MarineBluePsy

One of my recommenders went MIA for my last app. Luckily i had someone who could cover for her at the last minute. But i was freaking out and sending some frantic emails.
I even stooped to Facebook reminders. I'm not ashamed.

Update to my previous post: 2/3 LOR issues have been resolved!
I'm not sure if my last recommender is trolling me or what, because he replied to my email saying he'd submit the letter but has yet to do so. I sent a reminder request through the application itself before he replied to me  so he must have seen that in his inbox, right? It shouldn't be in his spam folder because another professor at the same university got the email immediately. So what are you doing, man?
Better question is: what am I doing? I have a perfectly good bottle of syrah malbec I have yet to open and refreshing the application page every 10 minutes won't change anything. I hope you all have a great weekend waiting it out, but it's time to sign off here for now and relaaaax.

Oh boy, of course I would run into LOR submission issues with each of my recommenders across three separate applications leading up to today, my final applications' deadline.
I just can't seem to locate any more fucks to give...
 

I don't know how not being specific would help you.  My essay covered the following: very specific research interests, the education/work/clinical experience that led me to those research interests, faculty who's work appealed me and related to my interests, research training, and what I see myself doing once my PhD is done.  
Perhaps the fact that most of the scientists of interest to you are in psychiatry is telling.  Yes clinical psychology is flexible, but maybe there is another degree, other than going to med school for psychiatry, that might be better.  I'm certainly not saying you should give up as application season isn't over, but maybe there is another way to view your interests and reform your goals.  Reaching out to some of the psychiatrists doing work that interests to pick their brains couldn't hurt.

How nice to hear I'm not the only one that finds preparing a Plan B reduces anxiety early on.  This is not my first rodeo so here's what I've done....
1st Application Cycle
Thoughts - How dare they not accept me!  Don't they know how amazing I am?!  I'll reapply and then they'll realize what a foolish mistake they made before (in my youthful brain this made sense, but now it causes sidesplitting laughter).  
Plan B - Research Master's programs
2nd Application Cycle
Thoughts - Ok I guess I'm getting a Master's.  Am I sure I still want to go the PhD route?  The application process is tiring and expensive.
Plan B - Complete Master's program, retake GRE, gain more research experience, and further clarify my research interests.
3rd Application Cycle
Thoughts - Even though it was tiring and expensive I'm glad I doubled the number of schools I applied to.  *sigh* Do I really have to come up with another Plan B?!
Plan B - Gain more research experience.  Should I have to go this route I'm sure I'll expand on this, but right now nothing comes to mind.

@Mystic_Fog  Getting a Master's degree was a really good move for me, but I won't really know how much it helped me until this application season is over.  
1)  It did boost my GPA a lot even though my undergrad GPA wasn't horrible.  
2)  My GRE score went up a smidgen, but not enough to brag about.  
3)  It also allowed me to connect the dots among my research and clinical interests in a way that I had not seen otherwise and likely would not have. 
4)  The type of school and its location forced me far out of my comfort zone in a way that equally freaked me out and was intriguing.  This made me more comfortable looking at PhD programs in places I previously would never have considered.
5)  I was able to obtain more clinical experience and land my current job.
6)  I gained more research experience.
7)  I gained access to a lot more professionals in the field including those with a number of years in and recent grads who were happy to share their experiences and regrets about their programs, internships, student loans, etc.
8)  I gained more letter writers.
9)  It reignited my passion for Psychology and reminded me of why I wanted to pursue this career in the first place despite all of the frustrations.
10)  I was able to determine exactly (not broadly or kinda sorta like my first application cycle) what I want to do and do not want to do once I'm a licensed PhD in the field.
11)  I am way more confident in the skills I currently have and my ability to learn, even though I still have my moments of doubt here and there.
And there may be other things that just aren't coming to mind right now

How nice to hear I'm not the only one that finds preparing a Plan B reduces anxiety early on.  This is not my first rodeo so here's what I've done....
1st Application Cycle
Thoughts - How dare they not accept me!  Don't they know how amazing I am?!  I'll reapply and then they'll realize what a foolish mistake they made before (in my youthful brain this made sense, but now it causes sidesplitting laughter).  
Plan B - Research Master's programs
2nd Application Cycle
Thoughts - Ok I guess I'm getting a Master's.  Am I sure I still want to go the PhD route?  The application process is tiring and expensive.
Plan B - Complete Master's program, retake GRE, gain more research experience, and further clarify my research interests.
3rd Application Cycle
Thoughts - Even though it was tiring and expensive I'm glad I doubled the number of schools I applied to.  *sigh* Do I really have to come up with another Plan B?!
Plan B - Gain more research experience.  Should I have to go this route I'm sure I'll expand on this, but right now nothing comes to mind.

