MyDogHasAPhD

I have a feeling this week and next  will bring all of us some hopefully much awaited news, once everyone is back from the holiday break. Happy new year!

Congratulations! Send some luck to those of us still waiting for a shred of news!

Just heard from POI at U of Rochester about interview for Social Psychology program.

Just heard from POI at U of Rochester about interview for Social Psychology program.

Hi everyone,
Figured I'd start a thread for those of us applying to Social Psychology Ph.D. programs for Fall 2017 admission. When I went through this process two years ago, there was a thread that was definitely helpful for me. I couldn't find another already started so I figured I'd get one going. Where is everyone planning to apply?
I have a rather long list but my top choices are Portland State, SUNY Albany, Clark, and Penn State.
Good luck, everyone! I hope we all end up in a great spot so we can continue this madness!

It looks like I'll be going to Western Carolina MA in experimental psych. No PhD admissions for me this year and kind of hard to turn down a funded Masters...

Congrats!!!
That rocks!!!

Having a GRE Q scraping below the 48th percentile, I seriously thought I wouldn't get in anywhere, and so I let GRE thresholds dictate which schools I applied to. I also applied to a very rigorous university on a whim and got accepted. I hope perspectives for the next cycle who struggle with GRE Q see our victories and don't get discouraged! If we didn't come out of the woodwork, I would have been left thinking that all grad cafe psych applicants scored above the 70th percentile in everything.

Entertainment for daaays...Thanks for fueling my insomnia!

Entertainment for daaays...Thanks for fueling my insomnia!

It looks like I'll be going to Western Carolina MA in experimental psych. No PhD admissions for me this year and kind of hard to turn down a funded Masters...

Hey guys,
 
So I am pretty much all but rejected to all of the PhD programs I applied to this year. After a lot of debate and opinions from professors and friends (thanks grad cafe!), I have decided that pursuing a Masters may be a pretty solid route for my specific situation. 
 
Before I make a definite decision, I was wondering how much of a difference it truly makes in your ability to gain acceptance into a PhD program. For those of you who applied to PhD programs prior to attending a Masters program, did you see a significant difference in the amount of interview invites and acceptances when applying again with your Masters?
 
Thanks!

I can't curse, have more than one beer at the bar (I want extra beer after a high pressure situation!), smoke, or be (too) sarcastic. Plus I'm awful when it comes to getting a good night's rest at somebody else's house.

They're hard

Had a well respected faculty member who had wrote many books on getting into PhD programs tell me to view my older age (28..jeez! Not THAT old) as a positive thing.. Most faculty take it that you're more mature, more serious about your long term career goals, and are more willing to invest in you as a student. Not to bash any young 20s applicants out there at all..but when I was 21, I didn't know who I was or what I was doing. Props to those who do! But being older is a positive thing and I have heard that from many people across the board.

Had a well respected faculty member who had wrote many books on getting into PhD programs tell me to view my older age (28..jeez! Not THAT old) as a positive thing.. Most faculty take it that you're more mature, more serious about your long term career goals, and are more willing to invest in you as a student. Not to bash any young 20s applicants out there at all..but when I was 21, I didn't know who I was or what I was doing. Props to those who do! But being older is a positive thing and I have heard that from many people across the board.

Ah yes. I really need to take a look at this data as it really irks me. How can one predict that the test truly predicts "graduate school success" when those who score poorly are often times not given the chance to show that it actually doesn't? Does anyone know if they look at, for instance, someone who scored in the 80th percentile and someone who scored in the 50th percentile and compare their graduate school performance? Does the 80th percentile outperform? I really am wondering how they can come to this conclusion if often the only people allowed in to graduate school score high?

I was in the final cuts for a PhD program this cycle and my Quant score was below the 50th. My verbal and analytical were well above the 50th. My POI told me she wanted to accept me but had to petition to the grad school to secure my funding since one portion of my GRE was below the 50th percentile. She was unsuccessful at convincing that I was worth "the risk." So it definitely does hold a negative weight at certain schools and this wasn't even an ultra competitive program in comparison to others. She said it was the only reason I could not be admitted

I had high grades in stats and methods and a good amount of quantitative based research. It's a total crappy reality but with as competitive as these programs are, it may be a pretty substantial ding in an otherwise very strong application. I speak from experience.

Ah yes. I really need to take a look at this data as it really irks me. How can one predict that the test truly predicts "graduate school success" when those who score poorly are often times not given the chance to show that it actually doesn't? Does anyone know if they look at, for instance, someone who scored in the 80th percentile and someone who scored in the 50th percentile and compare their graduate school performance? Does the 80th percentile outperform? I really am wondering how they can come to this conclusion if often the only people allowed in to graduate school score high?

