same thing happened to me, and I received that same $17k scholarship. I heard bad things about the program but didn't want to believe it. Thank goodness I still have my UK schools. They like me! They really like me!

Thank you! Exactly what I was thinking of doing.

Hello everybody! I've been seeing that some people have been receiving phone calls for interview requests... I hadn't been expecting this, and will be traveling abroad starting on December 28th, therefore making my domestic phone number unreachable. I realize this might be an incredibly stupid question, but do y'all think I should update my schools with this information so that if by chance I get an interview, they email me directly? Thanks in advance!

I applied to a variety of clinical/counseling PhD programs all over the country, my only basis for selection being research fit. Similar to Gambit, I hope to study LGBT issues, with a concentration on discrimination and religion. I applied to... UC Santa Barbara Columbia University Boston College U of Montana University of Tennessee-Knoxville U of Utah Arizona State University Good luck everybody!

That's what I kind of thought too, psychface. I suppose there are many interpretations! I really doubt anything we do now is going to affect a decision so drastically that they either reject or accept on the basis of a phone call. Regardless, personal gamble I guess! Today, I saw an e-mail in my junk folder from an admin secretary at ASU. She had gotten back to me about a question I asked in November and informed me that I needed to specify counseling psychology as the department program on my application. I looked back, and I had actually put general psychology! I freaked out! The deadline was today.. So I frantically called the graduate admissions office, explained the situation... Thank goodness they were empathetic and helped me out! I re-submitted all my materials and got everything in on time. How stressful though!! I was just thinking though... If most people are being contacted via phone, what happens if someone is unreachable that way? I'll be backpacking in Europe for the next couple of months, so my phone won't be working. I'll be getting an international SIM card, but I know that changes your phone number. What do y'all think? Would they just e-mail after being unable to reach you by phone?

Very good point.. Though that wouldn't be my objective, it could be construed that way. Mainly, it would just be an anxiety reducer for me. I see you also applied to UCSB, but for social! What are your research interests?

I made the same mistake, except I wrote the wrong name of the university right at the end of my SOP. It was so awk, cuz I was already in contact with the administrative secretary at the school due to another matter with one of my recommenders, so I had to bug her about this too. She was nice about it, and I noticed the mistake before the deadline, but goodness gracious, I was mortified. I hope it got changed!

Oh my goodness, how nerve-wrecking!! I just heard UCSB started contacting interviewees like a full week ago, so that's thoroughly depressing. Anyone know if it's acceptable to call a school and ask if you've been waitlisted?

Thank you Honestly, I wouldn't hesitate to contact them by e-mail... I felt annoying when I did, but really... It's your future so you have to do all you can to make sure things get done, y'know?

I'm so close to finishing up with applying I can taste it! I've finished apps for 5 of my 8 schools, and am waiting on one recommender for 4 schools. I'm gonna have to send it by snail mail.. He hates computers and has been having trouble uploading it! It's crazy that this big part of my life is coming to a close... Graduating in one month. Can't believe it. And I also got the best news from my mentor the other day... The study I ran for my honor's thesis ended up finding publishable results... Things in line with what he's published in the Journal of Social and Personality Psychology. It's looking like I'm gonna be a published researcher y'all! I'm posting here because no one in real life truly understand what this means.. And I know you guys will.

I've been starting to receive invitations from my propective schools about open houses.. I was just curious as to how seriously everyone is taking these. Do you think it's wise to go to an open house? Or are you banking on seeing everything/having all questions asked if you get invited for an interview?

Ya'll are awesome!! I'll friend you all and PM you what I have so far.. Like I said, it's just my first few paragraphs so far.. I'm unsure about my opening paragraph... Whether it's too graphic or what. You'll see when you read it. Feel free to message me your SOPs!

GUYS! I don't know if I'm on the right track for my SOP. I'm really struggling. Maybe it's just the fact that I feel unsure about boasting? I dunno. Would someone be willing to take a quick look at my first few paragraphs? I would be so grateful!

Good luck on your GRE! It's this big, scary thing until you get there and actually start doing it. After that, I think it's all a head game. What's nice is that you get to see your immediate results for verbal and quantitative! What kind of grad program do you plan to apply for??