I think the compiled list is a good idea, although it is missing a lot of schools posted in the results thread. But now it makes it harder for us to continue to post here to ask questions. They get drowned out by very long posts you have to scroll through. 

Anyone else thinking of throwing in a last minute app? I found a school that I hadn't considered, but has a really great fit, and deadline is february 1st. I kinda want to apply but feel bad for my letter writers!

I GOT INTO GRAD SCHOOL. REPEAT. I GOT INTO GRAD SCHOOL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN. ANGELS ARE SINGING. PARDON ME WHILE I GO DANCE NAKED IN THE STREETS!!!!!!!!! 

@Mystic_Fog  Getting a Master's degree was a really good move for me, but I won't really know how much it helped me until this application season is over.  
1)  It did boost my GPA a lot even though my undergrad GPA wasn't horrible.  
2)  My GRE score went up a smidgen, but not enough to brag about.  
3)  It also allowed me to connect the dots among my research and clinical interests in a way that I had not seen otherwise and likely would not have. 
4)  The type of school and its location forced me far out of my comfort zone in a way that equally freaked me out and was intriguing.  This made me more comfortable looking at PhD programs in places I previously would never have considered.
5)  I was able to obtain more clinical experience and land my current job.
6)  I gained more research experience.
7)  I gained access to a lot more professionals in the field including those with a number of years in and recent grads who were happy to share their experiences and regrets about their programs, internships, student loans, etc.
8)  I gained more letter writers.
9)  It reignited my passion for Psychology and reminded me of why I wanted to pursue this career in the first place despite all of the frustrations.
10)  I was able to determine exactly (not broadly or kinda sorta like my first application cycle) what I want to do and do not want to do once I'm a licensed PhD in the field.
11)  I am way more confident in the skills I currently have and my ability to learn, even though I still have my moments of doubt here and there.
And there may be other things that just aren't coming to mind right now

A good friend of mine said something that I found really helpful which was "you go where you're wanted."  A school that rejects you with or without an interview doesn't want you and there is no point in trying to force yourself into some place where you aren't wanted.  There are other schools and one of them will want you and you're likely better off there anyway.

As much as I like the results page I'm amazed at how much it makes my head spin.  There are way more programs than I realized, many programs have multiple tracks, and there's not much consistency in how students are notified of interviews.  Then of course not every applicant posts on there so then I wonder about all the stuff we don't know.....

As much as I like the results page I'm amazed at how much it makes my head spin.  There are way more programs than I realized, many programs have multiple tracks, and there's not much consistency in how students are notified of interviews.  Then of course not every applicant posts on there so then I wonder about all the stuff we don't know.....

I've never shared a room with my advisor, nor has such an offer ever been presented to me. Personally, I would try to stay with fellow graduate students instead though I guess it really depends on the relationship you have with your advisor.

I think that while it isn't bad that you're asking yourself "what do I want to be when I grow up?" at the same time you don't have to decide this now.  Go to Malaysia.  Observe another culture up close and personal.  Have unique experiences.  Let the skills you develop there shape your future in ways you least expect.  When your teaching job is over you may still be uncertain of what you want to do, but you will have options and opportunities to further explore things that interest you.  Everything you mentioned is something you could potentially explore via career shadowing, community service, paid jobs, etc and then you can decide where you might return to school if at all.

Hmmmm I read the news and talk to people more well traveled than I on a daily basis and you know what I read and hear?  Bad things about the way people in every single country that exists (including my own!) treats foreigners.  You know what else I hear?  How wonderful and welcoming people (including me!) in those same countries are.  If I let the bad things stop me then I'll never accomplish my dream of seeing the whole world.  When traveling I expect I can do exactly what I do in my home country.....seek out those who are welcoming and kind and make me a better and more informed person.    

LOL so true.  I'm amazed at how many schools send out interview invites or rejections before the holidays.  To those who have received interview invites Congratulations and to those who still haven't heard anything or have gotten a rejection Hang in there because it isn't over yet.

