neuropsych76

So one of the first rejection emails I received was from school X. It was a bummer but it wasn't one of my top choices so it didn't hurt too much. It was just a generic mass email but it mentioned the clinical psych program (i applied to the experimental) so I was a bit confused about that, but I figured since it was a mass email, it was for all psych applicants. Now, several months later, I receive another rejection letter with similar wording but it mentions the experimental program. I found this pretty funny as I received two rejections but I only applied to one program. Is this uncommon? I feel like most people don't get rejected twice by the same school in the same year

If you just want your friends and family to know about your experiences, why don't you just email them your "blog" instead of setting up a public website?

I seriously considered clinical neuropsych at one point so I know how insanely competitive it is. That's a really tough situation, I'm sorry! I wouldn't do the masters, unless it is funded. Stick it out for one more year if you like your lab.

I agree with farnsworth. It sucks right now but take it as a learning experience and move on. I applied to 12 schools and probably was rejected from about 10 of them. It happens. Also, applying strait out of undergrad makes the process even more difficult. Tons of people take time off so don't worry about that. Maybe in taking time off you'll refine your interests a bit and apply to a program where you would be happier at than the ones you applied to this year

Glad I'm not the only one I do still have my old stats textbook. I remember the information wasn't presented very clearly in the book but I'll give it another shot. I'm in the same boat for this summer. I'll be working a lame summer job and brushing up on relevant material for grad school. That's it. I keep hearing what a steep learning curve quantitative neuroimaging has (probably what i'm going into) so i know i'll have to review my stats and learn some more math/programming beforehand. Plus, I'd like to review some functional neuroanatomy. It's exciting to prepare for the next stage though (in a nerdy kind of way )

I took research methods & statistics sophomore year and did pretty well but now I feel like I have forgotten everything I learned. I know a few analyses from doing them over and over for my thesis but that's pretty much it. I have to take stats my first semester and my research will be heavily quantitative in nature so I'd like to brush up on stats before I head off to grad school. Anyone feel like they are in a similar position and/or could offer some nice (preferably free) options for studying up on psych statistics? I know I could scour through wikipedia ect. but it'd be nice to know if anyone had any specific recommendations. Thank you!

Quick update I emailed the three schools I haven't heard from. School A: fast reply and a very pleasant email saying I will get a decision in the mail by the end of this week School B: no reply but I just checked my mail and got the rejection letter lol School C: no reply, i saw on the results page that a person got their rejection letter in may lol ugh

Thank you guys for the replies I know its only for a few months but i just wanted to see some other people's thoughts on the matter. I'd like to work at my lab early if possible, that would be awesome (if i had some early funding)

I'm going to be emailing my final schools as soon as I finish this post!! So i'll let you guys know if I receive any worthwhile info or just the standard "wait til april 15th" reply...

Well how about both?? My SO (of 4 years) will be attending a PhD program 700 miles away from mine (i did get into a good school, but not my very top choice). I think losing your SO and not getting into your top choice is probably the worst outcome :/

Oh geez, at least 40 or more. And about 5 or 6 of those I've talked to on the phone for 30 minutes or more. It helped me narrow my school list down and definitely only helped me (even though I received many rejections from the POI's i talked to) Actually, every professor I talked on the phone with I either: didn't apply, got rejected, or withdrew my application lol. But, it was good experience talking to other POI's and getting a sense of what to talk about in regards to the program and research. The funny thing is I only had a few brief emails to the school I'll most likely be attending and I knew from those that a) it was one of my top choices, and i would fit in there well. I'm a huge advocate for contacting potential POI's!!

I applied to the cognitive program but checked the box to be considered to the SDS program as well. Haven't heard anything. But... i'm emailing the couple schools I haven't heard from this week so i'll post if i hear anything relevant

Doberman, your GRE is fine. If you take the top scores of each you have a 1380, that's great. Now you passed that hurdle, you can worry about the rest of your application. -sigh-I wish I knew the GRE had so much less importance than I thought when I was taking it...

So i'll be graduating in May and heading to grad school sometime in August. I know I should relax and do nothing as much as I can this summer but I'll probably have to get a good to be more financially stable heading into graduate school. I'll most likely have to work fast food or some other depressing job for a few months. I've worked some pretty terrible jobs and I'm bummed out I have to work one more before grad school. I have a bachelors degree and a pretty solid resume but I'll probably be working a terrible low paying job just to make some cash. Throughout college I've worked jobs where I was treated like crap but I think it'll be a little worse now that I'm actually graduated. I'm mostly venting but is anyone else going through the same situation?

12 schools applied to. GRE taken twice. $980 total. On an unrelated note, I don't know why someone would ask what others paid when they did not pay anything themselves. Seems a bit odd. Comparing free to any amount of money is a good deal...

I think as long as both schools adhere to the April 15th guidelines this is acceptable, but slightly frowned upon. If you really like the other school you were accepted to then I would change offers since you'd be stuck somewhere you don't like for 5+ years. Good luck!

Like strangelight said, I hear it is far more common to leave the program rather than being kicked out. As you as you're really interesting in the work you're doing and have a decent surrounding department I think there is not much to worry about. The adcom selected you for admission because they thought you could handle the work!

I'm moving about 600 miles away from where I live now (assuming I go to the school i'm leaning towards). So yes, it will be a big transition for me. I've never really traveled much (only to conferences mostly) but its starting to sink in a bit now that I have to look for housing and I'll be graduating in less than two months.... I've been aiming for a PhD since my first semester freshman year and now that it's finally happening... it's indescribable

Haha i did find it somewhat entertaining to read, and it delayed me slightly from writing me own paper! That's awful that you can't pick your own sources though. I'm having trouble writing a paper about something where I didn't do my own research since i've been so involved with my thesis paper. Glad to know i'm not the only one infected with senioritis, best of luck!

I'm in the same bout as you mscongeniality1. I've completed all my course work and I'm just finishing up my sociology minor with two easy soc classes this semester along with my honors thesis (which only needs revised and defended, the research is all done ). I had limited motivation before I was accepted but now it is all gone. I have almost no motivation to start this sociology paper and i just got a 6/10 on a quiz because simply because i didn't feel like studying. I'm hoping this doesn't transfer over to grad school because I am an awful student right now.

Taco Bell or anything with jalapenos

I'm wondering this as well but from what I've heard, rankings do not matter nearly as much as research productivity. I'll most likely be attending a "mid-range" program but I'm hoping having a highly productive advisor and good work ethic can bode well for future positions after grad school.

i'm guilty of this, sorry! my honors thesis binder was huge and had tons of unorganized articles flowing out of it. i'm hoping to increase my organization for grad school as well. i think going digital will certainly help. is investing in an ipad/kindle type device worth it? or is just a laptop sufficient? (though i'll probably need a new laptop as well)