Pencilvannia

Hey! So I had an interview for a cognitive program (and 2 more coming up) so things very well might differ from yours! I know clinical programs are VERY competitive (when I interviewed, the Cog program had 7 interviewees for 5 spots...the clinical had 41 for about the same number. Though this was for a PhD program). These are my own experiences. They are by no means necessarily the norm. Just wanted to give you some of my own insights! 1. I would know a little bit about each. 15 is a lot of people (I had to know 7). Obviously you should focus mostly on your POI, but showing an interest in other faculty members' work shows that you could potentially be a collaborator and so they may see you as a really good fit compared to someone who wants to work with one person and one person alone. You don't have to know all their research, just a basic idea (for example, I knew one of the faculty members does working memory and auditory processing. While I do applied long-term memory, I took the time to discuss her research interests with her and mentioned how we could work together). 2. I didn't bring any, because I was under the assumption that they had all already read my CV. I guess 15 might be a good number so each faculty member can have one if they request it. 3. Applying to a Master's program, they may ask "Why a Master's program and not go straight for a PhD?" Saying you didn't think you could get in to a PhD program isn't what they are looking for. I went to a Master's first, and it was because I wasn't 100% sure what small area I wanted to get in to so it gave me the time to find what I wanted to do and better prepared me for a PhD program, so I knew if I went on to a PhD, I wouldn't quit...because I know how stressful the research is! 4. Honestly, ask them what they like about the program and what they DO NOT like. I've had graduate students be very honest with me about what they did not like about their program, and that is important. Ask how the cohort sees each other. Is everyone cooperative or is it every man or woman for themselves (an environment I could not work in). How do they manage to survive on their funding etc. 5. Nothing I can think of off the top of my head. If you ever forget a question, you could always e-mail the POI or their current grad students (I mean, most extend that offer haha). Hope this helps you somewhat! If you have any more questions, feel free to ask!

Hi! I noticed you have Iowa as an official rejection (I'm sorry to hear that). Is that Iowa State or University of Iowa? Did you get an e-mail from someone or anything? I haven't heard back...though I assume I'm not in haha. You can PM if you don't want to mention anything on the forum!

Well that's a bummer! I was pretty sure they had finished discussions already. My friend last year got an e-mail Mid-January, and so when I didn't, I kind of figured I wasn't getting an interview. Oh well, no use dwelling on it . Thanks for the information!

What was the due date for your schools' applications? The only school I've heard back from so far was the one due December 1st. The applications that were due after that (12/15 and 1/1) I haven't heard back from yet!

I don't study aesthetics either...or developmental psychology :/ What I do study is memory, more specifically memory related to psychology and law. Most of my studies have focused on interrogations (namely false confessions) but I also have some background on jury decision-making and some (i.e., a lot less than the others) background on eyewitness memories.. Most of my work is in the cognitive field, but it does have a kick of social psych mixed in as well. Every single one of my research ideas involve memory in some way, including topics I haven't worked on yet (e.g., time perception, imagination inflation). This is probably because I'm already a graduate student, so the whole "figure out a specific area you want to go in" has been drilled in to my head constantly haha. Compared to aesthetics and fantasy vs reality distinctions, I think my topics might be considered more boring haha.

I agree with CogPsych. I too asked my POI for his graduate students' e-mail addresses during our talk on the phone and he was glad to give them to me. I think he also told them I would be e-mailing them, because they were expecting me. I think getting a heads up from their professor made things a little less awkward for them. But definitely do something to try and speak with them! The grad students for my POI gave me a lot of things to think about, including things that didn't really cross my mind (weather, traffic, living situations, etc.). Good luck!

What's the sleeping arrangements like? If you're staying with another graduate student, then I don't see any reason not to fly out earlier than the scheduled time. And honestly, I'd take advantage of the dinner with graduate students....their opinions will be taken into consideration when POI's are debating on whether or not to take a student. Also if it helps, my POI at LSU highly encouraged I go the day before...just to avoid nightmare scenarios like everyone else here mentioned

I'm kind of curious on who the other person applying to LSU's cognitive program is. If they see this, let's chat about POI's and stuff!

Being in the Baltimore area, there are plenty of research jobs around me (having an MA helps with that). If I don't get in anywhere this time, I'll look for a job in research to build my CV for next year. My adviser has also let some of her previous students who had already graduated use her lab space during off hours (i.e., at night) so they can continue doing research that interests them. She likes me (I believe) so I'll probably try and do that too! So I have back-up plans, but man I really hope it doesn't come down to that!

Applied to Experimental/Cognitive PhD programs with a focus on Psych & Law (Interrogations, Jury Decision-Making, etc.) In no particular order (because I have yet to rank them still): 1. Iowa State University 2. Louisiana State University 3. Central Michigan University 4. Kent State University 5. University of North Dakota 6. University of Wyoming Definitely a lot more nervous this time around than when I applied to my Master's program. Here's to waiting!