henry lew

Hello all, Thanks a lot for the advice and pointers thus far. I am actually looking at PHD programs in clinical psychology along the lines of the scientist practitioner model. In terms of research experience I must say it is not impressive and I don't even feel confident to be a TA. I have two posters presentations at conferences one in 2010, another in 2014. I have nil publications. I do have 4-5 research projects going on at work. Some are pilot experimental studies, some cross sectional studies that looked at prevalence, and I do have one qualitative study as well. I am only more familiar with regression models regrettably. The thing is design, ethics and data collection stage of these projects are already done, and some of them I have even run the analysis... it's just the dilemma that is making me drag my feet and undecided if I should go ahead, as much as I want to pursue graduate school. I am thinking if I decided to give it a shot, to apply next year instead but to use the remaining year to get these research published. End of the year have been invited to speak at a conference, not sure how much that will help. Background wise, my GRE was not fantastic it was 158 verbal, 157 quantitative. Am planning to retake it again. My GPA is only 3.4 for my undergrad psych and 3.0 for my Masters. Clinically I have been trained formally in mindfulness based cognitive therapy and had completed the teacher training as well. Am half way through EMDR training. An area I would like to research on would be the clinical applications of autobiographical memory, how it relates to a person's self identity, well being, health behaviors etc. I admit that my ideas are still rather vague as a research area. And I guess I am rather unrealistic as I had just focus on 4 schools, though I have not done anything to contact the PIs. I was looking at University of Oregon @ Eugene in USA, University of York in Canada, University of Toronto in Canada. And the dream school and person to work with which I think is beyond reach would be at Duke University. I do feel that I may have much difficulty if I were to go into a clinical program, as much as I would like to, as I would really need to work doubly hard not just on the course but learning the culture. I remember when I was in Boston 2 years ago, it took me a while to understand and appreciate how much it means to the people there to go watch the games. Most importantly I am still very much undecided... and I guess I need to really think hard about it and come to a decision as being in a state of flux does not help at all if I am to make any applications as I am unclear myself as well. Just like to know your opinions, please do be brutally honest.

I need some advice if I should apply for graduate school.. I always wanted to go to graduate school and be trained as a professional clinical psychologist particularly in the areas of helping others cope with chronic and terminal illnesses...But I can't make up my mind to apply or not to apply for the following reasons: 1) My dad been diagnosed with dementia two years ago and I am the main caregiver. He had told me to go and fulfill my dreams but I know that logically there is no way I can leave him. I have only an elder sister who has her own family and although she has said she will help to take care of my dad, she can't even handle a weekend when I need to go out to run errands and she looks after my dad. I had decided to postphoned my dreams... but my dad is fit as a fiddle physically, he does not have any illnesses besides dementia ... not even high blood pressure ... hence he may last for quite a while... 2) I am 37 this year.... already I am considered a matured student and I suspect my chances of getting in is slim,,, I had spent the last ten years postphoning my dreams as I was caregiving for my mum with cancer,,, she has pass on. ... part of me still holds on to the dream though I know it is hard. 3) I am from Asia, been to USA twice for work , Miami and Boston and love both times I was there. I interacted with clinical psychologists on both trips due to work and really learn much from them. The chances of me getting a sponsorship here is low and I am thinking the funding at grad school in USA can't cover all of the expenses as well... hence financially I may need to rent out my place back home to pay rent in the states if I am lucky enough to get into a program. 4) The reason why I want to get into grad school. I admit I don't really know. I know this may reflect really badly on me. But it is just a driving force within me that keep asking me to keep trying and trying. I have a masters in psychology and is working as a psychologist back home, but the training and standards here are way below that of the USA hence one of the reasons is I want to enhance my skills even further. Of course there are various ways to enhance my skills and is going to grad school to get a phd is not the only way, but with the paucity of supervision and training opportunities here, that's why I figured it may be better to just get trained further again. I do not expect to earn more money nor for job advancement, it is really purely to be better trained and pursue further research, which in some ways I can pursue at home here.... yet I still have the lingering thought to want to pursue my dream... Should I give up?

