grad29

Lots of much needed lols from reading this thread, good stuff. Some mistakes I've made, sending an incomplete resume to a program, then after noticing it attempting to resend it, only to realize I forgot to attach the file to the email. Although that was to a general assistant to all the grad programs, so hopefully my program won't know how much of a tool I am lol. Another mistake...forgetting the question I was going to ask a professor during an interview as I was asking it and saying "I won't ask that one. I'm sorry" then asking the first random shitass question that popped into my head lol Not realizing my zipper was open until after I was driving home from an interview....Okay that's a lie lol but imagine the horror!

Interviews last week at 2 programs, accepted to another, 5 to hear back from yet. The program I was accepted into is my very last choice and they didn't have interviews, so I'm really hoping I get in one of the others. The way it seems to work is programs will send out a group of acceptances to their top applicants within a few weeks of the interviews - so if they have a cohort of 10 they will send out 10 acceptances. Then if people decide to not go they will send out more acceptances. So if you are on a waitlist you won't hear about it for a month after the interview because they have to wait to hear back from their core group first. That's how you can tell if things are looking up or down, if you don't hear back from a program a week after they finish all their interviews you'll know you aren't in their top choices. But schools that have interviews and haven't gotten a hold of you, you can't really tell if they are or aren't interested bc you don't know when they send out invites. I've thought it through! Sorry I overthink things ha.

I just finished an interview for a program, they said they accept 12 out of 65 applicants, so competitive. It was 2.5 hours long. I was formally interviewed by a clinical psychologist and the department head and informally interviewed by two current students. There was also a writing sample. No unexpected interview questions, but they definitely wanted specifics and not general answers. Weird writing sample questions, figured it would be something like explain the role of a school psychologist and why are you interested in becoming one, but they asked philosophical hypotheticals, like if I had to take a plane ride across the country would I rather be on a flight with obama, Hilary Clinton, the dali lama, Oprah, or Chris rock ha. Then a few others. It was kind of fun though and creative writing is a strength of mine so I didn't mind it. Super intense program though. I am a down to earth, laid back kind of a dude and appreciate a more less intense feeling program, but I'd be happy being accepted anywhere and would gladly go to this place.

I don't think there's a specific requirement or standard, but both of my interviews I've had so far I was told only the week before. One gave me two dates to choose from though. I've only heard and scheduled interviews from 2 of the 8 programs I've applied to. Another had already accepted me. So 5 to hear back from yet, I'd be very surprised if I don't at least get an interview at a few more, so lots of time yet for places to call back still.

Well, I just finished my first interview. It was 5 hours long. They had about 12 of us there and there is another date with another 12 applicants. The cohort this year was going to be around 10 they said, so they have to narrow it down from 24 to 10, so 60% of the interviewers to this program were either going to be wait listed or rejected. That was more selective than I had hoped for. But anyway, they split us off into two groups, the first group had interviews in the morning and the second had theirs in the afternoon. Then campus tours were on the opposite end and lunch in the middle. I was hoping for group 1 placement, so I could get my interview in before lunch and having to socialize for 4 hours, when my mind would be the freshest and my nerves the tamest. That didn't happen. I was actually the very last of the group 2 applicants to interview. The interview didn't last long, it was about 15 minutes and I was asked about 5 questions. It was individual with 2 separate professors, so 2 separate interviews basically. I found that a bit interesting. How could they narrow 60% of the field in just a 15 minute interview session? So what I'm thinking is that perhaps they had a decent idea of who they wanted to accept beforehand and were just looking for red flags. Also I think me being scheduled to go last may have been a good thing - like I would think they would have asked me more than 5 questions and scheduled me earlier if they were unsure - I don't know I'm over analyzing it. But maybe they put all their strongest candidates at the end. I must admit I'm a little disappointed at my interview though. I don't think I did my best. I was pretty nervous and it definitely came across in the tone of my voice. The questions were also a little more technical than I had anticipated - things like "describe some life experiences will help you to take on the increasing diversity seen in schools?", so questions the questions were definitely a little challenging. But - despite how nervous I was I made Damn sure they saw my passsion to work with special needs and my focus. The department head said "we will definitely be in contact with you very soon", so if that means anything I don't know. But I'm not going to overanalyze this, I feel like I did my best and that's all I could do! Program was really cool though so I hope I get in!

I have it tomorrow, I will make sure to let you know how it goes! I came up with decent answers to all the questions people posted, so as long as I can get through a lunch with 10 other female undergraduates and 3 female professors with a phd I think I will be okay!

Good thinking! Great questions I hadn't thought about.

Ha! Nice. I'm sure you did fine. I'm just afraid at saying "ughhh" when asked a question I don't expect when I'm trying to think of something intelligent to say. That's what freaks me out a bit is wanting to give good answers but not being able to think of them fast enough under pressure. I'll come up with a few research topics I find interesting in case they ask. I wrote a paper for one of the programs about the relationship between extracurricular participation and academic performance, so that's something I could talk more in depth about. I'll have to come up with a few others though.

Here are the types of questions I came up with that might be asked, if anyone can think of any others feel free to chime in. I know that if I have a bullet of ideas in my head about a certain question it will help me feel prepared and less nervous: Why school psychology, why our program, tell me about yourself, what is school psychology, what are some of your life experiences that will help you out as a school psychologist, what are a few of your strengths and weaknesses, what are your career goals, what research topics are you interested in learning more about, why should we accept you....more?

I have another interview at UW-Whitewater this upcoming Wednesday. That was the most competitive of the programs I applied to, so that they are interested is nice. What's also nice is its only 2.5 hours instead of 5! I worked 102 hours last week, so I'm going to need to quit a part time job just so I can get through this month prepared and alive by the end of it. I wish it were March!

