suzieq

Lovely, thank you!

Thanks, great advice! Side note... how much harder was grad school pre-internet?

I've tried using Piktochart to make infographics, but it hasn't turned out well when I customized too much from the template (which I am prone to do). If you find a template that is a really close match for your content, then it could be useful.

I'm preparing my first conference poster. I find myself wanting to use bullet points, especially for the methods. I have only attended a couple of conferences so far, but I haven't really seen bullet points on posters in my field. Is it acceptable to use them? Are there certain sections where they should/shouldn't be used?

This is just my opinion, but I don't think there is a right or wrong way to get more experience. It's most important that you do! So either route would boost your application, and you should pursue the one that works best for you.

It's possible to use creative everyday examples without dumbing down the stats. I'm suggesting that everyday examples that don't require knowledge about complex psychological theories can help to motivate students that don't plan to pursue research careers. High caliber stats knowledge without getting into the weeds of psychological theory. In an undergrad course that I helped to teach, the students had to learn a lot about professors' research and theoretical orientations to be able to follow the class. It made it harder for them to learn the stats, which was the reason that we were there.

I also like this idea, because knowing what analysis to run requires a lot of knowledge. Another thinking point: Many of the students in an intro course will likely NOT really need in-depth stats in their careers. For many, it will be good if they understand percentages and correlations, and a lot of them know that. It can be motivating to use quirky or creative examples that illustrate stats concepts without getting too much into theory. I know that sounds disappointing for those that really care about research, but in an intro class it's important to remember that most of these people won't end up as researchers, and those that will might not even have that career path on their radar yet.

My master's (which involved equal parts coursework and research) did a much better job of preparing me for the application process and demands of a PhD than my undergraduate courses/research. If you can find a master's that will give you the right kind of exposure to classes and research, I think that would be more beneficial because it would add something truly new to your CV.

I didn't apply for PhD programs before getting my master's, but for me, I believe it was a huge boost to my application. I was pretty sure I didn't have the credentials to get into a great PhD program two years ago. One reason was that my undergrad research was superficial (data collection without much involvement in anything else). Another was that I had ideas about what I wanted to research, but I knew I needed to learn more about those topics, narrow it down, and get more specific. In my experience, it's been really valuable to have planned and conducted my own research, not just for the stuff that's been added to my CV but also because I got really specific in my research interests, I know the literature better now, and I know that I 100% love doing research. If you think you have work to do in those areas (or if you just need to get some publications), then a master's might be a good route. If you pursue a master's, just make sure that research is a big component of what you'll be doing. I did coursework and research, but I was able to spend most of my time on research, and that boosted my PhD application.

Thanks all! I really wish there was a way to reciprocate the question to get a gauge on whether we're going to get in!

Thanks, that makes sense. I have two different interest areas, so I did get a follow-up question about why I applied to POIs who were so different.

Hi all, new here! I've had a couple of phone/in-person interviews, and I noticed that both times I was asked by professors about my other interviews. I can understand that they would be curious, but I wasn't expecting to be asked that and wasn't sure why it came up. I've never been asked by a hiring manager about other job interviews, for example. Any ideas about why they might be asking?