Dear all, Could I seek your kind help to give your precious comments and rate how I am doing with this argument essay? Sincerest thanks. The following appeared in a memorandum from the manager of WWAC radio station. "To reverse a decline in listener numbers, our owners have decided that WWAC must change from its current rock-music format. The decline has occurred despite population growth in our listening area, but that growth has resulted mainly from people moving here after their retirement. We must make listeners of these new residents. We could switch to a music format tailored to their tastes, but a continuing decline in local sales of recorded music suggests limited interest in music. Instead we should change to a news and talk format, a form of radio that is increasingly popular in our area." Write a response in which you discuss what specific evidence is needed to evaluate the argument and explain how the evidence would weaken or strengthen the argument. The manager of WWAC radio station recommend to change its current rock-music format to news and talk format, to boost listener numbers. This recommendation was based on disparate facts of declining listening numbers, new elderly residents and increasing popularity of news and talk format in the local area. Such recommendation is weak in its logical reasoning and also failed to specify the links between the various facts it cites. Consequently, it leaves one doubtful of the credibility of the manager’s recommendations. Foremost, although the manager mentions that there is a decline in listeners, he attributes it to the current rock music format of the station without further justifications. There was no elaboration on how the current show format contributes to, or even at the minimal related to, a decline in listeners. There could be many other reasons that listeners numbers drop: people may be listening to online stations instead of on-air stations or people just got busier. The manager’s claims would have been better substantiated had he provided a survey or statistics to show that the decline in listener’s numbers is due to the current rock music format of the station. In addition to the lack of justifications, the manager also overgeneralize about the relations between the facts he cited to support his argument. For instance, the manager state that the decline in sales of recorded music suggests limited interests in music. And he went on to recommend changing the format to news and talk format which is increasing popular. The manager fails to demonstrate how a decline in sales is correlated in any way to a change in taste to news and talk format. Failure to do so means that for all we know, they may just be two independent events. Hence this would mean that the manager’s recommendations may not be accurate nor help to boost listener’s numbers. The manager would have been more convincing if he had explained how increasing popularity of news and talk format and drop in sales of recorded music are related. Lastly, the manager is also vague in his statements. It was claim that news and talk format was increasingly popular in the area. But with which population was it increasingly popular with? Is it the population that the manager is targeting, the elderly new residents? If it turns out to be other populations like working adults which may not make up the majority of the population, changing the radio station’s format may not led to any significant increase in listener’s numbers. Thus, the manager’s vague terms leaves open to interpretation and debates. The manager’s recommendations would have been better received if he had specify which population increasingly like the news and talk format. In conclusion, the manager made well intentioned recommendations to boost the listener’s numbers for the radio station. However, his claims are weakly supported and fail to convince the reader adequately. He would have been more well received if he had provided specify his terms, used data from surveys and elaborate further how his facts support his claims.

Dear all, I got a 4 form my first sitting of GRE intending to retake again in 2 months time. The last time round I only prepared for the AWA 2 weeks before. I used "templates" and thought it could take me further. Have written this without the template, please help me to see where I stand and how I can improve? Sincerest thanks to any kind soul. Issue Task: Some people claim that you can tell whether a nation is great by looking at the achievements of its rulers, artists, or scientists. Others argue that the surest indicator of a great nation is, in fact, the general welfare of all its people. Write a response in which you discuss which view more closely aligns with your own position and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should address both of the views presented. Essay: There are many ways to define the greatness of a nation. The author brings up the controversial topic that the greatness of a nation has been hotly debated by others to be defined by the achievements of its rulers, artists or scientists or, to be defined by the general welfare of its people. The greatness of a nation is most adequately captured by how much it has contributed to not only its people but also to other nations and humankind as a whole. I would argue then that instead of a dichotomous view of about the greatness of a nation, that the greatness of a nation be indicated by both the achievements of its rulers, artists, scientists and the general welfare of its people. The greatness of a nation can be indicated by how much influence and impact it has on the betterment of humankind currently. One of the significant ways that great nations influence and impact other nations is through their achievements. Take for instance, the United States of America, its achievements in the various spheres: Technology as evidence by its Silicon Valley that is the Mecca for technocrats, Economy where Wall Street which is literally the pulse of the world’s economy, Pop culture export of pop artists like Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift that influences young people throughout the world, Leaders like Obama who actively involve itself in international affairs like fighting against terrorism. A nation’s greatness is measured by the extent of how it shapes different aspects of the international community. Hence its achievements in the various domains would be a good indicator of its greatness. The achievements of a nation by its rulers, artists and scientists may not only impact the betterment of humankind currently but can stand to benefit humankind in future generations. Very often, these achievements of great nations are enduring to influence future societies as well. The Greek empire though no longer exists but is very often hail as a great nation because not only of the various achievements of its people during its time, but those achievements contributed to the development of future generations and future nations. The style of art, the political system that is one of the foundation of modern democracy demonstrates that a great nation contributes future generations as well. As such the achievements a nation is a good indicator if its greatness. Although, one can argue that there are impactful nations that achieve but it can come at the costs of its people, and that it is better not to use achievement as an indicator. One such would be the Soviet Union where it achieved significant political, military and technological advances. Nevertheless, there were evidence of its people starving and their welfare not taken care of. While it is tempting here to conclude to use the welfare of its people to define the greatness of a nation instead, we must bear in mind that the welfare of its people is very often a result of the system and rulers and if they have made any achievements to take care about the welfare of its people. As such, the greatness of a nation can only be better measured if we take into account both its achievements and the welfare of its people. In conclusion, the greatness of a nation is better measured if we look at both its achievements and the welfare of its better, as both are intricately linked.