Okay, thanks for that information, so about 50% at UT-Austin. The programs I applied to do not have a PHD program at their university, so I'm thinking the universities that do are bigger and would have more applications. I would guess that at the interview I'm attending, they'll bring in about 20 candidates and select around 12-14. They have two interview dates, so I guess I'll find out how many people go, multiply it by 2, and make sure to ask how large the cohort is!

What do you think is the ratio for school psychology masters/specialist programs of the number of students invited for an on campus interview to the number of those applicants who receive offers? I'm sure they can't give 100% of the people acceptances, but I would think it would be a lot higher than the clinical programs, where supposedly they invite about twice as many people in for on campus interviews than they can accept. So maybe it's like 75% of the people will be accepted that would go to this, what do you think?

The interview I have coming up is 5 hours long. That's a very long time. I'm guessing they are having some sort of group thing, bringing in other potential applicants along with me and taking the time to show the campus and program information, etc..., then individual interviews sometime throughout. Is that normal?! That's like spending the entire weekend at your girlfriend's family's house the first time you meet them. I imagine myself doing much better sitting down for an hour answering questions, then I would having to find professional things to talk about with other graduate students and worrying whether I'm chewing with my mouth open/other random things. Feel me? Tips??! I'm freaking out over here!

Every program except 1 of the 8 I applied for have 100% employment placements. Although that attests to the vibe of that thread, meaning that, there's a reason why 100% of graduates find jobs after finishing...there's a lot of school psychology positions out there with high turnover. Yes there's also a high demand for school psychologists in general, but I bet a lot of that "demand" is created by districts with high turnover. However I'd much rather have a bad position than no position and like I said, after the first few years of struggling you should be able to find a "good district" to work for. That seems to be the common thinking of people in that field. Whether or not that holds true for me, only time will tell

Yes I read that. It almost scared me away as well, considering it was one of the first few things I read when I was looking into it all. One of the last posts on that thread describes it the best when he says that as long as you're willing to push through the first couple of years, get some experience, and find a district that works for you, it's totally a sustainable career. I think it has a lot to do with what state and district you work in, as far as how difficult the job will end up being. Like any career, sometimes you start off as the low man on the todem pole and have to work yourself up. But being out of school for about 4 years, I can tell you that life is just as much of a grind with just a degree in psychology. Working 60-80 hours per week barely bringing in $40,000 a year working in group homes, school psychology will be a step up for me and what most people would experience. Lastly, a lot of people on that thread were from Southern California districts, where it seems that jobs are nowhere near as numerous, or as sustainable. You could also say that most people who are motivated to post on a thread of pros and cons are those who are unhappy with their jobs. Some of the difficulties mentioned probably stand true for most, but I bet any pro and con thread of any occupation is going to focus more on the negatives than the positives. Once you're able to find a good district, you'll make $60,000+ with benefits, holidays, weekends ,summers off, and doing something that you can be proud of - that's worth a few years of hopping around and struggling.

What types of questions did they ask you for the phd interview? Congrats on even getting an interview at the u of m though, that's one of the toughest phd programs to get into

I have an interview for a University in Wisconsin on Friday, January 29th. It's for one of my top choices, so I'm really nervous! It was for a January 10th program deadline. For a Masters/Specialist program. I'll let everyone know how it goes and post all the questions they end up asking, what it's like, etc... Wish me luck!!!

I'm pretty much just working my ass off at work trying to earn as much money as possible before the semester begins in September. I've been out of school for 4 years and I still have about $8,000 in undergraduate loans. I don't understand how some people are comfortable taking out $60,000+ in student loans to become a school psychologist, but yeah that's not happening with me so I'm working 80 hours/week saving up money.

You may get quicker/better answers in a general thread on letters of intent (search homepage). This one isn't as active, but to answer your question, if a program mentions a limit of 500 words, I believe that's something important to pay attention to. By going over, you are failing to follow instructions and you don't want to give off that impression. Now if it's 550 words, I think that's okay, but if it's significantly over, like 750 words, then I feel like you ought to find a way to get it under their suggested limit.

No, they are not asking for any deposits or anything like that. It seems like I have 3 options: (1) To tell the program I am waiting to hear back from the other programs first (2) Decline the offer (3) Accept the offer and then back out if I'm accepted elsewhere. The first may give off the impression I am not interested in attending their program, which would be a little awkward for me if I end up going there. The second risks not being accepted anywhere. That leaves option number 3, so I think I'll go with that?

The notification was through email. The program doesn't offer funding, but none of them do (for any school psychology, masters of science in education/education specialist degree no funding is offered). I would pay about the same in program costs anywhere I'd go. Cost of living would be slightly higher, but not enough to make that the decisive factor. I could go here and get to the same point I would be in in 2 years, it's just the other programs are closer to my area and are from my home state. Same Fall 2016 start date as the others. Sorry forgot to include that information. Seems like I should accept the offer and then if I get accepted into a more desired program let them know I am no longer interested in attending?

I feel like you'll be okay with your GPA, depending on how many programs and where you applied to. Some EdS programs are just as difficult to get into as some PHD programs (University of Minnesota, for instance), where some EdS programs are a lot easier to get into. I know from one of the places I applied to a 302 GRE was the average score of the admitted applicants. That was the only program of the 8 I applied to that posted any admission statistics. I think you'll be okay, but if you only have 3 or 4 applications out, you may want to submit a few more just in case.

I got accepted to one of the programs, the others I don't find out until March. This program was more of a backup to the others, which i'm more interested in. Regardless, it's a relief knowing I'll be going to school someplace this Fall! Oh, by the way, to follow up on my last post, if anyone read it that is ha, I got a 710 on my subject test GRE (80th percentile). I feel like my chances of getting into one of the other programs is decent.