I was in the final cuts for a PhD program this cycle and my Quant score was below the 50th. My verbal and analytical were well above the 50th. My POI told me she wanted to accept me but had to petition to the grad school to secure my funding since one portion of my GRE was below the 50th percentile. She was unsuccessful at convincing that I was worth "the risk." So it definitely does hold a negative weight at certain schools and this wasn't even an ultra competitive program in comparison to others. She said it was the only reason I could not be admitted

I had high grades in stats and methods and a good amount of quantitative based research. It's a total crappy reality but with as competitive as these programs are, it may be a pretty substantial ding in an otherwise very strong application. I speak from experience.

Agreed. One POI in particular  - who I had a positive interaction with over email for a number of months - completely lost interest in corresponding with me after hearing about my 50th percentile Q score. It was definitely disappointing, but at the same time I don't think I would want to work with someone who held a 4-hour exam in such high regard.  

That too!!!

the one study that popped a barely significant, negligible first year correlation relied on post-hoc observation without the benefit of a comparison group or even randomization. It's bad 'science' and the abuse of psychometrics. Moreover, the gender/race gaps in mean scores across subscales are concerning-- such a system is guilty of endorsing and promoting 'white male privilege' in that regard (or there's the alternative hypothesis-- "women and minorities aren't as bright"-- which I don't buy for a second)

Ah yes. I really need to take a look at this data as it really irks me. How can one predict that the test truly predicts "graduate school success" when those who score poorly are often times not given the chance to show that it actually doesn't? Does anyone know if they look at, for instance, someone who scored in the 80th percentile and someone who scored in the 50th percentile and compare their graduate school performance? Does the 80th percentile outperform? I really am wondering how they can come to this conclusion if often the only people allowed in to graduate school score high?

I can totally relate to the posts about the financial burden of applying. I actually had a lengthy conversation with my letter writers about this and his view was that it is actually a way to keep those in lower SES out of the application pool. Granted, he's a social psychologist! So take that for what it is. But I will say that just the financial nightmare that applying put me through alone was enough to deter me from doing this again. I am still recovering and will be for quite sometime. Between taking my GRE FOUR TIMES in the span of 5 months, sending the scores, sending the fees, GRE tutoring and prep courses, it killed any savings I remotely had. I guess it's the game we have to play though. I hope to whatever higher power that I do not have to go through this again but I am starting to realize if that's the case, I wouldn't be alone. Seems it does take a few application seasons to get it right. I have two schools left, one I had an unofficial interview with nearly two weeks ago and haven't heard anything, and one that the application was due last week so I will be waiting a while there. 
 
My poor nerves are shot, as I am sure everyone else's are as well. This whole process is a true test of tenacity and I commend all of us for going through it. Not only is the process it's self tedious, but getting to the point where you're a viable applicant is no easy feat. Rejections or not, we still all should be proud. 

Thanks everyone for their input. The GRE really is so problematic for so many people and I know the argument is that it is supposedly predictive of graduate school success but I'd say that is a statement derived from, in my opinion, a pretty skewed set of data. How can it be said that the GRE is predictive of success if those who don't perform as well don't even get a chance to get accepted and show otherwise?! Boils my blood.

I am pretty much geographically open to just about anywhere. I actually was excited to get out of my current city so I am willing to expand my horizons for both graduate and lab opportunities. I guess I put too many eggs in the PhD program basket and should have been prepared in case it didn't come to fruition. I applied to three research assistant positions that I found postings for yesterday but I think I might also apply to some Masters programs as well and see what happens.

For someone who is a self-proclaimed control freak, this whole "I have no idea where I'm going to be in four months" thing is really unnerving. Not to mention, this whole process has taken such an emotional and financially toll on me. The thought of doing this all over again is pretty much making me want to run for the hills but I guess redundancy is the name of the game here in prospective PhD student land.

Exactly! I am just trying to take this as a sign that it wasn't meant to be at this point in my life for whatever reason and as long as I still want it, which I totally do, then life will find a way of putting it in my path. Tough pill to swallow but I've worked too hard to just accept defeat at this point.

If you don't mind me asking, where did you get your Masters?

Thanks everyone for their input. The GRE really is so problematic for so many people and I know the argument is that it is supposedly predictive of graduate school success but I'd say that is a statement derived from, in my opinion, a pretty skewed set of data. How can it be said that the GRE is predictive of success if those who don't perform as well don't even get a chance to get accepted and show otherwise?! Boils my blood.

I am pretty much geographically open to just about anywhere. I actually was excited to get out of my current city so I am willing to expand my horizons for both graduate and lab opportunities. I guess I put too many eggs in the PhD program basket and should have been prepared in case it didn't come to fruition. I applied to three research assistant positions that I found postings for yesterday but I think I might also apply to some Masters programs as well and see what happens.

For someone who is a self-proclaimed control freak, this whole "I have no idea where I'm going to be in four months" thing is really unnerving. Not to mention, this whole process has taken such an emotional and financially toll on me. The thought of doing this all over again is pretty much making me want to run for the hills but I guess redundancy is the name of the game here in prospective PhD student land.