So you're in a PhD program now and after one semester are pondering transferring into a different PhD program, am I understanding this correctly?  You're probably not hearing much about graduate transfers because they really don't work the same way as undergraduate transfers.  At the graduate level you run the risk of burning bridges (and you may need those people in your network) if you leave before completing the program and if you intend to get LORs from any of these professors that'll be a bit awkward.  The program you transfer into (assuming they accept you after the application process) may not accept any of the credits from your prior school and you'd have to start your program over.
So sure its possible, but it isn't easy and it may or may not be worth it depending on your situation.  It might be easier to finish your Master's in your current program and then transfer after that to complete the PhD, but again you'd have to find out from the school you hope to go to if they will allow that.

LOL so true.  I'm amazed at how many schools send out interview invites or rejections before the holidays.  To those who have received interview invites Congratulations and to those who still haven't heard anything or have gotten a rejection Hang in there because it isn't over yet.

@Mystic_Fog  Getting a Master's degree was a really good move for me, but I won't really know how much it helped me until this application season is over.  
1)  It did boost my GPA a lot even though my undergrad GPA wasn't horrible.  
2)  My GRE score went up a smidgen, but not enough to brag about.  
3)  It also allowed me to connect the dots among my research and clinical interests in a way that I had not seen otherwise and likely would not have. 
4)  The type of school and its location forced me far out of my comfort zone in a way that equally freaked me out and was intriguing.  This made me more comfortable looking at PhD programs in places I previously would never have considered.
5)  I was able to obtain more clinical experience and land my current job.
6)  I gained more research experience.
7)  I gained access to a lot more professionals in the field including those with a number of years in and recent grads who were happy to share their experiences and regrets about their programs, internships, student loans, etc.
8)  I gained more letter writers.
9)  It reignited my passion for Psychology and reminded me of why I wanted to pursue this career in the first place despite all of the frustrations.
10)  I was able to determine exactly (not broadly or kinda sorta like my first application cycle) what I want to do and do not want to do once I'm a licensed PhD in the field.
11)  I am way more confident in the skills I currently have and my ability to learn, even though I still have my moments of doubt here and there.
And there may be other things that just aren't coming to mind right now

@Mystic_Fog  Getting a Master's degree was a really good move for me, but I won't really know how much it helped me until this application season is over.  
1)  It did boost my GPA a lot even though my undergrad GPA wasn't horrible.  
2)  My GRE score went up a smidgen, but not enough to brag about.  
3)  It also allowed me to connect the dots among my research and clinical interests in a way that I had not seen otherwise and likely would not have. 
4)  The type of school and its location forced me far out of my comfort zone in a way that equally freaked me out and was intriguing.  This made me more comfortable looking at PhD programs in places I previously would never have considered.
5)  I was able to obtain more clinical experience and land my current job.
6)  I gained more research experience.
7)  I gained access to a lot more professionals in the field including those with a number of years in and recent grads who were happy to share their experiences and regrets about their programs, internships, student loans, etc.
8)  I gained more letter writers.
9)  It reignited my passion for Psychology and reminded me of why I wanted to pursue this career in the first place despite all of the frustrations.
10)  I was able to determine exactly (not broadly or kinda sorta like my first application cycle) what I want to do and do not want to do once I'm a licensed PhD in the field.
11)  I am way more confident in the skills I currently have and my ability to learn, even though I still have my moments of doubt here and there.
And there may be other things that just aren't coming to mind right now

I would suck it up and travel overnight if you have to. People dream of getting one interview to Clinical programs let alone 2. I know it's not ideal and it is exhausting but you want to make sure you don't lose out on any opportunities.
I wouldn't want to travel overnight or literally back to back either but it's only one weekend and then Sunday/Monday you can crash and sleep the days away

I think this is one of those things that if you're determined to do it then you'll make it work.  My schedule is a bit fuller than yours and I too applied this season and was just set on getting it all done.  Also being exhausted doesn't sound healthy.  Perhaps you should consider some adjustments to your sleep schedule, switch up your exercise routine, or maybe make some dietary changes.

Now if you're going to do this then the key is to be very specific.  "Clean my room" is so broad it just begs for procrastination.  I'm getting very detailed.... clean baseboards, vacuum under the couch, clean the fridge, wash curtains, etc.